The opening round of the Illawarra Premier League for 2010 kicked off on Good Friday with Albion Park White Eagles comfortably defeating Fernhill Foxes 3-0 at Ray Robinson Field, Towradgi.

The Eagles looked the better side from start to finish, appearing more cohesive a unit and having by far the better chances during the game.

It was something like eight Eagles corners in the first ten minutes and it wasn't too long before they took the lead when Josh Beech was able to lob Kiel Zerner to put the visitors one up after 14 minutes.

On twenty five minutes, Beech made it two slipping the ball past Kerner.

With the wind at their backs, Albion Park dominated territory with only nominal chances falling to Fernhill, Brett Austin for the home side having one of the better ones.

Fernhill did come into the play more in the second half, James Alcorn blasting over from a good cross but APWE remained in control. They could have increased the lead when four Eagles players descended on two Fernhill defenders, but the opportunity was wasted.

Had it not been for the heroics of Zerner in the Fernhill goal, the scoreline would have been greater. Kerner saved particularly well from Nathan Agbinya, who had turned his defender well but couldn't beat the keeper.

Jack Balmforth looked likely to get APWE's third, but despite rounding Zerner, he could only place the ball across goal rather than in it. In the end, it took substitute Jimmy Kerr to knock in number three to give the Eagles a comprehensive victory they thoroughly deserved.

The Reserve grade score was 8-0 to Fernhill, while the U18 were 1-7 to APWE.

MATCH STATS: Fernhill Foxes FC 0
lost to
Albion Park White Eagles 3
(Josh Beech 14', 25', Jimmy Kerr 92')

Crowd: abt 250

Fernhill Foxes FC
Player listing : 1. Kiel Zerner (gk), 2. Jason Rea (12. Shayne Franklin +55'), 3. Ben Kasznik, 4. Gareth Brownlee, 5. Dale White, 6. Monty Pfrengle, 7. Murray Boissey (14. Michael Stephenson +83'), 8. James Alcorn, 9. Brett Austin (13. Jonathan Soilemezidis +74'), 10. Mitchell Wick, 11. Scott Best

Coach: Paul Michlmayr

Yellow Cards: tba
Red Cards: Nil

Albion Park White Eagles
Player listing : 1. Adam Kumcevski (gk), 2. Darko Ubiparipour, 3. Mick Dimitrevski, 4. Daniel Atkins (12. Jimmy Kerr +49'), 5. Harvey Rodriguez, 6. Steve Dimitrievski, 7. Jack Balmforth, 8. Andrej Giacesa, 9. Josh Beech (14. Darren Jones +67'), 10. Nathan Agbinya, 11. Beren Sullivan (13. Dannie Ristevski +75')

Coach: Steve Micevski

Yellow Cards: tba
Red Cards: Nil


Referee: tba

Ground: 7/10

Game: 6/10

Match Report by Peter Rowney, and photos by Peter Rowney, Chris Dunkerley.



(Mitchell Wick (FF 10) attempting to shoot under pressure from Harvey Rodriguez (APWE 5)- Photo Chris Dunkerley for BOTN)


(A rare Fernhill attack - Photo Chris Dunkerley for BOTN)


(The wall did its job - Photo Chris Dunkerley for BOTN)


(The crowd at Ray Robinson Field look on in earnest - Photo Peter Rowney for BOTN)


(Let's dance.. - Photo Peter Rowney for BOTN)


(Two goal hero for APWE, Josh Beech - Photo Peter Rowney for BOTN)


(Fernhill captain Monte Pfrengle - Photo Peter Rowney for BOTN)


(Ray Robinson Field nestled on the northern Illawarra coast - Photo Chris Dunkerley for BOTN)



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See also Illawarra Easter Ground Hop 2010, or Towradgi Trip - Chris Dunkerley [ Opinion Article ...]

IFA Good Friday games report
IFA web site
See also A Day Out in Dapto, Paul Green [ Opinion Article ...]

See also Easter Ground Hop in the 'Gong 2008 ...
[ Opinion Article ...]