As the action got under way, Hurstville Minotaurs made a promising start putting Flame on the back foot.

The first real chance came in the third minute when Hassan Abdul found himself unmarked at the back post.

His volley from six yards out was well saved by Matt White.

In the ninth minute, a Bojan Caric through ball fell kindly to Louis Connell who scuffed his hit over the bar.

That miss initially proved costly as just two minutes later, Minoaturs had the lead.

They had a free kick on the corner of the penalty area and Riad Agnache curled his shot over the wall.

Matt White managed to get a hand to it but could not prevent it from nestling in the corner of the net.

It was perhaps just reward for Minotaurs’ enterprising start to the game.

Within 60 seconds, Flame were level.

Dion Sterjovski had two attempts at getting a cross inside the box, his second effort found Bojan Caric lurking just inside the goal area and his neat flick took the ball beyond the outstretched hands of Hurstville custodian Dean Vagenas.

Just four minutes later and the game was turned on its head.

A loose ball fell nicely to Caleb Grace and from an acute angle, he slammed the ball low and into the corner giving Vagenas no chance to put Flame ahead in a frenetic few minutes.

Flame were starting to play some good football and on 28 minutes, Bojan Caric laid off a neat little through ball to Connell who this time made no mistake.

His shot found its way past Vagenas and Flame were now 3-1 to the good.

Just four minutes later and Flame made it 4-1.

Sterjovski looked to be in on goal however Vahenas came out and smothered Sterjovski’s first touch.

He was unable to hold the ball which slipped out and fell kindly to a lurking Connell who had a simple tap in in an empty goal.

Flame found themselves up by the same margin at half time as the first encounter (which didn’t end well) and this time, they were determined not to let the game slip.

Just two minutes into the second half and a surging run from Julio Mushaba down the right found Caric open inside the goal area and with the goal at his mercy, Caric could not get the required contact and a golden chance went begging.

On 49 minutes, Minotaurs nearly pulled one back as White was beaten with a clever dink as he came out of his goal however Martin Thompson was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Just on the hour mark, Wade Wilton found himself on the end of a loose ball in the box however his shot went well wide when he could and should have perhaps done a little better.

A minute later and a Matt Mazevski freekick from the edge of the area went agonisingly close.

On 64 minutes, Flame perhaps put on the best move of the game.

Mazevski linking beautifully with Sterjovski who created some space for himself before curling a delightful shot that had Vagenas beaten but not the upright.

With 15 minutes to go, Flame were still looking for more goals.

Another penetrating run from Mushaba found Connell unmarked in the box and in space. Connell lined up his shot which crashed into the cross bar.

On 85 minutes, a failed White clearance deflected to Julian Valia who tried to chip White who was in no man’s land but it went onto the roof of the net from 20 yards out.

Minatours had one last chance to score through Valia again however White produced a good stop to keep them Minotaurs at bay thus securing a good 4-1 win to end what has been a year of learning for the young team.

This story first appeared on: Football South Coast