TIS squeeze through to Summer Cup semi-finals

Photos (Top to Bottom): Tasmanian Institute of Sport squad before the match; TIS keeper Tristan Prendergast punches clear ahead of a Nelson opponent; Nelson's Tom Gordon controls the ball and beats an opponent; TIS in possession; Nelson keeper Thomas Clamp takes a cross; Two opponents vie for the ball; Nelson's Patrick Lenck in possession; TIS's Eli Luttmer clears his lines [PlessPix]

Division One Summer Cup (Group A, North Chigwell, Sunday, 7 March 2010)

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Nelson Eastern Suburbs 1 (T Gordon 46)

Tasmanian Institute of Sport 2 (H Foley 44, E Luttmer 57)

HT: 0-0 Att: 70 Ref: I Colhoun

Nelson: Clamp; Brighella, Hoppitt, Rush,, Mills, Caulfield, Hanley, Gaskell, Stalker, Ireland, Lenck [Interchange: Valterio, Gordon] [Coach: Michael Roach]

TIS: Prendergast; Luttmer, Hill, Abbott, McClung, D Foley, Walker, De Smit, H Foley, Hamilton, Francis [Interchange: Ince, Green, Curran, May] [Coach: Dean May]

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The Tasmanian Institute of Sport ultimately triumphed in this Group A Summer Cup clash, but it was a close thing.

Nelson’s youngsters held their own for long periods of the match and their resolute defending was praiseworthy.

With five minutes remaining and the score at 1-1, a penalty shoot-out seemed inevitable.

TIS coach Dean May came on in place of injured goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast four minutes before the end in a sign that he also thought that spot-kicks would decide the issue.

Prendergast had a bad knee and May felt that the youngster would not have been able to launch himself at a penalty with that knee, which had an ice pack on it after the game.

As it turned out, no penalty shoot-out ensued. With just three minutes remaining, a cross from the right by TIS’s Nicholas Green came back off the crossbar and Eli Luttmer stabbed the ball home to give his side a 2-1 win.

It was a cruel blow for Nelson, who battled in the heat all game and probably deserved the lottery of a shoot-out in the end.

The first half had ended goalless, with Sam Hamilton and Jeremy Walker having a few half-chances for the TIS.

Then, midway through the second half, the game came alive as Will Abbott fed Hugh Foley and he fired past Thomas Clamp to put the TIS ahead.

Two minutes later, Nelson were level as Oliver Ireland headed the ball forward and Tom Gordon nodded it into goal.

Luttmer’s winner three minutes from the end was not the end of the action. Three minutes into stoppage time, Declan Foley was sent off by Mr Colhoun for swearing.

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· Nelson coach, Michael Roach, said:

“I think they’re a very good side. They’re young but they’re a very good side and they deserved to win today.

“I think my fellows gave it everything but in terms of their first touch on the ball they were probably the second-best side today.

“We’ve got a bit to work on, but overall, whilst I thought we could have got something out of the game and could have won it - both sides made mistakes at the back - I can’t argue.

“I think they did enough to win and good luck next week against Beachside.”