Tarrawanna earned their first win of the campaign with a 3-0 victory against Cringila at Crehan Park on Friday night.
Cody Jones opened the scoring for the visitors just three minutes in with a well-placed header.
Dan Chapman doubled their advantage on the stroke of halftime from the penalty spot, before Joel Star added a third in the dying embers of the match with a close-range finish.
Cringila had a positive start to the match and within a minute Brendan Mitrovski sent a left-footed shot from the edge of the box just over the bar.
Three minutes later, Tarrawanna opened the scoring as a cross in from the left-hand side found Cody Jones at the back post who headed home.
Nearing the midway point of the half, the Lions created four promising opportunities.
In the 19th minute, Nick High cannoned a shot off the post from the right-hand side of the box.
A minute later, Chris Stevanovski took aim from a similar position seeing his shot held.
In the 21st minute, Stevanovski was involved again sending a cross in from the left-hand side that flashed across the face of goal.
Ten minutes later, High set off on a lung-bursting run down the right-hand side beating several Tarrawanna players and entering the box but seeing his effort drag wide of the near post.
On the stroke of halftime, the visitors were awarded a penalty.
In the absence of Matt Naylor, Dan Chapman stepped up confidently sending the keeper the wrong way guiding his effort into the left-hand side of the net.
The Blueys went into the break with a 2-0 advantage.
Cringila came out of the sheds firing and just six minutes in nearly found the net as James Ralston sent a glancing header wide following a corner from the right-hand side.
Two minutes later, the Lions were awarded a freekick on the left-hand side; Alex Prentoski took responsibility – powering an effort onto the crossbar.
This prompted a reserved period in the match with neither side creating any meaningful chances.
With four minutes to play, the hosts nearly pulled a goal back when High picked up the ball on the right-hand side and took aim with his effort narrowly missing the far post.
Two minutes later, Tarrawanna added a third as substitute Joel Starr converted from close range after a ball in from the right-hand side found him centrally inside the ball.
The Blueys went on to secure their first win of the season with a 3-0 victory.
Tarrawanna next suit up in five days time when they face NPL 1 side Blacktown City in round four of the FFA Cup, a tough task which leads into their round-four Premier League clash with local rivals Bellambi.
As for the Lions, they are also involved in the Cup on Wednesday night with the side travelling to Seymour Shaw to take on Menai Hawks, before playing Wollongong United in the derby.
Cringila Lions: 0
Tarrawanna Blueys: 3 (Cody Jones 3’, Dan Chapman 45’ PEN, Joel Starr 88’)
Cringila Lions: 1. RISTEVSKI Nikola, 16. PRENTOSKI Alex, 4. BRESLIN Aiden, 5. RALSTON James, 39. TAKAHASHI Shin, 13. MITROVSKI Brendan, 15. WEBSTER Jake, 10. DI MARINO Stefano, 14. HIGH Nick, 19. PRENTOSKI Jordan, 11. STEVANOVSKI Chris
Substitutes: 22. BAILEY Jake (DI MARINO), 17. MOJOSKI Alex (BRESLIN), 8. SITNIKOSKI Stiven, 23. IVANEZA Ethan, 9. DO PAO Alex (STEVANOVSKI)
Tarrawanna Blueys: 1. RODRIGUEZ Adam, 2. CABO Christian, 3. STONE Darren, 4. GIBSON Chris, 5. YOUNG Mitch, 6. CHAPMAN Dan, 7. PAGE Brody, 8. KIRKLAND Kyle, 9. JONES Cody, 10. TOMASIELLO Nicolas, 11. BLACK Tyson
Substitutes: 12. GJORSEVSKI Jacob (BLACK), 13. CRAPIS Joshua (TOMASIELLO), 14. STARR Joel (JONES), 15. UCHENDU OMEZIKAM, 99. NICHOLL Riley
Date: 9 April 2021
Venue: Crehan Park
Referee: Brodie Merchant
Assistant Referees: Rob Sindevski and Martin Rowney
Report by Timothy Gibson
Photographs by Pedro Garica
