GAUDIOSI BRACE INSPIRES IMPRESSIVE WIN FOR SHARKS
Woonona stormed to an impressive 3-0 victory against Port Kembla on Saturday afternoon. The scoring was opened halfway through the first half when Robbie Gaudiosi slid the ball under Port Kembla keeper Justin Mitrevski. The Sharks secured the win with a quickfire double in the final five minutes with Luke McCosker coming off the bench to score a composed goal before Gaudiosi secured his brace a minute later – slamming the ball into the back of the net from inside the box.
Woonona set the standard for the game within the first ten minutes, creating two openings with the first of which coming just three minutes in. A corner from the right-hand side was cleared only as far as the top of the box where the ball bounced to feet of Gaudiosi who controlled the ball well inside the box before flicking a shot goalwards – which was tipped around the post by Port shot-stopper Justin Mitrevski. Six minutes later, the Sharks came forward again, this time down the left-hand side. Brendan Pattman created space and delivered a ball to the back post, but Jesse French was unable to make contact with the ball – seeing it bounce away for a goal kick.
The hosts finally broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when a ball played into the right-hand channel found Jai Mellor inside the box, who showed great awareness to cut the ball back for Gaudiosi who then made no mistake from close range, sliding a finish under Mitrevski. The Sharks continued to push forward and were awarded a freekick six minutes after the opening goal. It was taken quickly and played into the left-hand channel inside the box for Pattman, who drove a shot across the face of goal to no avail.
With four minutes to play in the half, Port Kembla created a chance of their own. A ball in from the left-hand side found Bradley Acev who attempted to dink the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper first-time, but his effort floated over the bar. Two minutes later, Port Kembla were reduced to ten men after captain Luke Boersma was dismissed, leaving a bleak reality for the visitors at halftime with the side both a goal and a man down.
It was the visitors who created the first chance of the half with Fabian Iacovelli delivering a cross in from the left-hand side, which just missed the head of Jordan Hughes who had made a run into the box. Three minutes later, the Sharks carved an opening of their own with the ball falling to the feet of Luke Toohey on the edge of the box. Toohey produced a tame shot which was easily gathered by Mitrevski.
Just after the hour mark, the Sharks came close to a second as Jesse French cut inside from the right-hand side and produced a shot, which nearly took a deflection into the back of the net – narrowly missing the goal with Mitrevski beaten.
Woonona found their second with five minutes to play when substitute Luke McCosker slotted the ball home from the top of the box with a composed finish into the bottom left-hand corner. A minute later, Gaudiosi had his second as he found space on the right-hand side and thundered a strike into the back of the net from inside the box.
The Sharks went on to secure their second victory of the season which makes it two wins in a row for the side.
Woonona Sharks 3 (Robbie Gaudiosi 21’ 86’, Luke McCosker 85’)
Port Kembla FC 0
Woonona Sharks: 1. FERNANDEZ Jair, 2. LOPEZ Jeremey, 3. BURKE Thomas, 4. REGAN-WILLIAMS Taro, 5. ISHII Tomohiro, 6. TOOHEY Luke, 7. PATTMAN Brendan, 8. BROMHAM-FULLER Tyler, 9. FRENCH Jesse, 10. GAUDIOSI Robbie, 11. MELLOR Jai
Substitutes: 12. MCOSKER Luke (FRENCH), 13. BESGROVE Cameron (BURKE), 14. GREW Damien, 15. SMITH Cooper (MELLOR), 30. ZINNATO Rocco
Port Kembla FC: 21. MITREVSKI Justin, 2. MUSUMECI Antonio, 3. BELSITO Nathan, 4. TOBAR Orlando, 5. DI PIETRO Mitchell, 8. NIKOLOVSKI Jayden, 7. IACOVELLI Fabian, 6. BOERSMA Luke, 9. ACEV Bradley, 10. SUTOMO Brian. 11. HUGHES Jordan
Substitutes: 12. DJUKIC Danijel (HUGHES), 13. MUSUMECI Tory (NIKOLOVSKI), 14. DENT Jackson (SUTOMO), 15. MORTIMER Jarryd, 1. HADAYA Yacoub
Date: 22 August 2020
Venue: Ocean Park
Referee: Andrew Naylor
Assistant Referees: Martin Rowney and Club
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photo courtesy of JC Sports Photography
