KIDS IN THE TOP ECHELON OF THE COMPETITION

The Gordon Macdonald Electrical Kiama Youth grade team started the game keen to turn around their disappointing result last week. The young Quarriers were up against a fast skilful Warilla team who took the game to Kiama and the home team soon had Kiama chasing.

 
Good midfield play by Warilla and some poor marking by Kiama saw Warilla open the scoring with a well taken goal. This sparked Kiama into action and they began to organise themselves in the middle of the park and got themselves back into the game. A terrific solo kinking run through the centre of the field by Jai Cartwright opened up the Warilla defence and Cartwright finished with his trademark powerful drive into the back of the net giving the Warilla keeper no chance and Kiama were back on level terms.
 
Kiama keeper James Terry was soon back in the firing line as the opposition tried to crack the Kiama goal but Terry held his owned and made many great saves. Towards the end of the first half young James Spence, Craig Costello and Scott Schofield began to work the ball well down the left hand side and Kiama were getting the upper hand. Just before half time Costello, Dave Kay and Wade Mathews knocked the ball around the edge of the penalty box and the ball fell to Cartwright who again put the ball wide of the keeper and into the net and Kiama were in front. This well controlled shot showed the great composure Cartwright shows when he is in possession.
 
The Quarriers started the second half with a strong southerly behind them. The boys came out intent on keeping their lead and the defensive trio of Paul Thayer, Brad Tuohy and Craig Lord tightened up on their opposite numbers and set the platform for the rest of the team to follow. Kiama continued to press forward to try and get their third goal and this left them exposed at the back which the Warilla team tried to exploit but they couldn't find a way past Terry who was having his best game since signing with the Quarriers at the start of this year.
 
Wide midfielder Chris Hughes was forced from the field with a knee injury and was replaced by Danny Pridham. Pridham tightened up the midfield as Warilla pushed players forward to try and get the equaliser. A bit of push and shove on the right touch line ended up with the Warilla right back and Mathews being sent from the field. From this point on Warilla threw everything at the Kiama goal but again terry made a number of match winning saves to put the Quarriers in front.
 
This game was a huge improvement for the Kiama team. Striker Costello played a more thoughtful game and young Spence showed great composure well above his age. In great team game Cartwright and Tuohy played strongly but the stand out man of the match was keeper James Terry.
 
Kiama travel to Helensburgh next week and will need to train hard during the week if they want to get a winning run going.