UNIVERSITY AND BERKELEY STALEMATE ENOUGH FOR SURVIVAL

University and Berkeley have finished their WGC Cranes District League campaign with a well-needed 1-1 draw. Both sides needed a result today to stay away from the dreaded bottom spot and it was the students who grabbed the lead first through Conor O’Brien in the 24th minute before Jeremy Flanagan hit back for the visitors just after half-time in what would be a crucial contest at Kooloobong Oval.

The home side were looking to jump back off the bottom after being put there the week prior following an 8-0 drubbing from Warilla. Whereas for Berkeley, they sat three points above the students after their tight loss to Oak Flats. The reverse fixture between the two sides saw University come out 2-1 winners in round 11.

The intensity from the home side was evident straight away with their first chance of the game coming within two minutes of play. A free kick towards the sideline was whipped in by Nelson McLeod. A scramble in the box saw the ball fall at the feet of Conor O’Brien at the penalty spot. But the winger’s low shot was saved by the outstretched arm of shot-stopper, Mitch O’Niell. A shaky start for the visitors and what looked like a promising one for the students.

Although they were lucky with the near miss, the Goats almost went ahead only three minutes later. A Luke Boersma free-kick 25 yards from goal looked destined for the top corner but was deflected only inches wide of the post. Off the corner, a curled effort towards goal almost caught the students off guard, with Sugaru Ieda palming it to safety.

With very little threatening chances from both sides as the game went on, University went ahead thanks to a nice side footed finish from O’Brien. With the students breaking down an attacking play by Berkeley, Josh Martin picked up the ball just inside the visitor’s half. An across the pitch through ball landed perfectly inside the box and it was O’Brien’s placed finish finding the top right corner.

The visitors seemed to lift after conceding the goal and had a couple of opportunities to pull one back right before half time. Firstly, a threaded through ball from Joey Thomas in the midfield found the run of Jon Adams. Adams picked the ball up just outside the box, before cutting back onto his right foot, only for his shot to glide wide of the near post. The next chance came from Jeremey Flanagan up the right wing. His looping cross skimming the head of Greg Moon at the far post.

The final chance of the half came in stoppages as McLeod found space up the centre. His powered shot bouncing awkwardly along the ground but was saved comfortably by O’Niell.

An intense first 45 minutes left everything to play for in the second half.

It looked to be an inspiring half-time team talk for the visitors as they came out of the blocks firing, scoring just four minutes into the new half. A chipped through ball up the wing by Boersma bounced nicely for Flanagan to run onto towards goal. The surging run in from the sideline was met with an even better finish as the shot blasted into the under-side of the crossbar and into the net. A great start for the Goats to bring the scores level once again.

Just like the first half, the next opportunity didn’t come for another 15 minutes. Boersma was at the scene again, this time delivering a long ball over the University defensive line towards Adams. The strikers first touch brought it down just outside the box and an early chipped attempt almost caught Ieda off-guard. Thankfully for the home side, the ball bounced past the far post.

Two minutes later, Boersma almost gave the visitors the lead for the first time of the day. His fancy footwork on the edge of the area saw him beat several players. As space opened up for the shot, his curled effort flew just wide of the post.

After a slow start to the half, University found some inspiration through substitutes Matthew Cain and Curtis Iverson. In the 22nd minute, Cain’s run up the left wing found a cutback to Martin on the edge of the box. The first time shot blistering past the post. Then just minutes later, Iverson’s cross towards the back post almost found the head of Luke Vandenbergh. The ball skimming the strikers head as it went out for a goal kick.

As the game continued there was more intensity and desperation between the two sides. A few solid runs up the right by Flanagan resulted in crosses into the box. The crosses almost finding the net off touches from Adams and Moon. But it was on both occasions University were able to shut down the attacks and clear.

The last 15 minutes, defence outshined attack. Neither side able to penetrate the defensive lines good enough to pose any threatening chance on goal. Although the very last attack of the game from University almost saw them snatch it if it wasn’t for some quality defending from Hayden Till. Vandenbergh’s long throw-in to Cain in the box saw him beat one player before getting tackled from Till. It was on the follow up that Abdullah Chhipa would go for power at close range, only to be denied by the falling body of Till.

Neither side could find the winner and a 1-1 draw was a fair result for the final day.

A mixed run of results for the students saw them end the season with 15 points. The draw with Berkeley helped them to be one-point clear of Unanderra at the bottom and finished three points behind the Goats.

Whereas for Berkeley, a poor first half of the season was outclassed by an improved second half. The Goats picked up 15 points after the half-way mark to earn themselves 10th spot, four points behind Shell Cove.

 

Saturday 25th August at Kooloobong Oval.

University FC: 1 (O’BRIEN 24’)

Berkeley Sports FC: 1 (FLANAGAN 49’)

 

Line-ups:

University FC: Sugaru IEDA, Benjamin JOYCE, James GALEA, Chris ARNOLD, Tyler WHITTON, Russell CRIGHTON, Abdullah CHHIPA, Joshua MARTIN, Luke VANDENBERGH, Nelson MCLEOD, Conor O’BRIEN.

Subs: Curtis IVERSON (MCLEOD 63’), Kris GEORGIESKI, Matthew CAIN (O’BRIEN 60’), Alex KEARTON (ARNOLD 73’), Peter FAULKS.

 

Berkeley Sports FC: Mitch O’NIELL, Hayden TILL, Ross PRANDALOS, Trent THOMPSON, Jarryd KING, Mathew MEARS, Jeremy FLANAGAN, Joey THOMAS, Greg MOON, Luke BOERSMA, Jon ADAMS.

Subs: Brad FISHER (FLANAGAN 88’), Lachlan RAYMOND (MOON 90’), Dalton KIESEL.

 

Referee: Ryan O’SULLIVAN

Assistant Referees: Stuart BELL and Rob SINDEVSKI.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

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