Five Star Display Sees Central Reach Cup Final

Manchester Central put in a stellar performance in the Semi Final of the Manchester Challenge Trophy, putting five past Heyside which sent them through to the Final, adding to the recent collection of Cup finals for Central.

Much of the talk will be about Dennis Rasposo, who made his cup debut for Central and did not disappoint. Scoring a brilliant hattrick, Rasposo was at the top of his game and put in an all-round display to remember.

But it was a great team performance from Central, defending like a unit and showing purpose and precision going forward, much to the pleasure of manager Chris Tomkinson and chairman Paul McGuire.

Chris Tomkinson made three changes from his last starting line-up, starting Gabriel Wiwoloku up front replacing Ruben Lawal, whilst Aria Asqari and Damani Hall came into the backline for Emmanuel Sholabi and Sultan Kasali.

It was a tentative start from both sides in the opening exchanges of the game, which saw Heyside keep possession of the ball whilst not really creating any openings and Central happy just to settle into their defensive shape and wait for an opportunity.

However, it was Central who created the first chance of the game. On the break the ball found Gabriel Wiwoloku, who shifted it onto his right and took a shot which deflected towards the bottom corner forcing a first save from Kyle Chambers in the Heyside net.

Just after the ten-minute mark, Rasposo had his first flurry of opportunities in quick succession. First taking a heavy touch that allowed the keeper to block, and then was denied by a brilliant recovering challenge by a Heyside defender.

The resulting corner found the head of Wiwoloku, whose scuffed effort bounced off the outside of the post and trickled wide. Central were beginning to take control of the game and it only seemed like a matter of time before an opening goal arrived.

And with just over 20 minutes played, Central did strike first after a brilliant effort from distance by Damani Hall hit the upright and fell fortunately to midfielder Kaine Martin who couldn’t miss with a five-yard tap in to give Central a deserved lead.

Heyside responded well however, creating their best opportunity of the match when their number nine turned Asqari smartly and struck a vicious effort towards the top corner, only to be met by Daniel Whiting in the Central goal.

Just five minutes later, Central doubled their advantage at the half hour mark. Claudio Costa was played down the left and whipped in a cross which bounced around the box, only to be controlled and finished intelligently by Rasposo on his Central cup debut.

The home side once again looked for a swift response, this time from a corner which was delivered from the right and fell to a Heyside man whose header luckily for Central could only clip the top of the crossbar.

With the game much more open, chances were coming thick and fast for both sides, as a long ball played by Central was flicked on by Rasposo into the path of Wiwoloku, whose tame effort was comfortably parried by Chambers.

A more direct approach was visibly working for Central in the first half, and it payed dividends as they got a third. An accurate ball by Asqari found Rasposo in behind, who brought it down brilliantly and produced a composed finish to put Central in cruise control.

Soon after came another chance, this time for Wiwoloku whose wait for a goal continued. A searching ball down the left channel found Rasposo who cut inside and delivered a superb cross to his strike partner, but his effort was nudged just wide of the post.

This concluded the first half action, in which Central quickly found their groove and took full control. Heyside’s risky high line proved too risky, which saw Central find themselves in behind constantly, and surely warranted a change of approach at the break if they looked to get back into this Semi Final tie.

Heyside got the ball rolling again in the second half seeking a livelier display, but it was Central who continued their pressure. Hall began the second half in the same fashion as the first, playing a clever pass to Rasposo who took a good touch, but his effort rolled wide of the post.

It seemed a goal for Wiwoloku was never going to come in this one, as another chance went begging. A corner was whipped in on the left by Junior Silva which fell to Wiwoloku, but his effort once again drifted wide of the target.

Then followed a 15-minute spell, where both keepers had little to do as both sides struggled to create any opportunities, but it was in this spell where Central were clever and managed the game superbly to keep Heyside completely out of the game.

It wasn’t until the 69th minute where Central added a fourth, and it was the best of the lot. A sublime piece of skill by Silva on the right saw him breeze past his defender to which he then delivered a special cross to Wiwoloku who finally got his angles right and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

A special bit of play by Central and Silva in particular, and it rather summarised Central’s performance. Dominant at both ends of the pitch, it was their best display of the season so far and one which they will hope to build on in the coming weeks.

Tomkinson decided to make some changes, bringing on Luca Navarro for Nell Noupoue in midfield, and hand a debut to Bamba Fall who came on to replace Claudio Costa.

And with ten minutes left in the match, Rasposo rounded off a complete display, latching onto a pass by Silva, then driving infield and showing great composure to power the ball into the bottom corner to complete his hattrick.

Unfortunately, Central couldn’t hold onto the clean sheet, as Heyside a couple of minutes later grabbed a consolation as a looping header beat Whiting in the Central goal, which leaves Central waiting for a first clean sheet since September 17th.

A couple of saves in the last minutes of the game kept Whiting busy right until the final whistle, and this period also saw Ruben Lawal come off the bench and waste a glorious chance to get on the scoresheet in the dying minutes.

But in the end, it was Central who ran out the convincing victors of the Semi Final, with a special performance to match. A much-needed display for the away side, who can use this result to drive their season forward.

Central will now await the other Semi Final to played after its delay and will expect to face either Irlam Steel Rangers or Chadderton Reserves in what will be another special occasion in the history of Manchester Central Football Club.