South Coast Flame bounced back this week with a comprehensive 5-2 win over Granville Rage in an afternoon fixture at Ian McLennan Park.
South Coast Flame started the match brightly with sustained possession prodding the Rage defence that held firm in the early stages.
Sam Alston went flying down the right side on 14 minutes beating his opponent for pace before cutting back to Genki Iwata who sliced his shot inches wide from the edge of the box.
Just two minutes later, Sam Alston slid through Namito Tsuchiya as he pierced the Rage defence. He squared the ball to Iwata who positioned himself well. Iwata curled his shot into the top corner reward Flame’s early dominance.
Rage’s Jad Moussa then shrugged of a challenge in midfield as he headed towards goal. His shot from 25 yards was sprayed wide.
Flame doubled their lead on 23 minutes, A corner was floated to the back post. It was headed back across goal by Jason Pappas where he found Zander Alston lurking, as he flicked it on and beyond the goalkeeper.
A minutes later, Tim Trainor thought he halved the deficit as he slid the ball under Jordan Bruce however Zander Alston retreated quick enough to stop the ball on the goal line and clear it to safety.
Just minutes before half time, Iwata dispossessed a Rage defender deep in their half. He took a few steps and chipped the ball beyond Branko Vidakovic who was left helpless as Flame took firm control of the game.
Flame wasn’t done there, and they came out in the second half with the same desire.
Just three minutes in, Zander Alston made a darting run from deep in his own half, got a return ball through midfield before crossing to an outstretched Michael Trajkovski who just couldn’t get enough of the ball to turn it home.
Two minutes later, Trajkovski pierced the defensive line staying on side. He still had a lot of work to do as he managed to evade defensive coverage and curl a shot beyond Vidakovic, but the ball trickled agonisingly wide.
On 54 minutes, Flame put it together and effectively sealed the win with some great work by Iwata to nip in ahead of his opponent. He drove towards goal and squared to Trajkovski who graciously accepted the gift tapping in for a 4-0 lead.
Flame was at this stage running riot and just two minutes later, some nice work on the left by Tsuchiya slide a ball across goal where Trajkovski was once again on hand to finish it off.
At 5-0, Flame appeared to take the foot off the gas giving Rage some respite and allowing them to get back into the game.
On 62 minutes, substitute Asmir Kadric pulled a goal back as he placed his shot neatly past Jordan Bruce from just inside the box.
Just two minutes later, Kadric should’ve had a brace as he weaved his way through the Flame defence only to see his shot this time go wide.
Jyden Harb had a half chance for Flame on 72 minutes as he took on the defender before blasting a shot from an angle and close range into the side netting.
On 82 minutes, Ryan Chard got on the end of a long bouncing ball, but he was unable to loft it towards goal with Vidakovic off his line.
Just two minutes before the 90, Tim Borg-Williams got on the end of a good cross from Ante Tomic heading the back wrong-footing Bruce in goal. Rage pulling a second goal back.
There was one last chance just before full time with Ryan Chard getting ahead of his opponent on the left. He squared to Harb who smashed his shot straight at Vidakovic who saved well with his legs.
In the end, it was a 5-2 win for Flame who ended their last season home fixture with a win.
The Under 20’s came from behind with a 4-1 win.
Isaac Daoud putting the visitors ahead on just 11 minutes.
Willem Robaard levelled for Flame on 32 before Ryan Chard put Flame ahead just before the break.
Chayden Vasquez gave Flame a buffer with a nice finish on 63 minutes and Chard sealed the points on 84 minutes.
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