CELEBRATIONS PUT ON HOLD AS QUARRIERS STRUGGLE TO A DRAW

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CELEBRATIONS PUT ON HOLD AS QUARRIERS STRUGGLE TO A DRAW.

The Kiama Quarriers Championship Celebrations were put on hold for a week last Saturday when they played a 1 – 1 draw with FERNHILL in the last Round of the Illawarra Soccer First Division Competition.

The Quarriers went into the game facing the prospect of being Champions for the first time in their history if they could pull off a win against FERNHILL who were well out of the running in eleventh place. The team was two points clear of their nearest rival, Tarrawanna, with a game in hand and a slightly better goal difference.

The Quarriers looked nervous during the opening period and never really got into any semblance of their normal style. In fact they just did not look comfortable and may have been reacting to the pressure that had been mounting in recent weeks.

FERNHILL for their part were quite content to sit back and soak up the pressure and it seemed every time the Quarriers launched an attack they were faced with a packed penalty box with up to ten defenders inside.

Kiama’s first chance of the game came in the 26^th minute when Jimmy Berry got onto a good corner from the right and he hit a powerful header inches past the right upright. Minutes later Brad Boardman hit a low drive across the face of the goal with the goalie beaten only to see the ball slide past the far post for a goal kick.

It was fairly tame stuff though and the Quarriers were having trouble picking their way through the massed defence. For their part FERNHILL were not particularly concerned about their lack of penetration and it seemed that they had had come looking for a draw.

Three minutes from half time the game erupted into action as Kiama threw forward a very determined attack. FERNHILL scrambled about and cleared the ball off the goal line three times in two minutes before the last shot went sizzling over the bar from close range.

All in all the first half was not much to crow about and the Quarriers needed to do a lot more if they were to take three points and the Championship from this game.

The second half started exactly the same as the first half had finished and Kiama threw a knockout punch at FERNHILL. Three times in two minutes they hit the woodwork without getting on the score sheet.

Mike Merriman’s effort was particularly good and he hit a tremendous shot at goal from a free kick all of thirty metres out. He put the ball over the heads of a defensive wall and dipped it sharply only to see the ball hit the underside of the cross bar and bounce back into play.

The pressure was starting to mount on the visitors and it seemed only a matter of time before the Quarriers opened their account. The pressure was rewarded in the 60^th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Luke Bedford took the ball into the penalty box on the left and as he cut past three defenders one of them knocked his legs out from underneath in a very silly challenge. Jimmy Berry stepped up and had no trouble sliding the spot kick past the ‘keeper for the opening goal.

Kiama scored a second goal in the 70^th minute from another free kick only to have the goal disallowed for offside. The linesman must have been the only person in the ground to see the offside player as no one else did.

But tragedy and controversy were not too far away and Kiama were to suffer greatly at the hands of Lady Luck. With only five minutes left on the clock Kiama keeper Josh Tidswell got a rare touch of the ball.

An over zealous linesman made a decision, from near the half way line, that Tidswell had taken the ball out of the penalty box with his hands as he kicked the ball and shot his flag up. The referee failed to see the flag initially and play went on for quite a considerable time before the linesman actually yelled out to the referee to report the matter. This seemed an incredibly unusual situation but after consultation the referee awarded FERNHILL a free kick just outside the box.

Kiama threw up a defensive wall and seemed to have the situation in hand. FERNHILL played the ball out to the right and an attacker hit a low shot that seemed to be going well wide. Tragically, the ball hit the outstretched foot of defender Mick Gillespie and deflected into the Kiama net for the equalising goal.

This was a gut-wrenching occurrence and it seemed the linesman’s decision was nit picking at best and highly dubious at worst. To make such a decision from a poor position and without first warning the ‘keeper or having the referee do so was very disappointing. But soccer can be a very cruel game. And cruel it was on this day as FERNHILL held on for a 1 – 1 draw.

The Quarriers only had themselves to blame for the situation and they really should have punished FERNHILL with three or four goals during the match to ensure that minor match officials could not cause them any harm

The dressing shed was full of mixed emotions after the game as the players got over their initial disappointment to realise that they were still Competition leaders with a game to play. The draw definitely hurt the Quarriers as Tarrawanna had a last round bye and the three points pulled them level with Kiama but with an inferior goal difference.

This makes Kiama’s last game of the year, a deferred match against Warilla next Saturday at King Micky Park, a very spicy affair. Kiama recently won an appeal against Warilla over a deferred game. It is a great irony that if Kiama had of failed with that appeal they would have been crowned Champions last Saturday on goal difference over Tarrawanna, without having to play Warilla.

Coach Brod Crighton was bubbly after the game and immediately starting pumping up his young team for the Warilla match. He was quick to point out to his young charges that they have already achieved promotion to the Premier League and cannot be pushed out of the top two. It is up to the boys themselves to take the top place while Tarrawanna sit back and watches.

Kiama’s Reserve Grade turned in a rousing display for their last match of the year and had no trouble in beating FERNHILL 4 – 1. The win but very satisfying but failed to stop FERNHILL from taking the last spot in the top eight for the semi finals.

Kiama’s Youth Grade turned in a stinker and were very disappointing in a 2 – 0 loss to a FERNHILL side that are well down the table. The kids didn’t seem to have their minds on the game and never got into stride against ordinary opposition. The loss still keeps the team in the top eight and they will have to re-focus themselves for the up-coming big games in a fortnight.

The Quarriers play Warilla at King Mickey Park, Warilla, next Saturday at 3.00pm and really need to hit their straps and take the points. They have played well all year and are still undefeated while Warilla are lurking in third place. The win would be a great boost to the Quarriers, although a draw is sufficient to take the title.

The Club has one of the smallest budgets in the entire Illawarra Soccer region and it would be a great achievement for the team to take the number one position, undefeated, against highly rated opponents. The Quarriers also have one of the youngest squads in the district and it is packed with local talent from the Juniors.

If you have never been to watch the Quarriers play a game of soccer before, this will be a great match to start with. The Quarriers need support from the town as they fight to bring the First Division Championship back home with them next Saturday afternoon. Why not come along and give them a yell?