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Tigers Maul Gorillas In One Sided Affair

Report & Photos: Ian Judd
Jun 26, 2016
4 min read

Eastern Suburbs 4 (Amano 6'; Stenhouse 13'; Burgess 34', Cunha 78') North Pine 1 (Kuboyama 68') HT 3-0

Played at Heath Park

Two early goals from Easts gave relegation threatened North Pine a mountain to climb at a bitterly cold Heath Park on Saturday evening and they bearly made it past base camp. The Tigers squad included two new debutants in centre back Karamo Kamara and Korean striker Jongsoo Kim on the bench after he scored in the reserves game previously. For North Pine, they were again depleted; having seen the departure of James Fairgrieve to Peninsula Power last month, they were also missing captain Chris Culleton for this fixture, through suspension. It took just six minutes for the hosts to open the scoring and it was simply too easy. Ryan Stenhouse was awarded too much space in the middle of the park which allowed him to line up one of his trademark long range strikes. With his effort heading toward goal, Toru Amano stuck out a foot to guide it past Matt Bradley in the Gorilla's goal. Stenhouse then claimed a goal for himself just before the quarter hour mark when again allowed to shoot from distance. Despite the ball moving in the air, Bradley somehow managed to misjudge the flight of it, palming it into the back of the net when he perhaps ought to have been able to deal with it. The hosts continued to dominate the half as they threatened to add to their tally before the midway point. Andrew Coyne with a one on one attempt that Bradley blocked when looking certain to score, swiftly followed by Amano with a an effort across the face of goal that narrowly drifted wide. Easts would eventually extend their lead shortly after the half hour. Cunha linking up with a superb reverse pass for Nelson Burgess to race onto and drill the ball low across Bradley into the far bottom corner of the net.

North Pine's Matt Bradley denies Easts Matt Boyd with a fine save. The second half didn't improve too much for the visitors although they were enjoying more possession but Easts continued to threaten. Bradley saving well from a Matt Boyd header following a corner.

Jake Keslake in good spirits as he's stretchered off. The evening worsened for the Gorillas on the hour mark when Jake Keslake was caught in a 50/50 challenge by Kamara. The North Pine midfielder requiring to be stretchered off with a suspected broken ankle. Coyne had an opportunity to kill the game off midway through the half but badly struck wide when he was again one on one with Bradley. The departure of Keslake seemed to lift Pine and they pulled a goal back with virtually their only effort on goal. Stand-in captain Craig Parker put through one on one with Easts keeper Tom Carroll who did well to block Parker's run with his first real involvement on the game, but the ball fell kindly for Shuto Kubpyama who was in hand to fire home and give North Pine a glimmer of hope. Any hope of a comeback though would prove futile as Easts continued to threaten with a flurry of chances that somehow evaded the visitors goal. The result however was never in doubt when finally Easts fourth goal arrived with just under a quarter of an hour remaining. Costa Psaros on for Kamara was proving a nuisance and he managed to pick out Cunha at the far post with a superb byline cross that Cunha simply guided into the back of the net with his head. Psaros himself thought he'd scored two minutes later when skilfully lobbing Bradley, only to see the assistant's flag raised for offside. Despite the injury to Keslake, Referee Krenes opted to signal the end of the game with a minute of added time played with the scoreline secured in Easts favour. With other results going their way, Easts remain in the hunt for a top four finish in what is a tightly congested race. Their game in hand against UQFC possible crucial to their finals aspirations. A comfortable win their would lift them into fourth spot on goal difference. For North Pine, relegation is looming fast. Keslake looks set to miss the remainder of the season if his worst fears are confirmed. We of course wish him a speedy recovery and hope it's not as serious as appears. Both side take a break next weekend with a catch-up weekend ahead but will return to action in Round 17. Easts with a tough trip away to Rochedale Rovers but if they play the way they did here, Rovers will need to defend well. The Gorillas return to Bob Brock Park next round to face Ipswich Knights and will look to get something from that encounter against their fellow strugglers.

FB Media Player Of The Match: #2 Nelson Burgess - Eastern Suburbs.

The lightning fast winger was a constant menace down the right side, rounding his opponent with ease on numerous occasions and capping his evening off with a nicely taken strike late in the first half. Team line-ups Eastern Suburbs: Carroll (gk), Amano, Barnett, Boyd, Burgess, Coyne, Cunha, Flavin, Kamara, Narita, Stenhouse. Subs: Chipperfield (rgk), Kim, Psaros, Ryan, Sewel.

North Pine: Bradley (gk), Budd, Ikeda, Keslake, Kuboyama, Lincoln, Masters, McEvoy, Melville, Parker, Young. Subs: Brownlie (rgk), Heath, Sanckson, McKeering. FB Media Match Stats. Possession: 1st Half 54% - 46% / 2nd Half 51% - 49% Overall Possession: 52% - 48% Shots on target: 5 - 1 Shots off target: 11 - 0