Sunday Round 5 Premier Division Write Up

[Ossie]

Match of the Day
PARA HILLS WEST vs INGLEM FARM
TOP of the table Ingle Farm made it a perfect five wins from five matches after a 2-0 win over Para Hills West in a spirited clash at Manor Farm Oval.

Farm came into the game holding a three-point lead over the 2nd placed Salisbury Inter while Westies were looking to build on a solid start that saw them positioned 5th on the table.

The first half saw little in the way of goalmouth action but was heavy on spirited challenges.
Westies Kurtis Cracknell saw a speculative overhead kick skim the crossbar on 11 minutes while on 27 minutes a long-distance James Anfiteato shot was parried into the path of Musti Ipekdal but his goal bound effort was cleared off the line.
On 31 minutes Para Hills West were reduced to 10 men when David Jones was given a straight red card as the teams went to the break locked at 0-0.

Three minutes after the break the stalemate was broken when Ipekdal pounced on a poor ball from defence and when the ball was played into a crowded goal mouth Ala Mobedi was on hand to slide the ball home.

Cracknell crafted an opening on 52 minutes but shot straight at the keeper and on 71 minutes the visitors had a strangle hold on the game when Liam Mulvaney squared the ball which Mobedi struck home to double the lead.
To Westies credit they pushed hard for a lifeline into the game with Jarred Ebert poking his shot just wide on 73 minutes but it wasn’t to be as Farm made it five wins from five.

Farm Coach Paul Simpson “I thought 2nd half we dominated possession. We stayed disciplined and earned a good three points”
West Coach Michael Iacovino “Full credit to Farm who took advantage of their numerical advantage.”

SALISBURY Inter’s Jimmy Greaves came back to haunt his old club as he played a pivotal part in their 3-0 win over Elizabeth Vale at Underdown Park.

Inter were looking for a 3rd straight win in the league while the visiting Vale were looking for their first win since an opening day triumph at Tea Tree Gully.

On 20 minutes an Andy McConnell assist played in Greaves who drilled his chance from 18 yards.
On the hour Matt Centrone created another chance which Greaves was on hand to finish and with five minutes left on the clock Greaves turned provider as we whipped a cross in that Chris Fleming finished from close range.

The win keeps Inter in 2nd spot just three points behind the league leading Ingle Farm.
Inter Coach Steve Cook “We knew we needed to match the Vale’s intensity which we did and I thought the boys played a really good brand of football.”

A BILLY Allotey wonder strike sealed a 3-1 win for Elizabeth Downs over Salisbury Florina at Argana Park.

When these two teams met in 2017 the Downs won 10-0 and 7-0 so most would have expected another blow out but Florina matched the home side in the opening half.

The Maroons took the lead on 15 minutes when Luke Lawley crossed a ball that Florina put into their own net. To Florina’s credit they were level on 35 minutes when Kale Wicker found the back of the net through a crowded goal mouth.
Scott Lindsay regained the lead for the champions on 55 minutes with a low hard strike from 18 yards and with five minutes on the clock substitute Allotey made sure of the points with a fine volley from 20 yards.

Downs coach Steve Hughes “It was a scrappy game and Florina set up well and made life difficult for us.”
Florina coach Jeff McCormack “We played as well as we have all season. While the result didn’t go our way, there are lots of positive for us to take out of the match.”

BRAHMA Lodge held off a fast finishing Parafield Gardens to run out 4-3 winners at Bradman Oval.

Brahma got off to a flying start with three goals in the opening 20 minutes and it looked like a thrashing would be handed to the home team.
Gardens steadied and went to the break three down but returned with fresh life in the 2nd half and when Callum Ebert struck twice the comeback looked on at 3-2.

Lodge extended the gap to 4-2 before a Scott Wiedenbach goal on 75 minutes set up a thrilling finish.

While Gardens couldn’t find the equalizer coach John McCormack was impressed by his sides resolve “It was a really exciting game that could have gone either way. We asked for a response at half time and the boys did that.”

TEA TREE GULLY moved off the foot of the Premier Division table after a 3-2 win over Para Hills East at Tilley Reserve.

Gully came into the game looking for their first points of the campaign while East were looking to put a six-point gap between themselves and Gully.

East went to the break 1-0 to the good after Jack Wegner pounced on a defensive error before firing the ball home.

The home side were back level on 50 minutes when Rhys Devlin was on hand to finish at the back post and Morgan Taylor gave the home side the lead on the hour.

With ten minutes left defender Wilson Taylor scored with a strong header to the delight of the home support.

Russell Clayton gave the visitors a life line on 85 minutes when he drilled the ball home and in stoppage time Clayton had the chance to steal a point but his header glanced wide.

The win moves Gully off the bottom of the table with Para Hills East now filling that position.

Gully coach Mat Flounders “I’m over the moon that we got our 1st win. I’m just really happy for the boys who have worked so hard.”

[No kidding]

Cracking game at Gardens yesterday.

Brahma dominated first 20 mins and could of easily been 5 or 6 up at half time but for some quality saves by Gardens keeper.
Bugeja's hamstring injury changed the game a bit.
Gardens pushed hard in 2nd half and got back to 3-2 but then got caught on the break pushing for the equaliser and it looked like game over.
Another goal late to Gardens and the last 5 mins were quite manic with a great save late by Jimmy Mckee denying Gardens a point.

Brahma's first 15 mins were as good a soccer as you will see in this comp.
Hats off to gardens for the fight back.