Fernhill FC have blown away Balgownie Rangers with a dominant 4-0 victory at Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday afternoon, determining the final three teams that everyone was waiting for in the WGC Cranes District League in Fernhill, Corrimal and Warilla.

Two late first half goals to captain Ben Moerman laid the foundation for a classy victory for Fernhill Foxes, who are now set to battle League Champions Corrimal Rangers for a position in the Grand Final.

Fernhill Coach Dan McGoldrick was delighted post game.
“It was a good comeback from the let down against Warilla mid-week,” he said.
“Defensively we were very, very solid. Back to where we were before the last 3 or 4 games where we had got a little lax.”

Balgownie Rangers began the game with positive football, encouraged by their mid-week extra-time finals victory over Thirroul Thunder.

It only took 2 minutes before Balgownie’s Jackson Dummett poked his head up and took a long range strike wide of the goals.

In the 4th minute, a Balgownie cross from the right sideline courtesy of Jordan Scott hovered in front of the Fernhill goalkeeper who fumbled the ball, with Mitchell Hoswell lurking but not quick enough to win the race to the ball to finish.

An early tragedy struck for Balgownie at the 12th minute, as influential midfielder Michael Todd had to be stretchered off with what appears a serious ankle injury, forcing an early substitution as Peter Katsoudas was introduced to the game.

Fernhill was beginning to feel their way into the game, but opportunities were still frequent for Balgownie with a cross coming at Mitchell Hoswell for a contested ball, with the ball lobbing near the right post for Hoswell who so nearly chipped Fernhill goalkeeper Akira Tatsubayashi in the 25th minute for the opener.

In the 31st minute Fernhill began to hit their straps, with Kazuma Nagaishi dispossessing Balgownie, taking the ball forward for a class ball to Marc Sergi who sent a lovely ball across face of goals with no Foxes there to finish.

Only a minute later, Ben Moerman attempted a bicycle finish off a Dean Morosin ball in, but sent it wide.

In the 38th minute, a classy turn from Fernhill’s Marc Sergi saw a low, driving strike well saved by a horizontal Rangers goalkeeper Mitchell Pill, but only 30 seconds later a second low Sergi strike saw a bumble with Ben Moerman there to send home the finish for the all-important opening goal.

An Akira Tatsubayash goal kick in the 42nd minute led to the second goal, with Kazuma Nagaishi heading it forward off a single bounce for a charging Ben Moerman who thundered the strike into the netting to double the lead.

It was a major kick in the guts for Balgownie Rangers, with Fernhill Foxes flying into the sheds at half time with a 2-0 lead.

Marc Sergi continued to cause havoc in the second half, with a low bullet strike on the 53rd minute well saved by Balgownie’s Mitchell Pill.

Balgownie began to play higher instinctively, pushing for a goal to get themselves back into the contest, with an opportunity in the 61st minute through a Lachlan Verey free kick finding back post specialist Matthew McCoy whose header could not find the goals.

Rangers Jackson Dummett was looking dangerous in the midfield for Balgownie, with bodies in motion around him beginning to ask questions of the Fernhill defence.

As hope began to dwindle for Balgownie, Fernhill’s Chris Hobbs sealed their fate with an absolute pearler into the top right corner in the 88th minute, rocketed from range to ice the game for the Foxes.

An injury time goal to the impressive Kazuma Nagaishi, taking full advantage of a Balgownie’s goalkeeper Mitchell Pill playing all over the ball, allowed Nagaishi to add his name to the scoresheet with ease.

The final score read a comprehensive 4-0 victory to the Foxes, with Balgownie coach James Dummett feeling it was a tighter contest saying  “I don’t think the score was any indication of the game.”

“I felt we had a couple of really good chances but thats been our problem all year, putting those chances away. Thats the difference between these sides.”
“All in all, we are very happy that we made it this far.”

All eyes are now on the preliminary final of Corrimal Rangers against Fernhill Foxes next Saturday afternoon at Wetherall Park, the winner earning a position in the Grand Final.

The formula for victory is simple for Fernhill coach Dan McGoldrick.

“We will need to be at our best, we need to take our chances, limit theirs and we will be in with a great shot.

Saturday 10th of September, 2016
Tarrawanna Oval

Referee: Blake Herbert
Assistant Referees: M. Kusi-Appiah & J. Ruscica

Fernhill FC 4 (Moerman 38’, 42’, Hobbs 88’, Naigashi 90+2’)
Balgownie Rangers 0
 
Fernhill FC: Akira Tatsubayashi, Matt Richardson, Luke McDonald, Anthony Oliver, Julian Cesta-Incani, Scott Muilwyk, Dean Morosin, Marc Sergi (Toby Napper 80’), Ben Moerman (Keiran Morris 82’), Kazuma Nagaishi, Chris Hobbs
Yellow Cards:Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Balgownie Rangers: Mitchell Pill, Matthew McCoy, Frank Timpano ,Lachlan Verey, Benjamin Kearton,, Nick Morgan, Jordan Scott, Michael Todd (Peter Katsoudas 15’, Martin Luskin 80’) , Jackson Dummett, Mitchell Hoswell (Steve Pittman 50’), Anthony Vardareff
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Report by Daniel McGookin
Twitter: @mcgoookin93
Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn