Helensburgh became the first side to take points off top of the table Coniston thanks to a gutsy 2-1 win at Rex Jackson Park. In an eventful first half, Cody Cuthbertson and Ryan Hope put the Thistle two goals up before Jarrod Benham saw red for an agricultural tackle on Hiroaki Kohinoki. The visitors would pull a goal back early in the second half through Mark Picciolini but countless squandered chances ultimately saw them lose the match.

 

There was little between the two sides in the opening quarter of an hour with the home side having their first opportunity 19 minutes into the match when a neat link-up saw Cuthbertson get a shot away but it was deflected out for a corner.

 

Moments before the half-hour mark the match burst into life with Helensburgh hitting the lead in the 29th minute. Left fullback Junya Okamoto found himself in the opposition’s box where he played Cuthbertson through on goal and the elusive attacker tucked the ball into the bottom right corner. Three minutes later the Thistle had their second when a Luke Van Zyl’s whipped free-kick was headed home by Ryan Hope who was unmarked on the edge of the Coniston six-yard box.

 

In the 34th minute, only two minutes after Helensburgh took their two-goal lead, Thistle defender Benham saw red for a nasty challenge on Kohinoki. The match instantly flipped on its head with the hosts content to hold on and defend their advantage. In the final stages of the first half, the best chance came for Coniston's Dinko Terzic in the 40th minute but he skyed his effort over the goal from 10 metres out.

 

Coniston had the perfect start to the second half when they pulled a goal back inside 90 seconds. Picciolini was the scorer with the noted goal-getter scoring his 8th of the season by slotting the ball past Matt Wardle from inside the area.

 

The visitors piled on the pressure and over the next 15 minutes, Terzic had four solid chances to pull his side level. In the 47th minute he was played through on goal but he curled his shot over the bar, four minutes later Picciolini knocked down a cross for Terzic but his volley trailed to the left and then the league’s top scorer arched one over the goal from 25 metres out. Coniston found the back of the net in the 60th minute after Terzic's shot rebounded off the crossbar before being bundled in but a Coniston player involved in the play was judged to be offside.

 

In the 65th minute, a set play nearly caught Helensburgh out. Substitute Luke Picciolini knocked a corner kick back for Coniston captain Franc Pierro on the edge of the area and his rocketing hit was well saved by Wardle to his left. Two minutes later Mark Picciolini had another decent chance when he got on the end of a Brad Moreira lob but he flicked his header over the bar.

 

The resilient Helensburgh had a couple of chances on the break in the final 20 minutes of the match. In the 72nd minute, Van Zyl flew into the left of the area but he blasted his shot over the bar and in the 75th minute Cuthbertson made a mazing 30-metre run but as he lost his footing just as he entered the area and danger was averted.

 

With five minutes remaining, Coniston were lucky to keep their full contingent on the park when the already booked Ryan Vandenberg collide with Van Zyl in an aerial challenge which saw the wideman needing to be subbed.

 

As the match ticked over into added on time, Coniston had five successive corners with their goalkeeper Ben McGinnes making his presence known in the opposition penalty area. Somehow, the Burgh were able to hold on and record one of the most impressive wins of the season.

 

The result sees Helensburgh jump into third, seven points off Bellambi and Coniston. After the match, Thistle player-coach Brad Boardman couldn’t hold back is elation, “I couldn’t be more proud of my boys, every single of one of them stood up today against one of the best teams in the league by far.” Boardman isn’t getting ahead of himself in terms of a title push but he’s confident of a strong second half to the season, “We take it game by game, we went on a good run last year so I am hoping this effort today is a good block to build the rest of the season on.” In Round 12 the Burgh host 4th placed Thirroul where a win would see Boardman’s side open up a five-point gap between them and the Thunder.

 

As for Coniston, the defeat sees them drop back behind Bellambi on goal difference after the Rosellas secured a 2-0 win over Thirroul. Coach Rod Williams felt despite a number of key players out, his side were simply beaten by the more determined outfit, “Credit to Helensburgh, they hung on and hung on and when you have 16 opportunities to score but don’t put the ball in the back of the net you don’t deserve to win.” Next up for Coniston is a trip to the Quarry to play 8th placed Kiama.

 

Saturday 2 June 2018 @ Rex Jackson Park

 

Helensburgh Thistle - 2 (CUTHBERTSON 29’, HOPE 33’)

 

Coniston FC - 1 (Mark PICCIOLINI 47’)

 

Helensburgh Thistle - Matt WARDLE, Jarrod BENHAM, Jaydn FALKINER, Ryan HOPE, Junya OKAMOTO, Eamon VAN ZYL, Luke VAN ZYL, Kei MITANI, Brad BOARDMAN, Cody CUTHBERTSON, Ben WATTS

 

Subs - Ethan GRINHAM (on for BOARDMAN), Reggae ROWLEY (on for GRINHAM), Brady TIPPING, Ryan KENDRIGAN

 

Coach - Brad BOARDMAN

 

Coniston FC - Ben MCGINNES, Kohei ENOKIDO, Takayuki KAYANO, Ryan VANDENBERG, Hiroaki KOHINOKI, Franc PIERRO, Dinko TERZIC, Mark PICCIOLINI, Lachlan MARTIN, Bowen SIMPSON, Bradley MOREIRA

 

Subs - Luke PICCIOLINI (on for SIMPSON), Matthew TSCHENTSCHER, Joel PERRY, Valon RIZVANI, Alexander PEREZ

 

Coach - Rod WILLIAMS

 

Referee - Brodie MERCHANT

 

Assistant Referees - Stuart DERBRIDGE, Lachie MCRAE

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela