The last two undefeated sides of the 2018 WCG Cranes District League finally met in the eagerly awaited and hotly contested round 10 clash between Coniston and Bellambi at JJ Kelly Park. With neither side yet to drop a point so far this season, both sides were looking for a win to take them outright first in the league and it was Coniston who hit the ground running, with Kohei Enokido netting in the opening five minutes to give the hosts a valuable lead. Coniston then doubled their advantage through Hiroaki Kohinoki on the 20-minute mark, before Bellambi pulled a goal back through Tim O’Brien in the 32^nd minute. Despite both sides coming close to scoring in a tense second half, Coniston managed to hold onto their lead and take a valuable three points with a hugely important victory.

Coniston had not lost to Bellambi in any of their last three competitive fixtures, with their most recent win being in the opening round of the Bert Bampton Cup this season. However, while recent history was in favor of the hosts, Coniston were unwilling to rest on their laurels and after a third minute warning shot from Dinko Terzic that flew just to the left of the Bellambi goal, the hosts broke the match open in the fifth minute when Hiroaki Kohinoki managed to release a ball while under pressure to Kohei Enokido who was just outside the Bellambi box. Enokido would only take a few steps before firing a powerful shot that blasted its way past Bellambi shot-stopper Nathan Campbell and into the net to give Coniston an early lead.

Bellambi were taken back by the early goal, but the side had a great chance to level the scores in the 11^th minute when the Rosellas were given a free-kick on the left-hand side of the field, just outside Coniston’s box. Andy Keep would step up to take the kick for the visitors and he managed a wonderful curling effort that twisted its way past the Coniston wall but not past the Coniston gloveman in Ben McGinnes, who produced a strong save to deny Keep and keep Coniston in the lead.

But despite some attacking pressure from Bellambi, it was Coniston would who double their advantage in the 20^th minute when the side was awarded a free-kick just outside the box. Hiroaki Kohinoki took the kick and his fantastic effort managed to weave its way past the Bellambi wall and Campbell to find itself in the bottom right corner of the net and give Coniston a 2-0 lead.

Bellambi, who until this match had only conceded two goals in the league this season, found themselves at risk of dropping their first points all season but were struggling to push back against a Coniston side that smelled blood in the water and the hosts came agonizingly close to their third goal of the match in the 26^th minute when Dinko Terzic managed to make a chance out of nothing and fire off a shot from distance that beat a leaping Campbell, but his effort was denied by the right post, rebounding off the goal and back into play.

However, Bellambi would pull their way back into the match when they finally netted a goal of their own in the 32^nd minute, when the side managed to make the most of a loose ball bouncing in the box after a defensive scramble, allowing Tim O’Brien to get a head to the ball and just knock it past Ben McGinnes to give Bellambi their first goal of the match and pull the scores back to 2-1.

Bellambi would have one final chance to pull level before the half-time break when the side was given another free-kick in front of goal, but Andy Keep’s effort would just skim the top of the crossbar as it flew over, giving Coniston a 2-1 lead to hold onto going into the second half.

A goal down, the Rosellas would come out firing in the second half, with a free-kick from Tim O’Brien in the opening minute finding the head of Iljia Prenzoski, who fired an effort towards goal, only to be denied by a great save from Ben McGinnes.

Both sides would have a great chance to score in the 68^th minute, beginning with Bellambi when a quick-fire effort from Boden Allport beat McGinnes but not Bradley Moreira, who managed to clear the effort off the line and keep Coniston’s lead intact. Coniston would then quickly push up the pitch and Mark Picciolini would find himself with the ball in the Bellambi box, and his powerful effort was denied by an outstanding show of athleticism from Nathan Campbell, who pushed the ball away and kept Bellambi in the match.

Despite Coniston attempting to slow down play and let Bellambi come to them, the side were still managing to create chances and Dinko Terzic, who had been creating issues all game for Bellambi with his long-range efforts, would get one final go at netting a screamer when he fired off a long shot in the 70^th minute, which once again beat a diving Campbell but was denied once more by the post, ricocheting off and allowing Bellambi to recover the shot.

Bellambi would get one final chance to level the scores in the 76^th minute when a sliding effort from Tim O’Brien almost worked its way into the goal but was denied at the final hurdle by a solid save from Ben McGinnes to keep Coniston in the lead. The Rosellas would continue to push in the final moments of the match, but Coniston’s defence turned itself up a gear and continued to shut down any attacking movement, allowing the hosts to hold on and secure a huge win for the side.

Coniston’s win sees the side move three points clear of Bellambi at the top of the District League ladder, with the side the only team yet to lose a match in both the District and Premier Leagues after Albion Park White Eagles went down to Bulli on Saturday. Coniston will travel to Rex Jackson Park next round to take on Helensburgh Thistle, who just managed to sneak past Balgownie in a 3-2 win.

For Bellambi, their first loss of the season means the side now needs Coniston to drop ground in the hunt for the Premier League promotion spot, with the Rosellas still safely in playoff contention, sitting six points clear of third placed Thirroul, who they will host at Elizabeth Park next round in what could be a crucial match for the side as they try to react to dropping their first points of the season.

Saturday 26 May 2018 at JJ Kelly Park.

Coniston FC – 2 (Enokido 5’, Kohinoki 20’)

Bellambi – 1 (O’Brien 32’)

Coniston FC: Ben MCGINNES, Kohei ENOKIDO, Takayuki KAYANO, Hiroaki KOHINOKI, Franc PIERRO, Dinko TERZIC, Mark PICCIOLINI, Lachlan MARTIN, Julian CESTA-INCANI, Bradley MOREIRA, Matthew CUDA

Subs: Valon RIZVANI, Ryan VANDENBERG (CESTA-INCANI 83’), Christian PLAKIAS (PICCIOLINI 75’), Bowen SIMPSON

Bellambi: Nathan CAMPBELL, Sean POULTEN, Tor PREECE, Nathan THOMPSON, Grant ZANNI, Nicholas MORGAN, Tim O’BRIEN, Boden ALLPORT, Scott MARTIN, Ilija PRENZOSKI, Andy KEEP

Subs: Matt RICHARDSON (ZANNI 73’), Chris CEVENINI (MARTIN 59’), Mattias PASSLACK (ALLPORT 80’), Jack DUGAN

Referee – Andrew NAYLOR

Assistant Referees – Atesh MAHARAJ and Brody MURRECC

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo courtesy of Dylan Arvela