YOUTH BACK ON TOP OF THE TABLE

The Kiama Gordon MacDonald Electrical Youth Grade team got amongst the goals against the cellar dwelling Illawarra United team on Saturday. The boys started the game slowly but still had plenty of chances to be first on the scoresheet. Strikers Craig Costello and Andy Hungerford found plenty of space and their pace cut the defence to pieces.

After 10 minutes Costello put the ball in the back of the net and the Quarriers were on the board. Jai Cartwright was back in the team this week and his runs from the centre of midfield paid off and on the 15 minute mark made it 2 - 0. Costello punished the opposition with his second goal one minute later.

Sloppy defence by Kiama let Illawarra back into the game for a while but they couldn't get a shot on goal. Illawarra decided to play the offside trap and continually caught the Kiama team out. The boys couldn't adjust to the situation and let themselves down with poor decisions and tactics. Even so, Cartwright knocked in his second gaol ten minutes before half time and Kiama went to the break ahead 4 - 0.

The second half was more of the same from Illawarra who continued to catch Kiama offside and tried to score on the break. A more intense defensive effort from the back three of Lord, Thayer and Hughes didn't give the opposition a look in and keeper Terry hardly touched the ball in this half.

James Spence came on for Hungerford 5 minutes into the second half and Ben Jones replaced Scott Schofield soon after. Cartwright got his hat trick on the 15 minute mark as Kiama continued their domination but the game plan went out the window as they lost their composure with the frustrating opposition tactics.

The young Quarriers couldn't go on with the game and get a big score against a poor Illawarra team but didn't concede a goal and while it was not a good display, ran out worthy winners 5 - 0.

The CentrePoint Pizza Man of the Match was sweeper Craig Lord who had a solid game