Fernhill secured an important 1-0 win over a dominant Coniston outfit in this round 20 clash of the Illawarra Mercury Premier League at Ray Robinson Field. The only goal of the game came in the 35^th minute when Shinsei Tanaka made the most of a goalkeeping error to open the scoring. Coniston threw everything they had towards the Fernhill backline but in the end the Foxes held on to grab the win.

Last weekend Fernhill fell to Wollongong Olympic, 2-0 whereas Coniston went down 3-1 to Tarrawanna at home. The reverse fixture between the sides ended in a 2-1 victory to the Foxes - which was where they last picked up three points.

Coniston started stronger out of the two sides, asserting their dominance from the first whistle. It was a run forward from the back Kohei Enokido that opened up space to send a through-ball towards Rob Brown. His touch was able to set up the shot but was driven low and straight into the arms of Bryce Daenell in goal.

In the eighth minute, Dinko Terzic sent a powerful volley goal-wards that was destined to find the top corner. But thankfully for the Fernhill fan-base, the ball was deflected just over the bar.

The Foxes gradually started to find their feet which helped them to their first chance of the game. In the 13^th minute, some nice interplay passing between Jack Lombo and Brock Whiffin opened up some space for Whiffin inside the box. His run forward was met with a low shot but was saved by the outstretched leg of Coniston shot-stopper, Blake Horton.

The game then turned into a see-saw battle as both sides posed more and more threatening chances, one after another. Firstly, a long ball from Enokido from the back sent through Kody Maude onto goal. However, his shot off a bouncing ball was comfortably saved by Daenell.

Then, just 60 seconds later, Dean Kerr snatched back possession inside the Coniston defensive third where he has space to drive towards goal. Although, his curled effort looking for the top-left was saved by Horton.

In the 21^st minute, just two minutes after Fernhill’s chance, Maude’s cutback onto his right foot was met with a cross that found the head of Brown. But the ball was a little too high for the striker as it came off his head and looped onto the roof of the net.

Despite, a goalless opening third, Fernhill opened the scoring through Shinsei Tanaka. The winger was able to make the most of an error from Horton as his clearance was blocked and the ball fell one-on-one. Tanaka didn’t panic as he slipped the ball past Horton and ran around for a tap-in, sending the home-side into an important lead.

This was all the action of the first half.

The second half started quite like the first with Coniston dominating the ball and field position early on. Brown almost snatched the equaliser but his long-shot volley just dipped wide of the post.

In the 62^nd minute, Maude’s cross into the box fell straight to the feet of Terzic but the striker couldn’t adjust himself as the Foxes were able to clear. Although the clearance only made it out to Matthew Poposki at the edge of the area where he delivered a left-footed shot onto goal. But it only kept rising as it sailed over the bar.

Coniston went to all-out attack midway through the half and held the ball regularly, offering very little chances for Fernhill. The introduction of Dushaun Youlley was a big boast for the visitors when the winger created a goal-scoring opportunity just minutes after coming on. He picked up the ball right on the half-way line before turning his defender and surged onto goal. He then beat another defender before powering a shot aiming for the near post. But to Fernhill’s rescue again, Daenell was able to block it out for a corner.

Terzic thought he scored the equaliser when he went close on two occasions. In the 75^th minute, a planned free-kick tactic saw him get the ball on the ground inside the box before turning his defender. Although he couldn’t angle his shot goal-wards as it flew wide. Then just two minutes later, Terzic stepped up to take the free-kick 25 yards from goal. His driven effort on target but was deflected just wide of the near post.

It turned into a panic for the visitors as they continued to push men forward in hopes of an equaliser. It was long ball after long ball and Fernhill were strong in defence to keep Coniston from scoring. The final minutes saw Brown shoot off a Youlley cross but again was saved by Daenell.

Despite holding off the immense pressure in the second 45, the Foxes launched forward through a quick-fire counter-attack deep into stoppages. It was a long ball from the midfield by Whiffin that sent it over the top for Alex Rooke. The winger was able to bring it down nicely and beat his opposing defender before powering a shot over the bar.

That finished an important victory for the Foxes as they held off an onslaught of Coniston attacks to keep their aspirations of retaining Premier League status alive for another week.

The win for Fernhill was their third of the season, and now sit just two points behind 11^th placed Cringila with just two games to go. One win from two will be enough to get off the bottom but they will need the Lions to lose both of their remaining games. The next two rounds the Foxes take on Albion Park at Terry Reserve in two weeks’ time (due to BBC Final next weekend) and are back at home for the final game of the season against Corrimal.

As for Coniston, the loss doesn’t see their position on the table affected, but the SCU draw now sees them just two points ahead of them in ninth. They will need to win their last two games in order to jump into eighth and will be certainly achievable as they return home next round to take on Bulli who are occupying that spot.

 

Sunday 4 August at Ray Robinson Field

Fernhill FC: 1 (TANAKA 35’)

Coniston FC: 0

 

Line-Ups:

Fernhill FC: Bryce DAENELL, Ryan HUNTER, Rhys WILSON, Kurt FULGER, Tatsunori NAKAGAWA, Brock WHIFFIN, Yogi OGAWA, Dean KERR, Alex ROOKE, Shinsei TANAKA, Jack LOMBO.

Subs: Alex JOSIPOVIC, Sean MOLLOY (LOMBO 61’), Blake FRIEDRICH (FULGER 90’), Luke DEFRETAS (WHIFFIN 90+2’), Ben RIACH.

 

Coniston FC: Blake HORTON, Thomas CAVILL, Takayuki KAYANO, Boden ALLPORT, Kohei ENOKIDO, Yuki SAMOTO, Kody MAUDE, Matthew POPOSKI, Dinko TERZIC, Matthew TSCHENTSCHER, Rob BROWN.

Subs: Du’Shaun YOULLEY (TSCHENTSCHER 65’), Connor O’NIELL, James STEWART (CAVILL 85’), Keaghan REDPATH, Damian BEDWELL.

 

Referee: Caleb BLANCH

Assistant Referees: Harrison FISHER and Jackson COOKS.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn