Unanderra have won two games in a row with a comprehensive 2-1 win over University in this round 13 WGC Cranes District League Clash at Unanderra Oval. The Hearts started stronger between the sides, with Nathan Pulgic scoring in just the 17^th minute. The students would strike back right on half-time through a Curtis Iverson penalty but Unanderra scored the winner in the 66^th minute when Tim Cole slotted it home to make it seven points from their last three games.

The Hearts were looking to continue their resurgence after a 2-1 win over Oak Flats in round 11. Whereas for University, they were looking to improve from their 4-0 drubbing from Shell Cove at home last week. The reverse fixture earlier in the season, saw the students get up 4-2 at Kooloobong Oval.

The visitors had the first real opportunity of the game in the 8^th minute. Some nice interplay between Curtis Iverson and Alex Kearton on the left wing gave space for Kearton to run onto goal. The winger’s side-footed shot forcing a save out of Unanderra goalkeeper, Nicholas Purdevski.

After the chance, Unanderra lifted. Several attacks for the home-side almost gave them the lead. Firstly, Dominic Magill sent a ball across the face of goal, falling for Tim Cole at the back post, his shot rising over the bar. The next chance came only three minutes later, a Jason Murdzevski clearance sailed over the top of the University defence for Nathan Pulgic to run on to. The striker bringing it down but finding University goalkeeper, Suguru Ieda.

The home side wouldn’t worry too much after those chances as they hit the lead only two minutes later. It was Murdzevski with the long ball again, only this time, a more accurate curved pass landed perfectly for Pulgic on the edge of the box. His first touch putting it onto his left as the ball snuck in underneath Ieda, rolling into the back of the net. A deserved goal for the Hearts giving them a confidence boost early-on.

University then started to find their feet with a few attacking opportunities of their own just minutes after the goal. Firstly, an Iverson long ball to switch the play found an open Dominic Peet on the right wing. His touch around the defender set him up for a shot, only to be smashed into the arms of Purdevski. The visitors next chance again came from the left-hand side, but this time through fullback, Travis Anderson. His pin-point cross finding the head of Matthew Cain. Unanderra were lucky to hold the lead thanks to a spectacular reflex save from Purdevski.

In the 29^th minute, the Hearts looked to double their lead after poor communication in defence from University. The slip-up at the back allowed Pulgic to run forward. His shot forced a low save out of Ieda, then falling nicely for Cole. An unbalanced shot from Cole saw his shot fly over the bar.

With an intense match-up to start with, the game slowed down and was back and forth for the next fifteen minutes. A free-kick to Joshua Martin, 20 yards from goal saw the midfielder line up a power shot. The ball rising and blasting the crossbar.

The next goal would come right on halftime as University were given a penalty after Ben Sallabank fouled substitute, Abdullah Chhipa just inside the box. Iverson stepping up to take, calmly slotting it into the bottom left. Teams going into the sheds at 1-1 after an even first 45 minutes.

The second half started with less urgency than the first. Both teams looking slow coming out of the sheds. University creating the first chance of the half in the 62^nd minute. Cain’s surge up the right wing and along the bi-line finished with a cut-back to Chhipa on the edge of the box. The winger, putting it onto his right to shoot, couldn’t find much power as it landed safely for Purdevski.

A quick counter-attack for the Hearts helped the home-side regain the lead. Dispossession in the midfield from the students saw Magill run forward with the ball. His perfectly waited through ball slipping in between defenders and finding the run of Cole. Cole’s first time finish rolling into the bottom left putting the Hearts back in-front.

The students almost hit back straight away after a dominant run from substitute, James Galea. The fresh winger weaving in and out of defenders creating space to have the shot. Galea watched as it rose looking for the top corner, only to be denied from a last-ditch fingertip save from Purdevski.

Not being satisfied with the one goal lead, the Hearts looked to grab another. Firstly, substitute, Lachlan Donovan ran onto a through ball from Magill. Getting the better of Anderson, his shot was saved comfortably by Ieda. The next chance came from a poor clearance from University as the ball travelled straight up into the air just inside the 18-yard box. Lorri Mandfredi would try the spectacular bicycle-kick only to see the ball go wide of the post.

A frantic finish to the game saw Unanderra hold on to any last-ditch efforts from University to grab the equaliser and the game finished 2-1 to the home side in what was a cagey affair from the first whistle.

The important win from Unanderra still sees them just two points above Berkely, who secured a rare win over Balgownie. But looking to rise, they now move only two points below University, still with a game in hand. The Hearts host Balgownie next week looking to continue their momentum in the second-half of the season.

As for University, they sit in 10^th, still two points behind Kiama. The students need to start getting results in games if they wish to stay away from the regulation spot. It doesn’t get any easier for them next week however, as they host first place Bellambi at Kooloobong Oval.

 

Saturday 16^th June at Unanderra Oval.

Unanderra Hearts FC: 2 (PULGIC 17’, COLE 66’)

University FC: 1 (IVERSON 45’)

 

Line-ups:

Unanderra Hearts FC: Nicholas PURDEVSKI, Andrew NANOS, Jason MURDZEVSKI, Ben SALLABANK, Lachlan OSBOURNE, Paul BURLEIGH, Steve JOVANOSKI, Lorri MANFREDI, Tim COLE, Dominic MAGILL, Nathan PULGIC.

Subs: Lachlan DONOVAN (MURDZEVSKI 67’), Michael POTTER (COLE 90’), Daniel SAVERINO (MAGILL 85’), Kieran GORGIEVSKI, Cody GILLIS.

 

University FC: Suguru IEDA, Jonathan VAN DER STOK, Eamon FLINT-PETERSON, Kris GEORGIESKI, Travis ANDERSON, Curtis IVERSON, Alex KEARTON, Joshua MARTIN, Matthew CAIN, Luke Vandenburgh, Dominic PEET.

Subs: James GALEA (KEARTON 58’), Ben JOYCE, Abdullah CHHIPA (PEET 29’), Nelson MCLEOD, Peter FAULKS.

 

Referee: J. RUSCICA

Assistant Referees: A. THOMASON and J. RAMIVEZ

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

File Photo: Pedro Garcia