Tense 12 minutes as Moreland takes draw from St Albans
By LOU VERGA (@LouVerga)
Moreland City has taken a point from its encounter with St Albans Saints, after a 1-1 draw at Campbell Reserve on Saturday.
Nick Scerri opened the scoring for the visitors shortly after the hour mark, but Casey Thomas found an equaliser 15 minutes from time to ensure the points were shared.
The opening half hour saw both sides vying to establish themselves, with every ball fiercely fought for.
Trent Waterson had the first real chance in the 17th minute, heading the ball just over the crossbar after Brandon Galgano’s punch had fallen to the winger.
Nicholas Sarbin had the best opportunity of the half ten minutes before the break, but the midfielder couldn’t find the target from eight yards out with the goal gaping.
Moreland struggled to trouble St Albans at the back in the first half but were immediately a threat at the start of the second, with Nej Sahin shooting inches wide after finding himself space in the area.
The match entered a quiet period after that, until Daniel Sweeney created something from nothing.
Taking on one defender, he struck a 25-yard volley that Galgano diverted over the bar with a fine fingertip save.
Moments later Scerri had St Albans ahead. Waterson’s cross from the right found its way to the number 11 who placed a neat volley back across Galgano and in off the upright.
The home support was celebrating in the 68th minute when substitute Kam Simsek dinked the ball over Stuart Webster, but it struck the bottom of the upright and somehow stayed out.
But Moreland did have their equaliser in the 76th minute, with substitute Vlad Khamees making an immediate impact. The winger squared the ball to Thomas who opened up his body and lashed a shot past a powerless Webster to give his side a point.
Match details:
Moreland City 1 (Casey Thomas 76’) drew with St Albans Saints 1 (Scerri 64’) at Campbell Reserve
Moreland City: 1. Brandon GALGANO, 2. Yang TOU-YENG, 12. Shane CARR, 18. Orrie KARA, 21. Nej SAHIN, 23. Mo KURUCU, 17. Liam BRIAN (20. Rob BAZZANO 80’), 14. Casey THOMAS, 8. Corey THOMAS, 9. Gareth RICHARDS (11. Kam SIMSEK), 7. Ossie KOSE (13. Vlad KHAMEES 74’)
Unused substitutes: 5. Ossie KARA, 16. Nathan BOURZELAS
Yellow card(s): Corey Thomas 36’, Sahin 72’
Red card(s): None
St. Albans Saints: 1. Stuart WEBSTER, 2. Ryan McGUFFIE, 3. Nana Yaw OTUO (13. Anthony BORAS 84’), 4. Nicholas SARBIN, 5. Tedros YABIO, 23. Daniel SWEENEY (18. Ben SHAPER 80’), 7. Trent WATERSON, 8. Ross HARVEY, 9. Barry DEVLIN, 11. Nicholas SCERRI, 15. Konrad DOBRASZKEIWICZ (20. Ante Kozul 74’)
Unused substitutes: 12. Damien PETERS, 21. John SCOLLO
Yellow card(s): Harvey 15’, Otuo 78’
Red card(s): None
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