Blacktown City aim for FFA Cup redemption

The scars from last year’s Westfield FFA Cup exit to Bentleigh are fuelling Blacktown City’s desire to banish those devastating Cup memories next Wednesday night, says City star Travis Major.

City face MetroStars from SA in a fascinating clash on the opening night of the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 on Wednesday night. 

And for Blacktown star Major, last year’s loss at the same stage of the Cup is still a sore point for the group and their fans.

City went down to Bentleigh Greens 1-0 a year ago in the Round of 32, with the Victorian club conceding after the game they rode their luck on the road in Sydney thanks to a David Stirton winner.

Blacktown City v Bentleigh Greens

Bentleigh Greens edge Blacktown

But City are in smashing form in the NSW PS4 NPL, on top of the ladder with the best defence and second best goals stats after just one loss in 18.

City are on a roll and you sense City have the confidence and strike power to make amends for 2014's Cup exit. 

Major certainly hopes league form will parlay itself into Cup winning form at Lilly Football Centre in the west of Sydney on Wednesday night.

“We had a tough game last year against Bentleigh,” Major told www.theffacup.com.au

“They scored early and sat back and we couldn’t break them down. We were absolutely gutted.

“We dominated Bentleigh for 90 minutes… credit to them though, their defence was very strong and their keeper repelled everything. 

Travis Cooper in action against Bentleigh Greens.

“So definitely we’ve got some unfinished business in the FFA Cup and we want to mend that wrong from last year,” he said.

For fans of the Hyundai A-League there will be a number of familiar faces in Mark Crittenden’s Blacktown squad.

“Mitchell Malia is an ex-A-League boy. Myself I’ve played at the Mariners and we have Joey Gibbs too though he’s injured,” said Major.

“We also have Yianni Perkatis in midfield from Wanderers and Matthew Lewis is ex Mariners too.”

Also watch out for Danny Choi. He’s a ripper of a striker who banged in two goals against Manly last weekend. Expect Choi to be on the A-League radar this year.

And down back Zach Cairncross is a top defender who’s had A-League experience and adds quality to City’s back four.

Zach Cairncross in action for Blacktown City.

Major hopes an early goal to City will lay the platform for a win on Wednesday.

“We’re pretty dynamic and quick all over the field,” he added.

“And we’ve some real technical players who are also workhorses in midfield.

“But we know MetroStars won the NPL last year against a top NSW side in Bonnyrigg, so we know they’ll be very difficult.”

**Palm Beach SC will kick-off proceedings against South Melbourne at Cbus Stadium as the first match to be broadcast live and exclusive on Fox Sports on Wednesday 29 July. The other matches on match day 1 of the Westfield FFA Cup 2015 Round of 32 include Broadmeadow Magic FC v Heidelberg United FC, Blacktown City FC v MetroStars SC and Hume City FC v Brisbane Strikers FC where there will be single camera coverage by Fox Sports to ensure that every goal is captured. This single camera coverage will also apply to all non-full broadcast matches throughout the Round of 32, Round of 16 and Quarter Finals.**