MATCH OF THE ROUND
Shellharbour FC drew with Coniston 1-1 @ Barrack Heights Sportsground
The match got off to a fast start with both sides looking to have a go.
Inside the opening minutes, an Aleksander Duckinoski cross found an unmarked Nathan Cario just eight yards out. He headed into the ground taking pace of the ball as Kayden Harrison managed to get a hand, deflecting it wide.
Just minutes later, Toby Norval broke free down the left for Coniston. He managed to get a cross away that found Cameron Morgan on the penalty spot. He took a neat touch to control the ball before placing his shot into the corner, giving the visitors the early lead.
Midway through the half, Riley Seadon put in a teasing ball into the box that saw Danil Romanov stretch out to toe the ball just wide.
Not long and at the other end, a long ball saw some confusion in the Shellharbour defence. Keiran Kuzmanovski chipping the ball over Adam Rodriguez, however, his effort just sailed over the bar as well.
Both teams struggled for consistency in the second half, with just a few half-chances falling to Jacob Gjorsevski, Norval and Romanov, with each of their efforts not testing the goalkeepers.
The game came to life in the dying minutes as things got desperate.
In the 84th minute, a free kick from the right was floated in the box, Shellharbour substitute William Slater managed to flick his header looping it over Harrison for the equaliser.
Coniston almost responded immediately when Marco Pennisi cross for Tyson Black who had both goalbound efforts blocked.
In the dying minutes, Norval’s shot from the edge of the box stung the fingertips of Rodriguez as he managed to keep his effort out.
In the end, both sides were forced to share the points. The result does very little for either side.
Both clubs face further important fixtures next week, with Shellharbour hosting South Coast United and Coniston hosting Port Kembla.
Berkeley Sports defeated South Coast United 2-1 @ Berkeley Sports ground
Berkeley Sports bounced back from two consecutive losses to edge out South Coast United, who themselves haven’t won for over a month.
Chris Hollingshead put the home side in front with a well-taken goal on ten minutes. The striker scoring his sixth goal of the season.
In a tight game where chances were at a premium, Preston Ridley gave the goats some breathing space when he finished a neat move to put Berkeley up by two.
When Luke Simac pulled a goal back for United on 78 minutes, it was game on. South Coast pushing hard for an equaliser.
It wasn’t to be as Berkeley held firm, recording an important win that puts them just three points off a playoff spot.
After a promising first half of the season, South Coast United have fallen away a little bit and will have a week to get things back on track before they play a desperate Shellharbour side.
The goats also have a week off before travelling to Helensburgh.
Albion Park White Eagles drew with Bulli 2-2 @ Terry Reserve
In a game of two halves, APWE clawed back a two-goal deficit to take a point at home to Bulli.
Logan Mathie opened the scoring for Bulli on four minutes as his shot from the edge of the box somehow found it’s way through a crowd of players before it slipped under Cristofer Fuentes.
On the half hour, Jayden Makowski saw his curling effort from just outside the box brilliantly saved by Ben McGinnes.
There was a flurry of action just after half time. Firstly, Deakin Peterson missed a golden chance to extend Bulli’s lead as he blasted over from eight yards out. Moments later, McGinnes made another close range save off Matthew Floro.
Then, Fuentes was called into action deflecting a Ben McDonald shot wide.
Mathie grabbed his second just ten minutes after the break as he latched onto a loose ball in the box to slam his shot into the underside of the crossbar and in.
APWE changed things up with some substitutions, which seemed to shift the momentum.
Midway through the half, Matthew Floro’s header off a Sam Alston cross halved the deficit before another of the substitutes in, Cody Waller, blasted home with 11 minutes to go as Bulli’s hard work was undone.
It was a tense and fiery ending to the game, with both sides having to settle for a split of the points.
The Eagles remain unbeaten across their last nine matches as they sit third however, they face off against Olympic next week in a match that could see them jump into second.
Bulli will consider themselves unlucky as they have a week to regroup before tackling Cringila Lions.
Cringila defeated Port Kembla 4-3 @ Wetherall Park
We saw an entertaining game at Wetherall Park which produced a seven-goal thriller.
Andre Dias put the visitors ahead inside the opening minutes with a curling free kick from 20 yards out finding the top corner.
On 16 minutes, Dias combined with Anthony Krstevski to send Shotaro Iwamoto through down the right. He drove towards goal before finding the inside of the far post to put Cringila two goals up.
Taiga Nakayama pulled a goal back just ten minutes later when he got a head to a cross from the right.
The home side drew level right at halftime when they won on penalty. Jordan Prentoski saw his first effort saved; however, he buried the follow-up.
On the hour, Cringila put themselves back in front when Peter Simonoski latched onto a long ball sliding past Blake Coad.
Prentoski restored parity yet again when he got a foot to a cross across the goal to tap in from close range on 76 minutes.
Right at the death, Marko Filipovic found Simonoski inside the box. The striker took a touch to compose himself before curling an effort into the corner to round out an enthralling game.
Wollongong Olympic drew with Helensburgh Thistle 3-3 @ Elizabeth Park
For the second week in a row, Olympic left it late to snatch points. Helensburgh letting a two-goal lead slip through their fingers after a late fightback.
Olympic took the lead on 11 minutes after some strong pressing forced a turnover. Mitchell Brooker stole possession before beating a defender and firing inside the near post.
Helensburgh equalised in bizarre circumstances midway through the half. Nick Littler played the ball back to Hayden Durose, who appeared to take his eye off the ball for a second as it trickled past him and crossed the line.
On 57 minutes, Ethan Lehn drove past a defender on the right before passing across the goal. Thomas Busch reacted quickest as he pushed the ball past Durose from close range.
Helensburgh extended their lead on 77 minutes. A long ball was chased down by Charlie Jones. He managed to square the ball to Michael McStay, who saw his first effort saved, but he managed to put his follow-up effort away courtesy of a slight deflection.
With just a few minutes left, substitute Vasili Kastoumis threw Olympic a lifeline after he collected the ball outside the box. He managed some fancy footwork to beat a defender before firing a shot that bounced awkwardly in front of Luke Morgan, who was unable to keep the effort out.
Dramatically, just two minutes later, a cross from the right deep to the far post from Rick Goodchild was headed in by Yasukawa Masato to level the scores.
The draw sees Helensburgh maintain fourth place; however, this is not the first time this season they have conceded late goals, dropping points. They have the week off before hosting Berkeley Sports.
Olympic, on the other hand, can consider themselves fortunate. The point keeping them in second place; however, they now find themselves five points adrift. They face APWE in a previously postponed match that has implications for both sides.
Wollongong United defeated Tarrawanna 3-2 @ Tarrawanna Oval
United got off to the perfect start when a long ball by Jason Zufic inside the opening two minutes wasn’t dealt with well enough by Tarrawanna. Jordan Nikolovski pouncing on a loose ball, burying it past Jaxson Cracknell.
Just ten minutes later, another long ball found Nav Darjani on the right. He fired a tame effort that somehow slipped under Cracknell with Kyah Jovanovski cleaning up the loose ball from close range.
Wollongong United had two goals ruled out midway through the half for off side as they piled on the early pressure.
Just before the break, yet another long ball was misjudged by the Tarrawanna defence. Sam Matthews gaining possession before driving to the goal. He squared to Darjani as he drew Cracknell in. Darjani’s effort going in off the post as United were three in front and cruising at the break.
Just after the break, United gifted Tarrawanna a goal when a failed clearance from Tom Alston ricocheted off a player into the path of Kade Kinsella, who dispatched the opportunity.
Midway through the second half a quick break caught the United defence napping as Jayden Grumley got on the end of a long ball, chipping it over Alston to reduce the deficit to just a goal.
It was perhaps a game of two halves as United held on to record a nervy win that, given the results on the weekend, now takes them five points clear at the top.
United take on Cringila in a previously deferred game next week, whilst Tarrawanna will have a week to reset before they meet Wollongong Olympic.
Feature Photo: Snapped Sport Pics
