United End Season With Away Loss In Dead Rubber

On Saturday 7th September Murray Bridge United travelled away to play against Budapest in Adelaide. The result did not matter whatsoever for either team other then to enter the off season with a victory. After the unusual circumstances which ended the B Grade game early, the united A Grade had a point to prove against the physical side of Budapest. The game started with United looking the better side. The first 10 mins saw both sides attacking each other on the counter attack with United stringing together some impressive forward runs. Scott Graham and Kane Oppelaar were lively on the wings which. Created a lot of space for United and the team was working together well until they got close to goal when composure was lacking. After 15 mins the scores were still locked at 0-0 and United had the first real chance on 20 mins when Lucas Ragazzo in his comeback game, dispossessed the Buda centre back and ran towards goal unmarked. He got to the box before hitting a shot just wide of the goals, United should have taken the lead. In 25 mins, Buda made united pay when they won a free kick 25 yards out. The forward hit the strike into the wall with the ball bouncing back to him, he hit a well hit shot towards goal and Fintan Heaney in goals could only deflect the ball away only for a striker to be first to it and hit it passed Heaney in goals. 1-0. United players were devastated but continued to press forward and won 3 corners in 5 mins only for all chances not to be taken. On 35 mins Buda attacked down the right with the ball being cut back well to an attacker who was crunched from behind by K Oppelaar, it was a close call, but the ref did not hesitate in pointing towards the penalty spot. The striker hit the ball well passed the helpless Heaney in goals. 2-0. In the final 10 mins, United had a few more chances, one was from a low cross by Graham on the right which Harley McFee hit well straight at the keeper. Dylan August also had a chance which the keeper parried away also. All of Uniteds attacking players had chances in the first half with none being taken. Half time came with a united down 2-0.

After half time United knew they were still in the game knowing Buda did not look very dangerous from open play. With The United defence of Nathan Whitehead, Thompson Brinkworth and Josh Margetts marshalled by Lloyd Oppelaar and looked solid throughout the first half. United started the second half where they left off, looking good going forward and working the ball through the midfield well to hit Ragazzo and Stuart Bradshaw's feet to work forward as a team. But still United were unable to take any chances which they created for themselves. Graham was continually damaging with his runs down the right wing, which got in behind the defence several times. Margetts showed composure beyond his years as always in defence and he assisted in several forward movements from the back. On 65 mins, Bradshaw had a half chance from a chipped pass by August which he controlled but was cut off by the keeper. On 70 mins Whitehead was forced off the field by injury and this changed the dynamic of the game with the United defence becoming unsettled. On 75 mins, Buda in the counter hit the United defence quickly to find a way through and the striker made no mistake from close range. 3-0. They didn't let up there when 5 mins later they again hit United on the break, and again made no mistake. 4-0. United continued to try and hit the score board and K Oppelaar nearly set this up when he played a chipped pass through to August into the box, who hit a first time shot which was saved by the keeper. Heaney pulled off a remarkable save soon after the keep the scores at 4-0. On 85 mins, Margetts intercepted the ball in midfield and dribbled forward well, he then timed a perfectly weighted chipped pass to Bradshaw who earnt some applause when he got onto the ball and beat the keeper at the far post with a nice finish. 4-1. The game ended soon after, United finish the season with confidence ahead of next year, after rebuilding the squad over the last 2 seasons. If this young group can stick together there will be great things on the horizon for all involved. Best on the day were, Margetts, Bradshaw, Graham and Whitehead.

B Grade Game Ends With Knockout Blow

United were playing to get off the bottom of the table which made this game far from a dead rubber. But they never really had a chance with the club ref seemingly a part of the Buda team with his shocking calls and handing cards out only to United players after Buda players had done worse. The first half was very un eventful thanks to the ref being so biased that all United players found it hard to enjoy much about the game. In the first 20 mins neither side could make a chance which was worthy of a goal and the scores stayed at 0-0. On 30 mins, Lloyd Oppelaar in goals attempted to clear the ball, only for the ball to deflect into the oath of an attacker, with the attacker hitting the ball well in to the unguarded net. 1-0. The game continued in the same way, with the ref being very one sided until half time. With Ryan Lewcock coming off with a ripped shirt after some dirty tactics by an opposition player.

Uniteds aim in the 2nd half was to attempt to get back into the game, but to have fun while they were at it. They started the 2nd half well looking to have more run in the legs then the ageing Buda team. On 60 mins the task got a lot harder when a Buda run down the right wing got in behind the United defence with the attacker playing a cross / shot which somehow got over Oppelaar and finished up in the net. 2-0. Uniteds midfield of Naimat Nasiry, Bahati Onesphore, Lewcock and Shane Barton Ancliffe continued to work hard, but could not find a way forward through the defence. Until on 70 mins when the ball trickled in to the path of the pacey Matt Penta, he hit a fierce first time shot on his non preferred left foot which flew into the top left hand corner of the net. 2-1 and United felt they were coming. 2 mins later Penta went in for a challenge against the home keeper with them both ending on the ground and the keeper attempting to kick Penta in the head before getting up and pushing and shoving. Of course the ref came over and gave Penta a yellow card and said nothing to the keeper. This poor referring is what forces games to become dangerous and soon after, the game lost control. On 75 mins, the keeper rushed out to collect a high ball in front of Penta yet again. This time the keeper went out of his way to attempt to hip and shoulder Penta who did not back away, before the keeper dropped the ball and disgracefully started swinging punches, Penta blocked these before throwing one punch of his own in defence which floored the keeper and appearing to break his nose before Penta was pulled from the scene. On that note the game was called off. Best for United were, Penta, Irvine, Onesphore.