United too strong for a brave Villa

Report by Peter Simcox

Swan United moved into the first round of the State League Cup after overcoming a brave Belmont Villa in the Preliminary Round at Gerry Archer Reserve on Monday afternoon.
 

First half goals to Trent Wood, Miki Vujacic and Chris Atkinson set United on their way, while John Monterosso added a fourth in the second half. It could have been more for the visitors but a great performance from Villa keeper Sean McEwan kept the score line respectable. United opened brightly and Aaron Colli won possession in the middle of the park and sent Justin Skowron in on goal after only two minutes, but the striker fired wide from 10-yards. The visitors didn't have long to wait for the opener, and on 12 minutes Rory Hollingum cross from the right was flicked on by John Monterosso and Wood fired home at the back post.

Villa were defending in number, but their best chance of the half came on 25 minutes. Rory Mouttet was caught in possession, and his attempted clearance went straight to striker Ryan Baxter, his shot from 20-yards flashed inches past the post.

Then 10 minutes later United should have doubled their lead. Great work on the left by Rhys Loxley ended with a cross from the bye-line, and Colli's shot from eight-yards flashed inches past the post with McEwan beaten.

Villa then won a corner on 41 minutes, and Benjamin Kovadio's set-piece picked out the unmarked Jonathan Steingiesser, whose header beat United's keeper Jordan Howell, but Mouttet was alert to clear the ball off the line, and United hit on a quick counter attack and doubled their lead.

John Monterosso's pace took him clear, and he fed Wood on the right. The midfielder's pin-point cross picked out Vujacic, who headed home from close-range.

It was 3-0 just before the break. Atkinson picked the ball up on the half way line and ran at the Villa defence, before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25-yards that flew into the top corner of the net.

United opened the second half where they left off the first and added a fourth on 51 minutes. A fantastic through ball from Hollingum sent John Monterosso clear, and last season's First Division top goal scorer finished clinically past McEwan.

United should have added more, on 65 minutes Dom Ando's corner fell to Wood, but his snap shot from six-yards was well saved by McEwan. The keeper did even better on 82 minutes, Wood was the provider this time picking out Ando, who's shot from 12-yards was superbly saved by the Villa custodian.

Then three minutes later United did beat McEwan, but Hollingum's curling shot crashed off the post and away to safety. Moments later, and with the Villa defence tiring, Colli's powerful shot was pushed away by McEwan, and he reacted well to save Jordan Brown's follow up shot.

United running out 4-0 winners and Coach John O'Reilly was happy with the workout. "I was happy with the defence today, they were solid, but we have to work on our attacking options, as we should have punished them today, and we never," said O'Reilly.

"We need a little more composure on the ball in the final third, but their keeper made a number of good saves, which shows our strikers are creating chances, which was pleasing, just disappointing we never converted them."

Villa coach Fred Boulding was delighted with his side's performance against a strong United side. "We got a lot out of tonight's game, we've only been together for a couple of weeks so I'm really happy the way they stood up," said Boulding.

"Swan were very organised and nullified us and we really struggled to get past their defence, and Sean McEwan made some great saves to keep the score line respectable."

In other results on the day, Wanneroo City overcame Joondalup United 1-0 thanks to a Guy MacDonald goal, while North Perth United edged out BB United on penalties after the score was 1-1 after extra-time. A late goal in extra- time by Daniel Trevisiol gave Canning City a 2-1 win against Southern Spirit. Emylyn Whetnall gave City the lead before Guy Rugel equalised from the spot on 71 minutes. Kingsway upset division one side Fremantle Spirit on penalties after the score was 3-3 after extra-time. Hamersley Rovers beat Quinns 2-0, Rockingham City edged out Forrestfield United 1-0, Cockburn City won on the road at Kingsway Olympic, 2-0 while Mandurah City continued their unbeaten start to the season by beating Joondalup City 3-0.

Belmont Villa 0
Swan United 4 ((Wood 12', Vujacic 42', Atkinson 44', John Monterosso 51')
@ Gerry Archer Reserve
Date - Monday 9th April 2012
Kick off - 3pm
Attendance - 100 (Approx)
Referee - Shuo Chen

Belmont Villa - GK Sean MCEWAN, 2 Michael BOWE, 4 John KIERNAN, 5 Youssef SAGAALE, 6 Samuel AINSCOUGH, 8 Jonathan STEINGIESSER, 9 Ryan BAXTER (16 Daniel GIBNEY 58'), 10 Fode MINTE (15 Said A'ODLLAH 81'), 12 Kevin MCGREAL (7 Mohumed SAGAALE 85'), 13 Patrick BARRY, 14 Benjamin KOVADIO

Subs not used - RGK Chris KEMP, 3 Mahamoud YASSIN
Yellow Cards - Minte 21', McGreal 72'

Swan United - GK Jordan HOWELL, 3 Justin SKOWRON (17 Thomas BLACK 69'), 4 Robert MONTOROSSO, 5 Christopher ATKINSON, 6 Aaron COLLI, 7 Rory HOLLINGUM, 8 Rhys LOXLEY (14 Dom ANDO 54'), 9 Trent WOOD, 10 Miki VUJACIC, 11 John MONTEROSSO (2 Jordan BROWN 67'), 15 Rory MOUTTET

Subs not used - RGK Connor ANDERSON, 16 Michael ITALIANO,
Yellow Cards - Atkinson 34'