Oak Flats travelled to Judy Masters Oval in Balgownie to face the Balgownie Rangers in a vital WGC Cranes District League Round 18 clash. Both sides were going into the match off the back of losses, with the Falcons going down 4-2 to high-flying Helensburgh Thistle and the Rangers suffering a 1-0 defeat to mid-table side Berkeley Sports. A win for the Falcons would mean they keep in contact with the top five, with the side sitting just two points behind fifth-placed Coniston. The Rangers meanwhile, needed the win to help solidify their position heading into the final few matches of the season, where they would be seeking to push for a spot at the Finals table.

Neither side took control of the match once it got underway, with both sides choosing to channel attacks through their wings to varying levels of success in the early stages of the match. Balgownie had the first big chance in the 12^th minute, with a great clearance from Adam Caruso in the Balgownie backline unleashing Sebastian Dallas onto goal, however Dallas buckled under the pressure of Oak Flats’ Ryan Pitt, and his shot towards goal was sent flying over the crossbar.

Another skied shot fell Balgownie’s way just moments later, with this time fantastic linking play from Dallas and Jackson Dummett allowing Alex Morlando to shoot with space around him, but his effort also went high over the top of the goals.

It was Oak Flats who would managed to finally land a shot on goal first, with a free kick from Jamie Stevenson curving past the wall set up by the Rangers and forcing keeper Hugh Bahnert into making a save, which unfortunately for Bahnert and the Rangers, fell right into the path of Christopher Murdzevski, who was able to send the Falcons into the lead with a simple tap-in.

Having gone 1-0 down after just 18 minutes, Balgownie rallied in the following twenty minutes, with numerous half-chances being formed through the fantastic work of James Seymour on the wings. However, these half-chances often went begging due to a cross that was hit just a fraction too hard for the Rangers to get under control.

Kurt Dorahy got close to leveling the scores after a great solo move by the Balgownie player, beating three Oak Flats defenders before his final shot just skimmed to the right of the goal. However, Dorahy would manage to score just seven minutes before the half-time break, with a corner from Balgownie leading to Alex Morlando rolling the ball to James Seymour, who managed a pitch-perfect cross to Dorahy, who neatly got the ball under control and volleyed the shot into the back of the net.

Oak Flats had a chance to regain the lead just three minutes later, when a fantastic through ball from Daniel Munilla released Jarryd Vinton, but Vinton was stopped in his tracks by a great dispossession from Adam Caruso. At the other end, Balgownie had two chances in the dying moments of the opening half to steal the lead, but both chances came to nothing, with Kurt Dorahy’s well-placed shot forcing a great, stretching save from Falcons keeper Ben Wunsch and a simple tap-in chance from James Seymour just being hit wide of the post.

While being an even match in the opening 45 minutes, Oak Flats would slowly start to put their thumb on the match, with a few skied shots coming from Brenton Lloyd early in the opening moments of the second half. Oak Flats manager Mark Vinton would attempt to mix up the Falcons frontline, taking off Munilla and Murdzevski for Michael Wilson and Ryan Franks respectively, and these changes would help the Falcons create more attacking chances up front.

However, Balgownie were also a threat up front, with a huge chance going begging in the 84^th minute after a goal-mouth scramble between Balgownie players resulted in the ball being knocked just wide of the post.

With end-to-end football, this match was always going to be tense in the final moments, and expectations were met at Judy Masters Oval, with just a minute after Balgownie missed that vital chance, Oak Flats rocketed down the pitch and had three chances to grab what could be a match-winning goal. Falcons player Ryan Franks would start the charge, shooting down the wing and almost forcing himself into a one-on-one with the keeper, but was tackled at the last moment by Benjamin Kearton in a vital stop. However, just seconds later, Franks would receive a great cross from Michael Wilson and his eventual shot on goal would force Balgownie keeper Hugh Bahnert to make a great save.

The resulting corner would see Franks once again receive possession, and his smart ball to Jarryd Vinton allowed the Falcons player to fire on goal, sneaking past Bahnert and into the bottom right corner of the net for a match-winning goal for Oak Flats. Balgownie would attempt to push for an equalizing goal, but with just five minutes left after the goal, their run was too little, too late.

The loss for Balgownie will undoubtedly hit their finals aspirations hard. With just four matches left in the season, the Rangers find themselves sitting in ninth place, some twelve points off a spot in the top five. Balgownie need a minor miracle to qualify for the post-season now after this loss, and with a trip away to second-placed Warilla next week and games against league leaders Fernhill and third-placed Thirroul on the schedule, it looks like the side might have to settle for playing for pride for the next few matches.

However, Oak Flats find themselves very well placed and still in the hunt after the win over Balgownie. The side currently sits in sixth place, still two points behind Coniston, who dismantled Wests Illawarra 3-0 at Unanderra. However, the Falcons have a much preferable run home, with next round’s matchup at home to Thirroul the most difficult matchup left for the side.

With games against Bellambi, Wests Illawarra and University still to play, Oak Flats are still in the hunt for finals football, but they do have to look out for Berkeley Sports as a potential rival alongside Coniston, as the side sits one point behind the Falcons in seventh, but were in rare form this round as they dismantled Warilla Wanderers 5-0.

Balgownie Rangers FC – 1 (Dorahy 38’)

Oak Flats Falcons – 2 (Murdzevski 18’, Vinton 85’)

Saturday the 22nd of July, 2017 at Judy Masters Oval, Balgownie.

Balgownie Rangers FC – Hugh Bahnert, Johnathon McCreary, Lachlan Veney, Adam Caruso, Benjamin Kearton, Jim Yousseff, Sebastian Dallas, Alex Morlando, James Seymour, Kurt Dorahy, Jackson Dummett

Subs – Thomas Hobbs, Frank Timpano, Chad Huckal, Daniel Armstrong

Coach – James Dummett

Oak Flats Falcons – Ben Wunsch, Jay Mason, Stephen Tovanovski, Ryan Pitt, Jamie Stevenson, Brenton Lloyd, Jarryd Vinton, Christopher Murdzevski, Christian Cappetta, Ross Graham, Daniel Munilla

Subs – Josh Eagleton, Ryan Franks, Chad Keating, Michael Wilson, Chris Jarman

Coach – Mark Vinton

Referee – Atesh Maharaj

Assistant Referees – Gareth Jenkins, Fletcher Bowler

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo by Noel Wynn