A dominant second-half display from University has seen them secure a 5-2 victory over Balgownie in this round 12 clash of the PeopleCare District League at Kooloobong Oval. The Rangers got out to a flying start scoring in just the sixth minute through Sebastian Dallas before conceding in the 20^th and 31^st minutes. They then pulled one back to level the scores at the break but three goals in the second half for the students - including a three-minute brace from substitute Adam Bassuni in the final five - drove them to their sixth win of the campaign.

With the season hitting its halfway mark, both teams sit four points apart from one another with University on 16 points in 5^th and Balgownie on 12 in 7^th. The round 1 reverse fixture between the sides saw the students leave with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Judy Masters Oval.

The Rangers were out to make amends from the first leg as they surged forward early on. They got off to a flyer too, with Lucas Bruces’ cross finding the head of Zachery Craw who placed a header on target. University goalkeeper Claude D’Alessio forcing the save but only into the path of Sebastian Dallas who tapped it in to the open net.

In the 16^th minute, former University player, Abdullah Chhipah looked dangerous early on with his weaving run in-field almost catching the students defence out as he sent Craw through on goal. Craw cut it back onto his right before taking a shot from 20 yards but was saved comfortably by D’Alessio.

The students weren’t able to generate any attacking play until the 20^th minute but did damage when they got there as they drew level. After winning a corner, Josh Martin delivered a low, curled cross into the box that was smartly poked into the net from James Galea, giving University their equaliser.

Just 10 minutes later, University grabbed their second in similar fashion. Again it was off a Martin corner, this time with a little more height falling perfectly on the head of Alex Coetzer at the near post who guided it into the net, giving the home-side the lead.

But just two minutes after University went ahead, Jackson Dummett pounced on a through ball from Craw into the box but couldn’t find the target as his dinked effort flew over. However, Rangers’ fans wouldn’t be disappointed for long as they equalised only 30 seconds after this. With a University attack breaking down, the ball was cleared and fell perfectly into the path of Craw who surged onto goal. His first touch set up the shot from the edge of the area as he blasted it into the roof of the net, bringing the game level once more.

The home-side had the last opportunity of the half when a clearance from Emil Stubsjoen found the run of Coezter towards goal. His first touch was good but a scrambling Rangers defence was able to put the striker off as his shot was saved by an onrushing Hugh Bahnert.

That was all the action in this see-saw first half.

The Rangers started the second quite like they did the first with the run of Alex Morlando finding space up the left wing. His touch back inside was followed with a shot but couldn’t find a finish as the ball sailed over the goal.

In the 59^th minute, Bahnert kept his side in the game with a save at the near post following Galea’s power shot from the right hand side. Then, just two minutes later, some Bruce heroics in the box denied Luke McCann a goal when he blocked his shot from the penalty spot.

However, the pressure paid off for the students as they grabbed their third goal of the afternoon in the 66^th minute. McCann causing havoc up the left hand side as he rounded his defender and delivered a perfect cross to find the head of Mikkel Brandsnes. The midfielder angling his header towards the ground which touched Bahnert and rolled in, pushing the students in front again.

The only other chance of the half for the visitors came in the 71^st minute when Chhipah weaved around a couple of players on the right wing. His cross was comfortably cleared by the student’s defence but fell straight to Dummett on the edge of the area. His first touch was good to setup a shot on his right but bounced straight to D’Alessio.

University seemed to dominate the rest of contest offering many threatening chances on Balgownie’s goal and giving very minimal chances on theirs. A tired backline showed signs of fatigue as University still had plenty left in them.

McCann looked the most likely to create something for the hosts with a couple of chances coming through him. First, a cut-out pass to Brandsnes towards the edge of the area was met with a shot that rose over. Then his run up the right saw him cut it back for a shot that curled into the arms of Bahnert.

But thankfully for the students the game was sealed in the 85^th minute as Adam Bassuni made an impact off the bench. Some high press on the tiring Rangers backline saw him dispossess the ball off Ben Kearton. Through on goal, he made no mistake as he sent Bahnert the wrong way, side footing into the left side of the goal to give the students breathing space going into the final five.

Then with just two minutes to play, Bassuni grabbed his second and University’s fifth. This time running onto a pass from Brandsnes and calmly dinking the ball over Bahnert and in.

University too good in the end running out 5-2 winners over Balgownie as they plant themselves into the top five.

The win for the students sees them go five points adrift the chasing pack as they take up the final spot of the top five. They will need to continue this form going into next week when they travel down to Kiama who narrowly lost to Thirroul, 2-1.

The loss for Balgownie only sees them drop one position following that Thirroul win. They now sit in eighth, one point in front of Picton and two behind Warilla and Thirroul. A big game next week for the Rangers as they host 3^rd place Oak Flats who beat Picton 4-2 last Thursday night.

 

Saturday 8 June at Kooloobong Oval.

University FC: 5 (GALEA 20’, COETZER 31’, BRANDSNES 66’, BASSUNI 85’ 88’)

Balgownie Rangers: 2 (DALLAS 6’, CRAW 33’)

 

Line-Ups:

University FC: Claude D’ALESSIO, James GALEA, Brooklan FRKOVIC, Tom SHANNON, Josh MARTIN, Emil STUBSJOEN, Doug WOODIWISS, Luke MCCANN, Mikkel BRANDSNES, Alex COETZER.

Subs: Adam BASSSUNI (COEZTER 73’), Max PROUT, Oscar BORSCHMANN (MCCANN 85’), Luke VANDENBERGH (GALEA 88’), Liam STEVENSON.

 

Balgownie Rangers: Hugh BAHNERT, Lucas BRUCE, Ben KEARTON, Luke MCDONALD, Jackson DUMMETT, Jim YOUSEF, Alex MORLANDO, Sebastian DALLAS, Zachery CRAW, Abdullah CHHIPA.

Subs: Brandon WAGER (MORLANDO 62’), Johnathan MCCREARY, Thomas HOBBS, Luis GONZALEZ (CHHIPA 85’), James MCCLELLAND.

 

Referee: J. RUSCICA

Assistant Referee: I. RONCATO and A. PHIPPS

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo by Pedro Garcia