Ballajura 1 – 2 Maccabi FC

Match Report by Michael Hoy

Ballajura suffered their first loss of the Division 2 campaign 2-1 against Maccabi at Kingfisher Reserve on Sunday. Ballajura made four changes to the side with Leo Perrotta coming in for the unavailable Jake Cozensa, Audi Trutwein and Jayden Vespescu in for Than Liem and Toni Sips. Dave Haddock made his first appearance in goal after injuries to both Ryan Moss and Alex Best.

Ballajura were looking to get their season off to a bright start against FootballWa.Net's tip for League champions Maccabi and it started off well when Jayden Vespescu repaid manager Dario Pellicciotti's faith with a deft dink over the Maccabi goalkeeper after a great through ball from Phil Haddock. Maccabi equalised just before half time however, as Maccabi found an unmarked attacker at the back post and a whipped cross in was headed home.

Maccabi found themselves ahead soon after the break as the Maccabi broke down to the byline and cut the ball back for the Maccabi attacker to hit home. Things went from bad to worse for Ballajura as right back Brendan Skinner went down with what appears to be an anterior cruciate ligament injury. Maccabi almost extended their lead through a deflected free kick that smacked into the far post. Ballajura started to push in the last 15 minutes and were attempting to hit Maccabi on the counter attack but their final ball was lacking.

Ballajura Line-up:

D. Haddock

B. Skinner (T. Sips 65') B. Divilly M. Roussetty P. Haddock

P. Le (55' T. Liem) A.Trutwein J.Vespescu

S. Mammoliti S. Marrapodi L. Perrotta (D. Clarkson 80')

Goals:

J. Vespescu 20'

Ballajura Reserves 2 – 2 Maccabi Reserves

Match Report by Michael Hoy

Ballajura Reserves picked up their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw with Maccabi at Kingfisher Reserve on Sunday. Ash Vincent came in for the unavailable Michael O'Sullivan with Michael Etheridge dropping into a sweeper role while Brodie Stuart returned for his first game of the season taking the promoted Leo Perrotta's spot.

Ballajura started off well, maintaining possession and working the ball around but a mix up almost resulted in a goal, when Maccabi hit Ballajura on the counter and forced a good save from Alex Best. Alex Best soon after displayed incredible courage to pounce on a 50/50 ball that resulted in Best breaking his nose. The keeper persisted in finishing the game with a bandaged and bloodied nose. Ballajura's persistence also payed off with a neat one-two between Daniel Clarkson and Emmanuel Mammoliti saw Clarkson running into goal one on one with the keeper and neatly placing it into the back of the net. Maccabi equalised soon after with a defensive lapse seeing the ball stolen by the midfielder whose momentum took him into the box. His shot was saved by Best but the follow up was struck in by the Maccabi striker.

Ballajura were forced to substitute Best and shuffle their lineup with Cameron Peverley coming in for Best and left back, Michael Hoy putting his hand up for goalkeeper. Ballajura started the second half looking shaky and unable to control proceedings like the first. Maccabi soon went up 2-1 after the striker neatly turned the Ballajura defender and placed his strike into the bottom left hand corner leaving makeshift keeper no chance. Maccabi almost made it 3-1 when the midfielder saw Hoy off his line and his audacious lob hit the crossbar, bouncing back to his striker who completely misjudged the bounce and sparing Hoy's blushes who pounced on the ball. Michael Etheridge almost scored the goal of the season with an outstanding bicycle kick that forced a magical save from the Maccabi keeper. Hoy then made a fantastic save to keep his team in the game when some good pressure by Pete Karremen forced the Maccabi striker to hit his shot early resulting in a reflex save by Hoy's outstretched foot. Ballajura then equalised through Ash Vincent who cut inside from the left and his vicious strike was spilled by the goalkeeper into the net. Maccabi almost stole it at the end when a strike from an acute angle was spilled by Hoy, but he managed to pounce on the second effort and run the clock down.

Ballajura Line-up:

A.Best (45' C. Peverley)

A. Bagini M. Etheridge P. Karreman M. Hoy

T. Divilly

B. Vincent D.Clarkson A. Vincent

E. Mammoliti(85' Yaya) B.Stuart

Goals:

D. Clarkson 34'
A. Vincent 78'

Ballajura Masters 3 - 0 Perth Hills

What a difference a week makes. Ballajura managed to field a reasonably fit team but were without any substitutes. The game started at a reasonable pace. Perth Hills made some pushes through the middle of the park and couldn't get a reasonable shot off. Meanwhile Ballajura soaked up the little pressure with little effort and started to exert their own pressure and with ROGER BRYNJULFSEN & PAT DE ROSSI controlling midfield. A neat few triangles and some through balls were made on several occasions and eventually resulted in a sweeping move which saw DAVE SHEPPARD open his league account with a deft side foot placed into the bottom left. Ballajura were feeling good!. Perth Hills did get a a few shots off before halftime but their ordinancewere proving little more than catching practice for keeper DAMON CLARKE for the majority.

The second half continued in much the same fashion and Perth hills did put a bit more venom in their attack after 55 minutes with the advantage of having a subs bench to interchange from giving their legs some rest as the heat started to wear some of Ballajura's running men down. But Ballajura managed to muster up a second wind and with a reshuffle in midfield switching PAT DE ROSSI to right wing and JONATHAN GRIFFIN more central they surged forward and and a ball was sprayed out to PAT DE ROSSI in the right wing and he skipped past the defender like those halcyon days of yore with no sign of those troublesome groins of last season and picked out DAVE SHEPPARD with a sublime cross! DAVE SHEPPARD had anticipated the cross and had started to manoeuvre and contort his body to unleash an unstoppable bicycle kick to bulge the net before the keeper could even realise the ball was behind him and leave the Perth Hills jaws to be picked up off the ground. A early contender for club goal of the season!!

Perth Hills tried to at least get on the score sheet as the pushed forward and rattle off a few shots that either flew over the goal or into DAMON 's hands. anything else was blocked or cut out by ROSH or DAVID, KEN SHEPPARD or JASON EARLEY at the back. CHRIS worked hard up front with ELIO and held the ball up well as the last 10 minutes were coming into sight Ballajura gained possession in left back and worked it through to midfield where PAT DE ROSSI picked up the ball and turned with attack in mind, as he looked up there was acres of space up the right and JASON EARLEY screamed for the ball and PAT duly obliged. The ball was received by JASON and pushed forward into the final third and as JASON looked up 2 runners in CHRIS and ELIO were making a Beeline for the back post with the midfield drawing some attention too. JASON struck the ball with the intent of a cross surely but with a little help from alight breeze the keeper for Perth Hills was deceived and embarrassed as it dropped into the inside netting at the left post 3-0! Perth Hills were spent. the wind was sucked from their sails and Ballajura rode it out to a 3 nil victory. great start Masters.