In the first WGC Cranes District League game of the season for each side, after both suffered Round 1 wash-outs, Fernhill travelled North to Helensburgh. The home side had tight pre-season fixtures in the Fraternity Club Cup - Helensburgh losing two and winning one all by one-goal margins - whilst Fernhill picked up two big wins and, qualifying as the best 2nd placed team, grabbed another big win in the semi's to set up a final against Coniston.

Ultimately it was Fernhill who ran away with this game, scoring big for the fourth time in five games this season. The opening half was rather average from both sides, with barely a meaningful shot on target to show for either side. Both sides were finding their way through the opposing defence with relative ease, however delivering the final pass was proving difficult and shots were mostly astray of the target.

Helensburgh had the chance to score early, with flyer Luke Van Zyl untracked on the right wing from a defensive free kick, however the winger's shot across goal drew a good low save from Fernhill gloveman Brad Hunter.

Helensburgh keeper Mat t Wardle was tested at the other end shortly after, Andrew Paine half volleying from the right side of the box off a long cross, but a fingertip save at the far post pushed the ball onto the crossbar and over for a corner.

The three at the back formation from Fernhill allowed them to get more men forward, but it also allowed the Thistles to capitalise on the wings where the visitors were often found under-manned. A deflected clearance fell to Cody Cuthbertson, who beat two and teed up Jarrod Benham, but he dragged his shot across goal from the one-on-one. Again, a defensive error fell the way of Helensburgh, Van Zyl controlling a misdirected pass and crossing into the path of Benham, but Hunter advanced to claim.

Fernhill grabbed the lead just after the half hour, a seemingly non-threatening pass to Andy Keep who turned his man and shot from close range to the near post to give Fernhill the lead in an otherwise tight game.

The second stanza proved much more exciting, with Fernhill putting the foot down to score four unanswered goals.

Paine could've had their second only four minutes in, grabbing an open ball and dribbling on goal, however his shot was again saved well with a dive from Wardle.

It was two goals in three minutes to Ilwa Prenzoski which really took the game from Helensburgh, first slotting a one-on-one to the right of Wardle, then a simple side-foot into an open goal from a cut-back.

At this point, Helensburgh didn't appear to have the options to get back into the game, as every ball was falling the way of Fernhill.

A long ball saw Scott Muiluyk attempt an audacious 25 yard chip over encroaching Wardle only to bounce wide, and Prenzoski rounded Wardle for a simple tap-in only to be called back for offside.

Fernhill kept the goals rolling in though - a free kick from halfway headed straight at Wardle, but for the sun and the challenge of a Fernhill attacker, the punch didn't clear and the ball bobbled onto the upright and over the line for fullback Anthony Oliver to get on the scoresheet.

Again Fernhill pulled out slick passing through their midfield to play Prenzoski down the right wing, as he squared up his man and crossed for Kolan Hmda unselfishly after drawing Wardle, and the tap-in made it 5-0.

Helensburgh almost put the last nail in their own coffin, with defensive miscommunication putting a back-pass from Branko Tesanovic away from Wardle, however it managed to roll just wide of the upright and not into the net for a sixth.

 

Saturday 1st April - Rex Jackson Oval

Referee - J. Ruscica

Assistants - M. Riquelme, B. Merchant

 

Helensburgh Thistle 0

Fernhill Foxes 5 - Keep 33', Prenzoski 58' 60', Oliver 66', Hmda 78'

 

Helensburgh Thistle - Wardle, Brady, J. Falkiner (Gallagher), Charman (Tesanovic 70'), Grima, Wyatt, Van Zyl, Rowley (Boardman 75'), Benham, Watts, Cuthbertson

Subs - Tesanovic, Gallagher, Boardman, L. Falkiner, Tipping

Fernhill Foxes - B. Hunter, Poulton, Cesta-Incani, Oliver, R. Hunter, Paine (Warwick 63'), Keep, Morosin (Richardson 66'), Prenzoski, Hmda (Turner 78'), Muiluyk

Subs - Richardson, Warwick, Turner, McDonald, McClelland

 

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5