A 14 minute hat-trick to Tarrawanna’s Harry Lloyd helped his side to a 4-3 victory over local rivals Corrimal in this round 10 clash of the Fraternity Club Illawarra Premier League at Ian McLennan Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Blueys have started their season nicely, picking up seven out of a possible 12 points in their opening four games. As for Corrimal, their only game of the season ended with a one-all draw with Port Kembla.
Both teams took a bit of time to adjust themselves into the game and it was the Blueys taking control early on.
They opened the scoring in the 12th minute when the ball rolled to Kyle Kirkland on the edge of the area. The midfielder calmly placed it in off the post to the give the Blueys the lead.
Just five minutes later, Takumi Ofuka’s skill up the left tempted a shot at the near post but thankfully for the Rangers, it blasted off the woodwork.
In the 32nd minute, Ofuka continued to spark the Blueys attack and after a burst of pace, played Jacob Gjorsevski through onto goal. However, the striker’s shot was met by the onrushing foot of Rangers goalkeeper Takumi Tomizawa.
Despite having no chances in the opening 40 minutes, Corrimal equalised against the run of play.
Tom Cusack’s low cross ended up at the feet of Cody Wehmeyer who slotted it through several defenders’ legs into the back of the net.
Just eight minutes into the second stanza, Corrimal shocked the crowd when Jai Mellor poked his side into a 2-1 advantage after finding the bottom corner.
In the 61st minute, Ofuka was denied again when his chipped effort bounced away off the post.
Blueys head coach Scott Chipperfield then opted to his bench, bringing on Harry Lloyd which completely changed the game.
The winger got straight into the action, running onto a through ball before he even touched the ball. His first touch set it up for a shot on his right which blasted into the top corner, bringing the game level once again.
Then, four minutes later, another substitute in Jackson Dent sent Lloyd through onto goal again. This time he rounded Tomizawa and tapped it into an empty net, giving his side the lead once more.
In the 78th minute, Lloyd rounded out his hat-trick and all but ensured the Blueys victory, smashing the ball into the back of the net off yet another through ball in behind the Rangers defensive line.
Corrimal seemed down but certainly not out. The side sent players forward for a corner in the 80th minute and a Masamune Kobayshi header looked destined for the top corner if it wasn’t for a goal-line clearance from Darren Stone.
Right on the final whistle, Corrimal nabbed a mere consolation goal with Zane Wilson slotting it into the bottom corner to bring the gap back down to one.
It was too little, too late for the Rangers, as the Lloyd hat-trick sent the three points back with his side after a 4-3 win.
Pending weather for next weekend, Tarrawanna travel to face Bulli and Corrimal host Coniston on Sunday.
Tarrawanna 4 (Kyle Kirkland 12’, Harry Lloyd 64’ 68’ 78’)
Corrimal 3 (Cody Wehmeyer 38’, Jai Mellor 54’, Zane Wilson 90+2’)
Tarrawanna: 1. RODRIGUEZ Adam, 2. NAYLOR Mat, 3. STONE Darren, 4. MORGAN Nick, 5. YOUNG Mitch, 6. LEARMONTH Ben, 7. KELLY Dan, 8. KIRKLAND Kyle, 9. DI MARINO Stefano, 10. GJORSEVKSI Jacob, 11. OFUKA Takumi
Substitutes: 12. LLOYD Harry (KELLY), 13. CHAPMAN Dan (KIRKLAND), 14. DENT Jackson (DI MARINO), 15. SHIMOZONO Takumi, 16. MICALLEF Josh.
Corrimal: 1. TOMIZAWA Takumi, 2. MELISSARI Vincezo, 3. KOBAYSHI Masamune, 4. LEON Mauro, 5. CUSACK Tom, 6. CATON Dylan, 7. WILSON Zane, 8. WEHMEYER Cody, 9. MELLOR Jai, 10. TRIPODI Domenico, 11. CARRENO Daniel.
Substitutes: 12. CALLAWAY Reid (CUSACK), 13. SCOTHCER Jack, 14. VILLELLA Daniel (MELISSARI), 15. BUSSOLETTI Jaxon, 21. OBREE Lachlan.
Date: 30 April 2022
Venue: Ian McLennan Park
Referee: Peter Ilcevski
Assistant Referees: Caleb Blanch & Demi Goddard
Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_
Photos courtesy of Graham Brown
