BARWON GETS WIN IN GAME OF TWO HALVES
A BIG second-half performance has helped Barwon SC notch a memorable 2-0 win over Lara United in its State League 5 local derby on Saturday night.
Second-half goals by Craig Cameron-Smith and Oliver Hunniford sealed the three points for the home side and left the depleted Navy Blues with nothing to show from their inaugural derby clash.
Lara went into the match minus several key players, including Rory Kelly, Peter Volpe, Julian Barbagallo, Justin Wilson and Damian Nasta, while striker Kristian Edwards and attacking midfielder Craig White carried injuries throughout the game.
Both teams went into half-time level, with the visitors having dictated much of the play and the home side leaving plenty of room for improvement.
That improvement came following a vicious half-time spray by coach Dale Harris, with his players responding after the break and seizing control of the game.
Their continuous pressing and domination was finally rewarded when captain Ian Nichols found Craig Cameron-Smith, who tapped home the opener in the 60th minute.
Barwon’s dominance continued as they created chance after chance, but the Blue and Whites received a major blow 10 minutes from time when Dylan Roberston was sent off for his second yellow card.
With five minutes left of regular time, however, Barwon launched a rapid counterattack involving Sean Mahon, Shannon Kearns and Joshua Goonan. The sequence ended with late substitute Oliver Hunniford drilling the ball low and hard into the back of the net.
“It was our second win in a row, as well as our second clean sheet in a row,” Barwon coach Dale Harris said after the game.
“The fact that we have also scored six goals in our past two games gives me the satisfaction and belief that we are really starting to find our way in the State League 5 competition in our debut season.”
His Lara United counterpart, Lindsay Falzon, was left to rue what might have been.
“In the first half they couldn’t get past the halfway line and we didn’t take our chances. In the second half they came at us, but we didn’t deal with a ball in the box and paid the price,” Falzon said.