KIAMA DOWN BELLAMBI IN TIGHT MATCH.

 

Last Saturday the Kiama Quarriers Soccer Club scored a 2 – 0 win over Bellambi S.C. to retain its unbeaten run in round 10 of the Illawarra Soccer First Division.  The win keeps the Quarriers sitting comfortably in a tight group of clubs at the top of the points table with a game in hand.  

 

Kiama had a dream run in to this game with all players being fit and available with the exception of Dave Jovanov who is out with a long-term injury.  The squad had two terrific training sessions during the week and a number of players are fighting hard to hold down their First Grade spots, which is exactly what Coach Brod Creighton wants.

 

Bellambi are no slouches on the field and came into the match one point behind the Quarriers.  They are a very busy side that play a tidy brand of soccer with a close passing game.  In recent years they have always given Kiama a tough game and this match-up was to be no different.

 

The Quarriers started the game very aggressively and took total control of the proceedings for the first fifteen minutes.  In this period Bellambi were quite content to sit back and soak up the pressure as the Quarriers knocked the ball about and attempted to pull Bellambi out of shape.  It was obvious, even in the early stages, that Bellambi were going to be a difficult opponent as they had pace to burn all over the park.

 

Kiama opened the scoring in the 11th minute with a terrific goal from Luke Bedford.  He has been in indifferent form in recent weeks, but has still been knocking in the goals on a regular basis.  Kiama played a long ball from the right flank into the penalty box where Jim Berry was tightly marked.  Berry played a classy lay off pass into the path of Bedford who hit a stinging volley from eighteen metres that left the keeper with no chance. 

 

The Quarriers took over from that stage and created numerous chances that had Bellambi scrambling in defence.  The Quarriers were somewhat wasteful and it was to come back and haunt them in the second half.

 

Two minutes from half time Bedford got his second goal and the Quarriers were definitely in the driving seat.  They had worked hard for the entire first half and Bedford’s goal was a just reward for a team that had played well and supported each other.  The team had also battled a strong headwind and were looking forward to using it in the second half.

 

It is an old pun that soccer is “a game of two halves” but this is what eventuated at the Leisure Centre.  The Quarriers came out for the second half in a somewhat casual frame of mind and were outplayed by a determined Bellambi.

 

The composure and cohesion that the Quarriers displayed in the first half was lacking and it was Bellambi that took control of the game and played all of the good soccer.  Kiama, to their credit, fell back on a well-drilled defence and although Bellambi had lots of ball and territory, never really troubled Kiama’s goalkeeper Josh Tidswell.

 

In fact, that was Bellambi’s downfall.  They controlled the ball for long periods of time and dominated the midfield but never pushed into the danger zone to make goal-scoring chances.

 

The Quarriers made a the game a bit tougher for themselves by dropping too far back into defence and thus allowing Bellambi to push more players forward, but the gamble paid off for the them and Bellambi failed to cash in on their territorial gains.

 

Kiama were really made to struggle for the last fifteen minutes after midfielder Damien Mason went off with a rolled ankle.  The Quarriers had used all of their substitutions and played the last period a man short.  Being a man down actually brought Kiama out of their shell.  They pushed forward towards the end of the game and were unlucky on two occasions when substitute forward, Brian Brown, back with the club after a five year absence, tested the ‘keeper twice for narrow misses.

 

Overall Kiama did enough to deserve the three points and appeared to have Bellambi covered for most of the game.  It is good for the club to have such a healthy playing staff at the moment and Creighton has a wealth of talent on the bench to make major tactical alterations to his team. 

 

The match was a little disappointing for the clubs supporters who are getting used to seeing the Quarriers dominate their opponents.  Much of the game was fought out in the midfield and this is more like an arm wrestle than anything else.

 

The Kiama Leagues Club Man of the Match was midfielder Mick Gillespie who was in devastating form in the engine room.  He had a top game and totally outplayed his opponent in all facets of the game.  Mike Broad was also great in defence and Marc Price in the midfield had his normal powerhouse game.

 

Next Saturday the Quarriers are away to Dapto S.C. at the Kanahooka Lodge.  First Grade kick off at 3.00pm and all supporters are welcome.

 

Kiama’s re-scheduled match against Warilla Wanderers was to have been replayed last Sunday.  The match was cancelled by the ISA after Warilla appealed a decision made by the ISA Board to replay the game.  At this stage it is unknown when, or if, the game will be replayed.