Fernhill and Oak Flats battled to a goalless draw at Ray Robinson Field on Saturday. The Falcons certainly created more chances and were frustrated to see an offside flag raised when they thought Daniel Petrolo had given them the lead after an hour. At the other end, Fernhill’s Masa Wada hit the woodwork late on in the first half and came close with other chances. But neither side could break the deadlock in a game which leaves the race for finals spots as tight as ever in this year’s WGC Cranes District League.

The only efforts early on came from set-pieces.

Seconds after kick-off Oak Flats won a free kick 30 metres out, which Jason Murdzevski launched towards the far post, though Akira Tatsubayashi got to the ball first and punched clear.

Fernhill’s first chance came from a free kick in an identical position at the other end. Chris Hobbs went for goal with his effort, which deflected off a defender’s head for a corner.

As the game settled, it was the visitors who were dominating possession and looking more dangerous on the ball, building attacks down the right with Liam Gallo targeting Dom Giustiniani in the centre.

On 18 minutes, Giustiniani turned his marker, made 15 metres with the ball and unleashed a left foot drive, though Tatsubayashi took it comfortably. And seconds later Giustiniani held the ball up well before setting up Sam Markoulis on the edge of the area, but the Falcons’ top scorer was prevented from shooting by a timely tackle from Foxes Man of the Match Luke McDonald.

There was more frustration for Markoulis when he suddenly found himself unmarked and on the receiving end of a perfect cross from Gallo, but his shot flew well over.

Down the other end, just before the half hour, Fernhill won a corner, from which Wada rose higher than everyone else but his header flew into a pack of bodies blocking the path to goal.

As the first half drew to a close, the Foxes almost broke the deadlock. Kazu Obata sent a long ball forward for Hobbs to chase and then cross from the byline only for Wada to be denied again, this time by the woodwork.

The Falcons came out flying in the second half. Giustiniani won a corner, from which Gary Newall saw a header go just wide. Seconds later Giustiniani was again in the thick of the action, this time flicking a header on towards Alex Bausch, who was prevented from shooting by McDonald. Then Giustiniani set up Markoulis only for McDonald yet again to get his body in the way and block the shot before it could pose any danger.

Just before the hour mark, Markoulis finally beat McDonald for pace and made space to shoot. The ball ricocheted clear to Gallo, but his shot was also blocked.

And then in the 62^nd minute, Oak Flats thought they had scored when Gallo laid the ball off to Petrolo, who fired it into the back of the net before seeing that the offside flag had been raised.

Minutes later Giustiniani found himself clear and this time the flag stayed down. But the Falcons’ striker somehow missed the target and watched as the ball landed in the netting on top of the goal.

Having survived the onslaught, Fernhill again finished the stronger. After setting up their best chance of the first half, it was Obata again who threaded the ball through to Wada, but Ben Hardcastle in the Oak Flats defence put in the tackle to prevent Wada from shooting.

And in the dying seconds of the game, having kept his side in it with countless crucial challenges, McDonald almost set up a late winner. He broke from defence and found Hobbs racing forward. Hobbs laid the ball off to Wada whose shot was saved just on the final whistle.

Commenting after the game, Oak Flats coach Michael Garcia said: “I think the boys did well and we were unlucky not to get the points today. We controlled the game with possession. I’ve probably played Dom (Giustiniani) out wide too often this season and now he’s in the middle he’s looking dangerous and hopefully he can bag a few in the run-in.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Garcia said “We’ve got tough games coming up starting with Picton next week, but the boys will be fired up for that, and then three big games where we need to win two to try to make the semis”

Fernhill coach Daniel McGoldrick said: “It was a bit of a scrappy game all round, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result. We’ve had a great run but we lost to Berkeley in a similar game last time, so I’m happy that we were able to hold out, and we created some pretty decent chances, but so did they.”

“Our schedule has prevented us from training lately so we need to get back to training ahead of a really big game next week against Corrimal. And there’s a tough run-in for us, ending with Picton on the last day of the regular season.”

“But if you look at where we are now compared to where people thought we would be at the start of the season, when we didn’t even have a team, I’m happy. We’re rebuilding and in the season coming we’ll attract new players, including in our reserve grade.”

In other news, Picton Rangers wrapped up the minor premiership following their 3-2 win over Balgownie Rangers.

-Report by Simon Duffin -

- Photo courtesy of Fernhill FC -