United Back To Winning Ways With Away Win

On Saturday 17th August Murray Bridge United travelled away to play against Adelaide Uni at their home ground in the Adelaide CBD. Looking to bounce back from 3 defeats in a row, United were confident they could change their fortunes against a team above them on the ladder. The pitch was very wet and soggy and on Game Day morning the B Grade game was cancelled to save the pitch for the A Grade. United lined up almost the same as the week prior with Josh Margetts and his great disposal and reading of the game moving back to left back and Harley McFee moving into Centre Defensive Midfield. The change seemed to work well when the game began, with Uni unable to break down United’s defence. The game began with both midfield trying to take control and Uni started the better of the two sides on their home, muddy, small pitch. This meant the game was more condensed with no time on the ball and the first 20 mins consisted of attacks from Uni, with several long shots being taken at the ever green Andrew Beaven in goals for United. But none came close to breaking the deadlock. On 15 mins, United had one of the chances of the half when Dylan August got on the ball and played it to Lucas Ragazzo in box, who got on the ball and hit a shot passed the keeper, with the ball rebounding off the cross bar and going out for a corner. On 20 mins United had a slight formation change adding a second striker to pressure Uni’s sweeper who continued to get on the ball. On 25 mins with the scores still at 0-0 United again came so close, when a long throw from August in the left corner was knocked on and McFee found the ball only for his attempts at goal from close proximity to be blocked more than once. United unlucky not to take the lead. But at the other end Uni continued to have the majority of possession, but time after time hit a brick wall of United’s defence of Lloyd Oppelaar, Nathan Whitehead, Thompson Brinkworth and Margetts. Right on half time, United won a corner which Kane Oppelaar swung in from the left. The ball appear to be going in from the corner until the Uni keeper made a great save to stop the goal with the ball going out for another corner. The ref refused to allow the corner blowing for half time before it could be taken. It is a rare thing for a ref to call time on a half while a team is deep in attack.



United used the half time break to catch their breath knowing the last time these two teams met, United ran over Uni at the end. The second half began a much more even contest when it came to possession with Uni not having the same composure they began the game with, but united pressuring them immensely and hitting them on the break. It was like a new outfit from United with all players on the pitch going harder at the ball than in recent weeks and hitting Uni players hard. The ref called several fouls and kept the game under control, with no cards coming out. The first 15 mins of the second half had no real chances on goal for either team, but on 60 mins the deadlock was broken. Scott Graham picked up the ball in attacking midfield and played a short pass back to August on half way, who had a touch before hitting a pass down the line for Graham to run onto. He took his defender on towards the corner before hitting the ball in towards the centre. The defence were first to act to clear the ball, only for McFee to block the clearance with the ball flying high across the box to Ragazzo who hit a superb first time volley low into the bottom right of the net to make it 3 goals in 3 games. 0-1 United. United’s tails were up and they continued to take the game on in hard conditions and Uni had no answers again with having a couple long range chances. On 75 mins United should have gone 2 ahead when another long throw in from August was knocked on to the back post on a skinny pitch, with K. Oppelaar reacted first hitting the ball passed the keeper with the ball appearing to be going in, Graham made sure of it knocking it in from the line only for the ref to disallow the goal for Graham being offside. United argued as although it appeared to be going in Graham was not offside as he came from behind the defender. The next 10 minutes were hotly contested with Uni making 2 changes to try to get back in the game. But United were solid at the back all day long with no mistakes or sloppy goals being given. On 80 mins United again went close when August and Ragazzo combined in the box for Ragazzo to hit a shot which the keeper parried away and August was against his defender to make the ball first with the defender dragging August down with the ref calling play on. The result was confirmed on 87 mins when another August long throw was knocked on to the back post with Graham putting the tap in away and making the final result 0-2 for United. The players celebrated with a hard fought win away from home to climb back into top 3 contention. Not to mention the clean sheet also, which is a congratulations to the defence unit. Best for United were, McFee, Whitehead, K Oppelaar and Graham. Next week United have their last home game for the year against USC Lion with all invited to com along.