In a game of two halves South Coast United and Fernhill have battled out an entertaining one-all draw in this round 15 clash of the Illawarra Mercury Premier League at Dandaloo Sports Oval. It was the visitors who started the better out of the two but it was the home side to open the scoring through Oliver Carrasco in the 36^th minute. The second half seemed to be the opposite to the first with the visitors being on the back foot early on before drawing level through Shinsei Tanaka in the 58th. Both sides looking to grab the winner in the dying stages but the game finished all square at the end of the 90 minutes.

 

The reverse fixture of this clash saw the Foxes snatch a 3-2 victory at Ray Robinson Field. Last week’s results for the two sides saw United grab an impressive 2-2 draw with third place, White-Eagles. The Foxes were coming off a 4-0 handing too from Olympic.

 

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors in just the fourth minute. Nice interplay between Jack Lombo and Yusuke Maruyaha on the right hand side opened up space for Lombo to cross. The ball finding the run of Mitchell Turner on the left but the shot would only blaze past the post.

 

Fernhill would continue to pressure the home-sides defensive line as the game went on. In the 23^rd minute, a Benjamin Riach early cross into the box was looking for Lombo. The striker over-ran the cross but would try the spectacular scorpion-kick shot that almost chipped United goalkeeper, Jason Bleakley, only for the number one to tip it over. From the corner, Maruyaha whipped a ball in that found the head of Lombo. However, Lombo couldn’t angle it downwards as it went over.

 

Although they didn’t pose any threating opportunities in the opening third, South Coast scored from their first shot of the game. Midfielder, Ikumo Saito sent a free kick over into the visitors’ box and fell for Abdul Lawal towards the sideline. The winger turned two defenders before finding Oliver Carrasco open on the edge of the box. His first time finish chipping goalkeeper, Bryce Daenell, and just brushing in under the crossbar. A surprise lead for the home-side looking to grab their first win of the season.

 

The goal seemed to lift the home-side as they went forward to attack straight away. Again it was Carrasco who found space on the edge of the box before sending a powerful shot just wide of the post.

 

Both sides going into the sheds looking to improve on their first half performances as United held a slender 1-0 lead.

 

The home-side started the second half a lot different to the first, starting stronger and creating several chances in the opening 10 minutes. Firstly, an Ikumo corner was met nicely by the head of Chris Valic, only to rise over the crossbar. A few minutes later, it was C. Valic again with a header, this time off an accurate Ikumo free kick coming in from the sideline. Although it was the same result from the defender as it flew over the goal.

 

After the early scares, the Foxes grabbed their equaliser in the 62^nd minute. Winning back the ball on the halfway line, Maruyaha pushed forward and found Shinsei Tanaka on the right wing. Tanaka cut inside of two defenders before surging towards goal. His touch around the last defender, Greg Valic looked to be too big. But he was quick enough to get there before a rushing Bleakley to calmly slot it into the bottom left. Similar to the first goal, the team on the back-foot scoring against the run of play.

 

The hosts then almost pulled away straight after the Fernhill goal. It was substitute, Ricky Bertakis almost making impact just a minute after he came into the game. His accurate cross landed perfectly for a header from Lawal at the near post. Thankfully for the visitors the header struck the post and they were able to clear.

 

Fernhill then looked to strike back in the 76th minute after poor communication between G. Valic and Bleakley within the box. The mix-up at the back allowed Tanaka to snatch the ball in a dangerous position. This was then followed by a scramble in the box with a series of ricochets and shots. Firstly, after the Tanaka interception his shot was blocked by G.Valic and as the ball rolled back out it was only half-cleared to the penalty spot. A shot from Tanaka again was saved by Bleakley and then the final shot from Maruyaha was saved by Bleakley at the near post and went out for a corner.

 

As the game went on, many chances came and went for both teams. The best opportunity was created for the home-side and they almost pulled back in front if it wasn’t for a spectacular reflex save from Daenell. A run up the sideline from Carrasco saw him deliver a cross into the box. The ball landing nicely for Bertakis with his back towards goal, the substitute’s shot on the turn looked destined for the bottom right but was pushed away by Daenell.

 

The game did have a frantic finish as both sides pushed for that elusive goal. Attack after attack didn’t create any threatening chances for either side as both defensive lines held on to share the points on the day.

 

Although United had many chances to win the game, they would have to settle for their third draw of the campaign, still waiting on their first win. The point does see them edge closer to Picton, now only two points behind the Rangers. South Coast will travel to Memorial Park next week to take on Corrimal, coming off a 2-1 defeat to Port Kembla and who are also travelling to White-Eagles in a make-up game this Wednesday night.

 

The point for the Foxes sees them stay planted in eighth spot, two points behind Corrimal who still have a game in hand. In round 16 they host the team that beat them 8-0 back in round five in top of the table, Bulli. It’s do or die for the Foxes as they can see their finals hopes slowly slipping away.

 

Sunday 1^st July at Dandaloo Sports Oval

 

South Coast United: 1 (CARRASCO 36’)

 

Fernhill Foxes FC: 1 (TANAKA 58’)

 

Line-Ups:

South Coast United: Jason BLEAKLEY, Dylan MENA, Chris VALIC, Greg VALIC, Mate NIMAC, Josh BROOKES, Denis STOJIC, Oliver CARRASCO, Abdul LAWAL, Ikumi SAITO, Brody MURRELL.

Subs: Ricky BERTAKIS (MURRELL 68’), Ivan BRATJANSCAK, Declan WARD, Nick ARMAND.

 

Fernhill Foxes FC: Bryce DAENELL, Benjamin RIACH, Lachlan CALSER, Takahiro HIDAKA, Michael MACGRAW, Ryan HUNTER, Alexander ROOKE, Jack LOMBO, Shinsei TANAKA, Mitchell TURNER, Yusuke MARUYAHA.

Subs: Patrick ELHINDI (TURNER 71’), Joshua GOMES (LOMBO 78’), Dale WHITE, Jonathan LIDDLE (GOMES 85’), Yacoub HADAYA.

 

Referee: B. MERCHANT

Assistant Referees: G. JENKINS and J. MARKHAM.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_
Photo Courtesy of Noel Wynn