Bell Park and Corio through to semi-final of Morris Finance Cup

Bell Park and Corio through to semi-final of Morris Finance Cup

Roy Hay

A one-all draw between host club Bell Park and Surfcoast at Batesford on Sunday night was enough to ensure that Park and Corio would qualify for the semi-finals of the 2016 Morris Finance Cup from Group B.

In what was an even game for the most part there was no score in the first half. Mijo Marinovic put Bell Park into the lead in the 52nd minute but Matt Humphries equalised ten minutes later. Neither side could add to the score and though Surfcoast needed the win to reach the semi-finals, Park held out till the end.

The second game pitted Geelong against North Geelong Youth. A draw would have allowed both sides to qualify for the semi-finals but Geelong took the lead late in the first half through Brodie Patterson. The midfielder was left unchallenged just outside the penalty area and struck the ball past Joel Gawne.

The keeper was adjudged to have kicked out at an opponent as a he ran past and was subsequently booked by the referee.

As the game drew to a close Geelong were awarded a penalty and Michael Temelkovski scored from the spot. There was an altercation in the goalmouth resulting in three red cards to Temelkovski and Billy Argyros and Anthony Banovac of North.

The result means that Lara United goes through to the semifinals on goal difference from North Geelong.

Next Friday North Geelong Youth plays Surf Coast in the match between the teams which finished third in their respective groups, while Geelong will take on Corio for a place in the final on 21st February. On Sunday it will be the bottom teams in the two groups at 6 pm—Surfside Waves versus Geelong Rangers.

Then at 7.20 pm Bell Park will meet Lara United with the winner advancing to the final.