A Michael Trajkovski hat-trick proved the catalyst for Shell Cove’s 4-0 victory against Kiama Quarriers on Sunday at Ian McLennan Park.
The side went into halftime with a two-goal advantage courtesy of Dean Krkovski and Trajkovski.
Trajkovski picked up his hat-trick in the second half to secure the side their seventh win of the season.
It was an action-packed opening 10 minutes and within the first two minutes Shell Cove created a chance.
A ball over the top into the right channel found Daniel Krkovski in on goal – forcing Quarriers keeper Alessandro Massignani into a save at the near post.
Four minutes later Quarriers’ winger James Phillips took on a shot from the left of the box that Shell Cove shotstopper Roco Zinnato was equal to.
Seconds after, Phillips was involved again delivering a cross from the left that found Toshiya Sato free in the middle, but his volley bounced wide of the right post.
In the ninth minute, Tomi Markovski found space on the left; playing the ball across the box to Dean Krkovski whose effort flew narrowly past the right post.
Five minutes later, the side found the opening goal with Elvir Catovic driving into the right channel of the box before squaring the ball across to Dean Krkovski who made no mistake from close range.
The side almost doubled this lead 17 minutes in when Rob Brown’s volley from outside the box fell just wide of the right post.
The de-facto home side continued to push on looking for further goals as Trajkovski forced Massignani into a couple of sharp saves midway through the half.
Twenty-four minutes in a swift breakaway allowed Hristijan Trajkoski to slip Trajkovski in behind on the right with Massignani getting a hand to it to tip it round the near post.
Not long after Trajkovski had another shot – this time from closer in but again Massignani was equal to it.
Shell Cove’s Catovic had a couple of chances around half an hour in.
In the 28th minute, the attacker took on a first-time shot from the edge of the box after being played the ball from a corner with Massignani pulling off a save.
Seven minutes later, Trajkovski’s right-sided cross found a stretching Catovic at the back post, but he shovelled the ball over the bar.
The side continued to pressure the Kiama defence in the final 10 minutes of the half with Dean Krkovski’s shot from a narrow angle on the right being blocked by Massignani with eight minutes to play.
The pressure finally told in the 41st minute as Trajkovski slid a smart finish into the net from the left of the box to double Shell Cove’s lead.
From the resulting restart, Daniel Toskovski was played through one-on-one with Massignani; however, the keeper made a save with his feet before the danger was cleared.
Shell Cove went into the break with a two-goal advantage.
Shell Cove continued on from the first half with the intention of adding more goals.
Five minutes in, some neat build-up on the edge of the box culminated in Brown’s first-time shot from range on the left sailing over the bar.
Four minutes later, the side found their third goal of the game.
Trajkoski received the ball inside the right channel of the box and forced Massignani to parry the ball into the path of Markovski on the left.
The forward cut it back to Trajkovski who eventually scrambled the ball home.
A minute after the goal, Catovic’s shot from inside the box struck the crossbar to deny a fourth goal.
Trajkovski secured his hat-trick just after the hour mark burying a header from a right-sided corner into the bottom-left of the goal.
In the final minute of regular time, the Quarriers thought they’d pulled one back when Dan Gillespie’s ball over the top found Tim Stockdale in the box whose shot was saved.
The ball fell into the path of Minh Nuyen who tapped home into a vacant net; however, it was ruled out for offside.
Two minutes into stoppage time Markovski saw a shot from close range saved by Massignani and not long after the final whistle was blown.
This result makes it two wins in a row for Shell Cove and sends them to second on the table.
The side is set to face Helensburgh Thistle this Saturday at Rex Jackson Oval in a top of the table clash.
Kiama also has a crucial match this weekend travelling to take on Warilla Wanderers who are two points below the Quarriers in last position.
Shell Cove 4 (Dean Krkovski 14’, Michael Trajkovski 41’ 54’ 62’)
Kiama Quarriers 0
Shell Cove: 1. ZINNATO Roco, 5. TOSKOVSKI Daniel, 8. TRAJKOSKI Hristijan, 2. TRAJKOVSKI Dimitar, 9. TRAJKOVSKI Michael, 12. CATOVIC Elvir, 10. KRKOVSKI Dean, 11. MARKOVSKI Tomi, 7. KRKOVSKI Daniel, 6. BROWN Rob, 4. JOSESKI Martin
Substitutes: KOLONJA Dusan (Daniel KRKOVSKI 19’), SOPER Hayden (M. TRAJOVSKI 64’), 3. TOSKOSKI Bobi, EL MOUBAYED Ali (KOLONJA 74’)
Yellow Cards: Rob Brown 40’
Red Cards: Nil
Kiama Quarriers: 1. MASSIGNANI Alessandro, 2. WILSON Jarrod, 3. ALLCHIN Trent, 4. GILLESPIE Dan, 5. ANTHONY Jackson, 6. MANGOS Michael, 7. PHILIPS James, 8. MURPHY Aaron, 9. RANKIN Ben, 10. SATO Toshiya, 11. ALLCHIN Chase
Substitutes: 12. CREIGHTON Harry (T. ALLCHIN 67’), 13. STOCKDALE Tim (8. MURPHY 67’), 14. NUYEN Minh (RANKIN 67’)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Date: 10 July 2022
Venue: Ian McLennan Park
Referee: Harrison Fisher
Assistant Referees: Steve Bozic and Casey Flemming
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia
