Night Of Celebration As Power Beat Knights
Ipswich Knights 0 Peninsula Power 4 (Bonotto 33’; Mendy 37'; Feuerriegel 62'; Austin 67’) HT 0-2
Played at Eric Evans Oval
They’ve done it the hard way all season but Power finally came up with the goods when they finished the season in fourth place with a dominant 4-0 win over Ipswich Knights on a great night for football at Eric Evans Oval. Andre Bonotto was first to find the target when he poked home a loose ball and relieved some pressure in the 33rd minute. Only four minutes later, Charles Mendy continued his recent run of goal scoring form with a flicked header which whizzed inside the far post. A 2-0 lead at the break already looked unassailable and the result was put beyond doubt when Shaun Feuerriegel beat a static back line and scored the third for his side. From the next foray into attack, Peninsula were awarded a free kick and Jared Austin curled home a spectacular strike from an almost impossible angle wrapping up proceedings with a final scoreline of 4-0. The spirit of football was alive and well tonight as the Northsiders brought another busload of supporters to a game. The home side had already packed out the clubhouse for end of season celebrations which added a great atmosphere to a contest which could easily have been something of a non-event. On the field, things didn’t quite go the way of the Knights who were expected to put in a good showing with the result having big ramifications for Rochedale Rovers and Holland Park Hawks, but they struggled from kick off to create meaningful chances and spent large periods of the game with their backs to the wall. Once the result was all but decided, Power were effectively tuning up and played as cohesively as they have for some time. They have a knack of turning on the form in the post-season and will provide formidable opposition when they play Holland Park in the knockout final at Whites Hill Reserve. It would be a pointless exercise highlighting best performers because everyone knows they have a squad full of stars but playing as a team has been their achilles heel. It was evident today that they aren’t quite where they would like to be but they are close. The question of course is can they win their next two games and make a home grand final? The answer is yes, but they’ll need to be even better than they were tonight. And with that the season is over for the Knights and they will surely be happy to have consolidated another year in the top flight taking into account the nervy endings in recent times.
A spirit of camaraderie oozed through both sets of supporters as football was the big winner. Sincere thanks are extended to the hosts whose hospitality contributed to a memorable event.
FB Media Player Of The Match: CM Jared Austin - Peninsula Power.
Austin has been under-rated this year and will be vital for the Power from now on. His work in midfield created opportunities and space allowing his teams to assert their dominance. Team line-ups Knights: Baker, Teshager, Rule, Robinson, Maeda, A.Butler, Liddy, Peter, Wilson, B.Finlayson, Drinkeld, C.Butler, Kakimoto, Levinsen, A.Finlayson.
Power: Reesby, Spiandorello, Bonotto, Austin, Mendy, Ahern, Buhmann, Feuerriegel, McEvoy, Strickland. Subs: Holden, Sauer, Aoci, Fairgrieve, McKinnon. FB Media Match Stats.
Possession: 1st Half 39% - 61% / 2nd Half 34% - 66% Overall Possession: 37% - 63% Shots on target: 7 - 3 Shots off target: 4 - 5 Penalties 0 - 0 Free kicks: 15 - 15 Offside: 5 - 2 Corners: 0 - 9 Yellow Cards: 4 - 0 Red Cards: 0 - 0 Referee: Carmelo Pulvirenti
