Berkeley picked up their first points of the season in a 2-0 victory over Kiama Quarriers at Berkeley Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon.
After a goalless first half, the home side hit the front early in the second period, with Kiama defender Dan Gillespie putting the ball into the back of his own net.
With 15 minutes to play, the Goats added a second through substitute Jake Gates.
The side also missed a penalty in the 85th minute, with Brane Radmanovic’s effort saved by Alessandro Massignani.
It was a slow start to the match with the only major chance coming in the sixth minute.
Berkeley’s Aurin Jones delivered a corner from the right that fell straight back to him; he then sent a lofted cross towards the back post that dropped just over the bar.
Kiama had a purposeful period of play starting in the 19th minute as a ball in from the right found Chase Allchin at the back post.
The forward attempted an acrobatic volley that was saved by Claude D’Alessio in the Berkeley goal.
A couple of minutes later, the Quarriers threatened again Fynn Cowen sent a curling shot from the edge of the box towards the top right corner prompting a top draw save from D’Alessio who tipped it over the bar.
Just after the half-hour mark, the visitors had another shot; this time Gillespie took aim from range but D’Alessio was equal to it.
Towards the end of the half, the hosts had a more positive spell with Mondo Kagami shifting the ball inside from the right in the 37th minute but sliced the shot wide of the left post.
Five minutes after this, Berkeley nearly opened the scoring as Jon Adams found space in the right of the box and passed the ball to Radmanovic in the middle whose effort bounced onto the left post.
The sides went into the sheds level despite both teams having close moments in the first half.
Only five minutes into the second half, the Goats took the lead as an accurate Adams’ cross from the right looked destined to find a Berkeley player at the back post before Gillespie bundled the ball into his own net.
After finding the opening goal, the home side began to routinely find space in behind the Quarriers’ backline.
Three minutes after the goal, Adams was played through face-to-face with Massignani, but the keeper blocked Adams’ shot with his feet.
A minute later, Berkeley’s Nuno Pires found space on the left; however, the former Port Kembla forward saw his effort float past the back post.
In the 75th minute, the hosts eventually added their second of the game as substitute Jake Gates’ ball towards the back post from the right bounced off the far post and into the net.
10 minutes later, the side was awarded a penalty that Radmanovic stepped up for.
The ex-Coniston man side-footed his shot towards the left of the goal, although Massignani chose the same way and batted the ball away preventing a third goal for the Goats.
With three minutes to go, the home side pushed forwards again as Adams hurdled Jackson Anthony’s challenge in the box and attempted to slide the ball home, but Massignani made yet another save.
The match finished with Berkeley running out 2-0 winners against Kiama.
Berkeley Sports 2 (Dan Gillespie OWN GOAL 50’, Jake Gates 75’)
Kiama Quarriers 0
Berkeley Sports: 1. D’ALESSIO Claude, 2. MUSCAT John, 3. MOON Greg, 4. CROUCH Ryan, 5. TILL Hayden, 6. MATSUOKA Ryosuke, 7. RADMANOVIC Brane, 8. JONES Aurin, 9. PIRES Nuno, 10. ADAMS Jon, 11. KAGAMI Mondo
Substitutes: 12. GATES Jake (KAGAMI 70’), 13. KING Jarryd, 14. TRENESKI Save (PIRES 73’), 15. SKANDARI Mohammed, 21. BOERSMA Lachlan
Kiama Quarriers: 1. MASSIGNANI Alessandro, 2. WILSON Jarrod, 3. DALE Oliver, 4. GILLESPIE Dan, 5. COLEY Cam, 6. PHILLIPS James, 7. SNOW Tom, 8. HINKLEY Adam, 9. BRADDISH Gregan, 10. ALLCHIN Chase, 11. COWEN Fynn
Substitutes: 12. ANTHONY Jackson (PHILLIPS 82’), 13. STUDMAN Col, 14. ALLCHIN Trent, 15. WALLPOE Drew
Date: Saturday 7 May 2022
Venue: Berkeley Sports Ground
Referee: John Ruscica
Assistant Referees: Joel Nees and Club
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
File Photo
