Photos (Top to Bottom): Taroona in 4-3-3 formation before kick-off; a Taroona quartet in possession; Taroona's Ben Schaap distributes the ball; Nelson coach Michael Roach; the two teams troop off at half-time; Craig Stockdale down and out; Jack Elliott receives a yellow card; a midfield tussle
Nelson Eastern Suburbs 1-3 Taroona
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It was a bleak afternoon at North Warrane on Sunday and Taroona had a sense of foreboding as it always a difficult venue for them.
They needed the three points to stay in touch with Division One leaders Metro, but it was not until the final three minutes that they made certain of the points, and even then, they required two penalties.
Taroona absolutely dominated the first half. They attacked down the flanks and sent in dangerous crosses, but a good display by Craig Stockdale at the heart of the defence and goalkeeper Nic De Carpentier denied them a goal.
Toby Dove should have headed the visitors in front in the 28th minute from Jack Elliott’s cross, but he steered the ball wide.
Hugo Luttmer also got through on a couple of occasions but could not find the net.
Chris Cox remained on the bench, too injured to risk in what should have been an easy game for the second-placed team.
Nelson attacked sporadically, and usually from deep positions, with the moves petering out before they reached the Taroona penalty area.
Taroona’s frustration had been clearly evident early on when Jack Elliott crudely fouled Stockdale and earned a yellow card after a mere 10 minutes.
After a goalless opening half, the tide turned somewhat when Nelson surprisingly took the lead.
In the 53rd minute, a corner by Jayden Andrews was thumped home by Tom Gordon from inside the box for his first league goal for the club.
Gordon had shown some neat touches in the first half and this finish was just reward for his efforts.
Taroona were clearly worried as they could see this game slipping away from them as Nelson grew in confidence and looked dangerous at set-pieces.
Duncan Carey was brought on for Toby Dove in the 63rd minute and he provided some useful momentum down the left flank.
His presence meant that four of the Carey brothers were now on the park.
In the 66th minute, De Carpentier again proved his worth as he punched the ball clear from off the head of the dangerous Luttmer.
Nelson changed Nick Roberts for Jordan Brighella in the 68th minute in an endeavour to keep their momentum going. The goal had given them renewed confidence.
With time running out, Taroona coach Ben Horgan came on in place of Darragh Carey, while Cian Carey was pushed up from centre-back.
Natsuki Futumura missed a great chance for nelson in the 79th minute when he fired over the bar instead of hitting the target.
The changes and the pressure told when, in the 83rd minute, Taroona equalised through a fine strike from range by Cian Carey.
Three minutes from the end, a handball by Futumura handed the initiative to the visitors and Taroona hit the lead when Marcus Atkinson converted the penalty.
On the stroke of full-time, Taroona were awarded a second penalty when Thomas Roach brought down Duncan Carey on the left of the box.
Duncan Carey took the spot-kick himself, but De Carpentier capped a fine display by saving.
Carey was first to the rebound, however, and scored to make it 3-1 for the visitors.
It was cruel way for Nelson to go down.
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· Nelson Eastern Suburbs coach, Michael Roach, said:
“I’m a bit disappointed.
“We battled very hard and took a chance from a set-piece.
“We gave a bit more possession to Taroona in the game, but still had plenty of opportunities.
“When we were one up, we had the opportunity to wrap it up at two nil but didn’t.
“I was disappointed with their first goal, the equaliser, and more disappointed with the two silly penalties.
“So, that’s life, I guess. Disappointed.”
· Taroona coach, Ben Horgan, said:
“I thought they made it very difficult for us to play, to be honest, with ten people behind the ball for nearly the whole game.
“Conditions weren’t good and we should have had two absolutely clear-cut blatant penalties early in the game which would probably have settled us down a bit.
“So, when they got that goal, it was a bit of a worry.
“I thought we did enough to win in the end, but they certainly made it hard for us.”
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Nelson Eastern Suburbs: De Carpentier - T Roach, Stockdale, Gaskell, Sakul - Wallace, Vanderslink, Andrews, Futumura - Roberts (Brighella 68), Gordon (Substitutes not used: Mills, Hoppitt, Gibson)
Goals: Gordon 53
Taroona: Shepperd - Schaap, C Carey, Darragh Carey (Horgan 72), Tubb - Elliott, R Carey, Atkinson - Macgregor, Luttmer, Dove (Duncan Carey 63) (Substitutes not used: Clark, Hortle)
Booked: Elliott 10
Goals: C Carey 83, Atkinson 87 pen, Duncan Carey 90
Att: 40
Ref: R McCallister
2 comments:
Nelson seemed to struggle after Nick Roberts got subbed after he picked up a Groin injury.
Where was Ben 'Spot' Gibson? he didn't turn up to the game
Photo 2: Darragh Carey, Cian Carey, Llewyn Tubb, and Ben Schaap (far to near)
3: Marcus Atkinson looking on
Last photo: Toby Dove watching Hamish Macgregor
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