KIAMA SECOND TO PICTON

Last Saturday the Kiama Quarriers traveled to Hume Park, Picton, for their Round Twelve clash with Picton Rangers in the Illawarra Premier League.

The Quarriers have been out of luck and winless for a number of weeks while Rangers came into the game sitting in third place and enjoying a good spell.  Rangers are a quality side and have raised a few eyebrows this year as they surged up the point’s table.

The Quarriers threw every thing they had at Rangers and played them off the park for much of the game yet still ended up on the wrong side of the ledger and lost 2 – 1.

This has been an unwanted trend that Kiama have picked up this year, that of outplaying their opponents and still losing.  The side is in a quandary as it plays very attractive soccer but is leaking goals in defence and failing to score at the other end. 

The Quarriers have missed last year’s top scorer, Luke Bedford, for the entire first half of the season and were dismayed to have him out injured for only his second game back this year.  Coach Brod Crighton made a bold attempt to change the pattern of the team and brought in experienced six foot two striker Manny Mavrides, transferred from the Kemblawarra Club midweek, in an effort to chase goals.  He also switched striker Nathan Wright to the left side of midfield and pushed Boardman into the forward line.

It sounds funny to say that the side is playing well while losing games but this is the case and perhaps the team could be described as being naïve. While other sides have the ability to concentrate for the full ninety minutes and to shut the game down when they take the lead the Quarriers continue to play open and attractive soccer that many of their supporters appreciate, while at the same time craving points.  There are times when you need to sit back and defend for while and take a breather.

The Picton game was a perfect example of this situation and the Quarriers pulled the Rangers all over the park and frightened the hell out of them before losing 2 – 1.  In fact in the closing ten minutes of the game the Rangers keeper was called upon to make three match saving, brilliant saves from two Boardman shots and a close range Jovanov header.  It was that close.

Kiama opened the scoring after fifteen minutes when Dave Jovanov hit a screamer around the wall and into the net from a free kick twenty metres out from goal.  The Quarriers were unlucky with a few other efforts on goal before Rangers pulled one back with a classy effort at the thirty-four minute mark.

Kiama fell behind three minutes later after a defensive stuff up on the half way line allowed Rangers to race through and take the lead.  The entire second half was a battle as the play raged from end to end although Kiama did seem to have the better of it with clearer cut chances. 

The Quarriers had a few close shaves themselves and it was only last minute clearances off the line that kept them in the hunt.   The last ten minutes was backs to the wall stuff for Picton as they struggled to keep the lead.

Unfortunately for Kiama this was another one that got away and Picton walked off the park with three points while the Quarriers were left with nothing, again.  This was a similar result to the first round clash when Picton beat Kiama 3 – 0 at Kiama.  The two results were summed up perfectly by a Picton Official at the bar after the game.  He said “I have no idea how we took the points off you guys in any of these two games.”  Neither do we.

A host of players performed well in a disappointed Kiama line up with Nathan Broad looking particularly strong in midfield.  Broad did nothing flash but every thing well in a great display.  The Kiama Leagues Club Man of the Match was awarded to defender Mick Gillespie who had a brilliant game.  Gilly is a no-nonsense player and he battled away all match with touches of brilliance in defence.

Kiama’s Reserve Grade got beat 3 – 0 but the score flattered Picton somewhat.  Timmy Brown made a return to the side after a long-term injury and his class lifted the side.  Picton got a late goal and a last minute penalty to bloat the score but this was a closer match up than the score line indicates.  The Kiama Leagues Club Man of the Match was Tim Brown.

Kiama’s Youth Grade felt defeat for the first time in five weeks but were not happy with the way in which it occurred.  After playing the match with great spirit and being in the hunt for the entire game the side felt aggrieved at two decisions in the last few minutes that impacted on the entire game.  The Kiama Kids were of the opinion that they had earned a penalty after Picton fouled one of the strikers inside the penalty box.  The referee agreed that a foul had been committed but brought it back outside the box and awarded a free kick rather than a penalty. 

Two minutes later Picton took the ball down to the other end and were awarded a penalty after what looked like a legal tackle from Mick Tidswell.  Rangers scored from the spot but the result left a very dirty taste in the Young Quarriers mouths.

Best for Kiama were Josh Watt and Matt Gallagher while Mick Tidswell was the Kiama Man of the Match.

Next week Kiama are at home and play host to the powerful Port Kembla Club.  The Quarriers beat Port earlier in the season and are keen to give them a repeat dose.  Port are sitting just outside the top four and are very keen to make amends.  This should add up for a great game and all supporters and spectators are welcome to attend the Kiama Leisure Centre for the 3.00pm First Grade kick off.