BALCATTA SEE RED IN ASHFIELD BOILOVER (with Ilija Mihalj, Football West)

A Ryan Frisina brace has helped first-division Ashfield stun eight-man Balcatta 4-1 to book a quarter-final Night Series berth in an action-packed Night Series encounter at Wotton Reserve on Friday night.

Adam Tong, Jovo Pavlovic and Veo Human all received their marching orders in an astonishing 12-minute period as the top-flight side imploded in a game it looked like winning comfortably early on.

In the sixth minute, a moment of indecisiveness from Ashfield centre-back Martin Sherwin saw winger Daniel Micevski get in behind before he was fouled by the defender who appeared to be the last man.

Referee Anastasios Paraskevas subsequently pointed to the spot, giving the benefit of the doubt to Sherwin despite Micevski being metres from goal - Balcatta captain Tong stepping up to confidently convert and put his team 1-0 up.

Ashfield was second-best for most of the opening period but equalised slightly against the run of play when enigmatic midfielder Darryl Warren caught the Balcatta defence napping before sliding a left-foot shot past Bobson Karoma in goal.

Darryl Warren looks back as his shot hits the old onion bag; Photo Courtesy of Ashfield SC

With their supporters now in full voice and sensing a possible upset, Ashfield's players gathered momentum as the half drew to a close but were lucky not to go in behind at the break after Balcatta striker John Thornley blasted over when he really should have scored from Steve Burton's knock-down.

That miss would come back to haunt last season's League Premiers as within five minutes of the re-start Ashfield was ahead.

Frisina's seemingly harmless shot was trickling towards Karoma who inexplicably fumbled into the path of the waiting Karl O'Reilly who couldn't miss from a yard out.

Balcatta was rattled and an inability to capitalise in the final third was proving its downfall.

In the 62nd minute, brilliant wing-play and a cross from Warren down the left forced Pavlovic to hurry his clearance over the bar and almost turn into his own net in the process.

Once again Balcatta was made to pay and from the resulting corner Steven O'Mahoney picked out Frisina at the back post who headed across goal emphatically to make it 3-1.

Only needing a point to advance, Balcatta threw everything forward and in the 72nd minute Tong thought he had pulled one back when his header appeared to have crossed the line.

Already booked for dissent eight minutes earlier, Tong's remonstrations didn't go unheard and Paraskevas issued the Englishman his second yellow card for taking his protests over the top.

Seven minutes later, Pavlovic was also sent for an early shower after what was deemed to be a two-footed lunge on Ashfield midfielder Ruben Tristao, despite the big defender clearly getting some of the ball.

Balcatta's misfortune was confounded from the resulting free-kick when Karoma split Sherwin's effort straight at the feet of Frisina who made it 4-1 to complete his double and silence the opposition fans.

There was still time for second-half substitute Human to see red after a sideline scuffle which saw both sets of players and benches involved.

After the match, star striker Frisina emphasised the team effort that saw them inflict one of the biggest upsets of the pre-season so far.

"Tonight was a big night for the Ashfield Soccer Club," he said.

"The boys put in a massive effort and worked hard all week at training.

"We did the things we had to do and had a good result at the end."

Triumphant Ashfield coach Matt Carruthers was also optimistic in his side's chances against either Floreat Athena or Shamrock Rovers in next Friday's quarter-final at Dorrien Gardens.

"We played Floreat in the Cup last year and were a little underdone, but (whoever the opponents are) hopefully we take this week's game into next week and give it a real go," he said.

Ashfield 4 (Daryl WARREN 29', Karl O'REILLY 50', Ryan FRISINA 62', 82')
Balcatta 1 (Adam TONG pen 7')

Date: Friday, 17 February 2012
Ground: Wotton Reserve, Embleton
Match time: 6:30pm
Referee: Anastasios PARASKEVAS
Assistant referees: Dusan RUJIC and Andrew GIORGI

Ashfield: 1. Jon PERKINS (gk), 2. David GORDON, 3. Matthew WARDLE (c), 4. Steven O'MAHONEY, 6. Ruben TRISTAO (5. Mark HUMPRHEYS 84'), 8. Karl TATE, 9. Brian MAYBIN, 10. Karl O'REILLY (15. Ian GRIFFITHS 77'), 11. Martin SHERWIN, 12. Darryl WARREN (13. Paul QUINN 84'), 14. Ryan FRISINA

Substitutes not used: RGK. Brad EIFFE (gk), 7. Ashley PICKER
Yellow cards: David GORDON 7', Brian MAYBIN 36'
Red cards: Nil

Balcatta: 20. Bobson KAROMA (gk), 4. Julian MADASCHI, 5. Adam TONG (c), 6. Michael BLACK (19. Shane NUNES 66'), 7. Daniel MICEVSKI (14. Veo HUMAN 67'), 8. Jason BARRERA (3. Mark WALSH 66'), 9. John THORNLEY, 11. Steve BURTON, 13. John MIGAS, 15. Paul VATISTAS, 16. Jovo PAVLOVIC

Substitutes not used: RGK. Simon MADASCHI (gk), 2. Simon ELTON-BOTT
Yellow cards: Adam TONG 64', 72', Steve BURTON 80', Shane NUNES 80', Paul VATISTAS 83'
Red cards: Adam TONG 72', Jovo PAVLOVIC 79', Veo HUMAN 83'

 

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