Oak Flats have left as 2-0 winners over second placed Helensburgh in a quality affair in the PeopleCare District League Qualifying Semi-Final at PCYC. The deadlock wasn’t broken until the 64^th when Hayato Sadamori finished his header into the back of the net before Lee Gilroy’s header sealed the game in the 70^th minute as the Falcons were able to hold on to advance to the major semi-final against Bellambi next week.

Both the encounters between the sides in 2019 ended in Helensburgh wins – a 2-1 win in round five and a 3-1 win in round 16. The Burgh were coming off a 5-0 victory over Bellambi whereas Oak Flats beat University 1-0 at Kooloobong Oval.

The Thistle asserted their dominance inside the opening 15 minutes by holding the ball and keeping possession and field position early on. This almost led to a goal too when Brad Watts was sent down the right wing with an accurate through ball. His first time cross found Ben Watts at the back post but the bouncing ball would be too much for the winger as he sent the shot over the bar.

In the 14^th minute, a deep free-kick from Jarrod Benham found the head of Addison Grinham in the box. His header looked destined to bounce in but it was stopped off the line by Jamie Stevenson. Then just one minute later, Benham stood over a free-kick a little closer to goal but curled his effort wide of the post.

Following this, Oak Flats started to find their feet and started playing some nice football in patches of the next 15 minutes. Bojan Caric’s shot on the turn from outside the area was comfortably saved by Josh Williams. Then, some slick skill up the right by Hayato Sadamori saw him beat his defender and whip in a ball to an unmarked Jarryd Vinton at the back post but he sliced his shot wide.

In the 34^th minute, the Falcons thought they took the lead when their build-up play on the edge of the area opened up space for Vinton to send Brenton Lloyd into the box. He made no mistake with the finish but play would be brought back following an offside.

The final minutes of the half ended with plenty of action as both sides had chances to go in front. The first chance fell to Oak Flats in the 39^th minute when Caric’s placed shot dipped and curled onto the frame of the goal as Helensburgh were able to clear.

Then, just one minute later, a corner was drilled in from the right which found Helensburgh’s Ryan Hope looming around the back post. Although it was to the defenders surprise the ball got to him as he headed it over the crossbar.

In the 42^nd minute, Kyle Hazebroek unleashed a powerful effort towards the near post but was parried away for a corner. The corner didn’t account for anything but the start of a Thistle counter-attack. The ball went from sideline to sideline before coming to the feet of Brad Watts on the left. His turn around his player got him the space to shoot but could only curl his effort over.

That was all the action in the opening 45.

The Thistle continued their attacking threats early into the second half which was led by a couple of accurate free-kicks by Benham. Firstly, his one on half-way was sent into the box and was flicked on by Ryan Grima. However, it flew just wide of the post. Two minutes later, Benham’s free-kick from the sideline towards the near post saw a contest between Grinham and Oak Flats shot-stopper Ryan Franks. But the ball deflected off both players and went out for a goal kick.

In the 51^st minute, Sadamori showed why he was the player to watch with a nice piece of skill to get around two defenders and line up a shot. Although, still being 25 yards from goal, his shot rolled into the arms of Williams.

With the game steadying into a see-saw battle, Oak Flats made the breakthrough in the 64^th minute. Space opened up on the right wing for Gilroy to swing in a looping cross. With only Sadamori to aim for, the winger outjumped the Helensburgh defence, getting there before Williams and angling his header into the net, giving the Falcons the lead on the day.

Oak Flats seemed to have lifted from the goal and started to control the game and play with confidence. This then paid off when they doubled their lead in the 70^th minute. This time it was Gilroy charging onto a cross from Caric to send a powerful header into the top left, allowing the Falcons some breathing space.

They were becoming more confident too as Caric almost got his name on the scoresheet himself but couldn’t get enough dip on his dinked effort from 20 yards as it fell onto the roof of the net.

In the 74^th minute, Gilroy continued to dominate that right wing after the Burgh opted to a three-at-the-back tactic in the final minutes. His run up the right was met with a cutback to Vinton on the edge of the box. But his first touch may not have been his best as he then sent his shot over the crossbar.

Helensburgh then pushed even more forward to get a goal back and they almost had it through their best chance of the game. Substitute, Reggae Rowley came on to make an impact and his surging run forward saw a nice one + two play with Brad Watts. Rowley continued into the box, drawing several defenders to him before the ball popped up at the feet of Kade Kinsella. With the goal relatively open, the midfielders first time shot would only roll inches wide of the post.

Despite the onslaught of attack in the final minutes, Oak Flats were able to defend any long balls the Thistle may throw at them as they advanced to the major semi-final against Bellambi for a shot at a Grand-Final spot.

As for Helensburgh, they will play Thirroul next weekend who are coming off a late, extra-time win over Unanderra.

 

Saturday 31 August at PCYC.

Helensburgh Thistle FC: 0

Oak Flats Falcons: 2 (SADAMORI 64’, GILROY 70’)

 

Line-Ups:

Helensburgh Thistle FC: Josh WILLIAMS, Ryan GRIMA, Jarrod BENHAM, Ryan HOPE, Adam COFFEE, Siyota KIHARA, Brad WATTS, Yu ITO, Addison GRINHAM, Kade KINSELLA, Ben Watts.

Subs: Reggae ROWLEY (KIHARA 77’), Andy GARCIA, Josh BRADY, Luke MILLER (COFFEE 71’), Matt WARDLE.

 

Oak Flats Falcons: Ryan FRANKS, David KOTRIC, Ross GRAHAM, Jamie STEVENSON, Brenton LLOYD, Christian CAPPEITA, Kyle HAZEBROEK, Jarryd VINTON, Hayato SADAMORI, Lee GILROY, Bojan CARIC.

Subs: Chris JARMAN, Daniel MUNILLA (VINTON 82’), Chad FERNANDEZ (HAZEBROEK 90+4), Rhys BLANCH (CARIC 89’), John TILDEN.

 

Referee: Peter ILCEVSKI

Assistant Referee: John RUSCICA and Reece EDWARDS

Sideline Referee: Jay WALPOLE

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn