NSW Super League Round 14
Fraser Park 1 - Central Coast 1
On a typical cold June night, Fraser Park and Central Coast shared the points in a highly entertaining 1-1 draw, in front of a very vocal crowd.
Central Coast started well and took the game to Fraser Park in the first 15 minutes, with the home team missing Tony Faria up front due to his unavailability.
However, Fraser Park's defence was never really stretched in this opening period, and with Paulo Oliveira and Yuya Tamari both playing adventurous roles as wing backs, Fraser slowly took the upper hand.
Before half-time, Fraser had clearly created the better chances and were unlucky not to have scored on at least three occasions.
Leigh Gunn and Troy Eedy were unlucky not to have registered goals in the oping 45 minutes.
The second half was only 10 minutes in when Yuya, who was clearly the best on the ground in the first half, started a sweeping movement by releasing Leigh Gunn down the right side. Leigh didn't waste time
with a pin point cross that found Troy Eedy just outside the 6 yard box. He did not need a second invitation, and calmly planted a header well beyond the Central Coast keeper and into the back of the net.
During this spell of dominance, Fraser Park was desperately unlucky not to have scored again when both Leigh Gunn and Troy missed excellent chances to increase the score.
However, as in recent games, a momentary lapse in concentration at the back, cost Fraser Park dearly, Following a brief stoppage due to an injury to a Fraser Park player, Central Coast whipped a long ball forward to Keenan Crum, who expertly controlled the ball just inside the Fraser Park box, and fired an unstoppable volley into the far corner. Ivan Kovacevic had no chance.
From here, the Fraser Park boys seemed to have lost all momentum and were probably grateful for the final whistle.
In the end, it was truly a game of two halves and the shared points was a just result.
Fraser Park will now regroup, and with the expectant return of Tony Faria, will be looking to continue their current good form when they host Granville Rage at home this coming Saturday.
Man of the Match - Yuya Tamari. Explosive player who created numerous raids down the right side during the first 45 minutes. Unfortunately Fraser was not able to convert to goals. He also made a couple of outstanding tackles which promptly stopped Central Coast raids. Yuya is a real find and is fast becoming a favourite with the home fans.
