Port scramble to a win

Port Kembla Football Club did just enough to win an entertaining clash against fellow top four side Fernhill, when they came away from Ray Robinson Field with a 2-1 victory on Saturday.

The win moved Port ahead of the Foxes into third position just a solitary point behind joint leaders Albion Park White Eagles and Dandaloo.

The Black and Whites got off to a good start when they opened the scoring after just two minutes. There was an ounce of luck about the goal after Port’s Danni Ristevski had knocked a free kick into the Fernhill penalty area.

A bit of a goalmouth scramble ensued with Robbie Cazzolli being the last Kembla player to touch the ball before Brad Gallagher could only help the ball into his own net to be credited with an own goal.

For the rest of the first half, Port Kembla were the better of the two sides and looked the more dangerous when it came to the attacking third of the pitch. Robbie Cazzolli and young Daniel Dafkovski were a solid combination at the back and well supported by Shane Manning.

They were able to deal comfortably with the odd attack that came from Fernhill during the opening period. Right on the stroke of half time, Port Kembla doubled their lead with an excellent well worked goal.

Ben Bartlett laid off a great reverse pass which put Ristevski into space wide on the left. His low cross into the box was perfection and Ricki Metcalfe was on hand at the far post to guide the ball home and give Port Kembla a well deserved half time lead of 2-0.

The complexion of the game changed somewhat during the second term with Fernhill very much in the hunt to claw back the deficit and get something out of it.

The half time change of bringing Matthew Timpano into the game wide on the right was paying dividends and he was seeing a lot of ball and making inroads deep in enemy territory.

However, the Port Kembla Defence stood firm and scrambled well when needed to deny Fernhill time and time again.

Port Kembla did have their moments during the second half to close the game out and mid way through the half Mark Picciolini saw his effort from 20metres come crashing back off the crossbar after a thunderous effort.

On another occasion, Ben Gatwood found himself in space when he chose to send his header back across the Fernhill goal when he seemed better positioned to head at goal himself and the chance went begging.

On other weekend games, at Hume Oval, Coniston Lions came away with an excellent three points after defeating Picton Rangers 3-2 in an important game at the bottom of the table.

A second half hat trick from Anthony Guido componded Dandaloo’s emphatic 6-0 result against Warilla Wanderers and Bulli and Dapto had to settle for a share of the points in a 1-1 draw.