South Coast United pulled off an incredible result, stunning Coniston FC 1-0 at Ian McLennan Park on Saturday night.
Advin Trebincevic scored the winner in the 83rd minute to secure one of the results of the season so far in the 2023 Illawarra Premier League.
Coniston looked to sprint into an early lead with Tobias Norval and Matthew Floro both going close with shots inside the first 10 minutes.
The hosts did well to restrict Coniston to long-range efforts in the opening exchanges.
Just after the half-hour mark, Coniston’s Lukas Stergiou fired a free-kick goalward that United goalkeeper Christopher Skara held on to.
While South Coast had defended well up until this point, the side had struggled to have any impact at the other end of the pitch, with Coniston dominating the ball.
However, the home side had a great chance to steal a lead 37 minutes in, with James Brodnik’s shot from inside the box parried away well by Kaydin Harrison in the away goal.
The visitors made a habit of pinching the ball high up the field in the first half and almost scored with a minute to play. Norval receiving the ball in the right of the box and seeing his consequent shot flash wide of the left post.
The sides went into the break level, with it still all to play for in the second period.
Coniston came out for the second half with renewed enthusiasm and almost opening the scoring a couple of minutes after halftime. Floro skipping into the box and side-footing an effort that looked destined for the bottom right corner but for a top save from Skara to tip it around the post.
After this opportunity, the game resumed its general trend with Coniston holding most of the ball and United sitting in. The possession didn’t seem to do the visitors much good, struggling to break down South Coast.
However, some creative brilliance from Van Elia playing a sharp one-two with Matthew Tschentscher saw the attacker run through on goal in the 66th minute. He attempted to roll the ball into the far-right corner, but Skara pulled off the save, although immediately after, Elia was brought down in the box for a penalty.
Elia stepped up and thundered a strike that cannoned off the underside of the crossbar before the ball was cleared.
Tschentscher had a chance of his own five minutes later getting on the end of a left-sided cross, forcing Skara into another superb save.
Coniston continued to put United under pressure with Norval driving into the left of the box in the 80th minute and powering an effort wide of the near post.
The side would be left to rue missed opportunities as South Coast snatched the lead with seven minutes to play.
Alexander Galbraith finding Trebincevic on the left edge of the box who buried an accurate bouncing shot inside the near post.
The host withstood a nervy final few minutes to earn a valuable victory.
Next round, South Coast United travel to Wetherall Park to face Port Kembla, while Coniston are also on the road taking on Wollongong United.
South Coast United FC 1 (Advin Trebincevic 83’)
Coniston FC 0
South Coast United FC: 41. SKARA Christopher (GK), 19. CASEY Adam, 14. BRODNIK James, 12. COOK Lachlan, 6. FARKAS Adam, 5. FARKAS Antonio, 8. GALBRAITH Alexander, 4. JONJIC Michajlo, 3. LONCAR Lucas, 10. TREBINCEVIC Advin, 9. VALJAK Nicholas
Substitutes: 2. ANIC Antoni (COOK 85’), 28. GANDER Jake, 7. KASUNIC Thomas (VALJAK 75’), 21. KRAJNOVIC Joshua (GK), 29. WEAIRE Talon (GALBRAITH 90+6’), 22. ZERAFA Jacob (TREBINCEVIC 85’)
Yellow Cards: Adam Casey 45’, Michajlo Jonjic 66’, Advin Trebincevic 90+7’
Red Cards: Nil
Coniston FC: 1. HARRISON Kaydin (GK), 4. BLACK Tyson 10. ELIA Van, 7. FLORO Matthew, 3. KAYANO Takayuki, 5. LOE Daniel, 19. NORVAL Tobias, 18. SKURTEVSKI Payton, 6. STERGIOU Luke, 13. Cassidy Tanddo, 17. ZUFIC Jason
Substitutes: 20. BOOTH David (GK), 33. MILINKOVIC William, 11. MORLANDO Jake (SKURTEVSKI 75’), 23. PRENTOSKI Jordan (BLACK 81’), 9. TOMASIELLO Nic, 22. TSCHENTSCHER Matthew (FLORO 62’)
Yellow Cards: Takayuki Kayano 36’
Red Cards: Nil
Date: Saturday 15 April 2023
Venue: Ian McLennan Park, Kembla Grange
Referee: Reece Edwards
Assistant Referees: Stuart Bell and Brendon Fotheringham
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photo courtesy of Graham Brown
