Hay Park Come From Behind

Thursday, 31 May 2007 02:13

The introduction of two premier league players’ midway through the second-half proved a match changing moment that allowed Hay Park to snatch a 3-2 victory over the Dunsborough Towners in a second division clash in the South West Football competition at Hay Park on Sunday.

Until that moment Dunsborough held a well merited 2-1 lead over one of the powerhouses of the South West Football competition. However, because the premier league has only seven clubs there is the need of a bye each week. In their scheduling the South West Association has placed Dunsborough against the club with the bye each week that encourages premier league clubs to play a number of first team players in their second division side.

 

Dunsborough have acquitted themselves well this season under this handicap dominating the opposition in most encounters but losing the advantage in the closing stages. Again on Sunday they held sway for long periods with a tenacity that has become a hallmark of their approach to the game at a higher level. None epitomised this spirit more than midfielder Steve Palmer and sweeper Tony Plumb as they led by example in closing down the skills and passing game of Hay Park.

Youngsters full-back Sebastian Kovacs and striker Richard Olsen shone and underlined their value to Dunsborough now and for the future. It was a deft left wing move by Palmer and Kovacs that led to the first goal in the 18th minute with Palmer racing to the bye-line and releasing a perfect cross that eluded Hay Park goalkeeper Cody Busson to find an unmarked Jon Crosby who headed home.

It was a similar moment in the 70th minute when midfielder Nick Gomersall fought hard for possession, slipped a pass to Palmer on the left who raced into the penalty area and sent over another pinpoint cross for Luke Taylor, who had plenty of time to pick his spot, to head home. In between, at the 63rd minute, Hay Park had equalized with a corner that goalkeeper Paul Andrews appeared to have covered only for an opponent to nip in and head the ball into Andrews that then bounced off his chest into the net.

Dunsborough were noticeably tiring and with quality fresh players on Hay Park fought well to get back into the game, especially as they were down to ten men following the dismissal of Jake Wittaker in the 54th minute after a second yellow card.

But it was something of a travesty that Hay Park managed to score twice in the final stages of the game. In the 73rd minute a powerful shot from Brodie Burdon sliced of the head of Plumb for an own goal as he attempted a diving clearance.

Then five minutes later Kieran Kavanagh clearly controlled the ball with his hand pushing it down to his feet and smashing a superb shot from outside the penalty area just inside the right hand post.

The Dunsborough Towners also put up a spirited fight in the second division women’s clash against Hay Park earlier in the day before going down 1-3.

They held a 1-0 lead at half time with a goal from Emma Olsen, but with a number of key substitutes in the second half Hay Park produced the winners.

< Prev		Next >