FALCONS FLY TO SLIM VICTORY OVER HEARTS
Oak Flats secured an important three points over District League rivals Unanderra on Saturday afternoon with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Keith Bond Oval. The scoring was opened just past the quarter-hour mark when Mark Piccionlini converted from the spot to give the Hearts the advantage. The Falcons restored parity five minutes before the break courtesy of Kyle Del, before taking the lead ten minutes into the second half when Bojan Caric scored what proved to be the winner.
It was a fast-paced first period with both sides looking to gain the advantage early. 13 minutes in, Oak Flats came down the right-hand side with Kyle Del picking the ball up on the right-hand edge of the box. The forward fired towards the bottom left-hand corner, forcing Brandon Groom into a save. A minute later, the Falcons created another opening with Daniel Munilla moving the ball inside from the left-hand side and curling a shot wide of the far post. Three minutes later, the Hearts were awarded a central freekick 25 metres from goal. Luke Picciolini took responsibility and delivered a shot – prompting a diving save from Ryan Franks. Franks’ save parried the ball into the path of Mark Picciolini, who drew a foul from Franks inside the box causing referee Greg Reid to point to the spot handing the Hearts a penalty. Up stepped Mark Picciolini who made no mistake from the spot – converting with relative ease and sending the ball into the top left-hand corner with Franks diving the other way. Picciolini’s strike means the 2018 District League winner now has nine goals in his last three games.
The hosts responded to going behind four minutes later when Daniel Munilla picked up the ball on the right-hand side and twisted and turned and eventually delivered a ball into the box for Bojan Caric who was unable to make contact with his head. Five minutes later, the Hearts went in search of a second as a freekick was awarded on the right-hand side. Luke Picciolini delivered a ball into the box which found Mark Picciolini free in the box who couldn’t direct his header either side of Franks.
At the half-hour mark, the Falcons produced their best opportunity so far when another Munilla cross from the right-hand side was only cleared as far as Jarryd Vinton on the edge of the box, who then thundered a strike into the crossbar. Three minutes later, Mark Picciolini again looked dangerous as he drove inside from the right-hand side, going past several players before playing the ball to Dominic Magill who saw his shot from inside the box saved. With five minutes to play in the opening half, the Falcons equalised, with Kyle Del picking the ball up on the right-hand side before sliding the ball under an onrushing Groom.
Del’s finish meant the sides were unable to be separated at the break, leaving it all to play for in the second period.
Oak Flats came out of the sheds firing and created an opening two minutes in when Munilla delivered a cross into the box from the right-hand side, seeing the ball narrowly miss the head of Caric. Seven minutes later, the visitors carved out an opening of their own, with Daniel Jorge putting a cross into the back post where Daniel Savenno brought the ball down and eventually produced an effort which struck the outside of the post. A minute later, the Falcons took the lead through Caric, with a ball in from the right-hand side finding the striker who then made no mistake of the effort, powering the ball into the net.
Just before the hour mark, Unanderra looked to find an equaliser. Mark Picciolini taking aim from the edge of the box saw his effort deflected wide for a corner. Three minutes later, Del found some space on the left-hand side and ran towards goal, eventually playing the ball to Munilla who was forced wide which narrowed the angle for a shot – resulting in the winger’s effort being blocked. A couple of minutes later, Del again exploited space on the left-hand side, finding himself in a similar position moments before. On this occasion, the ex-Woonona striker opted to shoot from range – seeing the ball narrowly miss the crossbar. With ten minutes to play, the visitors had a great chance to equalise when a freekick from the right-hand side from Daniel Jorge found the head of Mark Picciolini who flicked the ball goalwards – prompting a spectacular save from Franks who deviated the ball over the crossbar.
The Falcons held on to secure the win which moves the side into third place.
Oak Flats will now face Shell Cove on Thursday night at Keith Bond Oval before taking on the Kiama Quarriers on Sunday at the same venue.
Meanwhile, the Hearts will look to get back to winning ways when they travel to face Berkeley next Saturday.
Oak Flats Falcons 2 (Kyle Del 39’, Bojan Caric 55’)
Unanderra Hearts 1 (Mark Picciolini 18’)
Oak Flats Falcons: 1. FRANKS Ryan, 2. KOTRC David, 3. LLOYD Brenton, 6. WADE Aden, 7. VINTON Jarryd, 8. CAPPETTA Christian, 9. CARIC Bojan, 11. MUNILLA Daniel, 12. STEVENSON Jamie, 13. DEL Kyle, 14. TILDEN John
Substitutes: 15. BUNANJA Marko (CARIC), 4. MINDZAS Tom (VINTON), 5. BAUSCH Alex (MUNILLA), 16. OBRIEN Gavin
Unanderra Hearts: 1. GROOM Brandon, 2. JORGE Daniel, 6. MOREIRA Bradley, 5. PERRY Joel, 12. PERINICH Michael, 7. PLAKIAS Christian, 8. SAVERINO Michael, 9. SAVERINO Daniel 17. Magill Dominic, 13. PICCIOLINI Mark, 10. PICCIOLINI Luke
Substitutes: 11. BRIDGE Scott (L. PICCIOLINI), 4. D’ALESSIO Claude, 40. SALLABANK Ben, 35. MANFREDI Lorri (PERRY), 37. OSBOURNE Lachlan
Date: 15 August 2020
Venue: Keith Bond Oval
Referee: Greg Reid
Assistant Referees: Jacob Zipparo and Michael Rowney
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
