Balgownie Rangers 4 game winning-streak was snapped by a rampant Coniston Football Club when they were defeated 4-1 away from home. Going into the game Balgownie's and Coniston's points tallies were identical, so a closer score-line would've been expected.

 

The action-packed game came to life in the 6th minute with Coniston's, Hiroaki Kohinoki finding space on the edge of the box firing a left-footed strike off the post leaving the keeper stranded. Double that time and Christopher Stevanovski for Coniston got on the end of a cross from the right-hand side at the near post which just flicked into the wrong side netting. Despite this early onslaught from Coniston, Balgownie soaked up the pressure and went forward themselves in the 17th minute, as a long throw-in from the right-hand side caught the Coniston defence napping with James Seymour taking advantage by slicing a half-volley into the bottom right-hand corner to give Balgownie a slender lead against the run of play. Four minutes later, Coniston responded through Bradley Moreira who took aim from around 25 yards out, but his effort ended up wide of the post. In the 24th minute, Dinko Terzic continued Coniston's sustained pressure by firing a shot into the arms of Hugh Bahnert from inside the box. Two minutes later he was involved again hitting another shot but, on this occasion, it was deflected over the crossbar.

 

It took until the 38th minute for Coniston to have their next shot which came from Stevanovski whose curled effort cleared the crossbar. A minute later and Coniston came forward again with Kohinoki dribbling through several challenges before putting a ball into the path of Stevanovski who once again cleared the crossbar. Three minutes later Coniston had a corner which found its way to the back post where Terzic lashed a shot goalwards but Bahnert was equal to it and sent it round the post for another corner. The corner was whipped in with real ferocity and Kohei Enokido attacked it with purpose, but his headed effort was too central and Bahnert was able to acrobatically tip it over the crossbar for another corner. Another corner followed which had a bit too much on it and went right over the top of everyone who was waiting to attack it in the middle. The ball ended up on the other side and was put back into the box with Enokido once again getting his head to it though this time the ball fizzed over the crossbar for a goal kick.

 

A game dominated by Coniston didn't show in the score-line as Balgownie went into the break with an away lead of 1.

 

Seven minutes into the second half and Coniston were back on level terms through Terzic who unleashed an outrageous strike from outside the box which nestled in the top corner. One minute past the hour mark and Terzic obviously encouraged from his equaliser found himself free at the back post but his attempted volley went over the crossbar. He didn't have to wait long for his second goal however as a minute later he converted a penalty which was placed with power into the bottom left-hand corner out of the reach of Bahnert. The 67th presented Terzic with a brilliant opportunity to get his hat-trick when a long ball bounced awkwardly for Balgownie's Bahnert who hesitated before clearing it. This left Terzic with the opportunity to head it around the goalkeeper and finish it into an empty net to seal his hat-trick and put Coniston into a seemingly unassailable lead.

 

Showing other qualities of his game, Terzic found space to cross the ball where Stevanovski was waiting for it but the ball was cut-out by the Balgownie defence before he could apply the finishing touch. In the 73rd minute, Kohinoki had a right footed shot which ended up over the crossbar. The 75th minute was marked with Terzic for Coniston already with 3 goals to his name, adding a fourth as he let a ball played into his feet run which opened up an angle for him to shoot.  His original strike was saved and he made no mistake with the rebound firing it into the roof of the net from within the 6-yard box. Coniston was now 4-1 up against a team that had started the day on the same points as them. From the kickoff, Balgownie went down the other end and immediately won a penalty which Anthony Oliver stepped up for. His penalty woefully went over the bar much to the crowd's amusement. Ten minutes later Coniston had a fantastic opportunity to add a 5th goal as Cameron Solevski had ball played to him, but his effort from inside the 6-yard box was impressively kept out by Bahnert.

 

Into stoppage time, Coniston kept pushing for that elusive 5th goal as Michael Cimino thundered a strike from range and the keeper could only watch as it cannoned off the post. In the last minute of stoppage time, Balgownie had one final opportunity to score a constellation goal when a quick one-two found Kurt Dorahy who leathered the ball straight at a grateful McGinnes.

 

The close match that was anticipated between the two sides really didn't eventuate as Coniston ran over the top of an underwhelming Balgownie side. This result leaves Coniston level on points still with a 100% record which they will hope will be continued as they travel to face a University side that has only won once all season. As for Balgownie, they will hope to get back on track, but this won't come easily when they face an inform Thirroul side.

 Saturday 21st April 2018 at JJ Kelly Park

 

Coniston FC - 4 (Terzic, 53’,63’, 68’ 76’)

 

Balgownie Rangers - 1 (Seymour 12’)

 

Coniston FC: Ben MCGINNES, Kohei ENOKIDO, Takayuki KAYANO, Hiroaki KOHINOKI, Dinko TERZIC, Julian CESTA-INCANI, Christopher STEVANOVSKI, Bradley MOREIRA, Christian PLAKIAS, Ryan VANDENBERG, Matthew CUDA

 

Substitutes: Cameron SOLEVSKI (STEVANOVSKI), Bowen SIMPSON, Michael CIMINO (VANDENBERG), Lachlan MARTIN (PLAKIAS)

 

 

 

Balgownie Rangers: Hugh BAHNERT, Lachlan VENEY, Brandon LEWIS, Anthony OLIVER, Matthew MCCOY, Jim YOUSSEF, Sebastian DALLAS, Tom SHANNON, Scott MUILWYK, James SEYMOUR, Anthony VARDAREFF

 

Substitutes: Jackson DUMMETT (SHANNON), Kurt DORAHY (YOUSSEF), Benjamin KEARTON, Lucas BRUCE (VARDAREFF), Liam STEVENSON

 

Referee - J THOMPSON

 

Assistant Referees - R. SINDEVSKI and J. MARKHAM

 

Report by Tim Gibson, @Timg123_

Photo by Noel Wynn