ROUND 16
This week Berwick United were playing their final away game against Knox Strikers. The pitch was very patchy with not much grass on it with a slope running from right to left as you looked at it.
Knox Strikers were the second string team of Knox and were sitting in the lower half of the table. Their record was won 2, drawn 2, lost 11, 10 goals for 41 against.
Berwick United fielded a full squad of players. Knox Strikers were of similar build to Berwick United though it was noted at least one Knox Force Player Todd Poppenbeck was in their starting line-up.
Jack Cook was captain for the day as Knox Strikers choose the ends. The weather was dry though there were plenty of dark clouds around with the potential to rain. There was a mild breeze blowing down the pitch making it feel quite cold on the sidelines.
The line-up for Berwick United was Alex Gligor and Micah Prins up front with Ruben Gligor, Reece Higham & Luke Nelson in midfield, Joshua Dudley & Stephen Capon were centre backs, Tate Broadbent, Luke Williams & Adam Kruize were in defence with Jack Cook in goal. Luke Kitchen, Bernie Saenz & David Tadros started on the bench.
Berwick United kicked off uphill and Reece Higham passed through to Micah Prins who then laid it back to Reece, Reece shot but the Knox Strikers goalie saved.
Knox Strikers then pushed forward themselves using the skills of Todd for Knox laying off to one of their players but Berwick United shepherded it out for a throw-in.
From the throw-in Stephen Capon threw to Ruben Gligor and a nice move saw Reece Higham pass off to Tate Broadbent who in turn found Luke Nelson on the near side, he shot at a tight angle near the post but the red-headed goalie (Jason) saved the ball.
As the ball came out again, Tate Broadbent pushed the ball forward to Luke Nelson who sent in a rising cross towards Alex Gligor to run on to but the Knox Strikers goalie got to the ball first.
Knox Strikers then tried to use the wind as they lobbed the ball forward but Tate Broadbent was able to put it out for a throw-in to Knox.
However Knox Strikers gave away a foul throw and Berwick United were once again in possession. Ruben Gligor passed off to brother Alex who released Luke Nelson; he crossed to the waiting Micah Prins but a Knox Strikers defender put it out for another throw-in.
Reece Higham then worked well with Stephen Capon and Joshua Dudley and Alex Gligor went head to head with the Knox Strikers keeper for the ball but the ball went out again for another throw-in.
Moments later, Luke Nelson passed through to Micah Prins but the ball was cleared, Adam Kruize thumped it forward to Joshua Dudley who laid off to Reece Higham who shot but the defence cleared and Alex Gligor tried to follow up but it went out for a goal-kick.
On the 7 minute mark Coach Chris Prins made a double substitution bringing off Alex Gligor for Bernie Saenz and Reece Higham for David Tadros.
Knox Strikers then pressed again and Tate Broadbent was able to clear up-field. Knox restarted their move and Adam Kruize who was proving stout resistance kicked forward to Luke Nelson who forced a corner from the Knox Strikers defence. Luke Nelson took it and as the ball came out from the Knox defence, Adam Kruize kicked a long high ball from 30 yards towards the Knox goal and for a moment it looked like it might just go in but Jason, the Knox Strikers goalie, snapped it up into his arms and saved the shot on 9 minutes.
A minute later, Tate Broadbent started a move with Adam Kruize and Stephen Capon and as Stephen tried to pass off a Knox Strikers player hand-balled it giving away a free kick on the far side about 25 yards out. Luke Nelson took it and with encouragement from the spectators had a shot on goal. The ball was too hot for Jason, the Knox Strikers keeper to handle and he dropped it in front of him but he was able to recover sufficiently to pick it up before Bernie Saenz tried to push the ball over the line.
Knox Strikers then went on the counter attack again and in midfield David Tadros and Luke Williams cleared the ball out for throw-ins.
Coach Chris Prins then made another substitution bringing off Ruben Gligor for Luke Kitchen.
Luke Kitchen was soon in the action when after a cross from David Tadros, Luke passed off to Luke Nelson who worked in with Stephen Capon. Stephen passed forward but Knox Strikers cleared through Todd.
Tate Broadbent was again called on to clear the defensive lines and passed through to David Tadros on 16 mins. David's run saw him pass though to an oncoming Micah Prins, but the Knox Strikers goalie as quick as lightning came out and grabbed the ball.
Knox Strikers were proving to be a hard team to breakdown but Berwick United did have a lot of the possession and patiently they found a way through on 17 minutes when Luke Nelson took the ball to the dead-ball line and cut in at close range. He passed off to a waiting Bernie Saenz who diverted the ball away from the keeper and into the corner of the net to make it 1-0 to Berwick. It was also Bernie's first goal of the season.
Coach Chris Prins made a double substitution bringing off Joshua Dudley for Ruben Gligor and Stephen Capon for Reece Higham.
From the restart Berwick United soon got the ball again and Bernie Saenz full of confidence took on the defence again and forced a corner to Berwick. Luke Nelson took it and his cross was met by Reece Higham whose shot was saved by the leg of a defender and as the ball bobbled around in the box Alex Gligor put it over the bar.
Coach Chris Prins then made another substitution bringing off Micah Prins for Alex Gligor on 21 mins.
Knox Strikers was now under siege as Berwick United pressed for a second goal. Luke Nelson again running with the ball ran through the Knox defence and shot which Jason saved, but Luke following up was able to force the ball over the line to make it 2-0 to Berwick on 23 mins.
Berwick United pushed again and a long ball forward saw Ruben Gligor stray offside and as the clock wound down on 25 minutes Luke Kitchen had a shot on goal which went just wide of the goal.
&n bsp;
Coach Chris Prins was pleased with the way the team had played. Although Todd had strung some good offensive moves together for Knox Strikers, it was probably their goalie Jason who had kept them in the game. Berwick United would be playing down hill in the second half and would have their wind in their favour.
In the second half Luke Kitchen went in goal, Bernie Saenz went up front with Jack Cook. Alex Gligor went on the left wing with David Tadros at centre forward and Ruben Gligor on the right wing. Reece Higham and Stephen Capon were two central backs. Tate Broadbent went to left back position, Adam Kruize at right back with Luke Williams in his normal defensive mid position. Luke Nelson, Joshua Dudley and Micah Prins were on the bench to start.
Knox Strikers kicked off and it wasn't long before Berwick United were in possession with Jack Cook passing off to Alex Gligor but it went out for a goal kick.
Knox Strikers counter-attacked and Tate Broadbent was again in the action clearing for Berwick United. Berwick forced a corner and Reece Higham took three consecutive corners as Knox Strikers tried to clear their lines. On the third attempt Reece's cross was met by Alex Gligor's head who back headed across goal but no Berwick United player was able to capitalise on it.
Ruben Gligor passing to Reece Higham forced another corner but Jack Cook coming in to meet it found his shot went wide of the goal.
Berwick United didn't have it all their own way, Knox Strikers were putting pressure on the Berwick back three - Luke Williams cleared a forward pass but Todd was able to retrieve it for Knox and crossed a dangerous looking ball but Adam Kruize was able to clear it on his second attempt up field. As the ball came through the midfield again for Berwick United, Jack Cook ran on towards goal and crossed towards Bernie Saenz but the defence cleared it. Alex Gligor followed it up and passing off to David Tadros, he had a shot on goal but the keeper saved well.
On the 32 minute mark Coach Chris Prins made a double substitution bringing off David Tadros for Luke Nelson and Luke Williams for Joshua Dudley. Stephen Capon moved into the back three and Joshua went to a central back position.
As the Knox Strikers keeper kicked long the ball was met soundly by Adam Kruize's head who headed it back as strongly up-field to the gasps of the Berwick United supporters hoping Adam was alright.
A minute later the ball came back down the Berwick United end and Stephen Capon did some nice play to clear the ball and the well built Knox Strikers no 13 kicked Stephen hard in the foot drawing a foul. Stephen danced around in a circle on one leg obviously in pain and quietly limped back towards the Berwick penalty area instead of making a fuss.
From the free-kick Reece Higham passed off towards Jack Cook and Alex Gligor. As they ran after the ball and from a tight angle Jack put the ball out.
Knox Strikers came forward again on 36 minutes and Todd passed of towards their No 13, Adam on this occasion was unable to cut the pass out so their No 13 was able to cross it to their No 4 player who shot past Luke Kitchen in goal at close range to make it 2-1 to Berwick United.
Knox Strikers were suddenly in the game again, mainly against the run of play.
Berwick United then brought the ball forward through Luke Nelson and Jack Cook who were trying hard to conjure up another goal.
Coach Chris Prins then made another substitution bringing off Alex Gligor for Micah Prins on 38 mins.
Knox Strikers buoyed by their goal were pressing hard for an equaliser but were thwarted firstly through Stephen Capon and then by Adam Kruize who seemed to be involved in everything in defence.
Adam cleared the ball off to Ruben Gligor who released Jack Cook. Jack pushed forward with his trademark run and eventually the Knox Strikers defence conceded a corner.
Luke Nelson crossed it and Reece Higham met it and put the ball over the bar with his head.
Adam Kruize was again in the action moments later clearing the ball to Tate Broadbent, Reece Higham following up crossed to Joshua Dudley who thumped the ball over the bar as the wind took it.
On 45 minutes Bernie Saenz working on the left went around two defenders and found Micah Prins with a nice cross but the goalie again quick off his line cleared the danger.
Knox Strikers pushed forward again, the game not settled by any means and Stephen Capon was able to clear the danger.
Berwick United were still struggling to get on top of a side which had only won two of their games.
Coach Chris was getting a little agitated by the play of the team remarking "You are watching the game, not playing how we can play."
Jack Cook tried again a minute later to get his name on the score-sheet, heading just wide of the goal. The goal kick did not come out far due to the wind and Bernie Saenz & Joshua Dudley tried to conjure up something but Knox Strikers cleared for a throw-in.
Coach Chris Prins then made another substitution bringing off Micah Prins for David Tadros on 46 mins.
In the dying moments, Tate Broadbent cleared the back line again for Berwick United and Reece Higham brought the ball forward and his pass was met by Luke Nelson who from close range fired home a shot that the goalie Jason was unable to stop to make it 3-1 to Berwick United in the 50th minute.
The referee blew for time moments after the restart. FT 3-1 to Berwick United.
Berwick United had been good for their win but had made hard work of it and probably should have scored more goals against Knox Strikers.
Coach Chris Prins brought the team together and shared his disappointment with how the team had played in the second half, though he was happy with how our strongly our defence had played and singled out especially the performances of Adam Kruize & Stephen Capon.
The team then joined in a chorus of the Berwick team song.
Next week is the final game of the season - the team are home to Croydon Ranges and a win would definitely secure runners up position for the season.
Michael Capon
Team Coach
HT 2-0 FT 3-1
Bernie 17 mins
Luke Nelson 23, 50 mins |
