Round 20 of the 2013 NPL FFSA State League saw West Adelaide travel south to take on The Cove Soccer club. After a spritely 2012 season, the Cove have found themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table this season, as they struggle to replicate the impressive 2012 form which saw them finish in the top 5. Unbeaten in league fixtures since July 2012, West Adelaide hoped to hit the magical 25 mark and keep the gap wide and large on the table.
The weather conditions on the day bought out the true devotees to the game, as they witnessed sun, rain, hail and lightning all in one afternoon. Luckily for the two clubs on the day, the compact pitch at the Cove Sports and Community Centre held up quite well, and despite some games in the league being postponed, the game was given the go ahead.
Coach Ross Aloisi brought in young striker Anthony Trimboli to the line up, after veteran Harry Skoumbros who was assigned to the bench.
The game started at a frenetic pace, with both teams trying to adjust to the difficult conditions. The impressive and consistent Eli Vlassis continued to impress with his solid displays, and the livewire Faustin Machochi kept the Cove defenders on their toes with many menacing runs. On the stroke of half time, Matthew Kemp then took the game into his own, and beat three opponents before striking the ball just outside the 18 yard box sending the ball past the keeper to give West Adelaide a one goal lead.
The defensive line held the one goal lead well, however it was Cove who soon equalised with a well taken set piece, and Harley Gepp from the Cove headed home to level the tie.
Realising that the hosts were on track for a rare point, time was a luxury for them, which therefore saw them take advantage any time the ball exited the field of play. To their credit, Cove did continue to press in an attempt to inflict West Adelaide’s first league loss since 2012.
However in injury time, it was the Harry Skoumbros who latched on to the end of a cross, and fired the ball passed the Cove keeper to hand West Adelaide Hellas another win, much to the frustration of the opposing coaching bench.
West Adelaide will now continue to press in their bid for the championship, whilst their aspirations to play top flight football in 2014 are certainly starting to take shape with ten games remaining in the season and a gap of eleven points between first and second placed South Adelaide Panthers.
