The Infrabuild Academy Boys Youth Team prevailed 4-2 over Canterbury Bankstown on Saturday night, in what Head Coach Damian Zane described as a “game of two halves.”
The Youth team were off to a quick start, with Xavier Bertoncello scoring from the spot in the 2nd minute. Luca West drove through the midfield, before feeding Oli Cockle. Cockle beat his man with a touch inside, before being brought down inside the area for a penalty. Xavier stepped up and smashed his penalty high and down the middle, with the ball striking the underside of the bar on its way into the back of the net.
Oli Cockle continued to cause trouble for the visitors, with the 17 year old dazzling the opposition defenders with his speed and footwork. Luca West had a chance to score from distance early on, with a ball popping out to him just outside the box. Luca fired, but his shot fell just wide of the post.
The boys found a second goal in the 17th minute through Garang Arou. An Angus Muddle corner found the head of a Canterbury player, who half cleared the delivery. Kyle McSeveney chased down the loose ball, before swinging a cross back into the box. His first effort was cleared out to Janni Rafty, who played the ball back to McSeveney. His second effort was much better, as it found the lunging Arou, who stabbed home the ball from the 6 yard box, doubling the Youth teams lead.
Canterbury were handed a lifeline in the 31st minute, when an error at the back lead to Joel Beattie poking one home from close range to pull a goal back for the away side. The scores would remain at 2-1 heading into the break. Canterbury would find an equaliser in the 64th minute through Daniel Goni. He would get on the end of a cross into the box, before finishing past Archbold.
Just after the restart, Ethan Debono was brought on for Oli Cockle. Five minutes later, Max Wettig and Kierry James were brought on for Garang Arou and Jake Goodwin. The scores would be deadlocked at 2-2 until the 84th minute, when the in-form Janni Rafty found the go ahead goal. Angus Muddle got on the end of a loose ball before finding Bertoncello. Xavier bodied his defender, before twisting away from another and firing a powerful shot towards the Canterbury custodian. The ball ricocheted off of the keeper, before falling to Rafty who finished into the empty net.
After the goal, Kai Thompson and Happy Venables were substituted on for Rafty and Muddle. Not long after the kickoff, if was 4-2. Luca West tackled a Canterbury player, before Happy Venables found the feet of Bertoncello. Bertoncello drove at the defence, before finding Debono, who took one touch before poking the ball into the bottom corner. 4-2 and game over.
After the final whistle, Academy Director and Head Coach Damian Zane had this to say about the game.
“It was a bit of a game of two halves. In the first half we were very good. Our attacking line was very explosive and dangerous and we’ve been working on that. We scored four goals again which is good. We lost a bit of control going into the early to mid second half, and from there the boys dug in which was a good sign. I’m disappointed to give away the equaliser, but then we fought back and found a way to win which is a pleasing thing and also part of their development, so that was good.”
In the earlier fixture, our U20s defeated Canterbury Bankstown 9-0, with Cooper Vimpani scoring a hattrick, as well as a brace for Wil Southcombe and goals for Shiwa Dul, Billy Eick, Lucas Johnson and Tommy Edmonds. The Youth teams next fixture is away at Inter Lions FC.
