Fernhill Foxes secured their first victory of the season getting up 4-0 against Berkeley at Berkeley Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon.
Daniel Djukic netted a hat-trick for the visitors, while Matt Galanti also got on the scoresheet.
A winless run of three matches to start the year, saw the Foxes make a purposeful to start to the match holding the ball high up the field regularly.
Within the first couple of minutes, Jordan Hughes took aim from the edge of the box, but it rolled into the keeper’s arms.
As Fernhill continued to move the ball forward, the side found the opening goal in the 17th minute.
Some intricate play around the edge of the Berkeley box found Kyle Del in the right channel who passed the ball to Galanti at the back post, and he made no mistake from close range.
The side looked intent on scoring more; in the next 10 minutes Hughes twice taking aim from the edge of the box but couldn’t find the target with either.
32 minutes in, the away side scored their second as Daniel Jorge’s corner from the right found Djukic in the middle who headed into the goal from the middle of the box.
Only four minutes later, the side added a third; Djukic was played clean through on goal and calming passed the ball under the keeper.
The two quick-fire goals towards the end of the half put Fernhill in a strong position heading into the second half – three goals to the good.
After making a couple of personnel changes at halftime, Berkeley created an opening in the 51st minute as some good linkup play on the left culminated in Damian Jorge sending his shot over the bar.
The first-half trend of Fernhill forward play set in again as 55 minutes in, a long ball from the right dropped to Hughes at the back post who was unable to keep his shot down.
Four minutes later, Trent Worthington picked up the ball on the right and played it to Del who didn’t make the right contact with his left-footed shot sending it over the bar.
Just after the hour mark, Djukic shot over the bar as well after finding space on the edge of the box.
The hosts created a chance of their own in the 64th minute as Damian Jorge dragged an effort wide of the right post.
With 20 minutes to play, Djukic completed his hat-trick poking the ball beyond substitute goalkeeper Claude D’Alessio from inside the box.
Eight minutes later, Berkeley almost pulled one back with Damian Jorge stealing in to nick the ball over Valon Rizvani in the Foxes goal; facing an open goal.
However, a perfectly timed challenge from Kurt Foulger steered the ball away for a corner.
In the final three minutes of the match, Save Treneski’s rolling effort towards the goal line was cleared away.
Fernhill went on to secure their first set of three points this season in a comprehensive rout of Berkeley.
The Goats are scheduled to travel to Thirroul next Saturday hoping to get their first win of the season against a Thunder side that is also winless.
The Foxes will have a tough task when they host Unanderra who currently sit top of the table.
Berkeley Sports 0
Fernhill Foxes 4 (Matt Galanti 17’, Daniel Djukic 32’ 36’ 70’)
Berkeley Sports: 1. WHITE Tyrone, 2. MUSCAT John, 3. MOON Greg, 4. KING Jarryd, 5. TREVISI Aaron, 6. MATSUOKA Ryosuke, 7. GATES Jake, 8. VITUCCI Chris, 9. TRENESKI Save, 10. JONES Aurin, 11. KAGAMI Mondo
Substitutes: 12. RADMANOVIC Brane (VITUCCI 30’), 13. JORGE Damian (GATES 46’), 14. TILL Hayden, 15. ADAMS Jon, 21. D’ALESSIO Claude (WHITE 46’)
Fernhill Foxes: 21. RIZVANI Valon, 2. JORGE Daniel, 3. FOULGER Kurt, 4. CALDER Lachlan, 5. OLIVER Anthony, 6. WORTHINGTON Trent, 7. HUGHES Jordan, 8. KOTRC David, 9. DJUKIC Daniel, 10. GALANTI Matt, 11. DEL Kyle
Substitutes: 12. MCLEOD Nelson (DEL 75’), 13. HUNTER Ryan (GATLANTI 79’), 14. MINDZAS Tom, 15. DJUKIC Dejan (KOTRC 70’), 1. HADAYA Yacoub
Date: Saturday 23 April 2022
Venue: Berkeley Sports Ground
Referee: Brendon Fotheringham
Assistant Referees: Damien Dennelly and Lachlan Davidson
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photos by Richie Wagner
