Berries and Sharks finish level after first half goal fest
With both sides in search of maximum points as the regular season nears its end, the 2-2 draw does little for either as Sutherland has fallen further behind the front-runners, meanwhile West Sydney Berries? miniscule hopes of finals football appear all but ended.
First-half goals to experienced Berries duo Aheleas Kotsopoulos and Kosta Lagoudakis were cancelled out by equally impressive efforts from Neil Jablonski and Brad Boardman in an action-packed first 45? minutes.
A fairly even opening, where most of the running was made out of midfield for both sides, was brought to life by a swerving Jim Bakis corner-kick that tested the Berries defence early.
The home-side responded on 8? minutes as captain Kotsopoulos played a nice touch into the path of Dimitri Zakilas to shoot on goal. Zakilas? low-driven effort was saved well by Nathan Denham.
West Sydney Berries had the lead on 13? minutes as an Omar Saadi searching ball from deep on the left-flank floated perfectly onto the head of Kotsopoulos; the experienced midfielder expertly looped his header over the Sharks? shot-stopper and into the back of the net.
Before the visitors could even plot a way back into the match, the Berries doubled the lead via the boot of another experienced campaigner, Kosta Lagoudakis. An exceptional exchange of short passes between Kotsopoulos and Zakilas saw the latter ?lay-off? the ball nicely to Lagoudakis who finished with aplomb for a 2-0 lead.
Sutherland replied with some impressive forward forays down the right-flank via the boot of Michael Katz, and on 20? minutes, the small contingent of travelling supporters were on their feet. Jablonski latched onto a cross to head goalwards, though his effort was palmed against the up-right by Berries goalkeeper Hamish McLean. Despite claims for the ball crossing the line by Sharks players, all doubts were quashed as the linesman?s flag was up for an offside call.
Jablonski did find the back of the net 6? minutes later as the tall midfielder converted with a looping header from a well-floated Chris Price cross, re-igniting the hopes of the Sharks players.
Jablonski?s goal certainly did spur his teammates on as the Sharks were level on the scoreboard 60?? seconds later. An exceptional Brad Boardman effort ? where the burly striker cleverly brought down a long ball inside the penalty-area ? saw the Sharks target-man, from a decentralised right position, chip the advancing goalkeeper to score the equaliser.
The Berries responded with Kotsopoulos calling the shots down the left-flank. The Berries? captain picked out Zakilas at the back post with a pin-point cross, though the striker failed to keep his header down and on target.
Sutherland went close on 33? minutes as Katz and Boardman combined to good effect; the latter?s header though did not have the power required to trouble McLean.
2? minutes later, the same combination combined with Katz providing a tantalising ball into the path of Boardman at the near post, though the striker failed to get enough his body around the effort and the chance went begging.
Late in the half, a fine Nick Stavroulakis initiative picked out Katz out on the right; the midfielder played a first-time touch across the penalty-area line for Panni Nikas to shoot; the Sharks number 23 failed to hit the target.
Following the break, the Berries looked more creative in the attacking third with the introduction of Chris Gaitatzis. The attack-minded player looked comfortable on the ball and provided his midfielders with the chance to get forward, though clear-cut chances were few and far between.
In-fact, the second period lacked the goalscoring chances at both ends, as both defences kept a tight lid on proceedings.
Lagoudakis had the Sharks defenders a little wary just after the hour mark with a whipped in set-piece causing some stress for Nathan Denham and his defence; the Sharks managed to clear the ball to safety.
Berries? coach John Calleja sent on youngster Marjan Pavlovic, and the player?s first touches were positive. Pavlovic combined well with Zakilas and Gaitatzis before hitting a powerful effort on goal ? denied only by some lunging Sharks? tackles in the penalty-area.
Lagoudakis tried his luck from distance late on, though the powerful effort lacked precision as the ball finished well-wide of goal.
In the closing stages, concern for the home-side, and supporters, as Kotsopoulos was forced to leave the field ? after a lengthy period on the surface. The Berries captain landed awkwardly on his right arm, which forced the Berries stalwart to leave the field prior to referee?s final whistle.
Following the match West Sydney Berries coach John Calleja expressed his content at the performance of his players:
?I am happy with my guys as they really did put in a big effort tonight, Calleja commented.
?It would have been great to have three-points to add to our tally, though a point against a Top-Five side is certainly a good result.
?I am happy with the effort, though obviously disappointed to concede two goals in a short space due to lapses in concentration. We were brilliant in the opening 20? minutes ? I think we were the only side playing.
?Though, if you let a team like Sutherland back into the match, then you can expect a huge fight on your hands, and that is what happened, Calleja ended.
Sutherland Sharks boss Robbie Stanton was not happy with a point, though remains adamant in his side?s chances for success this season:
?I am not happy with the point, because we really should have lifted today,? said Stanton.
?Full credit to West Sydney, they played a great match, and scored two good goals ? they must certainly be credited for that.
?I am disappointed that we conceded the goals in quick succession, though the way the boys hung in there is also pleasing, as we managed to get back into the match inside the first-half.
?It was a bumpy surface too, which didn?t help out too much, though we need to look at ourselves over the coming weeks to ensure we will play finals football. It is all still very much on our hands, and we want to secure finals football without having to rely on other teams and other results,? Stanton ended.
In the Grade 20 division, Sutherland Sharks left Lidcombe Oval with maximum points after securing a hard-fought 3-2 win against the West Sydney Berries.
West Sydney Berries 2 (Aheleas Kotsopoulos 13?, Kosta Lagoudakis 16?)
Sutherland Sharks 2 (Neil Jablonski 26?, Brad Boardman 27?)
Saturday, 4th of July, 2009
Lidcombe Oval, Lidcombe
Referee: Peter Vrtkovski
Assistant Referees: David Lockeridge and Michael Collins
Fourth Official: Brendan Johansen
Crowd: 150 Approx.
West Sydney Berries: 1.Hamish McClean; 2.Daniel Clifford, 3.Omar Saadi, 6. Jack Sobczyk, 7.Peter Peralta, 8.Johnny Fotiadis (17.Chris Gaitatzis 46?), 11.Aheleas Kotsopoulos (C) (10.John Tsironis 90?+2?), 16.Kosta Lagoudakis, 19.Dimitri Zakilas, 14.Liam Austin (20. Marjan Pavlovic 69?), 15.Ryan Jones
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Trinity Allen, 4.Adam Wither
Yellow Cards: Marjan Pavlovic 90?
Red Cards: Nil
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris (C), 6.Chris Price, 7.Jim Bakis (10.Matt Hall 67?), 8.Nathan Ralph, 9.Brad Boardman, 11.Ben Spruce, 15.Michael Katz, 12.Neil Jablonski, 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 23.Panni Nikas (20.Matthew Villazon 71?)
Substitutes Not Used: 17.Jordan Nikolovski, 22.Yani Fragogiannis, 29.Andrew Smith
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Ni
-By Joseph Carlucci
