The first round of the Bert Bampton Cup saw a flurry of goals across the weekend.
This years’ competition features Gerringong Breakers, Albion Park City, Uni Spurs and Hill Top FC from the Community League Division 1 First Grade.
Uni Spurs’ match against Picton Rangers and University’s game against Albion Park City were both washed out due to the wet weather over the weekend.
Balgownie Rangers 1 (James Hutton OWN GOAL 56’) Thirroul Thunder 0
In the opening competitive match for the 2022 season, Balgownie edged past a 10-man Thirroul 1-0 at Judy Masters Oval.
An early second-half own goal from James Hutton gave the home side the lead.
It went from bad to worse for Hutton, with the defender receiving his marching orders in second-half stoppage time.
In the Youth Cup fixture, Macaulay Hampton netted a first-half hat-trick to guide Thirroul to a 6-1 victory.
Berkeley Sports 2 (Damian Jorge 56’ 82’) Fernhill Foxes 3 (Kurt Foulger 9’, Nelson McLeod 57’, Ryan Crouch OWN GOAL 70’)
Fernhill overcame a resolute Berkeley side at Berkeley Sports and Social Centre with a 3-2 win on Saturday.
Kurt Foulger stabbed home a corner from very close range early on, giving the Foxes the advantage heading into the break.
Damian Jorge’s spectacular freekick from a wide angle on the left-hand side restored parity in the 56th minute.
However, it didn’t take Fernhill long to retake the lead scoring a freekick of their own a minute later.
An own goal in the 70th minute from Ryan Crouch extended the visitors lead to 3-1.
Despite Jorge claiming his second for the Goats with eight minutes to play, the home side were unable to draw level in the match seeing Fernhill through to the next round.
In the Youth Cup, Berkeley overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Foxes 3-1 with Harry Wagemans netting twice.
Unanderra Hearts 3 (Mark Picciolini 21’, Michael Murray OWN GOAL 78’, Tatsuki Nagatsuka 82’) Hill Top FC 0
2020 Illawarra District League grand finalists Unanderra recorded a comfortable 3-0 win against Hill Top FC on Saturday afternoon at Unanderra Oval.
Hearts sharp-shooter Mark Picciolini got his season off to a flyer putting the hosts ahead with 21 minutes played.
It took until the 78th minute for Unanderra to score again when Michael Murray scored an own goal.
Four minutes later Tatsuki Nagatsuka scored the Hearts third of the match seeing the side through to the next round.
Warilla Wanderers 1 (Dylan Di Cesare 90’) Shell Cove 5 (Dean Krkovski 12’, Daniel Krkovski 47’ 87’, Alexander Josifovski 78’, Michael Trajkovski 80’)
Shell Cove booked their place in the next round of the Bert Bampton Cup with a 5-1 victory against Warilla on Sunday at King Mickey Park.
Dean Krkovski gave the visitors an early lead just 12 minutes in before Daniel Krkovski scored the side’s second just after the break.
Alexander Josifovski came off the bench to make it 3-0 in the 78th minute and a couple of minutes later, Michael Trajkovski scored Shell Cove’s fourth.
Daniel Krkovski found his second of the match with three minutes to play putting the away side up 5-0.
Dylan Di Cesare scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute for the Wanderers.
Shell Cove also won the Youth Cup match with Lucas Bogoevski scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory.
Oak Flats Falcons 1 (Clint Church 60’) Helensburgh 5 (Liam Unicomb 31’, Kade Kinsella 34’, Ben Watts 77 84’, Caleb Browne 81’)
A late flurry of goals secured Helensburgh a 5-1 win against Oak Flats at Keith Bond Oval on Sunday.
Two quick-fire goals just after the half-hour mark from Liam Unicomb and Kade Kinsella gave the Thistle a two-goal advantage heading into the break.
Clint Church halved the deficit for the hosts in the 60th minute, giving the Falcons a chance in the final half-an-hour.
Thistle substitutes Ben Watts and Caleb Browne came on to great effect with Watts netting twice and Browne also scoring in the final 15 minutes.
In the Youth Cup, Helensburgh also went through to the next round with a 5-2 win.
Gerringong Breakers 4 (Joshua Hawker 21’ 43’, Alexander Boardman 53’ 69’) Kiama Quarriers 1 (Chase Allchin 67’)
Gerringong Breakers are the first Community League team to topple Men’s Premiership opposition in this years’ competition confidently dispatching Kiama 4-1 at Gerry Emery on Sunday.
Former Wollongong Olympic attacker Joshua Hawker’s first-half brace had the hosts 2-0 up at the break.
Alexander Boardman scored the side’s third just after the break before the Quarriers pulled one back through Chase Allchin.
However, two minutes later Boardman netted his second of the match to make it 4-1 ensuring the Breakers an emphatic victory.
Review by Timothy Gibson
Photo: Graham Brown
