Berkeley Sports Football Club hosted Fernhill Foxes for round eight of the WGC Cranes District league competition on Saturday afternoon. Fernhill are currently top of the table and were looking to continue their perfect start to the season. Berkeley began the season with a strong defensive unit but unfortunately were no match for the league’s top team going down 0-3.

The Foxes dominated the play from the get go with most of the early possession spent in the attacking half. Fernhill had an early chance with Andy Keep alluding a defender before spraying his shot across the goal from a tight angle.

Berkeley were pegged back early but to their credit, they held their lines well with King instrumental in suffing out any danger. To be fair, for all of Fernhill's possesion and attack, Berkeley absorbed it well as they clearly looked to have a defensive game plan.

It was the 37^th minute Marc Sergi let loose with a viscious shot that Berkeley’s custodian - Chris Lazarevski produced a fine fying save deflecting the ball wide and to saftey.

The normally fluent and clinical Foxes were struggling to find a way through a packed Berkeley defence and were restricted to half chances and forced passes deep in their attacking third.

Just before half time, Fernhill got the break-through through Andy Keepo. Fernhill managed to keep the ball down the left following a throw in and some nice lead up work was rewarded when Keep was found unmarked close to goal and the striker made no mistake as he powered the ball past a helpless Lazarevski.

Berkeley would have been pleased to go into the break level however the goal just before half time forced a change in strategy at half time from Mears.

Berkeley started to play a little more direct in the second half as they looked to salvage something from the game.  They nearly leveled in the 57^th minute as Fernhill keeper - Brad Hunter was left stranded outside the penalty area as he came to clear a loose ball however he was bailed out by Fernhill’s defending players that ensured they maintained a clean sheet.

In the 74th minute, Fernhill got their second. It was Hiroki Makita who managed to beat a couple of defenders before sliding ball down the left past a helpless Lazarevski who tried in vain to keep it out.

Just a minute later and the Foxes scored again to all but put the game out of reach. It was Keep who scored his hatrick with a deft lobb over Lazarevski from the edge of the box as he was given too much space.

The goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Berkeley as they barely threatened the rest of the game and Fernhill were content with the result as they closed out the game making it eight wins from eight starts in the District League. On this form, it is difficult to see anybody beating them.

Berkeley Sports - 0

Fernhill - 3 (Keep 42', 74', 75',)

 

Berkeley Sports Football Club, Saturday 13^th May, 3pm

Referee: Ryan O’Sullivan

Assistant Referees: Stuart Bell, Emajen Crawley

 

Berkeley FC: Chris Lazarevski, Brad McAteer, Ross Prandalos, Justin Mears, Jarryd King, Mathew Mears, Dylan Evans, Chris Rowlan, Luke Boersma, Tony Paglialunga, Dave DeOliveira

Subs: Corey Butcher, Jon Adams, Isaac Arancibia, Matt Jolliffe

 

Fernhill FC: Brad Hunter, Sean Poulton, Julian Cesta-Incani, Dale White, Anthony Oliver, Ilija Prenzoski, Andy Keep (42’, 75’), Marc Sergi, Ryan Hunter, Toby Napper, Kolan Hmda

Subs: Tor Preece, Hiroki Makita (74’), Luke McDonald, James McClelland

Report by Lauren Ferri, @Lauren_Ferri