THE SCORES

Rovers win NT’s FFA cup spot

DESERT BLAZE NORTHERN TIDE DESERT BLAZE SOUTHERN STORM DARWIN Rovers will again represent the Northern Territory in the Round of 32 in the FFA Cup after their 2-0 win over a brave Celtic in last night’s Sports Minister’s Cup match.

First-half goals by captain Simon Bell and elusive wingman Dean Molloy were enough to send the Darwin side into next week’s draw.

“We’re delighted to be the NT reps in the Cup again,’’ Rovers manager Jimmy Culligan said.

“Congratulations to Celtic from Alice Springs, they were a lot tougher opposition than we expected, football down there is on the way up, that’s for sure.’’

The ball was in the Rovers’ half for the majority of the first 45 minutes, with Dean Molloy busy on the left wing and captain Simon Bell incisive and strong in the midfield.

It was Bell who stepped up in the 16th minute, opening the scoring with a bending right foot shot that gave Celtic goalkeeper Zac Watts no chance, bending the back of the net before the Centralian stopper could move to his right.

Two minutes later the Rovers were in again, Molloy swooping on a loose ball in the penalty area to double his side’s advantage.

But Celtic refused to go away despite the scoreline, twice creating chances through the skills of Jayjay Olivares and the busy Wayne Dalton.

Olivares forced Rovers ‘keeper Matt Ashton to turn the ball around the left hand upright when some more pace on the shot would have caused some real problems for the Darwin side.

The first period of the second half was a feeling-out period for both sides. Carl Marshall went close in the 46th minute when he was on hand to strike, but narrowly miss, from a loose ball that dropped at his feet from Simon Bell’s missed header.

Celtic should have scored in the 53rd minute when Cole Nicolaou’s free header went over the crossbar instead of bending the net and Marshall’s shot from a goalmouth scramble.

Celtic youngster Daniel Robson’s free kick in the 76th minute was blocked by the wall and a Molloy blast on 84 minutes found the outside of the net when he had more time to steady and hit the inside of the net.

DARWIN ROVERS 2 (S Bell 16, D Molloy 18) CELTIC 0. HT: 2-0