Magpies fly high in Cup win
Willowburn take the win in tight game
FOOTBALL: Willowburn has drawn first blood against TFL Premier Men’s ladder leaders USQ.
In a match defined by missed opportunities as much as goals – Willowburn claimed the President’s Cup 8-7 on penalties after the scores were level 2-2 at fulltime.
It was hard fought match typical of the two side’s encounters this season.
“It (the win) is a huge relief,” Willowburn’s Pete Millican said.
“We had plenty of opportunities in the game that we didn’t convert. When you let them slip and it goes to penalties it’s always a lottery.
“To win is a relief but I think when you see what the boys put in for the game we deserved it.”
Willowburn struck first in the match, Brayden Thrupp heading home Millican’s cross in just the 7th minute.
Thrupp’s goal set the tone for the match with an energised Magpies outfit dominating the early passages of play creating several clear opportunities.
The Magpies however were denied by the post and a defiant USQ keeper Mat Eilers who made several saves to keep his side in the match.
USQ drew level early in the second but were given little to celebrate.
Striker Cormac McCarthy tucked home a lose ball to score for USQ in the 56th minute before Milican took back the lead for Willowburn a minute later.
Despite the setback, USQ stayed in the game and were level again in the 73rd minute.
Defender Timothy Neels got on the score sheet rising above the Willowburn defence to head home a corner at the back post.
Both sides had opportunities to seal victory in normal time before Jedd Sugden’s missed penalty in the shoot-out sealed USQ’s fate.
Both keepers made saves in the shoot-out and USQ missed another two shots which struck the woodwork.
Despite the loss, his side’s first of the season, USQ captain Ashley Freier said his side would take plenty of positives away from the game.
“It’ll hurt for the week but we will shake it off and move on pretty quickly,” he said.
“We’ve been training since October so we were confident we had the legs and I thought we could’ve pinched a win there late but it didn’t happen.
“The boys didn’t give up though and that’s the biggest thing.
“Everyone was there fighting until the very last whistle.
“Losing on penalties is really hard but we’ll move on.”
Millican believes the win will galvanise his side as they look to close the gap on USQ.
“Credit to them (USQ) they’re a good side with some good players and they fought to the end,” he said.
“Hopefully this can be a bit of a springboard – we can take a lot of momentum out of this.
“This win can give us a lot of confidence moving forward.”
‘‘ WE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE GAME THAT WE DIDN’T CONVERT. WHEN YOU LET THEM SLIP AND IT GOES TO PENALTIES IT’S ALWAYS A LOTTERY. TO WIN IS A RELIEF ....
PETE MILLICAN
OTHER RESULTS: Willowburn df Rockville 6-0. Garden City df Oakey 5-3 on penalties (1-1 at fulltime). South Burnett df Willowburn White 2-1.