Shell Cove defeated Unanderra 4-3 courtesy of a last-minute scorcher from Craig Richardson. Shell Cove came into the game on the back of a 2-1 win against Berkeley and would’ve been relishing the prospect of playing the bottom of the table Unanderra who last weekend conceded 11 goals across two games.

Shell Cove were the first side to threaten when six minutes in Daniel Dafkovski played a ball into the path of Marko Bubunja who headed over the bar. A minute later Shell Cove came forward again as Bubanja latched onto a ball played in behind and laid it off to Andrej Gacesa on the edge of the box whose powerful shot was blocked.

Just before the ten-minute mark, Unanderra threatened. Lorri Manfreddi isolating his marker on the left-hand-side and getting a bit of fortune, made his way into the box and eventually delivering a fatal finish into the near post of Nicholas Purdevski goal and putting Unanderra into the lead against the run of play.

The next chance came Unanderra’s way in the 16th minute when Paul Burleigh was found in behind the Shell Cove defence with a ball over the top. Bringing it down well, he attempted to lob the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper, but the ball dropped behind the goal. Three minutes later, Shell Cove responded to the pressure by creating a chance of their own as a cross into the box from the left-hand-side found Steven Dimitrievski who couldn’t keep his shot down.

In the 21st minute, Shell Cove found the equaliser through Daniel Toskovski. Andrej Gacesa made space down the left-hand-side and delivered a ball to the back-post where Toskovski lashed a ball across the keeper. In the 37th minute, Shell Cove continued their pressure when Mathew Cesta whipped in a cross a from the right-hand-side which forced a deflection with the ball just nipping past the post. Cesta was involved again a minute later when he found himself on the end of a ball played to the back post, lashing a shot back across the face goal.

At halftime, the sides were level with Shell Cove dominating the chances but Unanderra making the most of the few opportunities they had. Shell Cove needed to become more clinical in front of goal if they were to walk away with all three points.

The visitors had a blistering start to the second half, scoring their second and third in the space of six minutes. In the 48th minute, Shell Cove goalkeeper Chris Kouros spilt a free kick with Andrew Nanos on hand to tap the ball into an empty net.

In the 51st minute, Unanderra had their third after Daniel Saverino's effort from the left-hand side managed to find its way past the goalkeeper. The Hearts seemed to have worked themselves into a brilliant position, however, three minutes later the hosts pulled a goal back when Toskovski's cross was slotted home by Bubanja at the near post.

In the 66th minute, Shell Cove were back on level terms through Gacesa who hit a shot which found the net.

In the 66th minute, Shell Cove were back on level terms through an effort from Gacesa which game his side the full ascendancy. Two minutes later, Shell Cove came forwards looking for the winner, on this occasion the dangerous Toskovski whipped a ball into the area with Craig Richardson rising highest but couldn’t keep his shot down and the ball cleared the crossbar.

Unanderra were trying to hold out for the point despite the Shell Cove onslaught. With a minute remaining, the hosts had one more roll of the dive as Bubanja delivered a ball to Richardson on the edge of the box who exquisitely volleyed the ball into the corner claim the three points for Shell Cove. There was no time for Unanderra to find an equaliser and the referee blew the final whistle not long after the wonder goal.

The win means Shell Cove have now won two on the spin which they have only managed to do on one other occasion all season. Next weekend they play a Round 15 catch-up match against Kiama at Barrack Heights in an encounter between two sides level on 19 points. A win against the Quarriers could see Shell Cove jump as high as 6th.

As for Unanderra, they will need to regroup after another demoralising defeat. The side remain pinned to the bottom of the table, a single point behind University. They have a weekend off due to the Bert Bampton Cup Final before taking on second-placed Bellambi who have stuttered in recent times with two draws in a row. This could be a real opportunity for Unanderra to get a surprise result but they will need to perform at the top of their game.

 

Saturday 22nd July at Barrack Heights Sport Field

 

Shell Cove – 4 (Toskovski 20’, Bubanja 53’, Gacesa 66’, Richardson 89’)

 

Unanderra – 3 (Manfreddi 8’, Nanos 48’, Savarino 50’)

 

Shell Cove: Chris KOUROS, Mathew CESTA, Michael NIKOLOVSKI, Filip ANGELESKI, Craig RICHARDSON, Daniel DAFKOVSKI, Daniel TOSKOVSKI, Andrej GACESA Steven DIMITRIEVSKI, Nikola STOJANOVSKI, Marko BUBANJA

 

Substitutes: Atanas SIMONOVSKI, Ljupco NAUMOVSKI (DAFKOVSKI), Ceysun ESEN (TOSKOVSKI), James KRCOSKI (STOJANOVSKI), Vasko PETKUCEVSKI

 

Unanderra: Nicholas PURDEVSKI, Andrew NANOS, Stephen JOVANOVSKI, Ben SALLABANK, David POLIDORO, Jason MURDEVSKI, Nathan PULJIC, Lachlan OSBORNE, Paul BURLEIGH, Lorri MANFREDDI, Timothy COLE

 

Substitutes: Lachlan DONOVAN (POLIDORO), Alexander RIDDLE, Daniel SAVERINO (OSBORNE), Jordan TIMPANO

 

Referee: B FOTHERINGHAM

Assistant Referees: R MCKENZIE and J MCDEAN

 

Report by Timothy Gibson on Twitter, @timg123_