DISAPPOINTING DRAW FOR KIDS

The Gordon McDonald Electrical Kiama Youth Grade took on Bellambi on a day when both teams had to battle strong winds which tested both of them.  

The new look Kiama side began the stronger with the inclusion of Ryan Omrod and Jai Cartwright in the starting line-up. The team played well and passed the ball with confidence. Strong defence by Paul Thayer and Brad Tuohy combined with the hard tackling Danny Pridham kept the opposition at bay and continually won the ball to keep Kiama moving forward.

Craig Costello found plenty of space and was well fed by the midfield but couldn't make anything of the opportunities provided to him. Andy Hungerford was replaced after 20 minutes as his lack of fitness took its toll. The team was reorganised with Omrod going into striker and Ben Jones coming on wide on the right. Soon after Matt Gallagher hit a searching pass to try and find Scot Schofield who had made a wide run down the left. The pass was deflected off the opposition to Costello and he quickly found Cartwright who jinked his way through the Bellambi defence and hit a great shot into the back of the net to put the Quarriers ahead 1 - 0. This was a well deserved goal but the score should have been more to the youngsters who had most of the possession.

The second half started with Bellambi coming out to make amends for the lost goal and with the wind at their backs pressured the Kiama goalmouth. Kiama held on well with sweeper Craig Lord working overtime to clean up the through balls. Under difficult conditions they tried to play the ball on the ground but Bellambi were the more intense and showed the greater concentration as they tried to break down the Quarriers.

The Kiama defence scrambled well and keeper James Terry cleared most of the corners with great skill. Eventually one cross eluded him and left him in no mans land and a free header to Bellambi bounced its way into the goal for a very soft equaliser. A disappointing goal against the boys who had scrambled their way out of trouble and defended well but their lapse in concentration was punished by the visitors.

Kiama still had trouble making chances in the opposition third. Young James Spence came on for Costello to try and create chances for his team-mates but the ball wouldn't bounce their way for the winner and the game ended up 1 - 1.

The Centrepoint Pizza Man of the Match was Danny Pridham for a game that was full of intensity and great tackling. With seven rounds and six games to go the Kiama team need to decide if they really want to make the playoffs as they need to lift their whole game if they want to be competitive for the remainder of the season.