The Kiama Quarriers had a tough weekend with two games against top opposition. The going was very hard and the Quarriers not only got belted in both games but also suffered badly on the injury front. The side played well below par on Saturday but were back in top form on Sunday and one could say they were not rewarded properly for their efforts but that is the way sport goes sometimes.
The club traveled to Lysaghts Recreational Ground on Saturday and were on the wrong end of a 3 – 0 belting after a game that didn’t offer up much for the young Quarriers. Kiama then hosted Port Kembla on Sunday in round Two of the Bampton Cup and came off second best after a 3 – 0 mauling. Saturday was the occasion that the Quarriers were not looking forward too, the day that the opposition took the team apart. It must have been something in the water at training on Thursday night because all three grades played well below par and were on the wrong end of a belting.
First Grade were outsmarted by a very talented Lysaghts team that had done their homework on the Quarriers. They used a number of tactical ploys to control the Quarriers speed and aggression. Unfortunately these tactics turned the match into a rather boring affair and it was more like a slow motion chess match than a football game. The tactics worked and the Quarriers seemed to stumble about the park with little of the normal zest they engage. Lysaghts struck their first goal midway through the first half with the match poised in a stalemate. The goal was well worked but was unexpected after most of the play had been in midfield.
Drama arrived on the halftime mark when Kiama Captain and playmaker Mike Merriman was felled after the whistle in a collision with his opponent. Merriman was knocked senseless in the incident and was taken from the ground by ambulance. It is unclear what happened and enquiries are continuing. Merriman's departure left the Quarriers in total disarray and his leadership was missed immediately. To compound matters Lysaghts were awarded a “soft” penalty five minutes into the second half after a striker and the Kiama ‘keeper James Terry got tangled up chasing a ball. It looked like a nothing situation but the striker did enough to convince the referee that he had been fouled. Lysaghts followed this up with a late goal but by then the Quarriers had opened up and committed men forward trying to get back into the game and the third goal was always on the cards.
Lysaghts are probably the best side that the Quarriers have met this year and they had the ability to change tactics to suit the conditions. They forced the Quarriers into a slower game than they would have liked and kept a sweeper well behind the rest of the defence as a safety valve. The tactics were very effective and the Quarriers were forced to commit men forward and pick their way through the well organized and committed defence rather than use their pace and thrust that has proved so effective in the past. It was not pretty and the excitement factor was zero but the plan worked for Lysaghts.
The 3 – 0 score line was a bit rude but there is do doubt that Lysaghts deserved a win. It was a combination of the Quarriers not only being off their normal game but that Lysaghts forced them to play a different style of soccer to what they would normally have played. They did plenty of attacking and had numerous chances on goal but were not the normal exuberant side we have seen in recent weeks. The Quarriers must pick themselves up from this result and get back on track for next weeks game against Bulli.
The trend was the same in the lower grades with Reserve Grade being but a pale imitation of the previous weeks team going down 7 – 0 in a terrible match. Perhaps it was just one of those days, we will see. Kiama’s Youth Grade led 1- 0 at half time against a strong Lysaghts outfit before being swamped 4 – 1. Lysaghts goalkeeper was taken from the field by ambulance after suffering a neck injury and this delayed the match for twenty minutes. The young Quarriers never got back into stride after the delay and went off the boil. It was simply a matter of losing concentration and focus.
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The Quarriers First Grade and Youth Grades lined up at home on Sunday against Port Kembla in the Bampton and Youth Cups. The Youth Grade put in a terrific performance and pushed a talented Port side all the way before losing 2 – 1 in an exciting match. The kids showed grit and determination and fought back from 2 - 0 –own to scare the pants off Port. Kiama hit the post twice in the last ten minutes and deserved a bit more luck.
Kiama’s First Grade went into the Port clash with a vastly different side from Saturday. Injures saw Merriman, Mason and Tuohy all stand down while Cartwright, Barrass and Price came in as replacements. Kiama got an unexpected 2 – 0 win against Port in the second round a few weeks ago and took up where they left off in this match. It was cut and thrust Cup soccer and both sides threw men forward looking for the early goal. The Quarriers relied on their pace and fitness and had Port struggling for much of the match. This was a return to normal form for the Quarriers and was welcomed back by all supporters.
Twenty minutes into the game Port scored off a free kick twenty meters out after the ball passed through the defensive wall and beat Terry in goals. It was a soft goal and Kiama should have done better. They were making their own chances at the other end and Gallagher and Wright were a constant thorn for the Port defence as was Boardman wide on the left. Cup soccer is a bit different from normal league matches and the whole match can change on an early goal. After they scored Port seemed quite content to sit back and defend the lead while it was up to the Quarriers to come forward and chase goals.
The Quarriers came knocking but failed to find a way through the massed Port defence with chance after chance going astray. The Port goalkeeper was the busiest man on the park and his acrobatic saves were a highlight of the match. Coach Brod Crighton was forced into committing more men forward and brought on replacements Adam White and Steve Parkes in an effort to beef up his forward line. This has the effect of weakening the defence and always leaves a team open for a sucker punch. Port delivered two of these late in the match but the Quarriers attitude of all out attack for this match must be admired.
Port ran out 3 – 0 winners but it was good to see the Quarriers back on form, even if they were on the wrong end of the score line. Don’t be misled by the score, the Quarriers played well. Ports second and third goals were sacrificed by the Quarriers in their chase for the equalizer. A positive aspect from this game was the fact that the Quarriers can make changes to their lineup and still play the aggressive and skilful game they have developed. Cartwright, Barrass and Price all had strong games and there was little difference to the style of the side with their inclusion.
The weekend was not a good one for the club result wise. It was even worse for the Quarriers as the injury list was tallied up. Merriman is out with facial injuries, Mason has picked up a foot injury and Parkes picked up a serious nose injury after only four minutes on the park on Sunday. Jovanov and Tidswell have also been off the park since round one and it is unknown when they will be making their return.
To compound matters young ‘keeper James Terry is off for a few weeks touring Brazil with the Australian Under 18 Indoor Soccer team. The Club wishes him good luck but look forward to his return. The Quarriers are at home next Saturday to the Bulli Soccer Club in Round 5 of the Illawarra Premier league. Bulli are a talented young side similar to the Quarriers and the match should be a very entertaining spectacle. First Grade kicks off at 3.00pm and all supporters are welcome to the Kiama Leisure Center.