In an emotion-charged afternoon at Rex Jackson Oval, where upwards of 600 spectators turned up to watch the Thistles host Coniston. Pre-match there was touching tributes to late Thistles players Reuben Martin and Lachlan Scipione - the crowd and both sides invited onto the pitch for a minutes silence with their jerseys laid in the centre-circle as tributes rang out over the intercom.

As the huge crowd stuck around, the atmosphere was electric at the Thistles home ground, with the rattling of the boardings constant throughout the fixture.

It wasn't to be for the Thistles though, as goals from two defenders and a goalkeeper split the way of Coniston 2-1. An early own-goal by Jaydn Falkiner was erased by a solo effort from Ryan Grima, but a second half penalty converted by the visitor's gloveman Cristofer Fuentes Remirez sealed the points for Coniston.

The crowd were forced to wait 10 minutes before the first action - Cody Cuthbertson finding the gloves of Ramirez from 20 yards with a fine strike, Blake Charman sidefooting the rebound into the prone goalkeeper in what would prove to be the first of many costly misses for the 'Burgh.

Cuthbertson was unlucky not to get his shot off minutes later, a neat chipped pass set the winger free on the right flank, only for Ramirez to advance far enough off his line that Cuthbertson was unable to turn and roll it into the open net.

Dinko Terzic did his best to lift his side - uncharacteristically missing two straight-forward chances on the quarter hour; a heavy touch when through on goal evading him before a volley was directly at keeper Braiden Gilbert.

Franco Ledesma forced the opener on 32 minutes - contesting a high ball in the box resulting in J. Falkiner heading an attempted backpass over gloveman Gilbert and in to gift Coniston an early lead against the run of play.

Minutes later scores were level, as a marauding run from right-back Ryan Grima took the long route around the Coniston team, and a tight one-two with Naruyuki Kato saw the former bomb home a right-footed volley to restore parity.

Moments before the interval, Helensburgh could have grabbed the lead - Kato on a mazing run in the box, drawing Ramirez and chipping, only for a fingertip deflection to push the ball away from a horde of Helensburgh players queuing up to tap in the free ball.

Helensburgh were at it again after the break, Cuthbertson rounding the defence only for Brad Watts to push the cut-back onto the far upright with Ramirez beaten.

The afternoon continued downhill for J. Falkiner, bringing down Franc Pierro in the area, and left to watch as gloveman Ramirez made the long trek forward to convert the penalty down the middle.

Helensburgh now had reason to push - not deserving to lose from how they'd played. Their pressure was now more than ever - Coniston left to bravely defend their box for the remaining half hour.

A flurry of corners saw centre-halves J. Falkiner and Charman put headers over the bar and just wide of the target respectively, before the former put an uncontested header wide from 6 yards in a huge miss to capitulate his afternoon.

Luke Wyatt nearly capitalised on a scramble in the box, only for Ramirez to dive at his feet and snuff out any danger as Helensburgh continued to forge half-chances in their dominance.

Terzic was the main threat on the break for Coniston, thrice more failing to bulge the net in one-on-ones with Gilbert midway through the half, totalling five misses for the typically-reliable marksman.

Late-on, Coniston's desperation saw red as Ryan Vandenberg received a second yellow card after a cynical foul on Cuthbertson, however a series of free kicks by the hosts failed to hit the target or stay in play as time took the game from Helensburgh.

By the end, an own goal and a penalty proved just enough for Coniston to limp over the line against a relentless Helensburgh side with much more than 3 points at stake. The raucous crowd stood and applauded the hosts from the pitch as the pulsating fixture drew a close, and the sun set beautifully over Rex Jackson Oval to cap a heart-warming afternoon.

Three points may have been dropped for Helensburgh from a game they could've had half a dozen goals, but it was the announcement board that told the story of the day - 'Reuben and Lachie, you will be missed by all Thistles.'

Whilst Coniston grabbed the three points today, it will be the tear-filled huddle pre-game that today's game will be remembered for.

It sometimes takes days like this to remind us that football is about more than a burning passion to win - it brings the greater community together as one in times like these. The manner in which Helensburgh Thistles banded together and turned out to celebrate the lives of two of their players is testament to the power of football, and a testament in which the club as a whole should be extremely proud.

 

Rex Jackson Oval - Saturday 24th June

Helensburgh Thistles 1 - Grima 38'

Coniston FC 2 - J. Falkiner OG 32', Ramirez 59'Pen

 

Referee - B. Fotheringham

Assistants - B. Kemp, B. Merchant

 

Helensburgh Thistle - Gilbert (Wardle 88'), Grima, J. Falkiner (Wellings 82'), Charman, Okamoto, Wyatt, Van Zyl, Mitani, Watts, Kato, Cuthbertson

Subs - Wellings, Rowley, L. Falkiner, Boardman, Wardle

Coniston FC - Ramirez, Evans, Nanos, Vandenberg, Cuda, Moreira, Pierro, Sekulic, Ledesma (Tschentscher 73'), Terzic, Barrios (Kolonja 90')

Subs - Uzelak, Simonovski, Tschentscher, Blazevski, Gaudiosi, Kolonja

 

Report by David Atherton - Twitter @daveatho5