A physical game has ended all square between Unanderra and Kiama in this round 10 clash of the WGC Cranes District League. The home side scored first in the 59^th minute through Lorri Manfredi but a nicely created assist by Kiama’s Dan Gillepsie, allowed Tom Cuncliffe to sneak it home to equalise for the visitors just under 10 minutes later.

The home side were looking to kick-start their season, still chasing their first win. The Quarriers had the chance to go back-to-back after a 3-1 victory over Berkeley at the Quarry last week.

Unanderra started stronger between the two sides but would lack any pressure on Kiama goalkeeper, Adrian Bartlett as the Quarriers’ almost hit the lead in the 6^th minute. A lobbed through ball to Ben Tarrant on the right wing gave the winger space up the line. Tarrant’s cross to the far post bounced kindly for Chris Christodoulou. His first time volley just sliced wide of the post.

A nice interplay between Daniel Saverino and Lachlan Osborne would almost create something for the Hearts’ in the 11^th minute but Osborne’s cross fell straight into the arms of Bartlett.

After a slow start, Kiama had found their feet. Christodoulou found Keegan Berringer on the edge of the box but Berringer’s first time shot rolled wide. Three minutes later, Tarrant attacked the line once again but this time his cross didn’t find a finish and Unanderra cleared.

Unanderra may have felt hard done by after a disallowed goal in 27^th minute. Saverino again had the ball on the wing and a cross forced a headed clearance by Kiama. Falling nicely to Osborne, the ball would strike his hand as he smashed it into the net, only to be brought back for the free-kick.

The pressure would continue for Kiama as the game went on. Lorri Mandfredi dispossessed Ben Hardcastle in the box. The winger came one-on-one with Bartlett but a rushed save kept the game scoreless.

Saverino continued the Hearts’ attack only minutes later. A poor headed clearance from Dan Gillespie landed at the feet of the winger 25 yards from goal. His shot blistered wide of the post.

A final chance for Kiama right on the break would see out the half. Tom McColl sent a free-kick into the mix from the corner of the 18-yard box. The kick would find the head of Berringer but couldn’t angle it downwards as it sailed over the bar. The game went into half-time at 0-0.

The second half would see Kiama have several threating chances within the opening 10 minutes. Firstly, a Berringer long ball put Christodoulou in space. Cutting in on his left, the Kiama captain saw his right footed shot rise over. And just minutes later, it was the same two causing the trouble as Berringer put Christodoulou through on goal again but would see his shot blocked by Stephen Jovanovski.

Although Kiama would go close to scoring, it was Unanderra that would break the deadlock in the 59^th minute. Hardcastle fouled Dominic McGill close to the corner-flag. McGill then delivered a delicate cross into the six-yard box. Kiama headed it clear straight to Manfredi standing on the penalty spot. His first touch put it onto his right foot and a side footed finish found the bottom right.

The Quarriers’ turned it around well as Gillespie almost helped his side score only two minutes later. A surging run forward from centre-back, saw Gillespie beat three players before pulling the trigger. The shot almost caught Hearts’ goalkeeper, Nick Purdevski off-guard as the shot swayed inches wide of the post.

The away supporters wouldn’t be too disappointed over the missed chance as they grabbed an equaliser, seven minutes later. It was Gillespie again causing chaos up the middle and another surging run found him in the midst of midfield. This time, a threaded through ball for Tom Cuncliffe put the midfielder one-on-one. His first-time finish snuck into the bottom corner and gave Kiama their first goal on the day.

As the game went on, tempers flared when both teams looked to snatch that elusive goal. McGill would look the most likely for the home-side to score with several chances in the final 15. Firstly, a long-throw-in found him open in the box, as he went towards goal, his shot was blocked by Gillepsie. Two minutes later, McGill’s shot from outside the box bounced just past the post.

Kiama then pushed forward with an attack of their own through substitute, James Malin. The full-back was on the end of a quick free kick by Hardcastle and Cuncliffe. Cuncliffe sent a cross over to the back post to the un-marked Malin but the header caught the side netting.

Neither team scoring the winner as the game ended 1-1 in what was a back and forth affair with both teams going home with a point.

The result for Unanderra may have been an important point but are still just one point off Berkeley who beat them in round one. The Hearts’ travel to Oak Flats in the search for their first win of the season.

Kiama now see themselves planted in 9^th, picking up four points from their last two games. They host Balgownie next week at the Quarry, looking to finish the first half of the season on a high.

 

Saturday 26^th May at Unanderra Oval.

Unanderra Hearts FC: 1 (MANFREDI 59’)

Kiama Quarriers FC: (CUNCLIFFE 67’)

 

Line-ups:

Unanderra Hearts FC: Nick PUROEVSKI, Paul BURLEIGH, Ben SALLABANIC, Andrew NANOS, Stephen JOVANOVSKI, Lorri MANFREDI, David POLIDARO, Lachlan OSBORNE, Dominic MCGILL, Daniel SAVERINO, Eugene TURNER.

Subs: Nathan PULJIC (OSBORNE 89’), Joe YOUSEFF (MANFREDI 64’), Michael POTTER, Steve YOUSEFF, Tim COLE (TURNER 79’).

 

Kiama Quarriers FC: Adrian BARTLETT, Tom CUNCLIFFE, Ben HARDCASTLE, Dan GILLESPIE, Mitch GOWLAND, Tom MCCOLL, Ben TARRANT, Jesse ANNEN, Keegan BERRINGER, Chris CHRISTODOULOU, Kyle JELLIFFE.

Subs: James MALIN (JELLIFFE 80’), Jye MARKS (MCCOLL 77’), Aaron BUZINKI (BERRINGER 77’), Victor RABELLO.

 

Referee: L. WEBB

Assistant Referees: W. ARNOLD and J. MCDEAN.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

File Photo: Pedro Garcia