SEU defeats Kanwal to stay at the top of the ladder
Southern and Ettalong United has defeated Kanwal 5-2 in its round 12 soccer match played on Saturday, June 23.
Southern is the only team to score more than four goals against the Bulls outfit this year and keep their spot on top of the ladder, one point ahead of Budgewoi.
Southern went on the attack straight away.
A well-struck free kick from Jacob Lepre wasn't able to be held by Kurtis Mahon and invited a 50/50 with Jack Ellwood which resulted in a corner for the home side.
From the resulting corner, a sharp delivery from Lepre was turned into the net by a Kanwal defender, giving Southern a 1-0 advantage.
Directly from the kickoff, Kanwal got the ball down to Logan Moore in the corner of the field.
He delivered a pinpoint cross into the middle where Cal Dunkerley met the cross with a diving header to quickly make the scores level again.
With the game in the balance, a good five-minute spell for Kanwal on the half hour mark put the SEU defence under pressure with two free kicks and a shot that just dribbled just past the post.
Southern had the ball in the back of the net when an Ellwood header from a Lepre free kick struck the post and bounced out to Theo Forsberg who ticked it home, only to see the flag raised for a dubious offside call on Ellwood.
However, two minutes later Southern would take the lead once again.
Another corner was initially half cleared by the defence.
Lepre delivered a cross to the back post where Todd Balneaves rose and guided a looping header into the far corner of the goal.
Just before halftime, Noah Ajala lobbed a pass over the Kanwal defence to an onrushing Jayke Browne, who brought the ball down well with his first touch.
He tucked the ball past the goalkeeper with his second touch, giving Southern a halftime lead of 3-1.
Each side had chances once returning to the field for the second half, but it was the home side that would further their advantage with a goal in the 63rd minute.
A good ball over the defensive line from Ajala allowed Jacobsen to again get in behind and this time he made no mistake, cooly slotting the ball past Mahon.
Southern made it five 20 minutes later, when a deep cross from Ajala found Lepre on the edge of the area.
A good first touch took him past the defender, and he rifled his shot into the roof of the net.
With time running out, a corner whipped in to the far post found Jason Cozens completely unmarked and he easily converted the chance with his head as the score finished 5-2.
Match official was Jason Blackwood.
SOURCE
Website, 30 Jun 2025.
Central Coast Football