Match of the Round
Toronto Awaba 2-1 Kahibah
Two goals either side of half-time for Toronto sealed a crucial 2-1 win over title rivals Kahibah at Lyall Peacock on Saturday.
Kahibah opened the scoring after 12 minutes through Tyson Masters.
Ethan Wilson struck back on the brink of half-time for Toronto to go into the sheds all-square at 1-1.
In the halftime team talk, Toronto coach Jarrad Hiles urged his players to dig deep.
"Pretty simple message at halftime, effort and desire. We knew we'd be under pressure at stages in the second half but if the effort was there, we'd get our reward,” Hiles said.
Wilson netted his second in the 70th minute which ultimately won the match 2-1
"Two brilliant goals from Ethan Wilson who continues to grow each and every week. I don't think you'd see any better goals this weekend," Hiles said.
Toronto managed to hang on with 10 men for the last 10 ten minutes after Bailey Snowden received a second yellow card.
In such a tight competition, Hiles knows the importance of three points.
"A massive result for the club. Like most clubs throughout the season, our depth has been tested lately but the lads continue to step up and find a way to win,” Hiles said.
“We rode our luck at times and some clutch saves from our goalkeeper, Drew Olsen ensured that we stayed in the game. But I thought the courage and commitment displayed from boys playing out the last 15 minutes with 10 men justified the three points.”
After three wins in a row, Kahibah coach Mat Moncrieff thought his side deserved more from the game.
" Very disappointed that we didn't get something out of the game let alone win it,” Moncrieff said.
“The initial 44 minutes of the first half we played just like we planned and as good as we have played this season. Scored one off their mistake, had another disallowed, had one hit the inside of the post and go across their line as well as three or four other clear-cut chances all while not giving up a chance.
“But then just before halftime they carve us up through the middle and get a well-taken goal."
Moncrieff echoed the quality of Ethan Wilson's goal which led to Toronto taking all three points.
"Second half was a fair bit different, Toronto dominated play and then they scored through the middle again with a bit of individual brilliance I think Ethan Wilson went through five of our players to score.
“We had a couple of scrappy chances in the last 10 minutes to get a result, but it wasn't our day. Credit to Toronto that's why they are top of the table, they win games and finish their chances and rip in for 90 minutes.”
West Wallsend 1-2 Singleton Strikers
Singleton Strikers ended West Wallsend's three-game winning streak with a 2-1 victory at Johnston Park on Sunday.
Goal-scoring machine Joel Barner opened the scoring for the Strikers in the 40th minute to give Singleton the lead at half-time.
Spencer Clarke equalised for Westy in the 61st minute but Benjamin Henry restored the lead three minutes later for Singleton.
The three points allow the Strikers to maintain the pressure on table leaders Toronto Awaba with four points the difference.
West Wallsend will be disappointed to end their three-game winning streak but remain in the top four, keeping on track to play finals football.
Wallsend 2-1 Thornton Redbacks
First-half goals from Matthew Williams and Bradley York ultimately sealed a 2-1 win for Wallsend over the Thornton Redbacks at the Gardens.
The Redbacks launched a second-half comeback with substitute Ashton McMahon scoring a goal in the 86th minute, but the side ultimately fell short of taking any points home.
Wallsend snapped their four-match winless run and leapfrogged Belmont Swansea into fifth position on 18 points, one point ahead of BelSwans.
South Cardiff 0-3 Cessnock City Hornets
Cessnock City Hornets bounced back from four consecutive losses to overpower South Cardiff 3-0 at Ulinga Oval.
Zachary Kronholm opened the scoring after 41 minutes to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Curtis Johnston doubled the lead for the Hornets five minutes into the second half. But his celebrations were short-lived after receiving a second yellow card resulting in the Hornets being forced to play out the last 20 twenty minutes with 10 men.
Belmont Swansea - Bye
