Last Saturday the Kiama Quarriers fought out a tough 2 – 2 draw with 6th placed Cringila Lions in round 19 of the Illawarra Soccer Premier League. The point from the draw was well deserved and helps to push Kiama just that little bit further away from the relegation zone. More good news was on hand for the Quarriers as the two sides below them, Bulli and Balgownie both suffered losses.
Kiama were at full strength and fancied their chances against the Lions who beat them 1 – 0 at Cringila earlier in the season. The Quarriers are playing well and brought their form into this game.
The game could not have started worse for Kiama as they conceded a goal in the very first minute of the game and another in the very last minute of the first half. It was definitely a lack of concentration by the players that put them in this predicament. They also had a goal disallowed for offside twenty seconds after Cringila’s first goal.
The opening goal was more a case of poor play from Kiama rather than good play from Cringila as the Quarriers defence failed to clear the ball from the penalty box in what was a seemingly tame attack from Cringila. The ball found its way to an unmarked Cringila player just outside the box and he drilled it home from 18 metres through a forest of legs.
From the resultant kick off Kiama took the ball down the other end and Gallagher scored with a good header that was ruled off side by a linesman. It must have been a close thing but the linesman had a very good game and was right on the ball.
From this point onwards the Kiama side tore Cringila apart and the lions had to rely on sporadic attacks that did little to threaten Kiama’s goals. In the 4th minute Jovanov hit a screamer from a free kick that beat the defensive wall but unfortunately slid around the far post. In the 14th minute Cringila were fortunate and cleared a ball off the line from a Merriman free kick with the goalie beaten.
Mavrides and Gallagher up front were tearing great holes in the defensive line and in the 28th minute they combined in a good move that ended with a Gallagher header saved by a diving Lions goalie. Cringila answered this move shortly afterwards with a driven shot skimming the Kiama crossbar.
But it was the Quarriers who were playing all the soccer while Cringila held onto their 1- 0 lead. Kiama continued to dominate until the 44th minute when Cringila doubled their lead with another relatively soft goal. Coach Brod Crighton was beside himself with disappointment after playing all the good soccer and dominating the first half only to go in 2- 0 down at the break. Gallagher had a final chance in the last seconds of the half but put his header wide from six metres out.
The Quarriers picked up where they left off in the second half and battered Cringila for the first twenty minutes. Gallagher had another header from a free kick go over the bar at 48 minutes and shortly after Mike Merriman put a strong header wide from eight metres. Wright also had a chance but saw his twenty metre drive slew around the post.
At this stage of the game Kiama stopped dead in their tracks and Cringila took the opportunity to come out and play a bit of football themselves. It was a real role reversal as the Lions gave the young Kiama side a lesson on how to retain possession of the ball. It seemed that Kiama couldn’t get a touch as the Lions knocked the ball about confidently without really challenging the Quarriers goals.
Manny Mavrides was the man who woke Kiama from their slumber when he hit a stinging drive at goals from twelve metres out. The Lions keeper could only parry the ball and Nathan Broad stole the rebound and tucked it away to make the score 2 – 1. The goal was like an adrenaline boost for the Quarriers and they resumed control of the game. Broad and Mavrides both had good efforts saved before Cringila struck back with a header that bounced menacingly across the goal mouth before going out for a goal kick.
The Kiama supporters were screaming themselves hoarse and their pleas were answered in the 87th minute when Jovanov tied the game up with a diving header. Brad Boardman did all the good work on the left and hit a pinpoint cross to Jovanov who had burst through from the defense. He met the ball just inside the box and put a bullet like header into the back of the net.
The final score was 2 – 2 and the Quarriers did extremely well to come back from being two down but they must surely look at this game as points lost. They played a lot of good football in the game but continually failed to capitalise in front of goals. Cringila are a very good side sitting just outside the semi final places and were disappointed not to take full points from this game. But realistically they must be pleased with the point and they got out of Goal at the end as Kiama powered home.
Kiama had a number of good performers in this game even if they did go to sleep for long periods. Jovanov and Merriman were commanding at the back while Mason was dominant in the marking position. Gareth Gardner and Nathan Wright were strong in midfield but the stand out Kiama Leagues Club Man of the Match was goal scorer Nathan Broad in the midfield. He had a tough game and was not given the room he normally gets in a game but it was his commitment and work rate that made him stand out.
The draw was good for the Quarriers and keeps them three points clear of Balgownie and five clear of Bulli but the win would have been a much better result all round. The Quarriers have three games in hand against Tarrawanna, Wests and Wollongong Olympic and must find another handful of points to make themselves safe.
Next weeks away game against old rivals Tarrawanna is shaping up as the most important game of the season for the boys and a win is imperative. A win would put the boys well out of harms way.
Kiama’s Reserve Grade got on the winning trail with a well deserved 2 – 1 victory. The score could have been a lot more if not for a brilliant Cringila goalkeeper who played well above his ability. The boys played terrific soccer and it was all the better for them as they had a depleted side with a number of players unavailable.
Kiama’s Youth Grade went down 2 – 0 but deserved a result from this game. Cringila are in second place and the last time they were beaten was twelve games ago when the Quarriers rolled them 1 – 0 at Cringila. The Lions totally dominated the first half and got two goals while the Kids hung on and defended grimly. The second half was the opposite and Kiama really went at Cringila. A little bit of luck in front of goals and this result could have been reversed.
Next Saturday the Quarriers travel to Tarrawanna Oval to take on the side that were runners up to them in last years Conference League Championship. The two sides are mirroring each other with wins in the last few rounds and this game will be a tough match up for both sides. A win would put either side out of the danger zone. Let’s hope the Quarriers get the result and turn around the 1 – 0 home loss they suffered in the First half of the competition. Go the Quarriers.