First Team Keep the Winning Streak Going

22 April 2012 Written by HRSC

Hamersley Rovers made it 3 wins in a row in competitive games this year with a 3-2 win over current cup holders Joondalup United at Carine Open Space. It was a tough early fixture for Rovers and a good indication of how well the team is going. Joondalup have been touted as a top 3 team but it was the home team that edged the first half.

Joondalup did have a couple of opportunities with a goal line clearance and smart save from Haig Kingston keeping them out. Chances to Logan Crawford, Sam Long, Jimmy Young and Stu Simmons, including a disallowed goal and a shot that hit the post meant Hamersley were on top but not making it count.

Rovers did take a 1-0 lead into half-time thanks to Stu Simmons in his first start for the season, unleashing a fantastic strike from outside the area past the United keeper. It was also the former Fulham youth players first goal for the club and was celebrated accordingly.

The second half was a much more even affair and Joondalup equalised after a corner fell kindly for the United forward to slot home. Just minutes later captain Ben Ashton gave Rovers back the lead with a strong finish after a scramble in the box.

Failure to clear the ball led to Joodalup's second. Martin Ireland's last ditch tackle caught United's Gary Andrews who went down in the box for a penalty which he duly scored himself.

Hamersley again took the lead with 15 minutes to go, confusion in the Joondalup box allowed Crawford to turn and finish into the bottom corner. United pressed forward for another equaliser and were putting plenty of pressure on the Hamersley goal. They came closest when a shot hit the crossbar.

The referee was struggling to keep a lid on the building tension and frustration from the away team which culminated in a red card to a Joondalup forward for a lunging foul on Ricky Andrews.

After 6 minutes of injury time the referee blew for full time. A fantastic win for Hamersley who now sit second in the table after two games. The team now look foward to taking on State League Division 1 high flyers Ashfield in the State Cup First Round on Wednesday.

Team: Kingston, Emery, Ireland, Ashton, Andrews, Young, Sochanik, Scudder, Crawford, Simmons (Fullard), Long. Subs: Fullard, Garcia, Gibbons, Norgrove.