Kiama Quarriers FC hosted Bellambi Rosellas FC in Round 12 of the Illawarra District League on Saturday.
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First grade coach James Spence made three changes to the starting 11 that drew 2-all with University in his side's previous league match. Daniel Gillespie returned after a shoulder injury, Aaron Buzinki started in central midfield, and Keegan Beringer spearheaded the attack. Quarriers captain Dean Land was suspended.
Kiama made a perfect start as midfielder Adam Hinkley opened his account for the season in the first minute. Chris Christodoulou whipped in a dangerous cross from the right flank that the Bellambi goalkeeper could only parry to Hinkley, who struck home a half volley from 12 metres.
Bellambi had a chance to draw level when Kiama goalkeeper Dylan McDonald made a fine save that fell to the feet of impressive Bellambi midfielder Wladimir Illanes, who skewed his shot wide of the goal with McDonald stranded.
It was Kiama who extended their lead in the 28th minute through powerful striker Beringer. The former Kiama junior put pressure on a Bellambi defender and the goalkeeper, causing a mixup between the two. The ball fell to Beringer in the penalty area and he tapped into an empty net to make it 2-0.
Kiama allowed Bellambi to make it 2-1 in the first minute of the second half. McDonald rushed off his line in an attempt to gather the ball before a Bellambi attacker but he only managed to kick the ball to Mahiro Hasegawa, who finished expertly from an acute angle.
Two minutes later, Bellambi rattled the crossbar after Illanes struck a superb shot from 20 metres after McDonald made a fine save to keep Kiama in the lead.
Beringer got his double -- and his fourth goal in two matches -- in the 65th minute. He made a strong run to the near post and hammered his header home from a perfect Christodoulou corner to make it 3-1.
Bellambi responded 10 minutes later when midfielder James Young got his head to a cross before McDonald could reach it to set up a tense final 15 minutes.
Daniel Swinton had a golden opportunity to make the match safe but blazed over from nine metres before left-back Kane Rowe went on a marauding run in the final few minutes and poked home a cross to make it 4-2.