MCFC Reserves and Academy

Blackburn Eased to Victory

MCFC Reserves 1 - 2 BRFC Reserves

City's slimmest of title hopes ended last night when the inclusion of first teamer's and a referee and his assistants that need to go back to the classroom to understand the rules of football meant that Blackburn secured a two one victory at the regional sports arena last night in rather wet conditions.

City's line up included five players with first team experience or six if you count Glauber Berti and so as usual the older experienced players do not show the enthusiasm of the younger hungry players that have not long left City's successful academy side.

City just never really got going despite showing the occasional decent moves. Blackburn fielded a younger side that showed more determination and so it was no surprise that they took the lead midway through the first half when Julio Santa Cruz and Carlos Villanueva combined and Carlos fired a low hard shot into the bottom right corner of the goal past the old Blackburn player Gunnar Nielsen.

City were then dealt another horrendous injustice for the umpteenth time this season at these lower levels when Daniel Sturridge played a great through ball to Darius Vassell to beat the offside trap and Blackburn goalkeeper Mark Bunn rushed out and completely took Darius out; just outside the area with no defenders around. Clearly being last man and you commit a professional foul the referee is expected to issue a red card. This referee; Mr M Brown had other ideas that the yellow card was the correct decision.

City levelled the score in the fifty sixth minute when again Daniel Sturridge played a ball through and Benjani crossed the ball that was deflected by Blackburn defender Philip Jones and it looped over Bunn and into the far corner of the goal.

The game drifted after that as neither team really tested either goalkeeper until near the end when City allowed Keith Treacy to run through the defence on the left with a ball that Nielsen might have got to; but he decided otherwise and pulled away but Treacy went down with minimal or if any contact. Mr Brown awarded the penalty and even had the gaul to book Nielsen. Clearly Mr Brown had not seen the news that Brad Friedel had his red card rescinded because it was felt that Torres ran into Friedel in very much similar circumstances to when Treacy and Nielsen came in contact.

Blackburn's Villanueva stepped up coolly to convert the penalty and effectively end City's season as they did not have the desire to come back and try to win the game after this score.

City: Nielsen(GK), Logan, Garrido, Mee(Capt.), Berti, Tsiaklis, Vassell, Clayton, Benjani(Poole 66), Sturridge(D Ball 76), Weiss.

Subs: T Johansen(GK), McDonald, McGivern.


Blackburn: Bunn(GK), Jones, Simpson(Capt.), Flynn, Gunning, Hodge, Doran, Marrow, J Santa Cruz, Villanueva, treacy.

Subs: Bussman(GK), Marshall, Haworth, Lowe, Morrissey.


Att: 299.