Berkeley hit the top of Pool 2 with a 2-1 win over Kiama at Wetherall Park, finding the net twice after the Quarriers opened the scoring from the penalty spot. This elevates Berkeley to maximum points after two games in the Pool, with a strong position from which they can push for a semi-final's berth. Kiama, meanwhile, are now highly unlikely to qualify for the next round, with consecutive defeats, and will play out their match against Warilla next week with anything except a win putting them out.

The match itself was a fast-tempo affair, with Berkeley taking the initiative throughout, controlling the play and parking themselves well into Quarriers territory for large periods of time.

After less than a minute, Berkeley nearly opened the scoring - Jaksen Giraldi played through the central corridor into a gaping hole in the Kiama defence, only to be harried into a rushed shot by Dylan McDonald advancing. The angle was closed and his shot trickled agonisingly wide of the right-hand upright and out, avoiding what would've been a terrible opening for the Quarriers.

It seems odd, but this was largely the tale of the Berkeley offence - finding huge openings up front and sliding through balls in, only for the shot to drift wide.

Kiama were largely forced to play on the counter, with Keegan Beringer providing solid hold-up play up top, and Chris Christodoulou bringing pace and a passing array through midfield.

It was Kiama who fortuitously opened the scoring, with a free kick striking the hand of Hayden Till in the area, Beringer stepping up to send Christopher Lazarevski the wrong way from the spot and put Kiama 1-0 to the good.

From there, business resumed as usual, with Berkeley dominant and not panicking against the scoreboard.

Dylan Evens put an inch-perfect cross from the left wing onto the boot of an unmarked Chris Rowlan in the box, but his first time volley sailed wide of his near post, and a scuffed clearance from McDonald found Peter Besnard on halfway, however his chipped shot was unable to capitalise on the out-of-position McDonald and bounced inches wide.

In the final minute of the first half, Besnard placed a free kick onto the head of David De Oliveira at the far post, nodding in to equalise on the stroke of the interval.

Kiama seemed to have their pet play down-pat in the second half, with a number of occasions Christodoulou down the right wing putting an early cross into the path of Michael Hampton, only for all the shots to drift wide as Lazarevski encroached each time.

13 minutes after the break, Berkeley hit the lead, with another corner headed in at the far post, this time Stephen Carocci getting his name on the scoreboard.

From here, Kiama begun attacking alot more, with Joshua Swinton putting a great opportunity from 6 yards wide on the stretch, Brenton Burke unable to latch onto a Berkeley back-pass.

Lazarevski kept the three points in the bag in the last 5 minutes, twice saving solid efforts off the Kiama boot. Initially Jacob Lester cut in from the right wing, dipping a shot on the left foot saved down low.

Shortly after, Burke dribbled down the wing, again cutting inside onto his left foot, with a deflection taking his curling shot further toward the far post, however a fingertip save finished the game at 2-1 to Berkeley.

 

Thursday 23rd February - Wetherall Park

Referee - J. Higgins

Assistants - S. Bozic, A. Vangelovski

 

Kiama Quarriers 1 - Beringer 20'

Berkeley Sports 2 - De Oliveira 34, Carocci 48

 

Kiama Quarriers - McDonald, Burice, Frazer, Gillespie, Hardcastle, Hinkley, Lester, Christodoulou, Beringer, Swinton, Barrett

Subs - Annan, Boota, Hampton, Cunliffe, Reeves

Berkeley Sports - Lazarevski, Crouch, Till, King, Prandalos, Evens, Perez, Perez, Besnard, Rowlan, Bubb, Carocci

Subs - Giraldi, Arancibia, Blatch, Jones, De Oliveira

 

Note: Unlimited subs in pre-season games. Halves are 35 minutes.

 

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5

Photo courtesy of Kiah Hufton (file photo)