Ignatius Park crew out to break Bill Turner Cup hoodoo in style
AN unbreakable defensive pairing will hold the key for Ignatius Park’s hopes of ending its Bill Turner Cup drought.
Never has the proud sporting school walked away with the under-15s title, but in the likes of Evan Msonga and Tyler Pearce there is hope of a competition upset.
According to long-term football program co-ordinator Paul Bruce, the pair were instrumental in getting Ignatius Park to this stage of the Cup when they earnt their final four spot against Cairns State High School.
After conceding an early goal, the centre-back duo shut down every attacking threat that approached, and provided a platform for their teammates to thrive off in a 3-1 victory.
It may have been young midfielder Jai Duxbury who garnered man of the match honours on that day, but Bruce said the defensive combination would be the most vital connection against far more fancied opponents.
While he said it would be an against the odds triumph should they advance beyond Kelvin Grove State School Wednesday and into Thursday’s final in Brisbane, Msonga and Pearce represented the core of arguably the most balanced team Ignatius Park have fielded.
“They’re very calm on the ball, they don’t panic and they work really well together as a pair,” Bruce said. “When one goes in for a challenge the other covers for them and they keep doing that. They get into situations to shut down the opposition and it’s been really good so far.
“All their (Cairns State High’s) play was to get the ball as quick as they could to the striker, but our backs shut them down every time and they barely got a shot on our goals.
“All the younger ones have played better as we’ve progressed.”.