News

RECA SIGNS OFF WITH VITAL GOAL

Magic Utd 0

Musgrave 2 (M. Reca, P. Cronin)

HT 0:0

MUSGRAVE’S creative forward Max Reca put his side on course to another vital win with the opening goal in what was his final game of the season for the title hopefuls.

Reca returns to Argentina for study commitments this weekend and his trickery will be missed by Oscar Langone’s men who have established a solid reputation of having the individuals in their ranks who can turn tight games.

Musgrave’s ability to convert their chances proved the difference between the two sides once again as Magic spurned early opportunities to take the lead.

Such wastefulness was to haunt the Brett Budwee-coached team when Reca broke the deadlock of a highly entertaining game midway through the second half.

If Langone is to miss the wizardry of Reca in the coming weeks he can console himself with the form of striker Pat Cronin who showed his quality once again with the decisive second goal as the clock ticked down.

Needing just one touch on the edge of the box, Cronin dispatched an unstoppable drive into the net to confirm his status as one of the league’s top marksmen.

With 27 goals in 10 games Musgrave have the arsenal to continue on with their good form despite the loss of Reca, but Langone admitted his popular playmaker would be missed both on and off the field.

“It was good for Maxi to get a goal in his last appearance and also for us to win. We are sad to see him go as he’s not just a good player but a fantastic person and a great club-mate; everybody likes him,” Langone said.

How Magic coach Brett Budwee must be wishing his side had Musgrave’s killer instinct in front of goal, particularly in the bigger games. Having comfortably accounted for sides below them, Magic have come unstuck against the teams expected to be their rivals for a top four slot. Had they engineered even one of their five defeats into a draw or a win they would be looking down at the rest of the pile this morning.

Budwee is acutely aware of his side’s deficiencies but remains upbeat thanks to the overall quality of his team’s efforts this term.

“It was a good match; both teams had opportunities to win it and Musgrave took theirs. Up until their goal our defence had handled Musgrave really well – they were excellent.

“Against the so-called lesser teams you can get away with missing the odd oppportunity because the chances tend to keep coming. Against the better teams though if you only get four or five opportunities and don’t take one of them then it’s backs-to-the-wall stuff,” he said.