Clarence United reach Summer Cup final

Clarence United Squad (bottom)

University Squad (top)


CLARENCE UNITED 3-0 UNIVERSITY
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Clarence United qualified for their first-ever Summer Cup final when they beat University 3-0 in their Group A match in the Premier League section of the competition at KGV Park on Friday night.

Clarence dominated the match. They won 11 corners to University’s one, and had 19 shots at goal.

Michael Moschogianis, the Clarence goalkeeper, touched the ball just five times, and two of those were at goalkicks.

The Eastern Shore outfit should have been in front after just 5 minutes when Chris Hunt crossed from the byline on the left, but Luke Cripps steered an easy header wide of the target.

In the 13th minute, Cripps fired at goal on the turn from the left-hand corner of the box, but the ball flew high over the bar.

On the stroke of half-time, a great cross from the left by Julian McMahon found Matthew Chapman, but he headed over the University goal.

Cripps and Ben Hamlet were causing University all sorts of problems with their mobility and speed, but the Clarence finishing left much to be desired.

University were on the back foot most of the time and they invariably gave the ball away as soon as they cleared their lines and tried to attack.

University’s newcomer Edward Opira, a striker, showed some fine touches, but he had little support and the Clarence goal was never under threat.

Clarence finally turned their superiority into goals in the second half, but they were sloppy affairs, two of them coming from corners.

A minute after the resumption, Cripps chested Hamlett’s corner into the net as everyone stood and watched. Indeed, Cripps appeared more surprised than anyone as the ball entered the net at the near post.

Hamlett headed against a post four minutes later, while in the 41st minute of this one-hour contest, McMahon headed home Chapman’s high left-wing cross to make it 2-0.

Ben Parker added the third 10 minutes from the end following Ben Phillips’s corner.
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• Clarence United coach, Andrew Brown, said:

“I expected the boys to continue improving as we’ve been working on a few things for a number of weeks now.

“We’re by no means the finished article and we have no ideas of grandeur.

“But, today, in perfect conditions, I was happy with our shape. I was happy with the commitment of the players, but still our composure was lacking.

“Against the better teams we may get murdered. We’ll see.

“But, today was a good day for us and it’s the first time in our history we’ve made the Summer Cup final and we’re thrilled.”

• University coach, Scott Gallacher, said:

“We tried, but we’re just not good enough. It’s as simple as that.

“They’re a good side, Clarence.

“They changed their playing style and they’re playing a bit more like our play - zonal, 4-4-2.

“Yeah, they did it well. We tried, but we’re just not good enough.”
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Clarence United: Moschogianis - Toghill, Lewis, Ling, J Huigsloot - McMahon, Cannamela, Parker, Hunt - Cripps, Hamlett [Substitutes: Chapman, L Huigsloot, Hamilton, Phillips]

Goals: Cripps 31, McMahon 41, Parker 50

University: Piesse - Merry, Procter, J Andrews, Wilkinson -- Besley, Griffiths, Venettacci, Temby - M Andrews, Opira [Substitutes: J Wilson, Teale, Gooch]

Booked: Wilkinson

Att: 200

Ref: S Collins