CLINICAL CENTRAL COAST SURVIVE LATE FLAME SURGE

South Coast Flame suffered a 2-1 defeat to top of the table Central Coast United in the Flame’s first home game in five weeks. The visitors were dominant for the majority of the game, however, a late goal from young striker Louis Connell ensured that the game would go down to the wire, with Central Coast eventually claiming the three points. It was a vast improvement from the Flame’s first outing against United, where it ended 4-1 in United’s favour. Overall, it was a positive day for the club, with our depleted youth sides claiming four points out of a possible six with our under 20s claiming a 2-1 win whilst a resilient performance from our under 18s ensured a 1-1 draw with the ladder leaders.

Central Coast took advantage of a shaky start from Flame, finding a breakthrough in the second minute through Joshua Swadling. The ball managed to weave its way through the Flame defence and fell to Swadling on the penalty spot, who neatly tucked the ball away into the net.

United were lightning quick on the counter and continued to threaten. In the 18th minute, a quick counter from Central Coast led to a dangerous ball being delivered from Swadling on the right side. The ball found Adam Woodbine in the box which forced Flame captain Matt White to pull off a remarkable save from right in front of the goal, ensuring the score stayed 1-0.

Central Coast found their second through the dynamic Swadling, who weaved through the Flame defence and drove the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. The goal would see United go into the break leading 2-0.

The lightning-quick counter attacks from Central Coast would continue into the second half, as they utilised the pace of their wingers. In the 56th minute, Cade Mapu threatened Flame’s left flank with a deadly ball which found the head of Swadling who couldn’t connect well enough with the cross and the ball went wide of the post.

Flame would have numerous chances in the second half, after Central Coast controlled the first half. In the 60th minute, Caleb Grace pounced on a cheap giveaway of possession by United which saw him find the ball on the edge of the box, but his shot that followed went over the bar.

Much like their resilient performance last week, Flame would continue to defend the Central Coast attacks well. In the 71st minute, an inch-perfect and desperate slide tackle from Grant Wilson denied Central Coast a third goal and showed that Flame still had plenty of fight left in them.

Flame’s resilience paid off when they found the back of the net in the 81st minute through Connell, after a superb through ball from substitute Bojan Caric. Connell used his blistering pace to outrun the Central Coast defenders and finish the ball into the bottom left corner.

This lead to a tense last 10 minutes for both sides as Flame continued their late surge into stoppage time, however Central Coast held on for a 2-1 win.

After full time, Flame coach Paul Robaard acknowledged Central Coast’s advantage in the first half and his side’s late surge which almost saw the side snatch a point.

“They did have the better of the first half, most definitely, with their chances as well. In the second half, we adjusted a few things and made some changes and the boys reacted well from them,” Robaard said.

“We had some really good chances in the second half and we are a bit disappointed that we didn’t get the point in the end.”

The win maintains Central Coast’s lead at the top of the table while Flame remaining in 8th, pending results on Sunday.

In the under 20s, Neil Mineeff’s side pulled off a gritty 2-1 win in a game where three points was the number one priority after their heartbreaking loss the week before. With a number of players missing, the side took the lead through an Andrew Christie header off a Jayden Nikolovski free-kick before a nice Ben Lucas finish early in the second half made it 2-0. United converted a late penalty, but Flame held on to claim one of their most important wins of the season. The side stay in 6th and pending results on Sunday, could be as close as two points from a finals spot.

In the under 18s, Flame held out for a 1-1 draw against the ladder leaders which was a vast improvement from their 6-0 loss to the same outfit earlier in the season. With only 10 players regulars available, a few under 20s were forced to drop down and the side defended their hearts out to earn the point. The side maintains their spot in 7th with Western Condors just three points behind them before their match on Sunday against Hurstville City Minotaurs.

Flame are back on the road next weekend, with the side's heading to to Cook Park on Saturday to take on Nepean FC. The club based in St Marys sit inside the top five in all three grades but all three Flame sides will be looking to build on this week's strong performances.

 

Saturday 21st July @ John Crehan Park

 

South Coast Flame FC - 1 (Connell 81’)

 

Central Coast United - 2 (Swadling 2’, 40’)

 

 

South Coast Flame FC lineup - Matt WHITE, Kenneth JAMES, Grant WILSON, Daniel LUCAS (CARIC), Martin THOMSON, Andrew BOVA, Wade WILTON, Caleb GRACE, Julio MUSHABA, Dion STERJOVSKI, Louis CONNELL

 

Subs: Brandon GROOM, Bojan CARIC (On for LUCAS), Jayden NIKOLOVSKI, Ben LUCAS, Abdullah AL OKLA

 

Coach- Paul ROBAARD

 

Report by Jarrod Pollard




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