WARILLA WARD OFF BELLAMBI IN 5-GOAL THRILLER

Bellambi hosted Warilla in the fourth round of the WCG Cranes District League at Elizabeth Park on Saturday. Bellambi looked to build upon their momentum after a 2-0 victory over Berkeley. While Warilla would have not wanted to leave it so late, like they did against Thirroul. With both teams coming off victories this match was measuring up to be an intriguing clash.

Bellambi started swiftly, breaking apart the Warilla defence early, Jacob Miller, used his slick step-overs to create space before laying a ball through for Mitch Hoswell, who took a couple of touches to gain his composure before burying it past the man between the sticks. It took Bellambi all of 1 minute and 35 seconds to open the goal scoring. The goal shocked Warilla who looked as if they had just woken up. Just 60seconds later, Warilla's defence didn't look as if it had recovered, the lack of communication between them almost cost Warilla another early goal. Their defence looked more like a mudslide then a group of organised teammates.

Warilla allowed Bellambi in again and again, breaking though with pace, Bellambi should have had two more goals, but a defiant goalkeeper in Valon Rizvani, would produce two excellent one on one saves in three minutes, keeping Warilla in the match.

In the 13th Minute, Warilla eventually held the ball long enough to start an attack, the pushed players forward as they spread it to the left wing. With a cross over the top Warilla's Bojan Caric, was bundled over inside the area when jumping for a header and the referee gave Warilla a golden opportunity to place themselves back on level terms. That is exactly what Caric did, stepping up and coolly converting the spot kick.

Bellambi would have felt as if they deserved the lead, but the goal flipped the game completely. While Warilla's left edge looked dangerous, Bellambi's defence struggled to contain the crosses and in the 26th minute Jamie Young, tried to drive a cross along the line of defenders however a miss-kick and sheer power beat the Bellambi goalkeeper, rocketing in the back of the net. A touch of fortune for Warilla but well deserved after a 13 minute spell of possession.

Once again the goal changed the shape of the match, this time Bellambi would have the ball and push forward dangerously, yet another one on one save from Warilla's goalkeeper would keep the Rosellas behind on the score sheet at half time. A unique half with both teams dominating the ball at different times.

Half Time: Bellambi 1-2 Warilla

An even first 20 minutes of the second half saw both teams battle for constant possession with neither team succeeding. But when Warilla found Caric on a counter attack, he played a glorious releasing ball through for his teammate Tim White, who had no trouble extending their lead, opening his body up and finishing the ball close post. A wonderful display of their counter attacking skill and their ability to finish their chances.

Bellambi had their chances but they lacked a clinical finish, it also didn't help that Warilla's Goalkeeper was having an outstanding game between the sticks. A deep cross from Jacob Miller, found Keisuke Sato, who hit the ball first time on the volley, only to have Rizvani produce another wonderful reflex save.

A Penalty in the 79th minute for handball handed Bellambi a golden ticket back into the game after being denied so many times. However, you couldn’t bet against Warilla's shot stopper, and once again keeping the two goal lead in tact, He saved the penalty with his feet. Bellambi just couldn’t find the back of the net.

A few more wasted opportunities saw Bellambi lose most hope of a comeback, yet nobody is perfect, and when Rizvani fouled Bellambi's striker in the box, the referee awarded the third penalty of the match, this time Bellambi's Miller found the bottom left corner. Lifting the Bellambi players. It was however, too little too late for the Rosella's who had wasted plenty of opportunities earlier in the match.

A quite exciting contest finished Bellambi 2-3 Warilla.

I caught up with Warilla's Goalkeeper, Valon Rizvani, and asked about how his individual performance helped his team to a terrific victory.

https://soundcloud.com/liam-emerton/fsc-interveiw-valon-rizvani

 

Bellambi 2 (M.Hoswell 2', J.Miller 87')

Warilla 3 ( B.Caric 13', J.Young 26', T.White 65')

Bellambi

B.Leval, D.Harrington, D.Kiss, G.Newell, M.Wallace, M.Kocic, M.Hoswell, Y. Miyamoto, M.Passlack, J.Miller, K.Sato.

Replacements

J.McNamara, M.Torchia, J.Sweeny, C.Pontarolo, G.Mihail.

Warilla

V.Rizvani, N.Del Turc, M. Marinelli, T.Anastonski, J.Goldsmith, L.Everingham, J.Young, M.Castelli, B.Caric, J.Ovando, T.White

Replacements

B.Ellul, A.Montalbano, J.Nolan, R.McIntosh, B.Pusell.

Report by Liam Emerton

Photos by Pedro Garcia

 




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