Adelaide University Soccer Club
Match report by T Gissing
07/07/2012
Adelaide Wanderers (3) vs. (2) Adelaide University
Uni couldn’t put their best foot forward in their Division 1 games with both the reserves and first team going down after leading at points throughout the game. The Cs keep on rolling and comfortably won 3-0 and continue to play good football. Both Josh Smith and Ryan Lewis got two goals each, whilst Terry Taye and Elyar Azat picked up a goal each.
The Blacks start well when Olly Gissing beats a man down the right flank and passes off to Ryan Lewis, who cuts a ball back for Mike Decelis to slot the ball home into an empty net. It’s only 3 minutes gone but the celebrations are cut short when the goal is disallowed for offside. The drama continues when Barry Fitzharris is forced to make way for Chris Hewitson due to a hamstring strain. It’s a hard blow to take that early in the game but Uni battle on and look the better of the two sides so far. Mike goes close with a cheeky chip when he chases down a bobbling ball but it drifts across goal and out for a goal kick. Adam Wilkinson makes space for himself and whips in a great cross from wide on the right. Ali Showman is there to meet the lofted cross but he can’t get his header on target. The Uni’s momentum is brought to a halt when Olly mistimes a challenge in the Uni box and a penalty is awarded. The Wanderers forward finishes clinically and that makes it 1-0 to the home side. Despite going behind, the Uni defence is showing good shape with Nick Kalatzis continuing his good form from the past few weeks. It’s going from bad to worse for Uni now as Mike limps off also suffering a hamstring injury. Dimi Kalatzis replaces him and a tactical reshuffle sees Adam move from right back to fill Mike’s role up front. It’s a horror start and it’s definitely thrown the Blacks off their game as they can’t find the same class they showed early in the half as the game comes into half-time. Wanderers have a few attempts on goal but can’t beat the keeper while Uni’s only half-chance falls to Olly who can’t get enough purchase on his left footed shot.
Half-time
Adelaide Wanderers (1) vs (0) Adelaide University
Wanderers are good value for their lead as the second half kicks off but this game is there to be won. 5 minutes in and there’s more injury woes for Uni as Robbie Lane comes down badly on his ankle and has to come off to get it strapped up. He’s off for only a few minutes and gets back on and straight back in the action. Robbie finds space enough to whip in a great cross from deep on the right flank but no-one can get on the end of it. Moments later, Olly and Chris combine down the right with some fantastic short passing and triangles which results in Olly getting enough space behind the Wanderers left back. He whips in a cross which is a touch heavy and floats past the back post without anyone able to get a shot on goal. Robbie gets back in the action again and gets put through 1 on 1 with the goal keeper. He manages to put in a few big strides to break away from the Wanderers back four but is brought down from behind as a Wanderers defender made a last ditch effort to thwart the scoring chance. There’s no disputing the foul but the question of cards and whether it was inside or outside the box is open for debate. The referee eventually awards a yellow and the penalty, which Ryan dispatches with ease. It’s becoming an open game as both teams try and snatch the game. Ryan shows great class and a strikers awareness in chasing down a long ball and nicking the bouncing ball from just outside the keepers grasp, sending the ball past the goalie and putting the Blacks 1 goal to the good. Uni can’t hold on to their lead for long though and there’s yet another penalty, this time for Wanderers, for an accidental hand ball by Tim Argent as he was closing down the Wanderers player’s shot. 2-2 and it’s anyone’s game at this stage. Shortly afterwards Wanderers take their chance when the Uni back 4 is severely stretched on the counter attack. It falls to a single Blacks defender to try to close down two Wanderers players, but the cut back ball from the right is met by a good run, and is slotted into the net after sending Uni keeper, Andy Norman, the wrong way with a classy dummy. 3-2 Wanderers and so it remains until the final whistle goes. It was a tough game today and Wanderers should be commended for fighting throughout the whole 90 minutes. The Blacks will feel unlucky with the spate of injuries early in the game but unfortunately it wasn’t Uni’s day.
Full-time
As: Adelaide Wanderers (3) vs. (2) Adelaide University
Bs: Adelaide Wanderers (2) vs. (1) Adelaide University
Cs: Adelaide Wanderers (0) vs. (3) Adelaide University
T. Gissing
