Central Advance To Superclub National Round by Jeremy Ruane July 10, 1994, will go down in the annals of Central Soccer Club as one of the greatest days in their thirty-two year history, following their 2-0 triumph over Oratia United at Parrs Park, in the final round of the Winfield Superclub Northern Region Championship. Just ten years ago, Central were playing in the Northern League's Division Four (North) competition. But their victory on Sunday, combined with Mt. Wellington's defeat at Waitakere City, means that the Sandringham club will contest the National Championship round of the Winfield Superclub competition, thus capping off a meteoric rise through the grades. The nerves of the visitors seemed to hold better than those of their hosts in the early stages of a tense encounter, as Oratia conceded a number of unnecessary free-kicks during this period. From one, Central's Chris Zoricich fired wide from a tight angle, after Oratia goalkeeper Bruce Plunkett had parried a well-flighted Neville John free-kick. Both teams traded shots on goal - Mike Kearley saw his saved by Central's Ross Nicholson, while a piledriver from Daniel Dobrec zoomed past the upright, with Plunkett awestruck. With 38 minutes gone, the deadlock was broken by Central's Chilean striker, Nibaldo Barros. His Peruvian striking partner, Percy Watson, latched onto a loose ball and promptly lost control of it. Barros stepped in, and coolly planted the ball into the far corner of the net to put Central one-up. Right on half-time, a despairing Dobrec lunge cleared a goalbound Paul Taylor effort off the line, after the Oratia striker had rounded Nicholson. After Taylor had headed the ball against his own crossbar in clearing his lines early in the second spell, Oratia laid siege to the Central goal, only to be denied by a stoic defensive effort. Michael Irving, Rod Grove and Dobrec used all parts of their respective anatomies to divert to safety a string of Oratia opportunities, while Mike Foster epitomised his team's commitment with a brave diving header to clear the ball off Colin Still's foot, as Oratia's new signing prepared to let fly. Jeff Keskic was next to head the ball away, off the line from a David Johnstone drive, after Nicholson had dropped a cross. Back came Central, with Zoricich foiled by Plunkett, while Barros volleyed a difficult chance wide of an open goal, after Plunkett had saved splendidly following a delightful interplay between Keskic and Watson. The latter then hit the crossbar, after a nice cross from Zoricich. Oratia charged again. Kearley was harshly adjudged offside by the linesman, while Nicholson denied Still at close quarters. Then Cameron Miller, clean through, fired wide of Central's goal with Nicholson beaten. With five minutes remaining, Zoricich stormed forward and shot. Plunkett parried the ball and, as he sought to recover it, stuck out a leg and inadvertently fired the ball into his own net. The look of anguish on Plunkett's face contrasted tellingly with the delight on the faces of Central's following. With time up on the clock, Oratia, still looking for goals, earned a penalty, after Dobrec had used his hand to divert a Johnstone effort away. But Miller's spot-kick summed up his team's afternoon, a tame effort which Nicholson saved easily. The final whistle brought mixed emotions from both camps. Central's fans were cock-a-hoop - I believe they're still partying at Kiwitea Street!! Oratia's supporters were downcast, the prospect of a relegation play-off later in the season now a harsh reality. One contrasting scene, however, summed up what soccer means to so many. As Central's President, Ivan Vuksich, was congratulating his team's captain, Rod Grove, an Oratia ball-boy was trudging off the pitch, tears streaming down his cheeks, his father's consoling hand on his shoulder. As the legendary Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, once put it, "Football's not a matter of life and death - it's much more important than that".