Bellambi have taken out the 2019 District League Grand Final, running out as 2-1 winners over a persistent Oak Flats outfit at Crehan Park on Saturday. The Rosellas took control of the game in the opening 45 minutes but couldn’t break the deadlock until the 50^th minute when they forced an own-goal out of Kyle Hazebroek. The Falcons pulled one back just three minutes later through Hayato Sadamori but it was a perfect ending for Bellambi – with their captain, Tor Preece scoring what turned out to be the winner in the 73^rd minute.

The game started slow, with neither side wanting to push forward early as they sat back waiting to see how the game would pan out. Possession and field position started to lean the way of the Rosellas and almost went ahead after Scott Muliwyk’s header from a corner flew inches wide of the back-post.

In the 16^th minute, Bellambi continued to take control and again went to Muliwyk in the air but it was the same result as he couldn’t angle his header on target.

With the Rosellas being such a threat in the air, they also had players who could create something with the ball at their feet, with their top goal scorer in Ben Ellul almost scoring a solo classic in the 20^th minute. It was a long ball over the top that allowed Ellul to run onto before calmly chipping it over his defender allowing him to be one-on-one with Ryan Franks in goal. However, his touch was just beyond his reach as Franks was able to clean up.

Oak Flats started to find their feet after this chance and created some space up the right wing. Lee Gilroy and Bojan Caric played a nice one-two play before finding Hayato Sadamori just outside the box. The midfielder then sent a powerful effort goal wards but could only swerve his shot over the crossbar.

It was another corner for the Rosellas in the 37^th minute that was by far the best chance of the half. This time, it was Grant Zanni getting on the end of it only to be denied by a spectacular reflex save by Franks. The ball was only cleared to as far as Ellul in the box with the winger attempting to power a shot at close range, but the Falcons were able to block the shot and clear.

A physical first 45 minutes saw neither side take the lead as they went into the sheds.

Despite all their chances in the air within the first half, Bellambi took the lead with a bit of luck, and a bit of misfortune for Oak Flats. A free-kick right on halfway was sent into a crowded box where the Falcons’ Kyle Hazebroek leaped highest for a header, coming off the wrong side of his head, it bounced past Franks and into the net, sending the Rosellas into a frenzy.

But it was almost immediately that Oak Flats would level things up when they scored just three minutes later. Caric delivered an inch-perfect cross into a crowded Bellambi box that picked out Sadamori just six yards out from goal. The winger made no mistake, poking his effort past Val Rizvani and into the net, giving the Falcons their first Grand Final goal in 14 years.

The goal seemed to spark something in the Oak Flats side, as they started to control the game for the next 15 minutes. Their next chance came from a through ball where Jarryd Vinton was able to get their before the Bellambi defence and cut it back to Gilroy. His ambitious first time attempt on goal curled over from about 25 yards out.

Although, again on a set-piece, and again a header, Bellambi regained the lead. After a scramble in the box following a corner, Sean Poulton was able to drill it back into the mix from 20 yards. His shot was blocked by the retrieving Oak Flats defensive line before falling to Ellul who forced a corner. Ellul then whipped in a fast-paced cross that saw captain and centre-half, Tor Preece leap the highest and power a header into the back of the net. A real captain’s contribution to put the Rosellas back on top.

As the contest went into the final 20 minutes, Oak Flats continued to push forward for an equaliser, with Bellambi happy to sit back and defend their one goal lead and break on the counter. The Rosellas did well to hold out a determined Falcons side as they didn’t get another threatening opportunity on goal until five minutes to play. Sadamori picked up the ball after a switch of play where he cut it back onto his right foot but his low shot was saved comfortably by Rizvani.

But after soaking up the final attacks that Oak Flats would throw at them, Bellambi held out to secure a memorable Grand Final win that sees them claim the District League double.

Bellambi coach Andrew Paine praised his team’s efforts on the day similar to their overall performance this season, “It was a couple of set-pieces that got us home, which has been a weapon of ours [all season] and at the end some desperation at the back, the boys were blocking shots and getting in front of challenges”.

Oak Flats’ co-coach Nathan Minutillo was disappointed with the loss, but happy with the way his team performed throughout the season, “It was a massive improvement from last year, and we’ve only got to work from it for next year. The boys are a bit down, but they’ll come back stronger next year.

Full Interviews with both coaches can be found at: http://bit.ly/2m60WaG

 

Saturday 21 September at Crehan Park.

Bellambi FC: 2 (HAZEBROEK [own goal] 50’, PREECE 74’)

Oak Flats Falcons: 1 (SADAMORI 53’)

 

Man of the Match: Matt PASSLACK

 

Line-Ups:

Bellambi FC: Val RIZVANI, Sean POULTON, Nath THOMPSON, Dale WHITE, Grant ZANNI, Nick MORGAN, Matt PASSLACK, Scott MULIWYK, Ben ELLUL, Matt RICHARDSON, Todd SIMPSON.

Subs: Scott CHIPPERFIELD (RICHARDSON 67’), Chris CEVININI (SIMPSON 45’), Tim O’BRIEN (MORGAN 72’), Dale WHITE, Jack DUGAN.

 

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

Subs: Chris JARMAN, Justin POTTER (HAZEBROEK 82’), Chad FERNANDEZ, Rhys BLANCH, Daniel MUNILLA (GILROY 75’).

 

Referee: Andrew NAYLOR

Assistant Referees: Harrison LEE and Reece EDWARDS.

Sideline Referee: Ryan O’SULLIVAN.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia