WBSA RESULTS

Centrals shock Inter 3 nil to put the prefer on at the top of the table and the Sharks move to back to second. Alex Bissel scored for Centrals.

A GRADE

CENTRALS 3 V 0 INTER

BLUE LAKE 2 V THE SHARKS 3

B GRADE

CENTRALS 4 V 1 INTER

BLUE LAKE 2 V THE SHARKS 3

U17

CENTRALS 1 V 1 INTER

U14

CENTRALS 1 V 3 INTER

BLUE LAKE 2 V 0 THE SHARKS

U12

CENTRALS 4 V 0 INTER

BLUE LAKE 0 V 1 THE SHARKS

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Sharks 3 – 2 Blue Lake
By Noel Wood and Jess Widdison

Round 10 of the Dycer Constructions Premiership saw the Gambier City Sharks facing off with Blue Lake Rangers. The game would see the return of legend coach for the Sharks Vic Gentile replace John Bruttomesso who is on tour in Italy. Sitting third on the table meant that a loss in this match would make it hard to keep the pressure on the top teams in the closing rounds of the premiership.

The early exchanges of the match saw both teams looking for an early advantage, with the Sharks coming close from chances by Weistra and Bytheway. Rangers had a good opportunity from a corner in the 9th minute that missed to the right of the goal. Moments after this, the heavens opened and the rain began to pour. This of course, caused the pitch to become very slippery and both teams struggled to stay on their feet. It was displayed when Nunan hit a fantastic cross from a free kick into the box. Three Sharks players and two Blue Lake defenders lost the footing, which left another great chance go by without result.

The Rangers were playing some very good soccer and this resulted in Sharks keeper Fuller having to display his wonderful talent in saving some great opportunities from the Rangers front men, once again showing why he is one of the best keepers in the league. Half time came with the score line 0:0, both teams playing a strong and structured soccer.

The teams took to the wet pitch for the second half and it wasn’t long before the action began. In the 49th minute Weistra went down the left wing with his usual skill, going past two players and placing a perfect pass to Wood who struck the ball with his right foot. The Rangers keeper fumbled the shot and Bytheway was there to slam the ball past the keepers left to record in the first goal of the match. 1:0 to the Sharks and this brought on an immediate lift to both teams. An athletic scissor kick from Bytheway saw the ball just go over the crossbar a few minutes later as the Sharks began to attack with vigour. In the 68th minute Wood began a run into the penalty box and was then fouled right in front of the keeper. This put Weistra on the spot for the penalty kick and with his strike to the bottom left, he put the Sharks further ahead, 2:0. This was followed 7 minutes later by an amazing run by Weistra who took the ball down the right wing, then cut inside onto his left foot and slammed home another goal from outside the 18 yard box. 3:0.

Blue Lake however did not give up after the third goal and only a minute later they broke through the Sharks defence and a solid shot went flying past Fuller to put the Ranger on the board 3:1. The shock from this quick run by Rangers was doubled in the 81st minute, when they broke down the right wing. After a low cross they were able to slip another into the bottom right of the goal. 3:1. The Sharks refocused on the match and they were able to withstand the pressure that Blue Lake continued to place on them, right up until the full time whistle was blown. A fantastic match was played in unsavoury conditions which both teams should be proud of there efforts.

Other results on Sunday have put the Sharks back into second spot in the Dycer Construction Premiership table on 21 points. It also sets up a fantastic match next week with International who is now sitting third with 19 points and all supporters are urged to come along to the match and support their team as the season enters its final exciting stages.