The Magic of the Cup

Written by Lachlan Sherriff

The Magic of the Cup.

You'll hear about it. Read about it online. But until you truly go out and experience it, you can never truly grasp it.

I was fortunate enough to be at Jubilee Park earlier this week for a Dockerty Cup matchup for my local team, Ringwood City, who play state league four in the Victorian football system. Our opponents? None other then Oakleigh Cannons, the reigning premiers of NPL Victoria.

Immediately, when the fixture was drawn, I put it on the calendar. The prospect of one of the most well known teams in Victoria, a team that boasted former A-League talent, coming out to a stadium I grew up kicking a football oj with my mates. It almost wasn't fathomable.

And that's the magic of the cup.

Throughout the buildup, every scenario ran through my head. From Oakleigh winning comfortably, to a narrow back and forth, and to the impossible - a Ringwood win.

When the day arrived, I was met with incredible scenery all around the stadium. People of all ages lining up around the fences. Fans, youth players, volunteers - all decided to spend their Wednesday night at Jubilee Park, all hoping that Ringwood could pull off the impossible.

Immediately from the kickoff, Oakleigh were on top. This was to be expected, but Ringwood weren't going to roll over. With every tackle, every block and every save, Ringwood kept themselves in it.

Unfortunately for the home side, Oakleigh would score the opener in the seventeenth minute.

Then, disaster struck. Oakleigh were awarded a penalty.

Up steps Joe Guest to take it. He's scored countless important goals in his career against some of the best teams in Victoria. And here he was at Jubilee Park, staring down a state league goalkeeper by the name of Mark Naumowicz. What happened next sent the entire stadium into a frenzy.

Naumowicz saved the penalty.

At that moment, it was hard to explain the emotions that were on display at Jubilee Park. It was a mixture of shock, relief, and jubilation. It didn't matter that Oakleigh were still winning 1-0. In that moment, Ringwood may as well have won the entire Dockerty Cup.

Following this, the Ringwood players dug in, and kept it at 1-0 going into half time. But unfortunately, the dam would eventually break. Oakleigh scored two goals in the space of two minutes early in the second half, and at that point, never looked back. But there was still one last special moment for the Ringwood fans.

Oakleigh were awarded another penalty late in the game. Saving one penalty in a game is unlikely. Saving two is next to impossible.

Naumowicz saved it.

Again, the stadium erupted. It was a special moment. A state league footballer, and a regular working citizen, saving two penalties in one game against one of the best teams in Victoria? Only the cup can bring out that type of magic.

Of course, Oakleigh still won. The final score was 3-0, with Adem Duratovic scoring a brace. Oakleigh will advance to the round of sixteen, where they'll play Eastern Lions.

But the night was just as special for the Ringwood fans as it was for the Oakleigh ones, if not more. Forget the fact they held the reigning premiers of Victoria to three goals. Forget the fact Naumowicz saved two penalties. Just the achievement of getting to this point of the cup, and being treated with a home match against one of the biggest teams in Victoria? It was always going to be special.

Wednesday night wasn't just about the players and coaches, though they deserve their praise. It was also about the volunteers who dedicate their weekends to the club. The people handing out food at the canteen, standing at the gate or working the scoreboard. This cup run was just as much about them as it was the players on the pitch.

Sure, Ringwood City, and other state league clubs, don't have the best players. But when you experience a night like that, you realise why football at this level is so special. A night where everyone can catch up after a long day at work, see their mates, and watch a game of football at a cheap price.

The delicious food at the canteen, the Easter raffle on display, and the halftime kickabout on the pitch with your mates is only an added bonus.

Even the imperfect events that happened, like the ball getting kicked over the fence, or into the bush, or Oakleigh defender Jordon Hall running into a cameraman. They still added to the night, despite their flaws.

Oakleigh may have won the night. But for Ringwood fans, they got to experience one of the biggest nights in their modern history, and they got multiple moments to cheer about.

And that's the magic of the cup.