Oak Flats grabbed their second consecutive win to finish off Pool 3 in the Fraternity Cup with a 1-0 win over Bellambi at Memorial Park. With Coniston playing Helensburgh in the other Pool game, Oak Flats had a chance to go top with a win, or be in with a good shot at qualifying for semi's as the best placed 2nd team.

It was to be a long morning for both sides, with chances coming at a premium in a match played out predominately in midfield - consistent possession being hard to come by.

Oak Flats began the match well - forcing Ben Levai into an early double save - Luke Greathead playing Jarryd Vinton into the box with a low shot saved by gloveman Levai. With the rebound falling to Ryan Franks for a first time shot, it took the outstretched foot of Levai to deny the effort creeping in at the near post, and was cleared to safety.

It was Greathead constantly in the action, heading a free kick into the woodwork after 10 minutes and beating two only to shoot over the bar on the quarter hour mark.

Oak Flats continued to push for the opener very hard in the first period. Vinton spurned the best chance of the half as Christian Capetta made a return-pass to put him through one-on-one with Levai, only to roll a tame shot straight at the onrushing gloveman.

Greathead completed the first half action by collecting possession from a scuffed clearance, driving a shot low across goal only for Levai to get low and parry it out for a corner.

In a half where Bellambi managed only two meaningful attempts on target, a 0-0 score-line at the break would have suited them nicely.

This match was the match of Greathead though. Within a minute of play resuming, Chad Kection squared from the by-line into the feet of the striker, in front of an open goal from 6 yards, but he skied the shot over the bar from close range.

Bellambi begun opening up the midfield as the half wore on, resorting to long shots from Keisuke Sato, Jacob Miller and Jack McNamara, the latter scuffing his shot from a well-controlled cross into the ground from 10 yards unmarked at the far post.

You couldn't have scripted it, but every striker's nightmare got even worse for Greathead on the hour. Vinton got in behind the Bellambi defence and put in a great low cross, only for Greathead to put a second shot from inside the 6 yard box over the bar.

With scores still locked at 0-0, one got the impression that Bellambi would find a way to punish the poor finishing of Oak Flats. They nearly did so with ten minutes to go - Darren Carney cutting in off the left wing and curling a right-footed shot at the far post, however a full stretch Ben Wunsch get both hands to it and claimed the catch spectacularly.

Agonisingly, Greathead had another two efforts go astray, firstly rising highest for a free kick which was inches above his head, before a dipping shot from 25 yards went wide of the upright.

It was however Greathead who did break the deadlock with only two minutes to play - Daniel Munilla beating his man down the left wing and crossing into the area low and hard, Greathead side-footing first-time into the far side netting to take the lead. The striker showed noticeable relief at finally bagging a goal after enduring torrid finishing all game.

In what was a deserved result, Oak Flats left with the three points, Greathead bagging only one of a possible hat-trick.

 

Sunday March 12th - Memorial Park

Referee - A. Crawley

Assistants - D. Morriea, R. O'Sullivan

 

Oak Flats Falcons 1 - Greathead 68'

Bellambi Rosellas 0

 

Oak Flats Falcons - Wunsch, Franks, Capetta, Jovanovski, Stevenson, J. Murdzevski, Greathead, Cesta, Vinton, De GourekC. Murdzevski

Subs - Munilla, Lloyd, Graham, Kection

Bellambi Rosellas - Levai, Harrington, Kiss, Newell, Passlack, Sato, Miyamoto, Miller, Carney, Wallace, Hoswell

Subs - Nishimura, Jennings, McNamara, Thompson, McRetti

 

Note: Unlimited subs in pre-season games. Halves are 35 minutes.

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn