South Coast United extended their undefeated run to eight matches after Chris Valic scored a late equaliser, cancelling out Cody Wehmeyer’s earlier strike for the Albion Park White Eagles.

Following a bizarre opening in which Albion Park kicking the ball straight to South Coast from the kick-off, it wasn’t until the 10^th minute when the game sprang into action.

Running onto the ball bouncing its way across the box, Robert Delbanco thought he had put his side into the lead when he poked the ball past Jason Bleakley. However, he was ruled offside, and the scores stayed level.

It wasn’t until the 24^th minute that South Coast United would have their first shot on target when Daniel Starr flicked on a header for Chris Smith to volley. Smith, though, failed to connect properly, and his shot dawdled into the hands of Brad Jardine.

Three minutes later, Smith had another chance to, when Greg Valic whipped in a free-kick from half-way. This time he caught the ball on the volley well but could only hit it straight into Jardine’s gloves.

Just as it seemed South Coast had found their feet in the contest, Cody Wehmeyer hit a terrific long-range drive from over 20 meters out to give the White Eagles the lead in the 31^st minute. Wehmeyer’s stunning strike gave Bleakley no chance in goals, as it rocketed into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Immediately after conceding, South Coast went on the search for an equaliser, coming close in the 36^th minute when Chris Smith dribbled his way into the box. Having drawn the keeper towards him, Smith played the ball across the goal to Dion Sterjovski. However, the swift Albion Park defence managed to get a vital touch moments before Sterjovski could have the opportunity to pass the ball into the back of the net.

The final chance of the first half fell into to Albion Park in the 42^nd minute when Jason Bleakley miss-hit a pass to White Eagles’, Hristijan Tanoski, leaving South Coast in a spot of bother. Tanoski fed the ball to the feet of Cody Waller on the edge of the six-yard box but in a moment of redemption, Bleakley swept the ball out from Waller’s feet before the forward could tuck the ball past him.

Coming out from the sheds, South Coast was lucky not to concede in the first minute, when a lapse of concentration let Tanoski run through their defence before he released a shot from within the 18-yard box. Bleakley pulled off a good save but parried it straight into the path of Waller. Frantically, Bleakley with the aid of Mark Vidaic, put their bodies on the line to block Waller’s shot and keep United in the game. However, their heroics would come at a cost as South Coast’s rising-star, Vidaic, was injured in the process and would have no further involvement in the game.

In the 51^st minute, Dion Sterjovski’s corner had the loyal South Coast supporters on the edge of their seats as his cross landed at the feet of Byungkuk Cho. Volleying the ball goalward, the South Korean international’s shot crashed into an Albion Park defender, prompting a chorus of cries for handball. However, United’s appeals were turned down as they continued their hunt for a goal.

Having held out United, Albion Park had a good chance to double their advantage 61^st minute only to be denied by Bleakley once again. Having initially smothered a well-hit shot from the edge of the box, Bleakley’s job was far from over as the ball rebounded to Kyle Senior. Showing no fear, Bleakley charged down Senior’s shot, keeping his side in the contest once again for the umpteenth time this season.

Eight minutes later, Bleakley’s opposite number, Brad Jardine, would be called into action when South Coast whipped in a cross from the left-hand side. Jardine, though, would mishandle the ball, presenting United a golden opportunity to equalise. Having had the ball dropped to his feet, Josh Hawker teed up his freshly substituted teammate Callum Russell. However, Russell failed to punish Jardine for his mistake as he hit a weak shot giving the keeper time to regain his bearings and regather the ball.

It looked as though Russell’s poor shot would be punished immediately as Valentino Merxhushi flew down the wing for the White Eagles on the counter. Unsurprisingly, Bleakley was there to clean up for South Coast Once again, closing down Merxhushi before he could cross it Tanovski who was standing unmarked in front of goal.

For all of Bleakley’s heroics it looked like he would go unrewarded as the game moved towards its final minutes but typical of South Coast United’s fighting spirit, they managed to conjure up an equaliser in the 84^th minute. It was Yuya Kotaki’s chip into the box that gave the visitors hope and it was Chris Valic’s subsequent finish that resulted in pure United jubilation.

One all, South Coast now had the ascendancy to go and snatch a winner. Having won a corner in the third minute of stoppage time, Russell’s cross failed to beat the first man as the final whistle blew.

The draw was arguably a fair reflection of the afternoon's proceedings with neither side dominating play.

For South Coast, the draw takes them six points clear of Fernhill sitting in the relegation zone. A result against Corrimal next week at Ian McLennan would take them very close to safety.

Meanwhile, for Albion Park, the draw means two points lost and the opportunity to move into second place. A win against fellow top-five member Tarrawanna next week will take them one step closer to confirming a finals spot.

27^th July 2019 @ Terry Reserve

Albion Park White Eagles – 1 (Wehmeyer 31’)

South Coast United – 1 (C. Valic 84’)

APWE – Brad JARDINE, Blake McGINN, Shannon FIELDING, Kyle SENIOR, Chris NATHANIEL, Cody WALLER, Robert DELBANCO, Cody WEHMEYER, Araki NAOMICHI, Joel BEATTIE, Hristijan TANOSKI.

Substitutes – Eiki FUKUSHIGE, Valentino MERXHUSHI, Luke DEBROT, Yuki UNO, Jacob HUFTON.

SCU – Jason BLEAKLEY, Chris VALIC, Greg VALIC, Josh HAWKER, Kolan HMDA, Yuya KOTAKI, Byungkuk CHO, Mark VIDAIC, Dion STERJOVSKI, Daniel STARR, Chris SMITH.

Substitutes – Callum RUSSELL, Maurice ALOEGNINOU, Brody MURRELL, Declan WARD.

Referee – Andrew NAYLOR.

Assistants – Joel NEES, Demi GODDARD

Report by Nic Wilson, on twitter @_nicwilson

Photo by Kiah Hufton