Last Saturday the Kiama Quarriers traveled to Butler Park, Kemblawarra, and took on competition leaders Kemblawarra in the Illawarra Soccer Premier League. After a tough battle the home side scored two late goals to take the points with a 3 – 0 win.
The match was seeped in controversy as the referee confused most of the people at the ground for most of the match as well as handing out four yellow cards to the Kiama side. A written complaint has been forwarded to the Illawarra Soccer Association in relation to the refereeing standard.
It must be pointed out that Kemblawarra undoubtedly deserved the winning points but the standard and reputation of refereeing in the Illawarra took a terrible battering in this game
The Quarriers only had one change to the side that has picked up two great wins in the previous two weeks with Brad Boardman being unavailable. Luke Bedford came into the starting line up in his place. Kemblawarra were brimming full of confidence after playing well in recent weeks and taking the lead in the Premiere League competition with only five rounds to play.
The Quarriers opened well and put the home side on the back foot from the kick off. In the fourth minute of the game the ground was ablaze with controversy after the referee inexplicably declined claims for a penalty from Kiama after Bedford was floored by the keeper.
Kiama’s Nick Gallagher hit a blistering shot at goal from twenty meters which the Kemblawarra ‘keeper could only parry. Bedford was onto the rebound in an instant and took the ball around the goalie with an open goal in front of him. The ‘keeper lashed out with his legs and tripped Bedford for what most people thought was an obvious penalty. Incredibly, the referee awarded Kemblawarra a free kick. This was a deliberate foul by the goalkeeper and not only should the penalty have been awarded but he should have been shown a red card and sent from the field.
This was to be a trend with the referee for the remainder of the game as he continually bamboozled Kiama players and supporters alike with his decisions. The Quarriers were continually thwarted by a string of free kicks and corners that never seemed to go their way. The four yellow cards handed out to the Kiama players were also mystifying as the players struggled to understand many of the referee’s decisions. How can one side get it so wrong in the eyes of a referee while the other side gets it so right?
The game was a stop start affair that did not allow any of the two sides to get any momentum. Kemblawarra got back on track in the 17th minute when ex Wollongong Wolves player Richard Lloyd got on the far post from a free kick and hit a looping header towards goal. A diving Tidswell in goals and defender Mick Gillespie could only deflect the ball into the net.
Kiama had a number of chances in the first half with the best falling to Gallagher. He hit a wicked lob from eighteen meters out that dipped over the keeper and skimmed the cross bar.
The half time score was 1 – 0 to the home side and the Quarriers were still very much in the match and full of fight. Striker Manny Mavrides, a tall man himself, was absolutely monstered by a very tall and aggressive Kemblawarra defence and was shadowed everywhere he went. Midfielder Mike Merriman had also been targeted for special attention and was closely marked for the entire game.
Kiama opened brightly in the second half with Gallagher, Wright and Mavrides playing a number of great moves in the attacking zone. The Quarriers were very energetic and enterprising while Kemblawarra were very classy with the ball and also played some terrific soccer.
Kiama ‘keeper Josh Tidswell pulled off a number of good saves but was the target of a number of hits from a Kemblawarra side that were getting away with most things. In one incident Tidswell pulled off a fine save from a powerful Kemblawarra shot from eight meters out. As he dived onto the rebound he was physically battered over the goal line. This was a clear free kick but the referee awarded a corner kick to Kemblawarra.
Both sides traded attacks for the majority of the second half before Kemblawarra’s class came to the fore late in the game. Lloyd was a constant threat to the Quarriers with his impressive heading ability and Kiama faced a mountain of work in keeping him out. But it was their smaller quick men that did the damage late in the game as the home side picked up two late goals to seal the match 3 – 0.
The Quarriers made a decision to go for an equaliser regardless of the cost and sent men forward. This put pressure on Kemblawarra but also left the door open for any counter attacks. The third goal came from a counter attack and was an impressive effort from a diminutive striker that came on from the subs bench. He outpaced a Kiama defender before calmly slotting the ball around an advancing Tidswell.
The Quarriers were disappointed at losing 3 – 0 but the score was a blow out and not indicative of how the match was played out. But one could not help but wonder what would have transpired if Kiama had have taken the lead early in the game. The Quarriers were valiant in defeat and there is no shame in losing to one of the best sides in the District.
Kiama had some stand out performers on the day with Tidswell in goals being in top form along with defenders Gillespie and Mason. Gallagher and Gardner were very good in the midfield while Merriman battled gamely under extreme pressure. The Kiama Leagues Club Man of the Match was a tough decision with Dave Jovanov picking up the award with a strong performance in the sweepers role.
The Quarriers are locked in a desperate battle with fellow strugglers Tarrawanna, Balgownie and Bulli and wanted some points from this game to help keep their chances of staying up alive. In other games on the day Tarrawanna picked up a win to jump over the Quarriers while Bulli lost and Balgownie had a draw. Kiama are still three off the bottom with the bottom two sides dropping back to the Conference League next year.
There are still four games to play and Kiama have Cringila and Wests at home and Tarrawanna and Olympic away. Quite simply, it is up to the Quarriers to pick up points to stay up. Forget what the other clubs do, the Quarriers must concentrate on their own games.
Kiama’s Reserve Grade were very under strength in their game and had to draw on a number of Youth Grade players to help field a side. Although the side battled for the entire game they went down 5 – 2. Alex Cross got the first goal and Damien Clare got the second in the last minute of the game, his first for the Club.
Kiama’s Youth Grade went down 3 – 2 after leading 2 – 0 at one stage of the game. The boys played extremely well but suffered with injuries towards the end of the match and had a number of players hobbling about the park at full time. The match was quite physical and intimidating and the boys learnt a lot from the experience.
Next Saturday the Quarriers are at home to Cringila Lions who are sitting just outside the top flight of clubs. The Lions won 1 – 0 in the first round after Kiama played all over them and this will be a great opportunity for the boys to avenge the defeat and increase their chances of staying up in the Premier League.
First Grade kick off at 3.00pm and all supporters are invited to attend the game and an after match function at the Kiama Leagues Club.