It was University who took the spoils on a cold and drizzly afternoon at Kiama Sporting Complex. The top 5 side took account for their lowly opponents, putting three in the back in the back of the net while maintaining a clean sheet with relative ease despite the scrappy nature of the match.

The ball bobbled and bounced, while players slipped throughout the first 20 minutes trying to come to terms with the slippery surface, but despite the poor quality of the match so far, it was evident that University were the stronger side, with most of the game being played in Kiama's half.

It wasn’t until the 26th minute that the first clear cut chance of the match occurred when the ball sprawled its way to University’s Alex Coetzee who blazed it over the bar on the half volley from the edge of the 6-yard box.

It was only a minute later that Kiama had a chance of their own to open the scoring when the ball was cut back to an unmarked Dan Gillespie on the penalty spot. However, Gillespie horribly shanked the shot wide, foreshadowing Kiama’s productivity in future attacks.

In the 37th minute, a series of Kiama slips culminating in lost possession, presented an opportunity for University's captain, Doug Woodiwiss, to burst through the defence and go one on one with the keeper. His shot was hit straight at the keeper but the danger for Kiama had not yet been exhausted when the ball rebounded to Coetzee. However, his shot was also blocked, this time by the onrushing Kiama defenders.

Alas, Kiama's valiant efforts in defence came to nothing when University took the lead a mere three minutes later courtesy of Luke McCann. Running down the left wing, McCann cut the ball back onto his right foot, sending his defender the wrong way and his foot through the ball, smashing it into the bottom left corner giving the keeper no chance and University a deserved lead.

The goal was the last significant moment of the half, while the beginning of the second began in the same scrappy way of the first until the 62nd minute when Woodiwiss scored University’s second. Set up by Mikkel Brandness, who drew the defence towards him before releasing the ball to Woodiwiss, who made amends for his previous one on one opportunity, chipping the ball over the goalkeeper, doubling the Students’ advantage.

In the 65^th minute, Kiama had an opportunity to draw one back when the ball fell to Matthew Hiriart on the edge of the area, but he shanked his shot on the half-volley well wide.

While their incompetence in front of goal gave Kiama little hope of being in the contest, their hopes of a comeback were further diminished when University threw on their lightning-quick substitute, Nelson McCleod in the 70^th minute.

McCleod made an instant impact up front for University, when he was played through on goal within a minute of being on the field. However, he lobbed a difficult chance over the bar as he collided with Callum Crapp in goals.

In the 74^th minute, McCleod was through on goal again but this time only managed to hit a docile shot at Crapp but it wouldn’t be long until he found himself on the scoresheet. In the 79^th minute, he poked one into the bottom left corner of the goal, sealing victory for University.

With 10 minutes remaining, Kiama were visibly fatigued, as University broke through their defence on multiple occasions. However, thanks to Crapp, Kiama conceded no more, with Crapp pulling off multiple good saves during the dying minutes.

For University, they will be happy with the solid performance they delivered and will look to build on it when they take on table-toppers Bellambi next week. A result against the Rosella's could well prove to the rest of competition that they are real championship contenders come to the finals.

Kiama, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their display, never really looking in the contest despite the weather having the potential to act as an equaliser between the teams. They will need to improve next week when they take on Balgownie who sit three points ahead of them.

16^th July 2019 @ Kiama Sporting Complex

Kiama – 0

University – 3 (McCANN 37’, WOODIWISS 62’, McLEOD 79’)

Kiama – Callum CRAPP, Matthew HIRIAT, Jason FORESTER, Aaron BIRINKI, Tom CUNCLIFFE, Dan GILLESPIE, Jye MARKS, Kane ROWE, Mitch GOWLAND, Chris CHRISTOPOULOLI, Shinya YAMANAKA.

Substitutes – Col STUDMAN (on for Hirirat), Jay MONTGOMERY(on for Cuncliffe).

University – Claude DE’ALESSIO, James GELEA, Brooklan FOKOVIC, Emil STUBSJORM, Anthony OLIVER, Bruce WILSON, Josh MARTIN, Mikkel BRANDNESS, Doug WOODIWISS, Luke McCANN, Alex COETZER.

Substitutes – Nelson MCLEOD (on for Coetzer), Nathan TURNER, Adam BAKSUMI (on for Woodiwiss), Curtis EVERSON (on for Stubsjorm), Liam STEVENSON.

Referee – Mick AGIM

Assistants – Patrick HUFTON, Jarrod McDEAN

Report by Nic Wilson, on twitter @_nicwilson

Photo by Noel Wynn