Kiama Quarriers FC travelled to Kooloobong Oval on Saturday to meet University FC in Round 21 of the Illawarra District League season.
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Kiama's first grade coach James Spence was keen for his fifth-placed side to make amends for their 2-1 home loss to Berkeley the previous Saturday, especially with just three matches left in the regular season and the prospect of finals football tantalising the young tactician.
Kiama created early opportunities against Brendan Fotheringham's 10th-placed University. Striker Keegan Beringer centred a perfect low cross to winger Daniel Swinton inside six minutes but he blazed over the crossbar.
It was University, however, who opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Kiama relinquished possession of the ball deep in their own half and striker Luke Foscarini was played through on goal and slotted the ball past Kiama goal-keeper Dylan McDonald.
Kiama replied in the 19th minute through leading goal scorer Beringer.
Chris Christodoulou floated a cross to the far post and the burly striker produced a fine header to level the scores.
Kiama displayed some abysmal defending as they let Foscarini grab his second goal in the 24th minute. The Quarriers chose a poor option from a free kick in their own half and again Foscarini was allowed to run behind the defence and finish past McDonald to make it 2-1.
Wily striker Evan Fitzsimmons made it 3-1 in the 30th minute when he nodded home a cross from the left flank after more hesitant Kiama defending.
Kiama's James Donlon prodded home into an empty net in the 32nd minute after Swinton caused University goal-keeper Jake Howard to deflect the ball to the striker following a hefty challenge in the penalty area.
Foscarini completed a stunning first half hat-trick when he chipped McDonald from 20 metres to make it 4-2.
Kiama were more disciplined in the second half as Spence decided to change from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation.
Swinton rattled the upright with a fierce half-volley while Donlon seemed to have been fouled in the penalty area but referee Nicholas Ryan was unmoved.
Spence introduced Todd Wade, Jye Marks and teenager Josh Gomes in the second half to sharpen up the Kiama attack. Experienced defender Chris Hill and promising youngsters Luke Munro and Tom Cunliffe were more assured at the back in the second stanza while Dean Land was tenacious in midfield.
Beringer grabbed his second in the 86th minute to make it 4-3 and Kiama piled on the pressure to find an equaliser. McDonald made a spectacular save to keep his side in the contest while Beringer headed wide in injury time but Kiama couldn't prevent their second consecutive defeat.
Earlier in the day, Jason Perinich's youth grade side fought valiantly but lost 3-2 to University. Kiama sharpshooter Taite Edmond scored a beautiful long-range goal and Adam Scanlan added the other while goal-keeper Phil Bitterlin saved one of two penalties awarded to University.
Neil Spence's 10th-placed reserve grade side lost 2-0 to eighth-placed University. Kiama played Warilla away on Sunday and host Corrimal in the final league match of the regular season on Saturday.