On Saturday, University’s district league final hopes came to an end as they fell to Oak Flats 1-0. University looked sloppy for the opening of the fist-half and Oak Flats deservedly took the lead in the 22nd minute after a clinical finish from Hayato Sadamori. Uni switched on after the goal and created a number of chances to bring the score back but ultimately ended the half goalless. The second half saw more of the same as university constantly pushed to score the equalizer. This also meant they were vulnerable at the back and Oak Flats constantly looked a threat on the counterattack and created numerous clear-cut opportunities to score. However, it was down to some poor finishing and brilliant goalkeeping that ensured the game ended with just the one goal.

The first 20 minutes saw a few chances as University struggled to hold possession and Oak Flats exploited this to create chances in behind. This is how the first real chance of the match came about, after a wayward pass in the Uni midfield was intercepted by Jarrod Vinton who played in Bojan Caric. Caric’ lack of pace saw the defenders close him down, but a smart cut back afforded him the space to drop his shoulder and send a curling effort just wind of the right upright. Oak Flats’ danger off the counter attack was further evident just minutes later after a tame shot from Uni saw the ball quickly forwards by Oak Flats and it took a fantastic double goal line save from University’s Brooklyn Frkovic, first off a cheeky attempt from Caric then from the resulting rebound which was as much of a bad open goal miss than a great save. Uni attempted to control the game by holding possession, but their defensive frailties were again exploited in the 15th minute as a long through ball from Oak Flat’s keeper, Ryan Franks, played Jarrud Vinton in behind the defense but a poor touch let him down and ensured University survived. The deadlock was inevitably broken by Oak Flats in the 22nd minute after Kyle Hazelbrook broke down the right wing, played a Crossfield ball to Caric who used his strength to fend off the defender and smartly head the ball on to Sadamori who was waiting on the left hand corner of the 18 yd box. Sadamori squared up his defender and after smartly cutting the ball back, dropped his shoulder and sent a powerful shot underneath the diving arms of Liam Stevenson. Oak Flats continued to creat chances and in the 33rd minute, a brilliant team move down the right wing resulted in Vinton's cross flashing across the face of the goal. This seemed to spark University into action and in the 35th minute they had 2 chances in quick succession and were unlucky not to bring the score back. Firstly, after a through ball into the path of Twiggs, who was pressured by the goalkeeper and skied the shot over the cross bar. The next chance came just minutes later when Uni got a freekick on the right corner of the 18yd box semicircle, captain Woodiwiss stepped up and produced an effort that had the keeper rooted to the spot and just skimmed past the top right corner. Uni rounded off the half with a more assured dominance of possession and despite maintaining pressure on the Oak Flat's defense, were unable to create any further major chances.

The second half didn’t start positively for University after the ball bobbled up from a back pass and keeper Stevenson's scuffed clearance fell right into the feet of Sadamori, whose resulting cut back was skied by Christian Cappeta. Univerisity struggled to hold possession early with passes from midfield missing the mark and even going out of play. Despite this, in the 56th minute, a cross came from the left wing and Twiggs was unlucky with his header just passing over the cross bar. This appeared to spark life into Uni who had a flurry of chances between the 60th and 70th minute but were still unable to find the net. Twiggs 11 was highly involved and from the right wing delivered a dangerous cross into the area which after surprisingly beating the defender, fell to Bassuni before he could properly react and tamely bounced off his thigh into the waiting arms of Ryan Franks. Just two minutes later, Twiggs again produced another sharp cross into the penalty area which this time found the head of Bassuni who was unable to direct the ball away from the goalkeeper. It was then in the 70th minute when the ball came out of the box into the path of the oncoming Bruce Wilson who sent a thunderous shot just over the bar. Oak Flats continued to play on the counter attack and were rewarded with a golden opportunity in the 75th minute when Gilroy played Blanch in behind the defense and would have resulted in a goal were it not for the brave efforts of keeper Stevenson who dived at Blanch's feet and pulled of a smothering save which kept his team in the game. University continued to push numbers forward in search of a goal and it was only a matter of minutes before Oak flats broke again and created 2 guilt edged chances; firstly when Sadamori beat two defenders, found himself faced with the keeper but could only watch as his cheeky dink just dropped over the crossbar. The second came minutes later when Hazelbrook made a darting run down the middle of the field following a corner and after beating close to half of the team, had his shot just pushed over the bar by a diving Stevenson who again kept his team in the match. University continued to push for an equalizer and in the 90th minute sent their Stevenson up for a corner which, just to add drama, he almost scored but was denied by a man on the back post.

It was a game of numerous chances which could have seen the result go either way but anticlimactically ended 1-0 to Oak Flat with Sadamori's early strike proving the difference between the teams. This sadly marked the end of the season for University as the result wasn’t enough to push them into the finals. Overall, the result was a fair reflection of the quality displayed by both teams but with promising moments throughout, Uni can look to build for next season.

Saturday 24 August 2019 at Koolobong Oval, Wollongong

University FC – 0

Oak Flats FC -- 1 (Sadamori 22')

 

University: Liam STEVENSON, James GALEA, Brooklyn FRKOVIC, Joshua MARTIN, Antony OLIVER, Bruce WILSON, Curtis IVERSON, Douglas WOODIWISS, Luke MCCANN, Nelson MCCLEAD, Adam BASSUNI

Subs: Jesse HOWARD, Matthew CAIN, Alex COETZER (TWIGGS 81'), Christopher TWIGGS( Martin 25')

 

Oak Flats FC: Ryan FRANKS, David KOTRC, Jamie STEVENSON, Ross GRAHAM, Brenton LLOYD, Christian CAPPETTA, Kyle HAZELBROOK, Jarryd VINTON, Hayato SADAMORI, Lee GILROY, Bojan CARIC.

Subs: Chris JARMAN, Rhys BLANCH (VINTON), Josh EAGLETON (CARIC), Blake CRANDELL (SADAMORI), John TILDON

Referee – Brodie MERCHANT
Assistant Referees –, Jay WALPOLE, Casey FLEMMING

By Tomas Phillips

Twitter @tommyP722722