Bellambi were held to a 1-1 draw with Picton on Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth Park. The hosts opened the scoring within the opening ten minutes of the match through Ben Ellul, whose corner from the left-hand side found its way directly into the back of the net. However, Picton equalised with less than ten minutes to play in the first half when Mitchell Hall turned well inside the box and volleyed a strike into the far corner, securing a point for the Rangers.

Bellambi took control early on in the match, dominating possession and pressing hard. This resulted in an opportunity in the fourth minute for Matt Passlack. A ball in from the left-hand side from Scott Muilwyk found Passlack, who was unable to direct his headed effort on target with the ball ending up wide of goal.

Two minutes later, some good build-up from the hosts lead to a corner on the left-hand side. Bellambi’s Ben Ellul whipped in an inswinging delivery which required Picton keeper Robert Cruickshank to tip the ball over the bar. However, Ellul’s second corner fared much better, with his corner beating everyone in the box and finding the back of the net despite the Rangers’ attempt to clear it off the line - a rare Olympic goal for the Rosellas corner-taker.

Bellambi’s opener inspired a positive spell for the Rangers as they attempted to pull back into the match, with the side winning more of the midfield battle and moving forward into attacking areas. Picton’s persistence finally paid off in the 37th minute when they drew level. A lofted ball forward was controlled well by Mitchell Hall on the right-hand side of the box who turned well and lashed a volley into the far corner of the net.

With the game level, Bellambi resumed their earlier domination, creating two good opportunities a minute from halftime. The first of these came from Scott Muilwyk who got on the end of another Ben Ellul corner from the left-hand side, but he was unable to hit the target. Following the goal kick, the Rosellas again pressed high up the field and Matt Passlack won the ball in a good position. From there, he went on a mazy run - going past several players and making his way into the box. He then calmly passed a ball across to Sean Poulton, who smashed his effort straight at the keeper - with Picton gloveman Robert Cruickshank batting the effort away and ensuring both sides entered the half-time break on level terms.

Both sides had good moments in the opening half despite the deadlock, with it still all to play for heading into the second period.

Picton came out of the sheds the better of the two sides with Benjamin Baxter causing havoc early on in the second half. In the 51st minute, Brendan Berkeley played a fantastic ball in behind the Rosellas’ backline, allowing Baxter to latch on to it and go face-to-face with Valon Rizvani in the Rosellas’ goal. However, Baxter was unable to prod the ball home with Rizvani standing tall and blocking the shot.

Two minutes later, Picton continued their positive start to the second period with Mitchell Hall cutting inside from the left-hand side and curling a shot wide of the far post. In the 56th minute, the Rangers created yet another opening with Baxter again showing his pace getting in behind the Bellambi defence. However, on this occasion, he dragged his shot wide of the goal.

After Picton’s strong start the second half, the game settled down and Bellambi created a couple of opportunities of their own, with the first of these coming in the 65th minute. The Rosellas were awarded a freekick on the right-hand side of the field around 20 metres from goal. Ellul stepped up and fired well over. Three minutes later, the league-leaders had one of the best chances of the game. A deep cross from Sean Poulton on the right-hand side of the park curled all the way to the back post where Scott Muilwyk just missed the mark with his header from close range.

Heading into the final 15 minutes, both sides were still looking for the winner. Bellambi fans thought they had nabbed the lead in the 76th minute when Matt Passlack was found in the box off a long throw-in, but Passlack just poked his effort wide from inside the six-yard box. Two minutes later, Picton created a chance of their own when substitute Joshua Maiolo powered a strike from a central position on the edge of the box towards the throat of Rizvani. Maiolo was involved again a minute later when Bellambi were caught short at the back. A ball from the left-hand side found him unmarked centrally, but he fired just over the bar. After this, neither side created any meaningful chances, with the teams sharing the spoils.

Bellambi will be disappointed to drop points as Helensburgh too dropped points which would’ve all but secured the league championship for the side.

Bellambi coach Andrew Paine thought the result could have fallen the way of the Rosellas but refused to downplay the quality of Picton.

“I thought it was very close,” he said.

“Picton were vastly improved since we played them last.

“We missed two or three [chances] that I thought could’ve sealed the deal.”

This was just the third time all season the Rosellas have failed to win, highlighting the incredible consistency from the side this campaign. Next up for the league-leaders is a trip to Kiama before facing up to a Berkeley side who just picked up their first victory of the season against the Quarriers this weekend.

As for Picton, this continued an inspired vein of form for the side, in which they are now unbeaten in their last five matches - including four victories before their stalemate with Bellambi. Next time around for the Rangers is a clash with Thirroul which could decide who makes the final finals spot with the sides being separated by just a point currently.

 

Andrew Pain – Interview [CLICK HERE]

Saturday 3 August @ Elizabeth Park, Bellambi

Bellambi - 1 (Ellul 6’)

Picton - 1 (Hall 37’)

 

Bellambi Rosellas: Valon RIZVANI, Nathan THOMPSON, Dale WHITE, Grant ZANNI, Nicholas MORGAN, Matthew PASSLACK, Damien WARWICK, Scott MUILWYK, Ben ELLUL, Ilija PRENZOSKI, Sean POULTON

Substitutes: Shane LYONS (WHITE), Tim O’BRIEN (O’BRIEN), Christian ARMOUR, Jack DUGAN

 

Picton Rangers: Robert CRUICKSHANK, Daniel NELSON, Nathan MACGRAW, Brendan BERKELEY, Shane STIFFLE, Connor DYMOND, Michael HEYHORN, Benjamin BAXTER, Mitchell HALL, Matthew TESORIERO, Scott MIRANDA

Substitutes: Jack TASESKI (STIFFLE), Joshua MAIOLO (BERKELEY), William MACLEOD, Cameron O’NEILL, Aaron WHITTINGHAM

 

Referee: John RUSCICA

Assistant Referees: Warwick DAVIDSON and Benjamin WORSFOLD

 

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn