Curtin University Football Club were knocked out of the FFA Cup on Easter Monday as they fell to the newly formed Fremantle City Football Club. The home side handed an under strength Uni side a 3-1 defeat under grey skies at Hilton Park.

Curtin were without midfield maestro Carlo Chiellini, who is yet to be cleared from a concussion suffered in a pre season game, as well as 7 other first team regulars from last year including defensive pairing Mark Matkovic and Bryce Young, who both picked up ankle injuries during training this week.

The game started evenly with both sides having half chances but neither troubling the scorers early. This all changed when Nathan Findlater scored for Fremantle after a well struck free kick rebounded from the upright and he was in the right position to prod home and give his side the lead. Fremantle scored a second with 5 to play in the first half when lacklustre marking allowed for Andrew Morrow to rise for a free header and double his sides advantage. It stayed that way as they went into the half time break at 2-0.

Shortly after the break Francesco Gerace was introduced for Mahamud Noor allowing Eddie Tikoft to be pushed further up the field. This had an almost immediate effect as he set up Nathan Smith to draw one back for the visitors with 25 minutes left in the match.

Curtin chased the game and it was their attacking style of play that was to be their downfall as Ty Fenwick drove towards the box and found space to restore Fremantle’s 2 goal buffer.

Curtin continued to chase the game and were kept in it with a chance when custodian Mackenzie Ferguson made a fine 1 on 1 save in the dying minutes, but it was to be only a consolation as Fremantle ran out 3-1 winners on the day.

Team:
Ferguson, Middleton, Tikoft, Bucchino, Harvey, Krawec, Thapa, Paterson (Magar), Bevan, Smith, Noor (Gerace).
Written by: David Cantoni