South Coast Flame kicked off a month-long spell away from the Illawarra with a gut-wrenching 3-2 defeat to University of NSW at Valentine Sports Park. Flame managed to go toe to toe with the title contenders for large periods of the match and had it not been for a couple of bounces of the ball, they may have been able to take a point out of the match. Overall, it was a rough day for the club with the two younger age groups also going down. The under 20s lost 4-0 while the under 18s let a halftime lead slip to go down 4-2.

 

The hosts enjoyed a perfect start to the match when they pulled two goals ahead in the space of a minute. In the 11th minute, Bede Leyland was able to nod home a cross and a minute later, Florim Binakaj was able to get a shot away from the edge of the area and find the bottom corner. University proceeded to dominate the next 15 minutes of play but some desperate South Coast defending was able to limit their chances to efforts from distance.

 

Flame won a corner in the 30th minute which Dion Sterjovski whipped in, it was headed clear by a Uni defender but only as far as Caleb Grace who smacked his shot just over the bar. This gave Grace a sniff of the goal and two minutes later he found the back of the net. The young midfielder surged down the right wing, around his defender and into the box, he was one on one with University goalkeeper Ian Johnson who he nutmegged in finding the back of the net. A determined goal, his fourth in four matches and his side were back in the game.

 

Both sides came close to scoring the matches fourth goal in the closing stages of the half. Andrew Bova let loose from range, forcing a parrying save from Johnson and right on halftime Nima Beik was played through on goal but Flame skipper Matt White was able to pull off a crucial one on one stop. This would mean University would go into the sheds leading 2-1.

 

The second half was a frantic affair but Flame would earn themselves the two best chances of the opening 20 minutes. In the 49th minute, Bova swung in a freekick from deep for Bojan Caric who looped a header goalbound only for Johnson to produce a smart back stretching save to tip the ball over the bar. In the 65th minute, Sterjovski cut in from the left to scurry across the 18-yard line before hitting a low drive into the base of the left post - the ball ricocheting across the goal before being clear.

 

Beik nearly extended University’s lead in the 70th minute with a long-range strike which just trailed wide but the Students managed to find their third goal five minutes later. A cheap turnover allowed Luiz Lobo to counter down the right-hand side where he was able to get into the box, beat his marker and find the back of the net.

 

Despite the setback, South Coast remained defiant and they were rewarded with a goal in the 82nd minute to reignite the chances of grabbing a point. Sterjovski once again cut in from the left and pushed into the box - he was able to get himself into a tight one on one situation and he made no mistake in placing the ball into the bottom right corner.

 

Flame pushed for an equaliser with the Students struggling to deal with the visitors nippy forwards. With five minutes remaining, South Coast were denied what seemed like a penalty for a brutish challenge on Louis Connell which left the teenager concussed and forced him of the field. Flame threw bodies forward in search of a third but it wasn't to be with University just holding on to win the match 3-2.

 

The loss means Flame drop to 9th after Western Condors caused a shock 2-2 draw with top of the table Central Coast United. Next up for the side is trip to The Crest Athletic Centre to take on 2nd placed Bankstown United.

 

The under 20s had a tough day at the office going down 4-0. The side trailed by a single goal at the break but the Students managed to run over the top of them and secure a comprehensive win. Despite the defeat, the under 20s remain in 6th, one point outside the top five pending Sunday’s results.

 

The under 18s suffered a 4-2 defeat which ends a five-match unbeaten run. Goals for Ethan Lehn and Oscar Mari saw Flame lead 2-1 at the break but braces from Blake Anderson and Theodore Hollington saw the home side claim the three points. The under 18s remain in 7th, two points behind 5th placed Bankstown United who they face next weekend.

 

Saturday 23 June 2018 @ Valentine Sports Park

 

University of NSW - 3 (LEYLAND 11’, BINAKAJ 12’, LOBO 75’)

 

South Coast Flame FC - 2 (GRACE 32’, STERJOVSKI 82’)

 

South Coast Flame FC lineup - Matt WHITE, Darren JONES, Grant WILSON, Andrew CHRISTIE, Martin THOMSON, Andrew BOVA, Wade WILTON, Caleb GRACE, Dion STERJOVSKI, Louis CONNELL, Bojan CARIC

 

Subs - Brendan GROOM, Cameron HANSON, Julio MUSHABA (on for CARIC), Matt MAZEVSKI (on for BOVA), Johnny VICOROSKI (on for CONNELL)

 

Coach - Paul ROBAARD

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela