Shell Cove took a massive step towards securing their place in the District League for next season with a late 2-1 win over bottom of the table Berkeley at Barrack Heights Sports Field. The hosts took the lead a couple of minutes before the break before Greg Moon came off the bench for the Goats to level the score with less than 10 minutes remaining. The fightback would be in vain with Shell Cove stealing the three points in the fifth minute of injury time via an Andrej Gacesa free kick.

Despite being the lowest scorers in the division, Berkeley dominated the opportunities in the opening half an hour - though most were half chances at best. In the 13th minute, Corey Butcher forced Chris Kouros to tip a free-kick over the bar and three minutes later Luke Boersma was teed up from just outside the box but his effort curled over the top right corner.

With 24 minutes played, Jon Adams was presented with a glorious chance to give the Goats the lead when Dylan Evans swung in a cross but the striker who was unmarked scuffed his header from six-yards out. A few minutes later Boersma was once again given space to shoot from just outside the area but this time he blazed the ball well over the bar.

Shell Cove had their first big chance to take the lead in the 33rd minute. Daniel Davkovski picked out Gacesa who had lost his marker but the fullback headed the ball to the right of goal from close range. The hosts managed to hit the front a couple of minutes before the break when Berkeley goalkeeper Mitch O'Neill punched the ball to Davkovski who exhibited fine technique to lace the ball through a crowded area and just inside the left post.

The match looked as if it was going to go out like a damp squib with an outside of the boot effort from Boersma in the 57th minute the only shot on target for the first half an hour of the second half.

Berkeley brought on goal threat Moon with about 15 minutes remaining and in the 82nd minute, he was able to sniff out a goal. Trent Thompson whipped in a cross from the right which Kouros failed to deal with allowing Moon to tap home. The goal upped the tempo of the match with both sides searching desperately for a winner.

The match went into added on time and with 94 minutes played Shell Cove won a free kick on the edge of the box. Gacesa stepped up for the chance to win the match for his side and he made no mistake in leathering the ball into the right of the net despite the efforts of the outstretched O’Neill. Berkeley were unable to rally to get another chance in the remaining 30 seconds with Shell Cove winning 2-1. To add insult to injury, defender Justin Mears picked up his second booking after the full-time whistle meaning he will miss the Goats second match of the weekend against Unanderra.

The win sees Shell Cove move six points clear of the Goats and they are at home again next weekend against another lowly side in Unanderra Hearts who lost 7-0 to Warilla. As for Berkeley, they will be back in action tomorrow where they will be facing the aforementioned Hearts at Berkeley Sports and Social. The loser of the Round 12 catch up match will finish the weekend at the foot of the District League.

 

Saturday 14 July @ Barrack Heights Sports Field

 

Shell Cove - 2 (DAVKOVSKI 43’, GACESA 90+5’)

 

Berkeley - 1 (MOON 82’)

 

Shell Cove - Chris KOUROS, Michael NIKOLOVSKI, Mathew CESTA, Filip ANGELESKI, Craig RICHARDSON, Daniel DAVKOVSKI, Andrej GACESA, Daniel TOSKOSKI, Steven DIMITRIEVSKI, Marko BUBANYA, Mathew STOJANOSKI

 

Subs - Nikola STOJANOVSKI, Nikola RUSIC, Lupcho NAUMOVSKI, James KRCOVSKI, Vasko PETKUCEVSKI

 

Coach - Steven DIMITRIEVSKI

 

Berkeley - Mitch O’NEILL, Hayden TILL, Ross PRANDALOS, Justin MEARS, Trent THOMPSON, Mathew MEARS, Dylan EVANS, Jake GATES, Luke BOERSMA, Corey BUTCHER, Jon ADAMS

 

Subs - Greg MOON, Steve CAROCCI, Bred FISHER, Vijay SHEKHAWAT

 

Coach - Paul MEARS

 

Referee - Reece EDWARDS

 

Assistant Referee - Gareth JENKINS

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela