Helensburgh have come away as 2-0 winners against a stingy University outfit in this round 19 PeopleCare District League clash at Rex Jackson Park on Saturday. The Thistle scored two within the opening 30 minutes thanks to goals from Cody Cuthbertson and Kade Kinsella, well and truly keeping them in the hunt for the title.

The last time the teams met was back in round eight when the Burgh ran away as 6-2 winners with league top-scorer Addison Grinham netting four at Kooloobong Oval. Helensburgh took a two-all draw away to Thirroul last weekend whereas the students had a mixed week, downing Berkeley 2-0 before falling to Unanderra by the same score-line in a catch-up game on Wednesday night.

University were eager on keeping the football early on as they held possession for the majority of the opening 10 minutes. Their first chance coming in the sixth minute when Josh Martin slipped striker, Adam Bassuni into the backfield. His cross towards the back post looking for Nelson McLeod but a misjudgement from Thistle keeper Matt Wardle allowed McLeod the chance for a tap in. However, the winger couldn’t angle his touch on-goal as it bounced wide.

After soaking up the pressure and happy to sit back and play on the counter, Thistle grabbed the opener inside 10 minutes. A poor clearance from the University goalkeeper, Liam Stevenson saw the ball travel upwards into the air. Cody Cuthbertson was the quickest to react as his touch around Curtis Iverson at the back allowed him to get one-on-one with Stevenson. The winger made no mistake with his finish as he drilled it across goal into the bottom corner.

The game then steadied to a battle of the midfields, with no team posing any threat on the opposition’s goal. A half chance came to the home side when Brad Watts got on the end of a University error but his shot rolled wide of the goal.

Then, in the 23^rd minute, the Thistle doubled their lead. It was a tactical, quick free kick by Kade Kinsella that started the movement when he sent the ball out to Cuthbertson on the right wing. His cross was inch perfect that forced a save out of Stevenson but only enough to the edge of the area. Kinsella continued his run forward and was able to pounce on the loose ball and slot it home. Giving them a two-goal cushion.

University were then frustrated with the lack of chances throughout the half as Helensburgh were able to control the ball and the game. However, they came close on two occasions right on the stroke of half time. The first through Bassuni when he beat his player up the left and surged through on goal. This was met with a low shot with his weak foot that was blocked by Wardle and cleared. Then, 30 seconds later, Doug Woodiwiss’ shot from outside the box forced a save out of Wardle as it went out for a corner.

That was the action from the first 45 minutes.

Helensburgh almost started the second half with a bang, going inches away from scoring in the opening two minutes. Watts’ cross to Grinham was met with a downwards header looking for the side netting but it was a spectacular diving save from Stevenson that pushed it wide of the goal.

In the 59^th minute, James Galea got the better of his man up the right and sent a low driven cross into the box. As it went past the feet of Bassuni, McLeod got a small touch but it would only roll into the arms of Wardle.

In the 70^th minute, the Thistle thought they had a third when Kinsella’s cross found the head of Grinham. This time the striker was able to guide his header into the net only to be called back for offside.

Quite similar to the first half, the game was controlled by the midfield, as neither team created promising opportunities on Wardle’s or Stevenson’s goals as the game went on. The students continued to push forward and held onto the ball before winning it back on numerous occasions to stop the Thistle counter attacks and continue their search for a comeback.

Watts’ long shot in the 79^th minute almost found the roof of the net but the extended arm of Stevenson was able to save and University cleared their lines.

After non-stop pressure with the ball, the visitors thought they had created the chance to bring them back into the game with less than 10 minutes remaining. An accurate Woodiwiss pass into the box found Luke McCann one-on-one. But with his shot on the turn, an onrushing Wardle was able to save.

In the end, Helensburgh became too strong for the determined University side as they ran out as 2-0 winners to stay in contention for first place.

The win for the Burgh sees them push four points clear of Oak Flats in third and still sit six points adrift of Bellambi. They travel to Balgownie next week, who are coming off an important 1-0 win over Berkeley.

As for the students, their loss now sees them become level on points with Thirroul, who are only behind on goal difference and with a game in-hand. They return home next week in a must win clash against Warilla who narrowly fell to the Thunder, 2-1.

 

Saturday 27 July at Rex Jackson Park

Helensburgh Thistle FC: 2 (CUTHBERTSON 9’, KINSELLA 23’)

University FC: 0

 

Line-Ups:

Helensburgh Thistle FC: Matt WARDLE, Ryan GRIMA, Jarrod BENHAM, Ryan HOPE, Shota KIHARA, Hayato KAME, Brad WATTS, Yu ITO, Addison GRINHAM, Kade KINSELLA, Cody CUTHBERTSON.

Subs: Aaron DARK (BENHAM 78’), Ben Watts (CUTHBERTSON 69’), Reggae ROWLEY (KINSELLA 84’).

 

University FC: Liam STEVENSON, James GALEA, Brooklan FRKOVIC, Josh MARTIN, Anthony OLIVER, Bruce WILSON, Nelson MCLEOD, Curtis IVERSON, Adam BASSUNI, Luke MCCANN, Doug WOODIWISS.

Subs: Chris TWIGG (MCLEOD 70’), Alex COETZER, Conor OBRIEN, Ben JOYCE.

 

Referee: Ryan O’SULLIVAN

Assistant Referees: Blake HERBERT and Jacob STERJOVSKI.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo Courtesy of Noel Wynn