Round 4 action in the WGC Cranes District League took place at Rex Jackson Park, with Helensburgh hosting Bellambi in what was poised to be the match of the round. Bellambi came into the tie on the back of three resounding wins, whilst Helensburgh dropped their first points of the season last week to a Warilla side on the rise.

Bellambi began the game as one may have suspected, well on top and constantly peppering the 'Burgh area with attack after attack after attack. Prolific Rosellas forward Ilja Prenzovski nearly grabbed an early opener, his near post run finding the ball after Andy Keep crossed in low, however Prenzovski was unable to hit the target from 10 yards.

Shortly after, Boden Allport thumped a left-footed volley into the hands of Thistles keeper Braiden Gilbert, the ball floating free on the edge of the area after the first of many winding runs down the right flank of Scott Martin.

Prenzovski was body-checked inside the Helensburgh area, however amazingly, penalty shouts were waved away, as Luke van Zyl broke on the counter only to fluff his shot with the hosts 4-on-1 at the Bellambi goal.

Bellambi were clearly on top of the tie, it felt like just a matter of when they would open the scoring. Helensburgh were struggling to create anything outside their own half.

Luke van Zyl from a wide free kick, perfectly picked out Jaydn Falkiner 10 yards out, but his flashing shot slid wide of the far post; before Brad Watts powered his way straight through the entire Bellambi half uncontested, only to put his shot shy of the near post.

The half's action concluded with what was Helensburgh's best chance, a mis-hit backpass heading into the path of Josh Brady, one-on-one with goalkeeper Nathan Campbell, placing his shot over the crossbar from 18-yards.

Coming out of the sheds still at 0-0, immediately Helensburgh were looking for the opener, Brad Watts again using his pace to reach the by-line, cutting back for Ethan Grinham 6-yards out, who would've slid his shot into the far bottom corner if not for a desperate save from Campbell. Grinham followed up the rebound, but from an acute angle, his shot failed to get on target.

This seemed to wake a slumbering Bellambi attack, as moments later their ruthless streak came to the fore. Prenzovski put a corner onto the plate of Tor Preece from 6-yards, but he was unable to get a touch onto it, and a Scott Martin shot-come-cross came to Prenzovski, but a heavy touch took the ball away from him.

Moments later, they had their reward; Preece this time connecting with a header from 6-yards, burying his shot in the back of the net to open the scoring, and less than 60 seconds later, Prenzovski miraculously scored when facing away from goal, a neat shot curling the ball around his body and past Gilbert in goal.

Martin had another close range shot palmed away by Gilbert in what should have been Bellambi's third, as the Thistles defence appeared meek in weathering attack after attack. The approach changed to pumping long balls down the wing for Watts, L. Van Zyl and Brady to chase down, and after substitute Nathan Woolfers tracked down one such long ball, his early cross into Grinham saw the striker cannon his first-time shot into the crossbar from 8-yards. Two minutes later he had his chance for redemption, but after nutmegging his marker, Grinham was again unable to beat Campbell, his low shot tipped around the post.

From there, the remaining 20 minutes were played out at a much slower pace as players tired, both sides seemed content with the scoreline as neither attack appeared desperate to push forward with any conviction. The last action deep into stoppage time was off the back of a solo Brad Watts run, making it into the box and rounding keeper Campbell, only to be brought down. L. Van Zyl stepped up and buried his shot from the spot, but it was merely consolation.

Bellambi emerged victorious in a fixture in which they very much dictated the tempo of play, and stifled any chance Helensburgh had of playing their fluid attacking style.

This result sees Bellambi maintain their perfect record, now commanding a goal difference of 21-1 after 4 matches. In Round 5 they will host a Kiama side who upset Shell Cove 3-1, 3pm kickoff at Elizabeth Park.

Meanwhile Helensburgh remain fifth on the ladder, as they will host University, who lost 2-1 to Balgownie, for another 3pm kickoff at Rex Jackson Park.

 

Saturday 14th April 2018 - Rex Jackson Park

Helensburgh 1 - L. Van Zyl 90'PEN

Bellambi 2 - Peece 54', Prenzovski 55'

 

Helensburgh Thistle - Braiden GILBERT, Andy GARCIA, Jarod BENHAM, Jaydn FALKINER, Eamon Van Zyl, Luke WYATT, Kei MITANI, Luke VAN ZYL, Ethan GRINHAM, Brad WATTS, Josh BRADY

Subs -, Cody CUTHBERTSON, Nathan WOOLFERS (on for GARCIA), Brad BOARDMAN (on for GRINHAM), Reggae ROWLEY (on for MITANI), Matt WARDLE

Bellambi Rosellas - Nathan CAMPBELL, Michael ROGERSON, Tor PREECE, Nath THOMPSON, Grant ZANNI, Matt PASLUCK, Boden ALLPORT, Tim O'BRIEN, Scott MARTIN, Ilja PRENZOVSKI, Andy KEEP

Subs - Jack DUGGAN, Christ CEVININI (on for PRENZOVSKI), Matt RICHARDSON (on for O'BRIEN), Akimito SHIBAO (on for KEEP)

 

Referee - Brodie MERCHANT

Assistants - Lachie MCRAE, Stuart DERBRIDGE

 

Report by David ATHERTON, Twitter @daveatho5