Berkeley Sports picked up their first home points of the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over high-flying Helensburgh Thistle on Saturday. A first half header from Greg Moon and a penalty in the second period from Dylan Evans gave the home side its second win and second clean sheet on the bounce. For Helensburgh, it was a day when possession counted for nothing and they rarely posed any threat to the Berkeley goal.

After three home defeats without scoring earlier this month, Berkeley were clearly buoyed by their 3-0 win in Round 5 against struggling Bellambi. They began today’s game looking to pick up where they’d left off last weekend.

As early as the third minute, goalkeeper Josh Brus sent a long ball forward, which was picked up by targetman Tony Pagialunga on the edge of the Helensburgh area. He took one touch before firing a left foot shot across the face of the goal.

The visitors, meantime, settled into their passing game and looked sharp on the ball as they dominated possession early on. Captain Luke Wyatt was looking to be playmaker from the centre of the park, with Jason Wellings showing good energy and some nice touches going forward. But the quickfire, short passes came up constantly against the brick wall of the Berkeley defence, with Adam Inskip, Ryan Crouch and Justin Mears in particular stifling anything that came near their area.

It was only when Wyatt sent a long ball forward for Andrew Paine to run onto that Helensburgh got past that defensive barrier, but Brus was good enough to cut out Paine’s searching cross.

It was a Berkeley break that saw the home side take the lead in the 24^th minute. Paglialunga, having switched to the right side, sent in a pinpoint cross towards Moon, who got down to steer his header past the outstretched palm of Helensburgh keeper Massimo Iopollo. The keeper got a touch but could not keep the header out.

After the opening goal, the game settled back into the same pattern as we’d had before, with Helensburgh trying to pass their way through a resolute Berkeley defence.

Just occasionally the Thistle found a way through. Paine threaded a ball through to Nathan Mucci who reached the byline and beat his defender, but there was nobody in front of goal to meet his cross. And it was a quick throw in from Wellings that almost caught the Berkeley defence napping just before the break, Paine latching on and firing a right foot shot just wide of the upright.

There was still time, though, for Berkeley to break with Chris Rowlan setting up the move with a long ball to Paglialunga, who did well to retain possession inside the area before pulling it back for Rowlan charging forward on the follow-up, but the Berkeley captain’s shot flew over the bar to keep the score at 1-0 as the players went in for half time.

For the opening ten minutes of the second half, the ball barely left the Berkeley half as Helensburgh stepped up the pressure in search of an equaliser, but still there was little real threat in the final third. Just before the hour mark, Nathan Mucci decided to go it alone, beating two defenders as he dribbled along the byline and bore down on goal, but again Brus was good enough to block Mucci’s shot at the near post.

In the 63^rd minute, Berkeley broke again, with Paglialunga again the player causing problems. He was brought down inside the box and Evans stepped up to put away the penalty with a confident right foot that gave Iopollo no chance.

Helensburgh heads dropped at that point and for the remainder of the match it was the home side that looked more likely to increase their lead. Evans, fired up by his goal, began to push forward and almost set up Pagialunga, only for substitute Brad Watts to get back in time to make the clearance.

And Rowlan had a couple of chances late on, rising up to meet a corner, but sending his header over the bar, and then in the last seconds of the match having a golden opportunity in front of goal when allowed a free shot, but Iopollo somehow managed to get a hand on the ball to push it away for a corner.

Berkeley coach Paul Mears said: “We worked hard as a team today and we defended very well. And the quick breaks did well for us. Very pleased.”

For Helensburgh coach Brod Crighton, Berkeley deserved to win: “They were hungrier than us. They got behind the ball well and when we got into attacking positions, they squeezed us out. They needed the points at home today. Hopefully we’ll give them a better game when they come up to Helensburgh. But we’ve had a pretty good start to the season overall, so we’re still up there.”

 

Berkeley Sports – 2 (Pagialunga 24’, Evans (pen) 63’)

Helensburgh Thistle – 0

 

Saturday 30 April 2016

Berkeley Sports & Social Club

 

Referee: Peter Ilcevski

Assistant Referees: William Arnold, Damien Dennelly

Berkeley Sports: Josh Brus, Adam Inskip (Chris Kostevski 89’), Ryan Crouch, Justin Mears, Matt Mears, Dylan Evans, Alex Perez, Chris Rowlan, Jesse Gant, Tony Paglialunga, Greg Moon (subs not used: John Muscat, Jon Adams, Dave de Oliveira)

Helensburgh Thistle: Massimo Iopollo, Reggae Rowley (Blake Charman 72’), Mitch Buchan, Branko Tesanovic, (Brad Watts 68’), David Gallacher, Andrew Paine, Luke Wyatt, Damien Warwick, Nathan Mucci (Luke Van Zyl 72’), Joel Mucci, Jason Wellings (sub not used: Ben Kemp)

 

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo by Pedro Garcia (library archive)