July 28, 2015
by Martin Stern
Wests versus Gunners matches are usually hard-fought encounters and this weekend’s matches were just that.
In Second Division, the unbeaten Wests were favourites to take maximum points, and they looked the goods early in the match.
The game was halted and delayed in the fifth minute when Gunner Tin Truong was taken from the field with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.
But in the 20th minute, Harry Pratt put Wests in the lead with an opportunistic strike.
Gunners hit back in first half injury time when Matt Major scored from the penalty spot.
And three minutes later, Gunners scored an Own Goal after a defensive mix up in front of the goal to give Wests a 2-1 lead at halftime.
The second half started off fairly flat, but in the last 15 minutes both teams picked up their game.
Gunners were desperate to get an equaliser, and Wests were trying to extend their lead.
Some very entertaining football was played in the last couple of minutes, with the highlight being a rampaging solo run by Gunners’ Adrian Di Marco which resulted in a well-deserved equaliser.
Di Marco has been punching above his weight in Second Division, and it was a well-deserved reward.
Final score? 2-all.
* * *
In the Women’s match Wests were strong favourites to beat an undermanned Gunnettes side, who were playing without their star keeper Rahab Murray.
However the match didn’t go to script when Gunnettes’ rising star Kiara Wright found herself in space and went on to put her team in the lead in the fourth minute.
There wasn’t much between the two teams in the first half, with both sides having few chances.
In the second half, Wests pushed Gunnettes but their resilient defence led by Kate Mashford held strong.
Wests’ finishing also left a lot to be desired.
It took a long distance strike by Wests in the 61st minute to beat stand-in keeper Shaana Raddatz, but it gave them the equaliser they needed.
All the same, Gunnettes held on by the skin of their teeth to earn themselves a well deserved point.
* * *
In the First Division game, both sides were again without several key players.
And it didn’t take long to see the first goal of the game.
In the first minute, Wests were awarded a free kick 20 metres out, and Gary Favier released a cannonball of a shot which gave Gunners’ keeper Pete Collins no chance.
The remainder of the match turned into a midfield arm wrestle where neither side could capitalise on the few chances they had.
Wests played a good possession game and their defence, led by Mark Denham, was strong.
Gunners looked to score on the break with their faster players but were disjointed up front.
There were some great midfield battles, too: Luke Smith from Wests and Luke Vanenberg from Gunners were the stand-outs.
With only two games to go before finals, the result opened up the race for second place on the ladder.
Wests now sit two points behind Gunners, but have a date next weekend against Minor Premiers Nanango, while Gunners travel to Murgon.
* * *
In Murgon, Nanango defeated Barambah in First Division 4-2 and 3-1 in Seconds. Barambah also forfeited the Women’s match.
With only two matches remaining in the competition before the major end-of-season games, Nanango have claimed the First Division and Women’s Minor Premiership, while Wests have won the Second Division Minor Premiership.
* * *
Full Results:
Gunners v Wests (in Kingaroy):
- 1st Division: Wests 1 (Gary Favier 1st) – Gunners 0
- 2nd Division: Wests 2 (Harry Pratt 20th, Own Goal 44th) – Gunners 2 (Matt Major 41st, Adrian Di Marco 80th)
- Women’s Division: Gunnettes 1 (Kiara Wright 4th) – Wests 1 (Shara Oakley 61st)
Barambah v Nanango (in Murgon):
- 1st Division: Barambah 2 – Nanango 4
- 2nd Division: Barambah 1 – Nanango 3
- Women’s Division: Barambah 0 (Forfeit) – Nanango 3
Next Week’s Matches
- Wests v Nanango in Kingaroy
- Barambah v Gunners in Murgon
Footnote: This has been Martin Stern’s last Football column for South Burnett Online. We thank him for his assistance over the years.
