13.05.2008 – Nick Bailey
Sydney University continued their resurgence in the NSW Super League on Sunday, holding competition leaders FC Bossy Liverpool to a 0-0 draw in a gutsy performance at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Battling a massive injury list, with some 24 players currently unavailable, University once again called on young guns from the under 20s squad, and they continued to impress.
Aaron Kidd can be considered unlucky not to have led the Students a massive upset victory, having been denied three times in front of goal in cruel circumstances. Kidd rounded the keeper only to have a wicked bounce deny a certain goal, turned his defender but was thwarted by a magnificent save from the Liverpool goalkeeper and pounced on a half chance that whistled over the bar.
Simon Turner convincingly patrolled the midfield, while Anthony Costa in goal, and Sam Fish and Ed Noel in centre defence are proving more and more impenetrable as the season progresses.
Head Coach Bruce Tilt can see the light at the end of the tunnel for the Students and is heartened by the courage shown from his young charges:
“It has been a tough start to the season with players missing vital parts of the preparation stages but hopefully we are now turning the corner and the view is much brighter,” he says.
“The first team are now on a roll and it is important we keep looking forward to the next challenges. Since the players are so young they play without fear and this is a real positive, I believe we will slowly move up the competition table and a semi-final spot is still well within our goals.”
While making the semi-finals is a tough ask, Tilt points out the season is still young:
“We are only a third of the way through the season and all teams have dropped points,” he says. “As long as we worry about our own backyard I think we will get the results.
“Our biggest motivating factor has been our performances against the better teams in the competition so we certainly believe we are doing a lot of things right.”
University can continue their march up the ladder when they take on PCYC Parramatta away at the Melita Stadium this Sunday afternoon. The Students can overtake Parramatta on the ladder with a win at a ground where the home side has lost their last two. Kick -off is at 3pm.