Junior David returns to Croydon FC’s starting XI in FSA NPL Round 17 draw with Campbelltown City, plays full 90 mins.
Solomon Islands soccer player Junior David was named in the starting line-up for Croydon FC in a 17th round draw with Campbelltown City in Football South Australia (FSA) National Premier League (NPL) on Saturday.
He played the whole 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Campbelltown, reclaiming his usual position in right wing back. This is the first time he was named in the starting line up since Round Seven on Friday 25th April.
The Solomon Islander was often used as a substitute in the last seven rounds for Croydon, coming into the field of play in the second half.
Despite appearing 19 times for Croydon FC this season, Saturday was David’s 10th time being named in the first eleven (XI).
He also picked his third yellow card this season in the match for a heavy challenge on Campbelltown’s captain Alexander Mullen in the 24th minute.
Despite the yellow card, he played well in the entire match where goals from both sides came within the first 20 minutes mark. A goal in eighth minute by Jordan Elsey for Campbelltown and the equaliser by Croydon in the 20th minute by captain Luke Klimek was the highlight of this fixture.
Croydon remains second on the table after the draw but are barely holding on as they are just one point ahead of third place FK Beograd.
In State League One, Rovu Boyers’ club West Adelaide stopped league leaders Sturt Lions from winning. After conceding in the 29th minute, West Adelaide Hellas fought hard not to concede another while finding chances to convert into goals.
Their break came in the 70th minute as their number eight Yuya Kato scored to equalise and make it 1-1.
Boyers was featured in the match but picked up a yellow card in the 50th minute, before he was subbed off 10 minutes later.
Although West Adelaide managed to stop Sturt Lions from winning, the Hellas lost their second-place spot on the FSA State League One table. They are now in third place behind Salisbury United (second) and Sturt Lions (first).
Another FSA State League One on Saturday saw Solomon Islanders Javin Wae and William Komasi’s defensive partnership broken, by letting in four goals from Cumberland United in Adelaide Cobras 1-4 defeat.
Both players featured in the starting lineup for Adelaide Cobras and after conceding an early goal in the 17th minute, the defensive duo managed to barricade Cobras goalmouth until the 79th minute.
Cumberland tore apart Cobras wall to convert three goals within a space of 10 minutes starting with its second goal in the 79th minute, third goal in the 81st minute and the fourth in the 87th minute.
An own goal by Cumberland United’s player in the 90th minute was only a consolation for the Cobras, as they now sit at seventh place on the FSA State League One table with 17 points.
Micah Lea’alafa of Vipers FC in the FSA State League One did play in Vipers FC 1-2 defeat against Fulham United on Saturday. He is currently recovering from an injury he picked up in the last round. He is expected to return late July and will miss at least one more game.
Vipers FC are 11th on the FSA State League One table with 14 points.
In the New South Wales (NSW) NPL, another Solomon Islands soccer player Raphael Leai assisted in the equalising goal for Wollongong Wolves in their 2-1 win over St. George on Saturday.
St George scored in the 37th minute through Jaden Casella, before Leai provided a crucial low-ball cross into the box for Alex Masciovecchio to score Wolves’ equaliser in the 45th minute.
Leai was later substituted in the 54th minute. Nicholas Olsen then scored the winner in the 80th minute to ensure Wolves run away with the three points in Round 22 of the NSW NPL.
SOURCE: By Ethan Habru in Adelaide
