Good Friday contests may not have gotten better than this one with Unanderra hosting University at Unanderra Oval in this round five PeopleCare District League clash. The hosts stormed out to a two goal lead in the first 25 minutes before University pulled one back just before the half through Chris Twigg. The students then equalised following the break before Damian Jorge scored what turned out to be the winner for the Hearts a few minutes later.

It took 15 minutes for either side to get a real chance on goal and it was the Hearts punishing some slow defence to take the lead early on. A scramble on the edge of the area was followed by a header from Nathan Puljic over the top of the University defence. Dom Magill reacting the quickest, controlling a bouncing ball before side-footing it into the net.

The visitors almost responded immediately on two occasions with striker, Jesse Howard getting a head onto crosses from Josh Martin and Doug Woodiwiss. The first effort just over the bar and the second effort forcing a finger-tip save from goalkeeper, Jake De Jesus.

Just minutes later, a quick Unanderra counter attack saw them serge down the right side of the field through Save Treneski. His looping cross finding Magill at the back post, but an alert Claude D’Alessio saved the low shot.

However, Unanderra weren’t to be too frustrated by the missed opportunity when they grabbed their second in the 21^st minute. A pin-point cross from the right by Damian Jorge was met by the head of Treneski. The striker out-jumped the pack to head the ball back across goal and into the net.

University were lucky to not be three goals down by the half-hour mark when D’Alessio tipped a chipped effort from Jorge onto the crossbar. D’Alessio returned to his feet quickly to hit the rebounding ball away before any Unanderra player could get there.

Going into the final 15 minutes of the half, University started to find their feet. Firstly, they were unlucky to score when a Howard cross found the head of Chris Twigg, who’s effort could only rise over the crossbar. Although, just two minutes later, some nice interplay between Howard and James Galea on the right allowed Galea to deliver a bullet cross that found Twigg to head it home and bring the students back in the game.

Just before the half-time whistle, University coach Jake Howard was dismissed from the technical area. Neither team posed any more chances of the half, with Unanderra leading 2-1.

The students came out of the sheds firing. Controlling the ball and field position for the first few minutes, Twigg would grab his second and bring them level. The winger picked the ball up at half-way before using his speed to get around two defenders and slot home one on one against De Jesus. Just like that University were level.

This seemed to spark something in the home side. Magill led the attack for the Hearts, with the midfielders surging run into the box setting up a golden chance for Christian Plakias. His effort from the penalty spot could only rise over the bar.

There wouldn’t be too many disappointed faces for the Hearts as in the 57^th minute they took the lead back. A series of quick passes along the 18-yard box opened up space for Jorge on the right-hand side. His first touch was good to set up a shot that blasted into the top right, giving Unanderra the lead again.

10 minutes later, Unanderra were lucky to keep that lead if it wasn’t for a remarkable reflex save from De Jesus. A long ball from Martin found Twigg on the left wing. Beating a player, he delivered an accurate cross to find the feet of Mikkel Brandsnes. His first time shot looking destined for the back of the net, only for De Jesus to stick out an arm and save.

University pushed for their equaliser with a couple of Brandsnes’ crosses along the face of goal inches away from any of the student’s feet and just minutes later, Howards lay-back to Twigg saw his shot be stopped on the line by a desperate clearance from Matt Cuda.

The last chance coming for Brandsnes, when he cut back in from the left for a shot on his right, only for it to find the side netting.

Unanderra holding on in the end to take a valuable three points with a 3-2 win over University and continue their unbeaten start to the campaign.

The Hearts now make it four wins from five games and plant themselves into second following an Oak Flats loss. They travel to Balgownie next week who are coming off a 2-0 win against Shell Cove.

University drop out of the top five after three straight defeats. They return to Kooloobong Oval next weekend to take on Picton coming off a 2-0 win over Thirroul.

 

Friday 6 April at Unanderra Oval.

Unanderra Hearts: 3 (MAGILL 14’, TRENESKI 21’, JORGE 57’)

University FC: 2 (TWIGG 32’ 51’)

 

Line-ups:

Unanderra Hearts: Jake DE JESUS, Michael POTTER, Steve JOVANOVSKI, Matt CUDA, David POLIDORO, Damian JORGE, Christian PLAKIAS, Nathan PULJIC, Dom MAGILL, Luke BUSSOLETTI, Save TRENESKI.

Subs: Tim COLE (JORGE 80’), Josh BAKER (BUSSOLETTI 75’), Nick TORTORELLA (TRENESKI 80’).

 

University FC: Claude D’Alessio, Mikkel BRANDSNES, Emil STUBSJOEN, Brooklan FKROVIC, Tom SHANNON, Josh MARTIN, Curtis IVERSON, Doug WOODIWISS, Jesse HOWARD, James GALEA, Chris TWIGG.

Subs: Conor O’BRIEN (HOWARD 80’), Jack DONNELLY, Christopher ARNOLD, Liam STEVENSON.

 

Referee: Mick AGIM

Assistant Referees: Italo RENCATO and Matt JOLLIFFE

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn