Preview: Waratah Cup Final

Blacktown City or Manly United. One will add to their trophy cabinet when they meet in Sunday's Waratah Cup Final at Leichhardt's Lambert Park.

IN the league, their fortunes could not be more of a contrast. Blacktown City sit second, two points from the top, while Manly sit second last and level on points with bottom placed St George.

This is cup football though, and while the boys from the Peninsula may have ridden their luck in getting to the final, its one-off nature means that they are a punters chance against the in-form Blacktown City.

It is one of the quirks of the fixtures that these two actually plated in the league last weekend. Manly took the lead through Brendan Cholakian, but Blacktown City hit back and scored a 2-1 victory with goals from Mitchell Mallia and Travis Major. 

Blacktown City have had a good cup run this year. Mark Crittenden's side have beaten Bankstown City, Marconi Stallions, Hakoah Sydney City East and Sydney Olympic en-route to the showpiece event.

In the process, they have scored 11 goals, five of them in one hit, and conceded just twice. Between the sticks for the campaign has been their young reserve goalkeeper Blake Tuxford, and he will play in the final on Sunday.

Manly meanwhile, did it the hard way. They defeated reigning Waratah Cup winners and notoriously good cup side APIA-Leichhardt Tigers in their opening match, but from there they needed extra time against Bonnyrigg White Eagles, penalties against Northern Tigers, before really coming good in the semi-final when they thrashed South Coast Wolves in Wollongong.

Kick-Off is at 3pm AEST.

Click here to read the full preview, including comments from both coaches.