Kiama Quarriers FC hosted University FC in Round 10 of the Illawarra District League season on Saturday.
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Veteran coach Neil Spence took charge of the first grade squad as regular coach James Spence is abroad. Spence made three changes to the side that lost 1-0 to Berkeley the previous Saturday.
Defenders Tom Cunliffe and Luke Munro, just 19 and 20 years old respectively, were brought in to bolster the backline, while James Donlon started at striker.
Kiama thought they opened the scoring when left back Kane Rowe rose beautifully to head in a Chris Christodoulou corner, but referee Michael Kusi-Appauh spotted an infringement in the penalty area.
University took the lead in the 10th minute. Kiama failed to deal with a floated corner that was headed to the feet of Abdul Lawal. Lawal turned in the penalty area and found defender Dane Hamilton, who blasted the ball high into the goal from point-blank range to make it 1-0.
Kiama failed to build pressure from sustained attacks in the opening 20 minutes. University punished Kiama’s bluntness when they made it 2-0 in the 24th minute through striker Evan Fitzsimmons.
Former Kiama winger Michael Pitt controlled the ball and whipped in an immaculate cross from the right flank and Fitzsimmons nipped in front of Cunliffe and poked the ball past Dylan McDonald to increase the away side’s advantage.
Kiama improved after that goal and had chances through Christodoulou and Daniel Swinton. Christodoulou was played through by a quick Swinton throw-in but his chance was well saved by goalkeeper Gabe Lynch-Murphy.
Swinton had his header from the resulting corner cleared off the line.
Kiama raised their intensity levels in the second half as central midfielders Dean Land and Adam Hinkley became more influential, while nimble attacker Jesse Annen saw more of the ball.
The introduction of midfielder Aaron Buzinki, striker Keegan Beringer and winger Mitch Gowland gave Kiama impetus although McDonald made some smart saves to keep the score at 2-0.
Kiama exploded into life in the final 15 minutes and pulled a goal back through Beringer in the 84th minute. Lynch-Murphy spilled the ball in the six yard box and Donlon reacted quickly to pounce.
After a goal-mouth scramble, the ball found its way to Beringer, who tapped it into net with the Lynch-Murphy sprawled on the ground.
Kiama finished the match with 10 men as captain Land was dismissed for dissent a minute after Beringer's goal. Kiama piled on the pressure and equalised when Rowe, outstanding for Kiama, whipped in a perfect cross from the left flank which was powerfully headed in by Beringer. Kiama finished the stronger of the sides and Spence and his assistant Curtis Campbell were pleased with the fightback.
Earlier in the day, Jason Perinich's youth grade side were beaten 5-1 by University. Brad Johnson and Isaac Hudson were men of the match for the young Quarriers.
Neil Spence's reserve grade side secured a superb 3-2 victory, with sharpshooter Gowland bagging a double and prodigious midfielder Jacob Lester getting the other.
Kiama play away to Corrimal on Sunday.