Helensburgh re-entered the race for finals football with a 3-0 victory over Kiama seeing the side into fifth place. The Thistle scored a quickfire double just after the half-hour mark with Luke Miller sliding the ball under Callum Crapp in the Kiama goal before Kade Kinsella powered a shot home a few minutes later from inside the box. The hosts would add a third late in the second half when substitute Benjamin Watts tapped the ball into an empty net from close range.
It was the visitors who looked the brighter of the sides early on and almost took the lead in the 18th minute as a ball in from the right-hand side wasn’t dealt with by the Helensburgh defence seeing the ball drop at the feet of Chase Allchin inside the box but he lofted the ball over the bar. Halfway through the first half, the hosts created their best opening so far as Kade Kinsella picked out Jason Wellings on the left-hand side just outside the box who fired a shot goalwards which was parried away well by Callum Crapp. The Thistle created another opening at the half-hour mark with Wellings showing great determination to get to the byline inside the box on the left-hand side and muster a cross which dropped kindly at the feet of Hikaru Torigoe at the penalty spot, but a block on the line prevented the Japanese from opening the scoring.
However, four minutes later, Helensburgh did take the lead. A clever ball from Kinsella on the edge of the box centrally slipped in Luke Miller inside the box with the winger sliding the ball under the onrushing Crapp. It was two in quick succession for the hosts as three minutes later, a ball in from the left-hand side found Kinsella free inside the box who leathered a ball into the left-hand side of the goal to double the advantage for his side, Kinsella’s goal ensured the hosts went into the break with a two-goal lead.
It was a chance-shy start to the second period with neither side imposing themselves until the 67th minute when Wellings got the end of an Eamon van Zyl cross from the right-hand side picking the ball up on the left-hand edge of the box and volleying over the bar. Seven minutes later, the hosts threatened again this time through substitute Benjamin Watts who put a cross in from the right-hand side which fell at the feet of Kinsella inside the box centrally who saw his effort blocked. The Thistle did add a third in the 78th minute with Watts tapping the ball into an empty net after it was squared to him inside the box.
Helensburgh saw the game out to secure their just second win in their last five games – a result which sees the side into fifth position after University’s draw with Thirroul. The Thistle will finish the season with a difficult task travelling to fellow finals placed Shell Cove.
Coach Brad Boardman was happy his side’s overall display especially considering the side’s recent form.
“[I was] very satisfied with the team’s performance, the boys put it together especially after the past couple of weeks”, Boardman said.
“We’ll take this win today and we will approach next week with the same attitude.”
On the other hand, this was the Quarriers third defeat in a row seeing the side drop four points from fifth place making it impossible for the side to qualify for finals football. Kiama will finish the season playing host to University who will likely need to all three points to want any chance of making finals football.
Helensburgh Thistle 3 (Luke Miller 33’, Kade Kinsella 36’, Benjamin Watts 77’)
Kiama Quarriers 0
Helensburgh Thistle: 23. WARDLE Matthew, 2. CHARMAN Blake, 3. BENHAM Jarrod, 4. CROCKER Dylan, 5. MAWBEY Scott, 6. VAN ZYL Eamon, 7. WELLINGS Jason, 8. GRINHAM Jordan, 9. TORIGOE Hikaru, 10. KINSELLA Kade, 11. MILLER Luke
Substitutes: 12. WATTS Benjamin (MILLER), 13. ROWLEY Reggae (CHARMAN), 14. RODGERS Fynn, 15. STRUDWICK Bradley
Kiama Quarriers: 1. CRAPP Callum, 2. HIRIART Matthew, 3. BUSSOLETTI Simon, 4. HILL Chris, 5. WITHERIDGE Thomas, 6. CUNLIFFE Thomas, 7. SNOW Thomas, 8. SHELTON Jarrod, 9. ALLCHIN Chase, 10. CHRISTODOULOU Chris, 11. BURKE Brenton
Substitutes: 12. GLEESON Joseph (SHELTON), 13. STOCKDALE Timothy (BURKE), 14. TIDSWELL Joshua (ALLCHIN)
Date: 26 September 2020
Venue: Rex Jackson Park
Referee: Brendan Fotheringham
Assistant Referees: Club and Club
Report by Timothy Gibson
File Photo
