Round 15 WGC Cranes District League was played out down at JJ Kelly Park, as joint-leaders Coniston hosted a resurgent Unanderra side on the up recently. An early goal to Dinko Terzic set an ominous omen for what was to come, as the hosts put forth an early onslaught on the Unanderra goal. If not for valiant defending, it could have been three or four-nil early on, but in the end, a lacklustre performance up front from the visitors saw Terzic's opener prove the decisive goal.

With no less than 8 players from the runaway 2016 Corrimal Rangers side taking the field, there was plenty of bragging rights at stake in a game with big repercussions on the table. The game began with a frenetic tempo - the slightly delayed kickoff accompanied by the update of a first minute Bellambi goal to take them ahead on the provisional table.

In the first minute, Hiroaki Kohinoki saw his powerful drive from 20 yards sail just past the upright, before Terzic drew a low save from Unanderra goalkeeper Nick Purdevski. On eight minutes, Terzic found himself on a quick break, finding the right corner of the box and driving home his shot across goal to the far bottom corner to take an early lead.

On the quarter hour, Unanderra were really struggling; allowing Mark Picciolini to cannon a free header into the crossbar from 10 yards, before the striker shortly after almost rolled the ball under Purdevski.

On 20 minutes, Picciolini out of nothing cannoned a shot from 25 yards, requiring a good parry down low by Purdevski, the intervention of Paul Burleigh required to clear a free ball away from the approaching Terzic.

Unanderra were a little disjointed going forward; either relying on Dominic Magill to produce something from nothing or sending pacey wingers down the flanks and crossing in to an empty penalty area.

After enduring a torrid half, it took 33 minutes for the Hearts to eke out their first chance; Lorri Mandredi running the by-line and crossing low to Lachlan Osbourne, only for Kohei Enokido to step in as the striker prepared to shoot from 6 yards.

As the half drew to a close, a desperate late shout from Coniston for a penalty as Stephan Jovanoski brought down Kohinoki in the area were soundly waved away, the hosts perhaps looking to enter the sheds with more than a solitary goal to show for their dominance.

The second half action didn't tee off until Unanderra began chasing the game on the hour mark. M. Picciolini was felled in the penalty area by Andrew Nanos in a 50/50 decision, with no spot kick awarded.

Two minutes later, Terzic hit the deck only to be waved away to, as he had in fact collided with substitute teammate Gadir Maarbani.

Frustrations were brewing for Coniston as Unanderra somehow managed to hold tight at the back, as Nanos rallied his backline, with Purdevski clutching everything that came his way.

In the final 10 minutes, Maarbani and M. Picciolini both had dangerous shots from 20 yards claimed relatively easily by the goalkeeper, before Terzic skied over the crossbar from 10 yards, and M. Picciolini's volley sailed wide from the edge of the box after a corner.

A gritty 1-0 result was a seemingly fitting result for both sides - Coniston clearly the better team, but their finishing left them not deserving a bigger margin - whilst Unanderra offered very little going forward apart from isolated Magill magic and a quick break down the line.

The win sees Coniston remain level with Bellambi who ended up beating Helensburgh 4-1. The lack of goals in this fixture may well hurt Coniston, with the goal difference margin still 9 points in favour of the Rosellas (Bellambi +49, Coniston +40). This win brings a run of 3 home games to a close, in which they grabbed 9 points from Oak Flats (2-0), Berkeley (6-0) and Unanderra. Coniston will head to Judy Masters Oval to face Balgownie - Saturday 3pm kickoff on 7th July.

Unanderra, meanwhile, have been clawed back by Berkeley at the foot of the table, now only above the Goats on goal difference after their shock 1-0 win over Thirroul. Both sides have a game in hand over 10th placed University, whom are only 1 point above the pair. Next week the Hearts will host Thirroul at Unanderra Oval - Saturday 3pm kickoff on 7th July.

 

Saturday 1st July - JJ Kelly Park

Coniston FC 1 - Terzic 8'

Unanderra Hearts 0

 

Coniston FC - Ben MCGINNES, Kohei ENOKIDO, Takayoki KAYANO, Christian PLAKIAS, Hiroaki KOHINOKI, Frank PIERRO, Dinko TERZIC, Mark PICCIOLINI, Lachlan MARTIN, Luke PICCIOLINI, Bradley MOREIRA

Subs - Valon RIZVANI, Bowen SIMPSON, Christopher STEVANOVSKI (on for L. Picciolini 60'), Gadir MAARBANI (on for PLAKIAS 62'), Zachary JONES

Unanderra Hearts - Nick PURDEVSKI, Andrew NANOS, Jay MASON, Stephan JOVANOSKI, Paul BURLEIGH, Nathan PULGIC, Lorri MANDREDI, Dominic MAGILL, Ben SALLABANK, Lachlan OSBOURNE, David SAVERINO

Subs - Jason MURDZESKI, Christopher MURDZESKI, Alex RIDDLE, Michael POTTER

 

Referee - J. RUSCICA

Assistants - A. MAHAROW, W. WHITEHORSE

 

Report by David ATHERTON - Twitter @daveatho5

Photo Courtesy of Noel Wynn