TSS holds out Churchie
THE Southport School has edged out Anglican Church Grammar School 3-2 in a GPS First XI football thriller.
Although the better side throughout, TSS was forced into an anxious final 60 seconds when Zen Crethary scored late for Churchie.
The goal came after the heavily marked Cyrus Dehmie eluded TSS defenders to pass the ball into the scoring zone for Crethary.
“They are a good side, a dangerous side and you don’t have a minute against them,’’ TSS coach Joe Dolan said of his Churchie rivals. “They have width, they have pace, so we had to be on our game right to the end.
“You can’t switch off a second in GPS or else it will cost you.’’
Churchie director of football Derek Lennon said: “The better team won on the day but our performance was good. There are a few things to work on but we played against a very good side today.
“We are disappointed but the better team won.’’
TSS led 2-1 at halftime and went full throttle to extend the lead early in the second half.
Kota Masuda and Sam Bedingfeld were in scoring positions for TSS without converting, then Lochie Johnston clipped the ball into the back of the net from Harry King’s pass, only to be ruled off-side.
But TSS eventually had its moment when King drove the ball past the Churchie keeper after TSS had swarmed in numbers and produced a close passing exchange.
At 3-1 TSS then went searching for the killer blow that never game despite an array of half scoring chances.
“Scoring a goal is the hardest thing in the game,” Dolan said. “So you have to just keep the boys believing that getting in those positions (to score) is success in itself.’’
Churchie’s goalie produced a dramatic save to deny TSS late in the second half and still Churchie clung to hope.
Then, with the game in injury time, Crethary swooped to score for Churchie to give the match the grandstand finish it deserved.
Earlier in the first half, Churchie Jack Finch curled in a corner kick to inflate his team’s chances.
At Tennyson, Solomon Weldemarian made it five goals in two matches as St Joseph’s Gregory Terrace beat an under-strength Brisbane Boys College 3-0.
At BSHS, St Joseph’s Nudgee College won a nailbiting encounter 3-2 in a match that went back and forth all game.
At Northgate, the Brisbane Grammar School versus Ipswich Grammar School game ended in a 1-all draw.