A late brace for Luke Van Zyl overturned an earlier opener for Berkeley courtesy of Ross Prandalos, before player-coach Brad Boardman killed the tie with a goal himself in second half stoppage time to give his side a comfortable victory.

Round 19 WGC Cranes District League action saw Rex Jackson Oval play host to Helensburgh v Berkeley, with both sides' season far from done. Helensburgh were leading the pack of Warilla and Thirroul in the race for third place, with finals assured for all; whilst Berkeley are thick in a dogfight with University and Unanderra to avoid the foot of the table.

The opening half was relatively free of highlights, with some quality blocks from the visitors preventing Goats goalkeeper Mitch O'Neill from being tested.

On 7 minutes, Brad Watts beat two defenders and squared for Cody Cuthbertson, but his shot was blocked off the boot by Trent Thompson.

Ten minutes later, Blake Charman received a cut-back on the penalty spot, and looked to have O'Neill beaten, but his shot was deflected away by Hayden Till.

On the half hour, a gorgeous cross in from Jarrod Benham found the feet of Charman in a congested penalty area, but his touch got stuck under him, and the striker was unable to get his shot off.

As the second half resumed, not alot about the flow of the game had changed; Helensburgh were still very much in the ascendancy with their trademark free-flowing attacking quartet doing everything but hit the target.

With 50 minutes on the clock, a good square ball from L. Van Zyl found Watts, who controlled the ball around two players, only to cannon his shot into the chest of the encroaching O'Neill in what looked to be a huge save for the visitors.

Just after the hour mark, it was Berkeley who hit the lead - Prandalos thundering home a hooping Luke Boersma corner at the far post.

With 20 minutes to play, a sweeping play down the right saw Watts' cross find the far post run of L. Van Zyl, thundering home an emphatic first-time volley across the face of goal.

As full time drew nearer, the hosts were looking ever more dangerous, and went ahead on 82 minutes; Cuthbertson's cross found L. Van Zyl, the winger ran around it and placed a first-time right foot curled shot into the top corner for 2-1.

In the last minute of regulation time, Thistles keeper Josh Williams almost threw away two points; having claimed a simple long ball, he tried to sneakily throw the ball around striker Greg Moon, who threw a leg out and struck the ball. The gloveman hurriedly jumped on the ball in a panic, alleviating the situation.

Into stoppage time, substitute Brad Boardman crashed home a Watts corner to take the score to 3-1 and polish off the game.

Helensburgh left with a deserved three points, having completely stifled the Goats' attack, and eventually getting their own side's offence rolling. The win consolidates third place on the ladder, two points ahead of both Warilla and Thirroul who both had wins. Thistles next week head to Unanderra Oval to face bottom-placed Hearts in Round 20 for a 3pm kickoff on 11/8. Finishing off the season, they will host Balgownie before heading to Coniston for the final day.

Berkeley are still struggling near the foot of the table, two points off the bottom. The Goats will host Kiama in Round 20 for their last home game of the season, 3pm kickoff on 11/8. Following that, they will play away to Oak Flats and a crunch game against University at Kooloobong Oval in the final round.

 

Rex Jackson Oval - 4th August 2018

Helensburgh Thistles 3 - Van Zyl 70' 82', Boardman 90'

Berkeley - Prandalos 61'

 

Helensburgh Thistle - Josh WILLIAMS, Jarrod BENHAM, Ryan MODE, Jaydn FALKINER, Junya OKAMOTO, Reggae ROWLEY, Luke VAN ZYL, Kei MITANI, Blake CHARMAN, Brad WATTS, Cody CUTHBERTSON

Subs - Eamon VAN ZYL, Ryan GRIMA, Brady TIDDING, Brad BOARDMAN (on for CHARMAN 85'), Matt WARDLE

Berkeley Goats - Mitch O'NEILL, Hayden TILL, Ross PRANDALOS, Jarryd KING, Trent THOMPSON, Mathew MEARS, Dylan EVANS, Jake KATES, Joey THOMAS, Luke BOERSMA, Jon ADAMS

Subs - Brad FISHER, Greg MOON (on for ADAMS 87'), Jeremy FLANAGAN (on for GATES 87'), Lachlan BOERSMA

 

Referee - Nathan ALTERATOR

Assistants - Jarrod MCDEAN, Jarrah CLARK

 

Report by - David ATHERTON - Twitter @daveatho5
Photo by Noel Wynn