Goals from Chris Russell and Mitch Buchan helped Helensburgh Thistle come from behind at Keith Bond Oval on Saturday and maintain their perfect start to their WGC Cranes District League season. Andrew Bradshaw had earlier give Oak Flats the lead, and the Falcons twice hit the woodwork in a frenetic first half, but they were unable to peg back a determined Thistle side who held on at the end and now lead the ladder by three points ahead of Sunday’s fixture.

It was the home side that came out of the starting blocks fastest, with a shot on goal within the first minute from Chris Murdzevski, Reggae Rowley just getting back in time to make the clearance for Helensburgh.

The Falcons were flying on five minutes, though, when Bradshaw received a flick-on from the lively Murdzevski. He was given far too much time in the area, and made the most of it, picking his spot before firing his shot beyond the reach of Brandon Groom in the Thistle goal.

Oak Flats could have doubled their lead on 15 minutes when Murdzevski again forced a good save from Groom, with Buchan getting his body in the way to prevent a certain goal from the follow-up.
Less than a minute later, the Falcons were left to rue that miss, as Russell equalised with a beautiful curling left foot shot into the top corner, creating a goal out of nothing from the edge of the area.
At one apiece, the game began to settle into a rhythm, with Helensburgh passing the ball around nicely and Oak Flats looking more dangerous on the break.

It was just such a break that resulted from a Thistle corner on the half hour mark.

Bradshaw broke down the left for the Falcons but then sent a long ball out wide to the right, where he found Joshua de Gouveia in acres of space. The Falcons forward did nothing wrong, composing himself and then firing a driven shot that cannoned against the bar, with the keeper beaten.
Back at the other end Luke McCann broke down the left and cut the ball in for Russell to take a swing first time with his left foot, only this time Jason Murdzevski blocked the path to goal.
As the game swung end to end, Oak Flats again came close in the 38th minute. The Falcons won a free kick just outside the D, which Jason Murdzevski curled in with his left foot, only to watch it bounce off the bar again and fly away for a goal kick.

If the woodwork had kept Helensburgh in it so far, it was a combination of more woodwork, and great blocks by Murdzevski and keeper Chris Jarman which kept the Falcons level up to the break.
The visitors finished the half strongly, with five chances in as many minutes. First Russell and McCann were denied by Murdzevksi and Jarman, then it was Murdzevski again getting in the way of a long range shot from Joel Mucci. Jarman then denied McCann again before the ball flew clear to Russell, whose shot this time clipped the woodwork.

And as half time approached, it was Helensburgh’s prolific goal scorer Andrew Paine who spurned a chance to take the lead before the break. This time it was Andrew Keep who sent in a perfect cross, which Paine might have wished he’d taken first time on his right foot, instead of leaving it for his left foot, but in that precious second, it left time for Jarman to get back into position and make the save.

After such an action-packed first forty-five, the second half was a relatively tame affair, with Helensburgh creating the few chances there were, but unable to convert them.

Russell made a diving leap at the far post, but saw his header fly just wide of the upright. Keep set up McCann in front of goal, but his shot was somehow kept out by a dogged Oak Flats defence. And Buchan, up for a set-piece, saw his glancing header taken by Jarman to keep the sides level.
The home side were not creating much at this stage and had their first effort on goal more than 20 minutes into the second stanza. But just as they were starting to pick their game up for a grand finale, the Falcons were stunned by the Thistle’s killer blow.

Helensburgh won a free kick on the right side, which Paine swung in towards the far post, but Jarman took it cleanly only to release the ball when he fell to the ground. Buchan, who had been waiting for a heading opportunity by the far post, had the simplest of tap-ins when the ball appeared at his feet.

The Falcons rang the changes for the final few minutes and these almost paid off in the 90th minute.

Bradshaw was brought down right on the edge of the area, but instead of having a go at goal, David Kiss played it short to substitute Sam Bosowiec, who flicked the ball towards the top corner. Groom kept that one out, but the ball flew clear to Jamie Stevenson who must have thought he had got the equaliser, only to see Groom get down again to block the shot at the near post.

Oak Flats coach Martin Madden was disappointed with the result: “We were playing a strong side today, but it wasn’t our best footballing performance and we needed to take the opportunities we had. But it’s our first loss of the season in any competition, so we’ll just have to bounce back next week.”

For acting Helensburgh coach Daniel Paine, it was a ‘fantastic game to watch’: “Both sides played really well and it could have gone either way. It was our first real test of the season, and it was a physical game, but played in good spirit throughout.”

The result leaves Helensburgh Thistle top with a 100% record after four rounds. But Oak Flats are also still well-placed in third and whatever the result of Sunday’s remaining Round 4 fixture, the Falcons will still be flying high in the top five.

Oak Flats Falcons – 1 (Bradshaw 5’)
Helensburgh Thistle – 2 (Russell 16’,  Buchan 81’)

Saturday 16 April 2016
Keith Bond Oval

Referee: Greg Reid
Assistant Referees: John Ruscica, Club Official

Oak Flats: Chris JARMAN, Ben HARDCASTLE (Stephen JOVANOVSKI 62’), Gary NEWALL, David KISS, Jason MURDZEVSKI, Josh de GOUVEIA (Sam BOSOWIEC 86’), Jamie STEVENSON, Christian CAPPETTA, Dominic GIUSTINIANI, Chris MURDZEVSKI (Joshua MARTIN 85’), Andrew BRADSHAW (sub not used Matthew CESTA)

Helensburgh Thistle: Brandon GROOM, Reggae ROWLEY, Mitch BUCHAN, Branko TESANOVIC, David GALLACHER, Andrew PAINE, Luke WYATT, Joel MUCCI, Luke McCANN, Chris RUSSELL (Brad WATTS 87’), Andrew KEEP (subs not used Joshua BRADY, Russell CRIGHTON, Daniel MANGANARO, Ben KEMP)


Report by Simon Duffin
Photo by Pedro Garcia (Library Archive)