Craig Laird's Sunday Premier Round 10 Summary..

[swannsong]

Craig Laird's SAASL Sunday Premier Division Round 10 Summary...

MATCH OF THE DAY
INGLE FARM (2) ELIZABETH GROVE (0)
TWO goals in the last five minutes has seen top of the table Ingle Farm run out 2-0 winners over Elizabeth Grove in a tightly fought contest at Walkleys Park.
Farm commenced the 2nd half of the season holding a four point buffer over the 2nd placed Parafield Gardens while the Peckers travelled to Farm without chief playmaker Sean Brennan who signed for Adelaide Olympic during the week.
The league leaders opened the better and had a good chance to open the scoring on six minutes when Liam Mulvaney cut in from the right hand side before shooting across the face of goal.
The ever dangerous Musti Ipekdal played in Luke Grinter on 10 minutes but he disappointingly sliced his shot wide from close range and on 16 minutes a dangerous Mulvaney cross eluded everyone in a crowded box as the Peckers battled to stay in the game.
The Peckers created a half chance on 19 minutes when Kahmen Greig played in Ben De Bono who cut in from the by line before Farm defender David Ennis cleared the danger.
Ipekdal found some space in the 18 yard box for the Farmers which he used to turn and strike a shot which skewed just wide as the teams went to the break at 0-0.
On the hour Alex Baxter picked the ball up 30 yards from goal before moving it on to his right foot and firing a shot which Grove keeper Andrew Rowe needed to be at his best to turn around the post.
Rowe needed to be alert again on 67 minutes when he did well to block a goal bound strike from Grinter.
The Peckers threatened to take the lead on 73 minutes when a long ball found De Bono who flicked the ball into the path of Greig but his well struck shot went just wide.
Just as time appeared to be running out Farm struck when a Mulvaney cross into the Peckers box found the defence ball watching and substitute Luke Air was on hand to tap it home from close range on 85 minutes.
Two minutes later the game was sealed when a Mulvaney effort was fisted by Rowe into the back of defender Moz Sandery’s head which unluckily finished in the net to the joy of the home support.
The win keeps Farm four points in front of Gardens while the Peckers move to five wins and five losses.
Grove coach Shane Golder “Credit to our boys they fought hard today. In the end their quality of depth shone through.”

PARAFIELD GARDENS (1) ELIZABETH DOWNS (0)
PARAFIELD Gardens remain four points behind league leader Ingle Farm after a hard fought 1-0 win over Elizabeth Downs at Bradman Oval.
The Downs travelled to Parafield looking to break a three game winless run while Gardens were looking to keep the pressure on Farm at the top of the table.
The Maroons had a good opportunity on five minutes when Nathan Day went one on one with Gardens keeper Anthony Stam but Stam stood tall to force Day off his stride and consequently Day’s shot went just wide.
On ten minutes Gardens took the lead when a free kick over the top of the Downs defense found Steve Stam who controlled before firing his shot past the out coming Ben Aldridge.
Gardens appeared to have the measure of their opponents until Angelo Arambatzis received a 2nd yellow card leaving the home team with ten men for the last half hour.
The Downs pushed hard for an equalizer but Gardens held firm thanks to some fine saves from keeper Stam.
The win is Gardens 3rd on the trot while Elizabeth Downs have now lost three in a row and face top of the table Ingle Farm at Argana Park next week.

WEST BEACH (4) ELIZABETH VALE (5)
AN injury time winner has seen Elizabeth Vale run out 5-4 winners over the bottom placed West Beach at Lockleys Oval.
Beach came into the game looking to end a seven game losing run while the surprise packet of the season Elizabeth Vale were hoping to further consolidate in the top half of the table.
The home side got off to the perfect start on five minutes when a Lewis McFadyen cross found Ben Yolland who took the ball down before scoring.
The Vale wasted no time in responding when youngster James Greaves picked the ball up in the box before turning and firing home on 10 minutes.
West Beach had managed just two goals in their previous five home games but they went 2-1 in front on 35 minutes when Colin O’Brien slotted a lovely free kick from 20 yards.
Five minutes after the break Beach went 3-1 up when McFadyen again found Yolland with a cross which was headed home.
Earl Pudler’s Vale team have shown great spirit this season and goals from Jarrod Ebert and then a converted penalty from Greaves made it 3-3 setting up a thrilling finish.
The visitors took their first lead of the day when a Tim Crawford cross was met with a fine diving header by Oathman Fazilahmed to make it 4-3.
Beach then received a penalty on 85 minutes which O’Brien held his nerve to convert but it was a heartbreaking stoppage time goal from Ebert that resigned Beach to their eighth straight loss and catapulted the Vale to 3rd on the table.
Vale team manager Sean Westall “We weren’t at our best today but the boys dug deep to get the win.”
Beach coach Colin Agalich “It was a hugely encouraging performance today especially our 1st half. Credit to the Vale they are a good young side.”

SALISBURY INTER (3) FULHAM (2)
SALISBURY Inter has jumped up to 4th on the table after a thrilling 3-2 win over Fulham at Underdown Park.
Both sides came into the game in good form having each won their last two league games.
Inter scored the only goal of the first half when some fine work by playmaker Alban Martini on the right hand side finished with a pin point cross that Andrew Butler headed home.
Ten minutes after the break the travelling Fulham were level when Lumi Adisa whipped in a cross that found Sanjin Julardzija who took his chance neatly.
On 70 minutes Inter were back in front when new signing Chris Fleming’s cross from the left found Martini who held up the ball before playing in Butler who fired home his 2nd for the day.
The resilient Fulham drew level five minutes later when Julardzija turned provider with a cross that found Adisa who smashed his chance home.
With 10 minutes left on the clock man of the match Martini picked the ball up outside the area before shifting it on to his right foot and firing the ball into the net to the delight of the home support.
Inter coach Steve Cook “It was a really good team effort today. Fulham are a good team but credit to our lads who just competed all day.”
Fulham John Christopoulos “I thought we had our chances today. It was a real arm wrestle which they won in the end.”

SOUTHERN KNIGHTS (3) PARA HILLS WEST (0)
SOUTHERN Knights have breathed life into their season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Para Hills West at Southern Knights Ground.
Knights came into the game in 9th spot looking to narrow a four point gap between themselves and the 8th placed Westies.
The home side had the better of the first half chances but were unable to make any inroads on the scoreboard as the teams went to the break locked at 0-0.
Five minutes into the 2nd half the Knights struck when an inspired Ross McNabb run finished with a nice one two before he tucked home the opener.
The lead was doubled on 20 minutes when the always alert Tom Foglia pounced on a poor clearance before taking his chance in style.
The win was sealed with ten minutes remaining when a cross into the box found new signing Hamish Robins who slotted the goal to the delight of the home support.
Knights President Nick Swann “Our new players are finding their feet and we look forward to a really important game against the Grove this week.”

[Prince1997]

That sounds like a different game to the one I saw at Parafied.