Kiama down to Berkeley 5-2

KIAMA were unlucky to come away from The Quarry with at least a point last Saturday, against a physical Berkeley side which only dominated the IFA District League game in the last 15 minutes, losing 5-2.

Both sides took time to settle, but after 14 minutes midfield workhorse, Andy Lockard, opened the score for Kiama with a deflected shot after some good build up work through midfield.

Two minutes later, George Guevara in Kiama goal, was called upon to pull off a great save to keep the advantage in check, but it was Lockard again on 20 minutes which stung the hands of the Berkeley keeper from range with a powerful shot that was turned around for a corner. The referee tried hard to keep the sometime spiteful encounter in check, and it was from a Berkeley freekick on 37 minutes that brought about the equaliser.

Through a sea of legs in the goalmouth, a Berkeley goalbound shot found its way past an exposed Guevara in goal to equalise.

Within a minute of the kick off Berkelely hit the front, with a cracking goal from distance which canoned off the crossbar and into the net, leaving Guevara no chance in goal.

Just before halftime, Billy Sterjovksi, who had been heavily marked all day, was brought down in the penalty area for a Kiama penalty.

Young Daniel Swinton stepped up to dispatch the spotkick into the top left hand corner of the net which belied his years to level the scores 2-2. Winger, Kyle Glazier, came close on occasion and linked up well with livewire Michael Pitt and Lockard in Kiama’s midfield to run the Berkeley defence ragged at times.

In the second half, all hell broke lose in a five minute spell which spiralled the game out of Kama’s reach.

Billy Sterjovksi was shown a second yellow card for dessent moments after the restart. Sterjovksi was still walking off the ground when within minutes Berkeley were awarded a penalty to go 3-2 up.

Kiama were unlucky in that they did not have the numbers to push forward for the remainder of the game, which allowed Berkeley to attack more.

Man of the match, Nate Chellew and Steve Dick at the heart of Kiama’s defence held firm until a crucial blow