KIAMA BURY BERKELEY AT THE QUARRY

Kiama turned around a 1-0 deficit at half-time to beat Berkeley 3-1 and secure their second win of the season which ironically was also at the Quarry. The visitors went ahead in the 24th minute through a Dylan Evans penalty but a determined Kiama outfit came out of the sheds flying to score three unanswered goals in the second half.

Neither side could push for any threatening chances on goal within the opening 20 minutes as what seemed to be a cagey affair straight from kick-off.

Berkeley saw the first real opportunity of the game as Dylan Evans ran onto a chipped through ball from Jeremy Flanagan. Bringing it down off his chest, the ball fell nicely for a volley on the edge of the box, dipping down just behind the goal.

Evans wouldn’t be too upset about his missed chance when Berkeley were awarded a penalty after Chris Hill brought down Mathew Mears just inside the box. Evans took responsibility of the spot-kick and calmly finished into the bottom right.

Just minutes later, Kiama almost hit back as a long ball by centre-back, Ben Hardcastle landed nicely for an unmarked, Chris Christodoulou on the right wing. A driven pass across the face of goal would only lack a finish from the Kiama front men.

Berkeley almost got their second of the day in both the 27th and 36th minute. Firstly, a powerful run forward by Trent Thompson had the Quarriers defensive line in disarray. The striker found some space going into the box but the shot was easily saved by Adrian Bartlett. The next chance came through a free-kick on halfway by Ross Prandalos. Evans was at the scene again as the ball found his foot on the volley. A floated shot looked destined for the top corner, only to slam off the crossbar.

Kiama would see out the half trailing 0-1. Berkeley looking dominant in what was shaping up to be their first win since round 1.

Although, as they say, football is played in two halves, the home-side grabbed the equaliser within the first 10 minutes of play. A free-kick placed 30 yards from goal was sent over the top by Hill. Berkeley seemed to be slow off the mark as the ball travelled and landed perfectly on the head of Keegan Berringer. A first time header across the face of goal started the Quarriers’ comeback.

It was a slow start to the second half from the away side but they almost got back ahead straight away. With Evans firing again, a ball was slipped through from the defence looking for his surging run. Evans would control and take several touches before shooting straight at Bartlett.

But just minutes later, the second penalty of the game was award to the Quarriers as a desperate tackle by Prandalos just clipped Kiama midfielder, Adam Kinkley. Christodoulou would make no mistake from the spot, slotting his penalty straight down the middle. Kiama had the lead for the first time in the match.

After an intense opening to the second 45 minutes, the game would ease into an even affair until the 75th minute. Berkeley were awarded a free kick halfway between the sideline and the 18-yard box. Corey Butcher would fancy the spectacular but saw the shot rise just over the crossbar.

On the 80th minute mark, Berkeley thought they had their equaliser. Fast passing across the midfield by Mears and Jeremy Flanagan opened up space for substitute, Jake Gates on the edge of the box. After his first touch, Kiama’s defence would pressure the shot that only blistered past the far post.

The late scares were finally free from Kiama as they put the game to bed, seven minutes from time. Substitute, Brian Montanari ran onto an accurate diagonal long ball from Berringer. With the ball behind him, Prandalos tried to clear but it would only fall kindly for Montanari in the box. The substitute still had a lot to do as the ball bounced towards the bi-line and his first time finished snuck into an empty net as Lachlan Boersma rushed out to save.

A strong second half performance from the Quarriers helped them to their second win of the campaign as they held on to be 3-1 winners and move away from the bottom of the table.

The win for Kiama sees them jump into 9th place nearing the halfway point of the season. Another dominant performance next week could see them with back-to-back wins as they take on last place, Unanderra at Unanderra Oval.

Berkeley will take the positives of the first half out of today’s game as they host Oak Flats next week. They will need to step up and earn a result out of next week’s game to keep away from the bottom of the table.

 

Saturday 19th May at Kiama Sporting Complex.

Kiama Quarriers FC: 3 (BERRINGER 51’, CHRISTODOULOU 64’, MONTANARI 83’)

Berkeley Sports FC: 1 (EVANS 26’)

 

Line-ups:

Kiama Quarriers FC: Adrian BARTLETT, Dan GILLESPIE, Ben HARDCASTLE, Chris HILL, Tom CUNCLIFFE, Tom MCCOLL, Ben TARRANT, Adam HINKLEY, Keegan BERRINGER, Chris CHRISTODOULOU, Jesse ANNEN.

Subs: Brian MONTANARI (CUNCLIFFE 60’), James MALIN (HINKLEY 64’), Jye MARKS (BERRINGER 84’).

 

Berkeley Sports FC: Lachlan BOERSMA, Hayden TILL, Ross PRANDALOS, Justin MEARS, Ryan CROUCH, Mathew MEARS, Jeremy FLANAGAN, Dylan EVANS, Trent THOMPSON, Corey BUTCHER, Digvijay SHEKHAWAT.

Subs: Jake GATES (BUTCHER 78’), Mathew GUIDO (MEARS 79’), Brad FISHER (SHEKHAWAT 87’), Tye WHITE.

 

Referee: Jarrod THOMPSON

Assistant Referees: Gareth JENKINS and Andrew THOMASON.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo by Pedro Garcia




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