Round 6 action in the WGC Cranes District League saw 7th placed Shell Cove travel to 9th placed Berkeley Sports for a fixture both sides would look at to kick-start their faltering seasons'. Shell Cove started the stronger of the sides, and nabbed the decisive goal early on, through energetic striker Gadir Maarbani, and for no lack of trying, neither side could trouble the scoreboard for the remaining 79 minutes.

Shell Cove opened the action inside two minutes, winger Diego Rodrigues finding room on the right flank and cannoning a cross into the outside of the woodwork, and it would prove to be a sign of things to come for a lack-lustre Berkeley defence.

On 11 minutes, a simple ball forward pierced the Goats' backline, sending Maarbani through on goal out of nowhere, and the striker calmly finished to the right of onrushing keeper Chris Lazarevski to open the scoring on the day.

On a very tense day, this proved to be the only action in a well-matched fixture; neither side able to edge out another chance. The Berkeley defence were struggling to contain Maarbani, who's pace and dribbling were constantly threatening; many fouls conceded in order to snuff out chances.

Entering the second period still at 0-1, a cagey second half was to come, as Shell Cove continued to put most of their play through Maarbani, and Berkeley stepped up to try and grab an equaliser.

Early on, Maarbani played Andreij Gacesa through on goal, but an advancing save from Lazarevski pushed the effort wide.

Berkeley were not without chances of their own; Jeremy Flanagan struck a corner directly onto the crossbar, Greg Moon striking straight at Shell Cove keeper Nikola Ristevski from 18 yards, Dylan Evans a 25 yard half-volley sailing way over the bar.

The best of the early chances for the hosts fell to stalwart Greg Moon, played into the box down the right side, however his shot from 6 yards struck the chest of Ristevski and bounced clear.

From there, Shell Cove really stamped their authority on the game; the Goats' midfield maestro Luke Boersma was still pinging balls all across the pitch, but those around him began to fade, giving the Barbarians midfield the opportunity to constantly swarm forward.

Shell Cove had the last 25 minutes at their mercy as chance after chance fell their way, however they were unable to capitalise on anything they created.

Nikola Rusic headed wide from a near-post corner; Maarbani saw a low shot tipped wide by Lazarevski; Ryan Crouch on hand to smother a Maarbani lob destined for the back of the net; Rodrigues sprayed a one-on-one wide from 18 yards.

It was the final 5 minutes which threw up the best of the chances for Shell Cove.

A half-cleared corner saw Daniel Toskoski loop a 12 yard half volley over an open goal; and substitute Mathew Guido cutting in from the left wing and hooking a low shot just wide of the far post.

Frantic final minutes continued for seemingly an eternity as Shell Cove did everything but score. Maarbani had a shot parried from 18 yards, the follow up from Gacesa wide across the face of goal, and the recovered cross hit by Toskoski cleared by Crouch.

Another surge forward from Guido had another shot wide across the face, only for Gacesa to be smothered by Crouch once more and unable to get his shot off from close range.

Into stoppage time, Berkeley had their chances to win the game. Flanagan's shot from the right flank was dropped by Ristevski, Craig Richardson bringing down Moon in the box with penalty cries turned away.

Moments later, a rebound fell to Mathew Mears 12 yards out, but the awkward half-volley was skied over the bar, and a draw went with it.

Shell Cove emerged with their slim 1-0 lead intact after a tense closing period. On the balance of play, they deserved the victory, however had Berkeley capitalised on their few chances, they very well could have salvaged something from the tie.

The result sees Berkeley continue their miserable run of 5 defeats in a row, and it may only continue with an away game at Bellambi on Saturday 5th May for Round 7, before a home game against faltering heavyweights Helensburgh in Round 8. The defeat to Shell Cove sees the Goats fall to 10th on the table, on goal difference.

As for Shell Cove, they now have two wins on the trot after a 3-1 win in Round 5 over Oak Flats, keeping them in 7th place on the table. The Barbarians will travel to 12th placed Unanderra Hearts for Round 7, Saturday 5th May.

 

Saturday 28th April 2018 - Berkeley Sports and Social Club

Berkeley Sports 0

Shell Cove 1 - Maarbani 11'

 

Referee - J. RUSCICA

Assistants - J. MARKHAM, G. CHARLTON

 

Berkeley Sports - Chris LAZAREVSKI, Hayden TILL, Ross PRANDALOS, Justin MEARS, Ryan CROUCH, Mathew MEARS, Jeremy FLANAGAN, Dylan EVANS, Luke BOERSMA, Corey BUTCHER, Greg MOON

Subs - Isaac ARANCIBIA, Digvijay SHEKHAWAT (on for FLANAGAN 88'), Bradley FISCHER, Mitch ONEAL

Shell Cove - Nikola RISTEVSKI, Craig RICHARDSON, Mathew CESTA, Lupcho NAUMOVSKI, Filip ANGELESKI, Alex ANGELKOSKI, Andreij GACESA, Daniel TOSKOSKI, Nikola RUSIC, Diego RODRIGUES, Gadir MAARBANI

Subs - Steven DIMITRIEVSKI (on for Angelkoski 88'), Atanas SIMONOVSKI (on for RODRIGUES 88'), Vasko PETKUCOVSKI, Daniel DANCOVSKI, Mathew GUIDO (on for RUSIC 73')

 

Report by David ATHERTON - Twitter @daveatho5

File Photo: Noel Wynn