A dominant second-half performance has seen Bellambi beat University 4-0 in this round 14 PeopleCare District League Clash at Kooloobong Oval. It was an even first half and opening 10 of the second before Bellambi scored four unanswered goals in the final 35 minutes to keep their unbeaten record intact.

University were coming off the back of consecutive wins against Balgownie and Kiama whereas Bellambi settled for a scoreless draw last Sunday with Thirroul. The reverse fixture between the sides saw the Rosellas run out 2-0 winners.

The opening exchanges of the contest didn’t pose many chances on either team’s goal as it set the bar for what was to come. Todd Simpsons shot from the right only 10-yards from goal went close but University goalkeeper, Claude D’Alessio was able to save off the line.

In the 19^th minute, Scott Chipperfield’s through ball on the turn was ricocheted off a University foot and into the path of Ben Ellul in the box. Thankfully for the students, an onrushing D’Alessio was able to get a touch and put the ball out for a corner.

Just three minutes later, Chipperfield’s free-kick from deep fell to an open Matt Passlack at the back-post. But to the midfielder’s surprise, he couldn’t adjust his footing as the ball bounced past his foot.

University’s Alex Coetzer continued to pressure the Bellambi defensive line hoping to pounce on a mistake on the slippery pitch. His determination paid off when he dispossessed the ball of Sean Poulten and drove onto goal. There were suspicions of a last-man pull back from Poulten but Coetzer was able to break the challenge only for Val Rizvani to come out and save his shot.

Then in the 42^nd minute, Coezter pressured the defensive line again, this time blocking a clearance which again allowed him to run through on goal. However, the striker couldn’t angle his shot as it rolled across the face of goal.

With a minute left to play in the half, some nice interplay passing between Josh Martin and James Galea up the right allowed Galea a chance to whip a cross in to Luke McCann at the back post. His first touch and shot was deflected out for a corner.

The last chance of the half came to Bellambi when a scuffed clearance from the back by Brooklan Fkrovic almost gifted Ellul a goal but his header was saved by D’Alessio.

That was all the action of the first half.

The Students would have been disappointed they didn’t take the lead just two minutes into the new half as Coezter was at the scene again. A deep free-kick from the back was headed into the path of Coezter one-on-one on goal. But his low shot was saved by the out-stretched foot of Rizvani.

But in the 54^th minute the game suddenly changed. Chipperfield continued to be a threat with the ball at his feet and his through-ball to Passlack looked a little too big. But a determined effort from the midfielder saw the ball roll past D’Alessio and cut back to Scott Muliwyk who made no trouble tapping it into an open net.

Then, one minute later, a poor clearance out from the Students third saw the ball fall straight to Chipperfield on the edge of the area. With a little too much time he struck a left-footed shot into the right hand side of the goal, pushing the Rosellas lead to two goals in under two minutes.

University looked to push even more forward following this, as substitute, Nelson McLeod looked dangerous immediately after coming on. He got the ball off a bump-pass from Bruce Wilson on the 18-yard box before turning on the ball and curling an effort on goal. It was looking destined for the top-corner but was denied by a diving save from Rizvani.

This was a mere scare for Bellambi as they went down the other end just two minutes later and grabbed their third. This time it was Simpson running onto a ball towards the bi-line before winning it over D’Alessio and cutting it back to Ellul to tap into an open net. Bellambi led by three with still 25 minutes to play.

Bellambi started to drop-off a bit after their third as they felt comfortable with the lead. University continued to push as McLeod’s power-shot was deflected away from Rizvani but was caught comfortably after readjusting his feet. Then in the 75^th minute, McCann and McLeod combined up the right before McCann sent a deadly ball along the ground into the box. But to the winger’s disappointment, there was no sign of any University player running onto the end of it.

With eight minutes to play, the Students did think they pulled one back but it was Rizvani coming to the rescue, this time denying Mikkel Brandsnes. It was from Galea’s looping cross from the right finding Brandsnes open at the back post but Rizvani making an important body save to keep the clean sheet.

The Rosellas got their fourth deep into stoppages when substitute Jaryd Sweeney whipped in a corner straight to D’Alessio who dropped the ball in the contest and rolled into the net, summing up a disappointing result from the Students.

Bellambi finishing too strong in the end as they continue their charge to silverware come seasons end.

The loss for University sees them stay planted in fifth spot but now only four points in-front of Thirroul who beat Shell Cove, 3-0. The students now face Shell Cove next week again at home.

Bellambi continue their run at the top of the table, still four points above Helensburgh after their 6-2 win over Picton. They host Balgownie at home next week with the Rangers playing on Sunday against Kiama.

Saturday 22 June at Kooloobong Oval.

University FC: 0

Bellambi Rosellas FC: 4 (MULIWYK 54’, CHIPPERFIELD 55’, ELLUL 66’ SWEENEY 90+1’)

 

Line-Ups:

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

Subs: Adam BASSUNI (SHANNON 77’), Nelson MCLEOD (COEZTER 61’), Curtis IVERSON, Chris TWIGG, Liam STEVENSON, Conor O’BRIEN.

 

Bellambi Rosellas FC: Val RIZVANI, Sean POULTEN, Tor PREECE, Nath THOMPSON, Grant ZANNI, Nick MORGAN, Scott MULIWYK, Matt PASSLACK, Ben ELLUL, Todd SIMPSON, Scott CHIPPERFIELD.

Subs: Chris CEVININI (CHIPPERFIELD 58’), Jaryd SWEENEY (SIMPSON 85’), Christian ARMOUR (ELLUL 90’).

 

Referee: J. RUSCICA

Assistant Referees: J. REES & M. HARDY

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn