Round 14 of the WGC Cranes District League had Balgownie Rangers travelling to Unanderra Oval to play the Hearts. The visitors were looking to bounce back from a shock defeat to Berkeley in Round 13 and do the double over Unanderra, whom they beat 2-1 at home in Round 3. After a barren run of 1 point after Round 9, Unanderra have since grabbed 7 of an available 9 points, but are still yet to register a clean sheet.

A first half cannon from range off the left boot of Tom Shannon had Balgownie in the lead at the break, but Unanderra striker Tim Cole grabbed a poacher's brace - off two defensive errors - to give the home side the advantage. Rangers substitute Matthew Bubb bundled home a scrappy goal in the 89th minute to salvage a point for Balgownie, a result Unanderra would feel hard done by.

The first half was played out largely in the Balgownie half - Unanderra's Dom Magill sitting between the lines and orchestrating his attack as Balgownie's midfield failed to press the playmaker. On 10 minutes, Magill had a dipping shot saved low down by Rangers goalkeeper Hugh Bahnert.

Shortly after, it was again Magill in the action - this time on the end of a deep David Polidoro cross - Bahnert on hand to punch clear, as Hearts' winger Lorri Mandredi struck the rebound into traffic and deflected wide.

Just after the half-hour mark, Tom Shannon was afforded time and space 30-yards out from goal, the midfielder shifting onto his left foot and driving home a powerful shot past Hearts' keeper Nick Purdzevski in emphatic fashion to open the scoring.

Shannon then had an exact replica minutes later, from almost the same blade of grass, his shot this time sizzling fractionally over the crossbar with Purdzevski beaten.

Unanderra had their golden chance of the half with only two minutes remaining. Magill found the ball inside the box, passed to Mandredi, who hit his shot at Bahnert. Cole was on hand to hit the rebound on target, only for Ben Kearton to clear off the line.

Balgownie were fortunate to go into the sheds with the lead after enduring a first-half onslaught; as Unanderra were carving up but unable to get the final ball to hit the mark.

A double substitution at the break for Balgownie looked to turn the game, and the newly-introduced Lachlan Veney was called upon within two minutes - a crucial sliding challenge on Magill 6 yards out from goal.

Balgownie were still struggling to clear their lines in defence, but were still audacious enough to attempt to play out from the back. They were caught out in the 50th minute as Tim Cole intercepted a stray pass, beating his defender for pace and slotting low past the onrushing Bahnert to equalise.

James Seymour had the chance to immediately respond for the visitors, a breakaway from the halfway line, only to hit his shot straight into Purdzevski.

Cole was proving to be a huge thorn in Balgownie's side all afternoon - constantly pressing their defenders when in possession and tirelessly chasing every ball. After Bahnert palmed away a goal-bound Polidoro cross, the gloveman had to dive at Cole's feet to smother an easy chance for the striker.

In identical circumstances shortly after, Cole managed to get his shot off from 10 yards, bulging the roof of the net as the hosts finally hit the lead.

Two minutes later, and another astray pass in defence for Balgownie fell to Cole, this time opting to curl from range, Bahnert scrambling to get back as the ball curled just wide of his far post.

Polidoro nearly found the elusive third goal for Unanderra; a driving run across the top of the box past two defenders ending in a powerful shot, Bahnert barely managing to tip it over the crossbar.

As Balgownie began to fade, the Unanderra midfield took complete control; pushing forward at will and with relative time and space afforded them. The Rangers were only offering a threat via long balls for Seymour to chase.

In the 89th minute though, Seymour won a corner; Unanderra failing to clear, and a late run from substitute Bubb bundled the ball home from close range to salvage a point for the underwhelming Rangers.

The draw sees Unanderra continue on a now 4-game unbeaten streak, although this was really two points lost. They remain in 11th on the table, but have a game in hand against 12th-placed Berkeley, and are now only one point behind University. The Hearts' will have a testing few weeks though, playing away to Coniston in Round 15 - Saturday 3pm kickoff at JJ Kelly Park - followed by Thirroul (home) and Warilla (away); against whom they had an aggregate 16-2 scoreline in the first round of fixtures.

Balgownie also remain steady on the table, holding down 6th place, picking up 1 point on 5th-placed Warilla after their loss to Kiama. The Rangers will host University in Round 15 - Saturday 3pm kickoff at Judy Masters Oval - before playing the same trio that await Unanderra; Coniston (home), Thirroul (away) and Warilla (home). If Balgownie are to make their push for finals, they will have to dig deep in this period, and especially look to turn around an earlier 3-2 loss to Warilla in Round 18.

 

Saturday 23rd June - Unanderra Oval

Unanderra Hearts 2 - COLE 50' 73'

Balgownie Rangers 2- SHANNON 35', BUBB 89'

 

Unanderra Hearts - Nick PURZDEVSKI, Stephen JOVANOSKI, Ben SALLABANK, Daniel SAVARINO, David POLIDORO, Tim COLE, Lorri MANDREDI, Andrew NANOS, Lachlan OSBOURNE, Paul BURLEIGH, Dominic MAGILL

Subs - Jackson HILL, Luke BUSOLETTI (on for MAGILL 87'), Alex RIDDLE, Daniel BOYD, Preston CAMPANA (on for POLIDORO 87')

Balgownie Rangers - Hugh BAHNERT, Ben KEARTON, Matthew MCCOY, Scott MUILWYK, Anthony OLIVER, Brandon LEWIS, Frank TIMPANO, Jim YOUSSEF, James SEYMOUR, Tom SHANNON, Mark JONES

Subs - Jake BOYCE (on for LEWIS 45'), Matthew BUBB (on for MUILWYK 81'), Sebastian DALLAS, Lachlan VENEY (on for JONES 45'), Liam STEVENSON

 

Referee - Caleb BLANCH

Assistants - Andrew MUIRHEAD, Jack RAMIREZ

 

Report by David ATHERTON, Twitter @daveatho5