The CCMA Men’s U18’s are in seventh heaven after running riot in a 7-0 demolition of Spirit FC in the Round 8 fixture to remain undefeated during season 2014.
CCMA Men’s U18’s are in seventh heaven after running riot in a 7-0 demolition of Spirit FC in the Round 8 fixture to remain undefeated during season 2014.
The Mariners Academy were rarely troubled on their way to their sixth win of the season – extending their unbeaten run to eight games in the process as they consolidated first place on the ladder in the 18’s division of the Supa IGA Men’s National Premier League 2.
It became clear from the opening whistle that the game would be won in the midfield, where early play was congested as both sides worked their way into the clash. Opportunities were limited at best as both teams looked to break the deadlock.
The Mariners found their feet quickest midway through the first interval as the first clear-cut chance materialised when the Spirit keeper handled the ball outside of the 18-yard box. Unfortunately, CCMA just couldn’t make the dead ball stick as Thomas Lyons struck the ball low and hard past the wall only to watch it whistle inches wide of the post.
Minutes later however, the home side took the lead through a slick finish by striker Trent Buhagiar – who ghosted in on the near post to head home a delicate cross from the right wing.
The Mariners had well and truly taken a stranglehold on the match as they began lay siege to the Spirit goal without mercy until a crafty lob from 25 yards caught the visitors keeper in no-man’s-land and saw Connor Wilkinson double the advantage for the undefeated Academy side after 31 minutes.
After heading into the interval two goals to the good, the Academy started the second stanza in much the same way as they finished the first. Strong and consistent pressure on the Spirit defence eventually produced their third goal of the afternoon in the 48th minute, courtesy of a tidy finish by Lyons from six yards after a low powerful cross from the right side.
Lyons added to the tally again after 67 minutes, when a smooth one-two outside the box saw him through one-on-one with the visitor-s keeper, and Lyons made no mistake as he buried the ball in the corner of the net with some assistance from the left upright.
The impressive Cade Mapu netted a hat trick to round out the scoring as the clock wound down, as Mariners Academy U18 consolidated their place atop the Supa IGA Men’s National Premier League 2 standings.
