First match pitted McNulty up against Connolly who was using his new Orange indigenous tcha Arrows HW team and within 3mins they struck the first blow with a superbly structured move that pulled McNulty all over the place and finished with a rasping arrowed finish to put the Western Flickers player 1 nil up. McNulty tried to get back but was caught again by another fine fluid counter attack and Connolly wizzed in a second goal with a delicate chip that fizzled over the hapless keeper, Connolly continued his fine start after the mini break and struck a fatal 3rd and killer goal that handed McNulty his heaviest defeat since last year . McNulty took on Thorn in the second game but after dominating possession and creating 4 or 5 great chances he found Thorn's keeper in brilliant form and couldnt fashion that goal to break the deadlock so it ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Connolly took on Thorn and again set the pace with a clinical display racing into a 2 nil half time lead with 2 superb finishes one being another chip over the keeper and the follow up a low drive that left Thorn clasping at thin air. The 2nd half was much improved from Thorn who never stopped believing and fashioned a chance or two but ultimately Connolly yet again showed his class and scrambled home a 3rd and decisive goal to put it it to bed and keep up his 100% winking start intact. Into game 3 and Conolly took on McNulty and again was in merciless form as he took a 1 nil lead after another raid through the middle ended up with a slick finish that sailed over the keeper and 2mins later the lead was doubled after a fine set of passes unlocked McNulty yet again and the native Tasmanian was again ruthless as another accurate drive swung past to put him 2 nil up. After the mini break McNulty got back into the game as a purposely misshit daisy cutter confused Connolly who went the wrong way as the ball rolled over the line in almost slow motion to half the deficit. McNulty sensed a possible come back and with 4 mins left he got his rewards with another well worked move down the right ending in a goal to tie things up, Connolly came back and both players were counter attacking each other but the game ended all square at 2-2 as the final bleep screeched out. Mcnulty and Thorn then played out yet another 0-0 somehow and it followed the same path as the first game with McNulty creating chances but Thorn repelling every effort with a wonderful display of goal keeping meaning the last game between Thorn and Connolly made no difference to who won as Connolly was already the champion in waiting pending goal difference for 2nd and 3rd spot. Connolly beat Thorn 2 nil in the final game to claim a much deserved title and becomes the first player from over East to win a WAPSA competition on Perth soil so well done to Adrian and we hope to see him again in the future as this is his 3rd time at an event in just 2yrs now so definately a case of 3rd time lucky for the Melbourne based legend .
Full results from WASPA Connolly Cup.
0 MCNULTY
3 CONNOLLY
0 THORN
0 MCNULTY
3 CONNOLLY
0 THORN
0 MCNULTY
0 THORN
2 CONOLLY
2 MCNULTY
0 THORN
2 CONNOLLY
Report by Ross McNulty
Link: Original report
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