Port Kembla held on to win three points at home after a tight end to the 2nd half.
Oak Flats had the first chance of the match in the opening five minutes through Jay De Gouveia. He got in behind the Port Kembla defence and once on the left side of the penalty area fired the ball high and wide of the near post.
Port Kembla bounced back and looked to open the scoring after capitalising on a counterattack as Bojan Caric went down injured. Nicolas Tomasiello burst down the right wing with the ball and played a cross to an unmarked Dane Corolla on the penalty spot. The ball flew just millimetres over the cross bar.
In the 21st minute, Port Kembla seemed to have broken the deadlock. A shot from distance by Jason Perez was palmed by Bryce Daenell into the path of Alexander Zinnato, who placed the ball into the back of the net before it was scratched off for an offside.
As the half came to a close Sebastian Tomasiello came to the home sides aid after Michael Mendes failed to shield the ball for a goal kick. Joshua Eagleton won the ball from the byline and cut it into the path of Jelliffe who shot the ball straight into the centre back before it was cleared.
The second half opened with Port Kembla dominating and crosses coming into the box from captain Mitchell Di Pietro as the black and white could not manage to get a decent chance off.
In the 59th minute Ryan Chard was through on goal after a ball from Perez bobbled on the pitch and through the Oak Flats defender. Chard struck the ball with his laces but was straight at the keeper who palmed the ball over the bar and for a corner.
From the corner a half clearance fell to Mendes on the edge of the penalty area. He cut in onto his left and placed the ball into the bottom left corner avoiding the stacked box, giving Port Kembla the lead.
Port Kembla built momentum as Perez had a great shot outside the penalty area with a jumping side volley forcing Daenell to dive and tip the ball over the bar.
Perez created a chance for Chard as he was found unmarked at the back post. Chard was caught in two minds of shooting or bringing the ball down as the ball deflected off him and was picked up by the Oak Flats goalkeeper.
A short free kick deep in the Oak Flats half turned to be costly after the ball was lost quickly forcing them on the back foot. From deep Alexander Zinnato spotted Daenell off his line as he floated the ball into the top left corner doubling Port Kembla’s lead in the 73rd minute.
A lack of chances from Oak Flats as Port Kembla looked comfortable flipped as the game was closing with a late goal from Nicholas Gelle firing the ball into the roof of the net.
Cheap free kick given away from Port Kembla off kick off on half way gave Oak Flats one last hope as they stacked the box. Daenell passed the ball to Chris Twigg who lobbed the ball onto the head of Julian Clarino who was inches away from tying the game for the Falcons.
The game closed with a chance for Port Kembla to extend their lead after a sweeper keeper moment for Daenell saw the ball fall into the path of Chard who rounded the deep Oak Flats defender but from a far distance and a tight angle, hit the right post as the ball rolled across the face of the open net.
Report by Jack Naumovski
