Fernhill Foxes have signalled their intentions for the remainder of 2016, with a ravaging demolition job on the struggling University FC in a 6-0 rout at Kooloobong Oval on Saturday afternoon.

It was a one-sided affair for Fernhill, travelling at the compact Kooloobong Oval. The match ended a horror two clashes for ‘The Students,’ who have leaked 11 goals against Corrimal Rangers and the Foxes consecutively.

Fernhill coach Dan McGoldrick who has steered his squad expertly this season, was a pleased man post match.

“We did expect to do well, but we knew they would be difficult. It’s a bit like a box of chocolates with Uni, some days they can just come out and blitz you.” McGoldrick said.

“I was very happy with our defence plus we created lots of chances and finally took some, so very pleased with the total performance.”

Fernhill was the dominant side from the opening whistle, setting up camp in their attacking half as they knocked the ball around searching for holes in the University defence.

It took 17 minutes for the first genuine chance on goals, with Fernhill defender Dale White sending a ball downfield for striker Kazu Naigashi. Naigashi won the contested ball to toe it high in the air for Ben Moerman with the Students goalkeeper out of position but Moerman was unable to finish, with the strike gliding over the crossbar.

Naigashi was the everywhere man for Fernhill early, nearly stealing a goal in the 20th minute, before nearly finishing a lovely Fox movement down the right sideline a minute later. The movement involving Andy Keep and Ben Moerman was only defended by a brave save from University goalkeeper Gabriel Murphy.

Fernhill continued building pressure in the 30th minute with three consecutive Marc Sergi corners failing rise over the near-post defender. Only a minute later, Fernhill finally cracked the defence.

Marc Sergi opted for the short corner to Matt Richardson on the penalty box corner who sends a curling ball to the far post. Andy Keep gets his head to the ball and bounces it down for Ben Moerman to finish the volley into the back of the net for a well-worked opening team goal.

In the 40th minute, the Foxes doubled their lead just before half time through a Scott Muilwyk ball with Fernhill again finding joy down the right sideline. Muilwyk found Chris Hobbs on the right who sent the ball into the 6 yard box into a charging Naigashi who had no trouble knocking the ball into the net.

The halftime whistle blew with University struggling for answers against a formidable Fernhill outfit who was boasting a comfortable 2-0 lead.

It took only 5 minutes for Fernhill to find the goals again in the second half, with the ball bumbling around the penalty box eventually finding the feet of Andy Keep hiding solo on the left of the penalty area, who had no trouble powering the ball low across the face of goals for the third Fernhill goal.

Andy Keep’s goalscoring appetite had not waned, with a free kick on the 55th minute from Matt Richardson deadly accurate to find Keep ambling towards goal at the far post to again knock it into the goals for his second in 5 minutes and for a 4-0 Fernhill lead.

University’s Evan Fitzsimmons tried desperately to inspire his team on the scoresheet, with silky touches earning a Student corner on the 58th minute. Fitzsimmons off the corner powered a low strike which ended as a comfortable save for the otherwise untroubled Fernhill goalkeeper Akira Tatsubayashi.

In the 69th minute, Fernhill’s Chris Hobbs silenced the crowd with the goal of the afternoon. Settling wide outside the box with a stationary ball, nothing appeared on until Hobbs sent a sizzling strike that whizzed across the face of goals past the outstretched glove of the goalkeeper into the top right corner for a glorious goal from range.

Chris Hobbs played his role in the final goal of the afternoon from the right sideline again, sending a ball into the 6 yard box which found the head of enthusiastic defender Matt Richardson who powered the ball into net for great delight for his fans at the match.

The final scoreline was a formidable 6-0 in the way of Fernhill Foxes, with University now struggling to find motivation for the rest of season as the top 5 now appear well and truly out of reach.

Fernhill will host next Saturday the dwindling last-placed Bellambi FC at Ray Robinson Field, with Bellambi already nursing a 4-1 loss at the hands of Corrimal Rangers on Saturday.

University FC will have a vital away clash against Wests Illawarra at Unanderra Oval, a 10th v 11th clash with only three points keeping University ahead of Wests.

 

Saturday 16 July, 2016

Kooloobong Oval

 

University FC 0

Fernhill Foxes 6 (Ben Moerman 31’, Kazu Naigashi 40’, Andy Keep 50’ 55’, Chris Hobbs 69’, Matt Richardson 84’)

 

University FC:

Gabriel Murphy, Grant Newman (Scott Mawbey 71’) Lochlain Ryan, David Pitt, Ryan Kurtz (Russ Crighton 71’) Dane Hamilton, Craig Hood,Andrew Christie, Luke Foscanini (Tom Brown 71’) Evan Fitzsimmons, Lulce Vanderberch??

Yellow Cards: Grant Newman

Red Card: Nil

 

Fernhill FC:

Akira Tatsubayashi, Matt Richardson, Anthony Oliver, Sean Poulton,Scott Muilwyk, Dale White, Andrew Keep, Marc Sergi (Nathan Thompson 71’), Ben Moerman (Mitch Woods 80’), Kazuma Nagaishi (Keiran Morris 76’), Chris Hobbs.

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

Twitter: @mcgoookin93

Photo: Pedro Garcia (library archive)