Bellambi picked up an important 1-0 victory against a defensively resolute Unanderra side on Saturday afternoon at Unanderra Oval. The only goal of the game came in the 87th minute when Ben Ellul lashed a powerful effort into the far corner.

Bellambi started the game off showing great initiative. This manifested in an opportunity just five minutes in when Matt Passlack showed great quality to get down the right-hand side and stand a ball up for Chris Cevenini. However, the striker saw his headed effort blocked. After some positive build-up from the hosts in the 13th minute, they were awarded a freekick in a dangerous position centrally. Mark Picciolini stepped up and fired a strike goalwards only for it clip the wall on its way out for a corner.

Midway through the first half Bellambi again threatened down the right-hand side. A ball lofted in found Scott Muilwyk’s head who prompted a spectacular save from Jordan Timpano who was able to acrobatically tip the ball over the bar. Bellambi continued their pressure five minutes later when Matt Passlack got on the end of a corner driven in from the right-hand side towards the back post. He was able to scramble free of his marker, but he could only head the ball wide of the target. Straight from the resulting goal kick, Unanderra sprung forward catching Bellambi out of shape. Damian Jorge was slipped in behind the right-hand side of the Rosellas’ backline, however, he was reluctant to take on the strike on his weaker left-hand resulting in a poor shot which was no trouble for Valon Rizvani.

At the half-hour mark, Bellambi were awarded a freekick on the left-hand side. Ben Ellul took responsibility of the tight-angled freekick; however, the ex-Warilla forward was unable to trouble the keeper skying his effort. After Ellul’s freekick, there was dry-patch in an otherwise exciting encounter until a minute before the break when a Hearts’ corner dropped to Jorge on the edge of the box. He had to take his shot quickly to avoid his strike being blocked which resulted in his effort being of no threat to the Bellambi goal.

At the break, the scores were level with both sides on occasions showing the quality to open the scoring. The Rosellas had had very positive spells in the game especially down the right-hand side where Passlack had put several high-quality balls into the danger area.

After a slow start to the second period, Unanderra created an opening in the 49th minute. A long diagonal ball found Stephen Jovanovski who volleyed over from just outside the box. Two minutes later, the visitors should’ve been ahead when Matt Passlack got on the end of a cross from the left-hand side heading onto the crossbar. The rebound fell to Ben Ellul who inexplicitly missed the open goal much to the dismay of the Bellambi faithful. The Rosellas continued forward a minute later when a ball passed across the top of the box found Scott Muilwyk on the left-hand side who dragged his shot wide of the near post.

The Rosellas were almost left to rue missed chances in the 67th minute when a poor pass was intercepted by Unanderra setting Stephen Jovanovski free on the edge of the box. Unfortunately for the Hearts, he slipped at the vital moment sending his shot well over the crossbar. Four minutes later, Bellambi resumed their search for the seemingly elusive winner. On this occasion, Ben Ellul was able to get a cross in from the right-hand side finding unmarked substitute Ilija Prenzoski whose header was well saved by Timpano.

Heading into the final five minutes of the match, Bellambi were still without a goal despite creating the lion share of chances in the match. Tim O’Brien nearly changed this in the 86th when his acrobatic attempt was held on to by Timpano. With three minutes to play, Bellambi finally broke the deadlock when Tim O’Brien showed great vision to pick out Ben Ellul inside the right-hand side of the box. Ellul shifted the ball onto his right foot and lashed a strike into the far corner of the net. The visitors held on to secure an important three points.

Unanderra will be disappointed to lose having gone into the match having won their previous three matches. The Hearts remain in fourth position and still only three points behind third-placed Oak Flats after the Falcons shock defeat to Shell Cove in what was their second loss in three games.

As for Bellambi, the victory means the side are now on 50 points and just four points away from their total last season. Rosellas coach Andrew Paine was critical of his sides’ missed opportunities in the match stating: ‘To be fair, I think we missed a few chances’. Paine’s side are on the verge of winning the minor premiership, but he says his side are taking no chances: ‘We haven’t won nothing yet…… we’ve got four more big weeks ahead of us’. The league-leaders still remain unbeaten in the division and will be looking to finish the regular season with no defeats to their name. This starts with Picton next week who currently occupy seventh position.

Andrew Paine Interview | http://bit.ly/2ZiXMiC

 

Saturday 27 July @ Unanderra Oval, Unanderra

 

Unanderra - 0

Bellambi - 1 (Ellul 87’)

 

Unanderra Hearts: Jordan TIMPANO, David POLIDORO, Stephen JOVANOVSKI, Ben SALLABANK, Matthew CUDA, Damian JORGE, Christian PLAKIAS, Stephen DRAPER, Dominic MAGILL, Save TRENESKI, Mark PICCIOLINI

Substitutes: Luke BUSSOLETTI, Chris MURDEVSKI (DRAPER), Michael POTTER

 

Bellambi Rosellas: Valon RIZVANI, Sean POULTON, Tor PREECE, Nathan THOMPSON, Grant ZANNI, Nicholas MORGAN, Matthew PASSLACK, Scott MUILWYK, Damien WARWICK, Christian CEVENINI, Ben ELLUL

Substitutes: Iija PRENZOSKI (CEVENINI), Shane LYONS (MUILWYK), Tim O’BRIEN (MORGAN), Jack DUGAN

 

Referee: Greg REID

Assistant Referees: Rob SINDEVSKI and Gary FREEME

 

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia