Round 5 - West record 2nd Victory in a Row!!!
By RGB_07
West Adelaide scored a quick second-half brace to continue its recent good form by completing a 2-1 win against bitter rivals Salisbury. Harry Skoumbros gave West the lead at Hellas Park and Spiro Kezios doubled it only for Salisbury to pull a goal back from the penalty spot from what can only be described as ‘a horrible decision’ by referee Tim Peecock.
West made one change from the team that recorded its first win against Olympic, with Philios Toumazos replacing Peter Karakasilis in the starting line-up. Chances were few and far between in a tight first half, with both teams’ defences on top. West Keeper Kon Tsacos was hardly troubled and the back four of George Belekis, Yianni Sarris and Michael Alexandrou were superbly marshaled by Captain Brad Weaver.
Dion Lambrinos and Daniel Reynolds were the midfield prompters in West’s engine room supplying plenty of passes for wide men Apa Giamarelos and Toumazos. Up-front West looked lively with Skoumbros and Kezios combining well to keep the Salisbury defence on the back foot. However with all the possession in the first half, West was unable to convert it to the scoreboard and both sides went into the break 0-0.
The second half started brilliantly for West as it scored two goals in ten minutes. A quick interchange of passes in midfield sent Kezios through on goal with one defender to beat… Kezios expertly drew the defender towards him and subsequently slipped the pass through to Skoumbros for an easy 1-1. Skoumbros obliged by coolly slotting the ball home to the roar of the Hellas fans. Minutes later, Kezios was again at heart of the attack when he fired a speculative 20 metre drive to bottom left corner which to the surprise and jubilation of the West faithful was expertly stuffed up by the hapless Salisbury keeper.
Coach Carl Robinson then sent on Angelo Arambatzis for Reynolds and the substitution seem to inject some fresh legs and speed upfront. West was in cruise control up until Referee Peecock decided it was time to take centre stage with some absolute “stinker” decisions. The first of many howlers was the decision for the Salisbury penalty which was converted by Agars. The next was the red card for Kezios for what was said to be for retaliation.
Robinson's men should have gained a two-goal advantage when Arambatzis was brought down in the box after a superb mazy run only for Giamarelos to have his spot kick saved. West held on to claim all three points in a good display.
“I’m delighted to have scored my first league goal of the season and play a part in Hazza’s (Harry Skoumbros) goal… But it’s a bitter-sweet feeling too, being sent off as well. In the end we got the 3 points which we deserved and I hope now the boys can build on this.” Spiro Kezios Said.
Final Score:West Adelaide 2 (H.Skoumbros, S.Kezios) Salisbury United 1 (B.Agars) (HT 0-0) Best – West Adel (B.Weaver, G.Belekas, P.Toumazos) Salisbury (J.Miller, R.Deeley, D.McKenna) Line-Up: Tsacos – Belekis, Sarris, Weaver ©, Alexandrou – Toumazos, Reynolds, Lambrinos, Giamarelos – Kezios, Skoumbros
Reserves:
Salisbury put a huge dent in West's League title hopes thanks to a convincing 5-0 win at Hellas Park on Saturday. Salisbury went in front just before half-time and after the restart Salisbury piled on the misery by adding a further four goals to end the rout at five.
When quizzed after the match, Coach Tory Caputo said “It’s better left unsaid… We must move on and look to the next match. The next few weeks are critical for us and we need to make sure that we bounce back.”
In what was a lacklustre performance by West… there is too much quality in the side for the warning bells to start ringing. Time will tell how coach Caputo can re-invigorate his chargers for the coming matches.
Final Score:West Adelaide 0 v Salisbury 5
Under 19’s:
West escaped from its top of the table clash with a lucky 2-2 draw with Salisbury, who were reduced to 9 men. West Winger George Pilouras struck in the second minute of the 2nd half to give his side hope of a revival. But what transpired was a melee involving all 22 players as tempers flared and subsequent result was the dismissal of 2 Salisbury players.
Prior to that Salisbury had taken a 2-0 lead in the first half totally against the run of play, scoring in the 1st and last minutes of the half. In between it was a wasteful West team who spurned chance after chance. The red cards seem to galvanise the Salisbury outfit as the determination showed in protecting their lead. All seemed lost for West until two minutes before time when young substitute
Peter Bouzalas was sent clear on the right and his precise finish in the near post salvaged a point for the young Hellas guns.
After the match Coach Steph Pappas declined to comment but Assistant Coach Steve Paltoglou responded with “In the end I know we ended up with a point and in the context of the season it may be a vital point but it was the manner of the performance in 2nd half when they went down to 9 men that disappointed Steph, the fans and myself.”