FIRST GRADE | SOUTH COAST FLAME 1 – 2 PROSPECT UNITED

In the round 17 deferred match on Monday night, both Flame and Prospect looked relatively depleted and were backing up less than 48 hours after weekend matches with the visitors leaving Wollongong with three points following a come from behind 2-1 win.

Flame started the match full of energy and dominated the first quarter hour pinning the visitors deep into their own half.

On seven minutes, Cody Waller whipped in a cross from the left that was only partially cleared by the Prospect defense, it fell nicely to Jayden Smileski whose half volley was deflected just of the bar by Lucas Ayala.

Shortly afterwards, Waller did well to beat his opponent and put in a delightful ball across goal to youngster Jay De Gouveia who unfortunately blasted over the bar from close range.

It took 16 minutes for the visitors to create their first chance. A superb cross from Praneet Singh found Jeromie Dawo unmarked just six yards from goal however he could not get enough purchase on his header to trouble Riley Nicholl.

Flame hit the lead on 25 minutes when the lively Waller again managed a cross. Several players were lining up with firstly Fabian Iacovelli and then Sam Alston nearly blowing the opportunity before the ball fell to Ayala who smashed it into the roof of the net from close range.

Flame totally deserved their lead however it lasted all of 90 seconds. Singh picked up a loose ball from 30 yards out and fired a shot that looked to dip and swerve. Flame keeper Nicholl managed to get a strong hand to it however the ball trickled over the line with the visitors drawing level.

Just before half time, Flame thought they had regained the lead when Iacovelli bundled the ball over the line however he was adjudged to have deflected the ball over the line partially using his hand.

The football in the second half got a little sloppy with both teams guilty of regular turnovers as legs got tired and some rain started falling making the pitch a little more slippery.

Flame had an early chance in the second when Waller put in a neat pass to put Iacovelli through on goal. He cut the ball across to Sam Alston who was denied by a desperate block by David Muller.

On 52 minutes, Singh put Prospect ahead as he unleashed another long range shot that found the top corner. A terrific strike from the 18 year old who looked full of confidence.

Despite throwing bodies forward, Flame created several half chances however the experienced defensive line of Prospect held firm to walk away from the Furnace with the win and in the process extinguish any faint hopes Flame had of making the playoffs.

UNDER 20 | NEPEAN FC 0 – 6 SOUTH COAST FLAME 

In what ended in a wholly dominant performance Flame ran out 6-0 winners. From the outset Flame took control of the game scoring early and creating a number of chances.

The first goal came on three minutes after good play down the left hand side which saw Hasan Ayoub able to provide a dangerous cross to Alex Galbraith who was able to direct his header into the goal 1-0.

On 16 minutes Ryan Chard was able to find Jayden Nielson running through midfield from deep and placed a shot past the goalkeeper at the near post 2-0.

After the re-start Flame continued their dominance and on 56 minutes Chard again played the ball into the path of Ayoub and he dribbled into the penalty box and before a defender could get near to make a tackle he coolly chipped the ball past the onrushing Nepean goalkeeper 3-0.

On 66 minutes Sam Alston took on the Nepean defence wide on the right and dribbled past a defender and into the penalty box before the Nepean defender brought him down and a penalty was awarded. Sam stepped up to score the penalty sending the Nepean goalkeeper diving the wrong way 4-0.

Only two minutes later Sam Alston passed the ball to Ayoub who quickly back heeled the ball to Galbraith who took the ball inside the penalty box and shot low past the goalkeeper into the bottom right of the net 5-0.

At 80mins Louis Miller-Tamsitt put in a deep cross to Chard and he controlled the ball and quickly shot past the keeper into the bottom left of the goal.

It was a strong performance from the entire team and included great assistance from Jyden Harb, Louis Miller-Tamsitt and Bowen Spencer all stepping up from the under 18’s.