Fernhill Foxes got their second win on the season in Thirroul on a Saturday afternoon with a 4-1 demolition job of the Thunder.
The opening goal came one minute after the interval when Fernhill winger, Nelson McLeod stole the ball from a defender and immediately played a smooth through-ball into Daniel Djukic who smashed it first time into the top right.
Djukic ended up with a brace while Matt Galanti and Jordan Hughes also got on the scoresheet for the Foxes.
With no wins in their last four, the Foxes looked determined and persistent in all areas of the pitch, especially in the final third.
The away side were dominant right from kick-off with three decent chances in the first 20 minutes.
Jordan Hughes was close to scoring in the eighth minute when McLeod put in a short cross, but Hughes sent it wide.
Hughes had another big chance only seven minutes later when he headed it over the bar from a corner.
Only a matter of minutes later, Mitchell Turner sent his volley attempt into a Thirroul defender who cleared it up the pitch.
After complete control of the game for 30 minutes, Fernhill gave the ball away which sparked a Thunder counterattack.
Thirroul midfielder Todd Davidson sent a crisp pass down the line into the on running Callum Pickthall who had a crack from an awkward angle and somehow only just missed the far post.
Fernhill were on the attack again a minute later, this time with Galanti seeing his high-flying header attempt hitting the post.
Half time rolled around, and it was still goalless at Thomas Gibson Park.
Six minutes into the second half, Thirroul levelled the game when Nathan Mucci knocked in an accurate lob for Corey Haines-Grose to head home at the far post.
Fernhill respond well to Thirroul’s attacking intensity as they scored in the 58th minute to go back up 2-1.
A long ball was played from the back which went over everyone and into the grasp of the keeper, but he then fumbled it into the feet of Turner who scored easily past a vulnerable defence.
In the 70th minute or so, Thirroul was called offside multiple times and that seemed like the turning point of the match.
Fernhill went on to dominate and the Thunder did not look like they wanted it.
Daniel Jorge played a wonderful cross into Hughes who tucked away the open, back post header to get a comfortable 3-1 lead with four minutes to go.
Three minutes later, Mcleod played another great ball into the box and Turner shot it sharply across goal and into the bottom left for 4-1.
Fernhill saw out the last couple of minutes quite comfortably and secured all three points at the end of the day.
Fernhill Foxes coach, Dale White had some words after their big win.
“It was pleasing, things haven’t been falling away last couple of games so to finally put 90 minutes together it was pleasing,” he said.
“Going to Thirroul is always tough, you never get an easy game out here but we competed and the boys were intense.
“We rushed chances in the first half, and we were more clinical in the end.”
Fernhill’s next game is away at Kiama and as for the Thunder, they play Shell Cove at home.
Thirroul Thunder 1 (Corey Haines-Grose)
Fernhill Foxes 4 (Daniel Djukic 2, Matt Galanti, Jordan Hughes)
Thirroul Thunder: 1. WILLIAMS Joshua, 2. HUTTON Joshua, 3. ARTHUR Daniel, 4. HUTTON James, 5. FERHUSON Stuart, 6. MOROSIN Dean, 7. BALL Tyler, 8. DAVIDSON Todd, 9. HAINES-GROSE Corey, 10. MUCCI Nathan, 13. PICKTHALL
Substitutes: 12. DARK Aaron, 11. OVERTON Sean, 14. DE-LYALL Jonathon, 15. COX Jordan, 16. JONES Mitchell
Fernhill Foxes: 1. ZERNER Kiel, 2. JORGE Daniel, 3. CALDER Lachlan, 4. THOMPSON Nathan, 5. OLIVER Anthony, 6. DJUKIC Dejan, 7. HUGHES Jordan, 8. GALANTI Matt, 9. DJUKIC Daniel, 10. TURNER Mitchell, 11. MCLEOD Nelson
Substitutes: 12. DEL Kyle, 13. PASSLACK Mattias, 14. KOTRIC David
Date: 28 May 2022
Referee: Reece Edwards
Assistant Referees: Tony Order and Mick Agin
Report by Solomon Beddow, @Solomonbeddow on Twitter
