LATE KIAMA SURGE TEACHES UNIVERSITY A LESSON

With both sides feeling that only a victory would satisfy requirements to keep their individual seasons alive, it made for a potentially open and expansive clash. This is essentially what was delivered to the supporters of both teams, with a thoroughly entertaining clash where 90 minutes could not separate the sides. A 2-2 draw the final result.

The action all started in the 9th minute when a short corner surprised the Quarriers defence. With their backline not switched on, it allowed for University’s strike man Luke Vandenbergh to find the back of the net with a textbook header. Most certainly not the start that Kiama were looking for in front of the home faithful.

University very much had the upper hand, with Kiama consistently failing to find feet whilst attempting to play out from the back. A snapshot shortly after the initial goal from Curtis Iverson was a prime example of poor distribution from the Kiama backline, and Iverson essentially should have made them pay.

On the 24th minute more danger arrived for Kiama in the form of a free kick just outside the 18-yard box. University defender Joshua Martin stepped up to take authority over the dead ball, in doing so forcing a smart save out of Adrian Bartlett.

Kiama were made to pay from a costly error in the resulting play in the 25th minute. A short back pass to Bartlett from the Kiama defence allowed Matthew Cain to find the back of the net through a ricochet off Bartlett’s attempted clearance. The match was now firmly in control of the visitors. Kiama were just not at the races at this point in the match.

The continued positive runs of the University attackers found it hard for Kiama to contain. On the 30th minute winger James Galea got on the inside of Quarriers left back Daniel Gillespie, only to blaze his shot over the bar as the angle became quite a difficult one to convert. It looked like a third was on its way for University at any moment.

With the game looking out of reach, Kiama finished the half the better of the two sides. A few snapshots from forwards Kyle Jelliffe, Keegan Beringer, and Mitchell Gowland forced the University defence to be tested for the first time in the half.

In what must have been quite a stern halftime team talk from Quarriers boss Curtis Campbell, the home side responded and came out firing.

On the 50th minute, a free kick was whipped in dangerously by Christopher Christodoulou, which found the head of Adam Hinkley, only for him to place his header over the crossbar.

Despite Kiama’s onrushing attack, they did look vulnerable to a counter. An effective through ball from Matthew Cain to University’s left sided winger Alex Kearton created an opportunity, where Kearton blazed the golden chance over the bar.

It was a costly miss. As the ball ventured down the other end, Gillespie managed to fire a right footed shot away to clatter against the post. In the scrap following, a ball in the air caused a mix up in the University defence. Defender Eamon Flint-Peterson got his angles all wrong, and his header ended up in his own net. It was a timely boost that Kiama needed to create a spark in their team.

The distribution for University keeper Suguru Ieda was generally a sight of perfection all afternoon. This lead to an attack from University which started with right back Jonathan Van Der Stok. He carried the ball down the touchline and whipped in a dangerous curled cross, which found the head of substitute Abdullah Chhipa. His directed header was snuffed out by Bartlett however.

Just as time was looking to be Kiama’s greatest enemy, the equaliser came in the form of a thundering volley from Adam Hinkley, 85 minutes into the contest. A surging run from Gillespie down the left flank allowed him to put in a hopeful cross which alluded all of the onrushing heads in front of the goal. The ball rolled out to Hinkley on the edge of the 18-yard area however. He struck the ball on the half volley with his right foot, with the ball finding the top left hand corner. The goal brought jubilation to the home supporters, and such disappointment to the visitors who had thought they had stolen the points.

This was the last action of the game before the full time whistle was blown. In a game of two halves, a point each would be considered a fair result.

Both sides would have hoped for more however, as a point each does not essentially move them any closer to the top 5 five. Kiama sit 8th on 5 points after 7 matches, whilst University are slightly worse off, 4 points after 7 matches. Considering 5th spot is on 12 points, it is becoming ever more difficult for both sides to push for finals this season.

In next week’s fixtures for both sides, Kiama will travel to Keith Bond Oval to take on the inconsistent Oak Flats Falcons. University are at Kooloobong next Saturday where they will host Thirroul Thunder. A must win clash for both sides.

 

Saturday 5 May 2018 @ Kiama Sporting Complex

 

Kiama Quarriers – 2 (OG 57’, Hinkley 85’)

University FC – (Vandenbergh 9’, Caine 25’)

 

Kiama Quarriers – Adrian BARTLETT, Thomas CUNLIFFE, Ben HARDCASTLE, Christopher HILL, Allan GIBSON, Daniel GILLESPIE, Keegan BERINGER, Adam HINKLEY, Christopher CHRISTODOULOU, Kyle JELLIFFE, Mitchell GOWLAND

Subs – Thomas MCCOLL (on for GIBSON), James MALIN (on for BERINGER), Andrew PENA, Callum CRAPP

Coach – Curtis Campbell

 

University FC – Suguru IEDA, Jonathan VAN DER STOK, Eamon FLINT-PETERSON, Joshua MARTIN, Max PROUT, Dusan KOLONJA, James GALEA, Curtis IVERSON, Luke VANDENBERGH, Matthew CAIN, Alex KEARTON

Subs – Abdullah CHHIPA (on for KEARTON), Nelson MCLEOD (on for IVERSON), Dominic PEET, Tyler WHITTON (on for CAIN)

Coach – Brod Crighton

 

Referee – John RUSCICA

Assistant Referees – Jack MARKHAM, W. DAVIDSON

 

Report by Jordan Warren, on Twitter @jwarren0817

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