Anthony Gigliotti’s goal right at the end of the first half proved to be the winner for University in their game against Warilla Wanderers at Ian McLennan Park on Sunday.
There was a frantic pace to the opening 10 minutes of the match with both sides hoping to jag an early goal.
Three minutes in, some neat footwork on the left from University’s Cameron Hanson allowed room for a shot; however, it was straight at Warilla keeper Mitchell Presilski.
A minute later, a giveaway on the edge of the Students’ box presented Kori Tzaneros with a shooting chance but he volleyed wide of the left post.
In the fifth minute, University was awarded a freekick that was delivered into the box and dropped to Ashley Hawkes whose effort held onto by Presilski.
Not long after, Warilla was awarded a freekick on the left that Shane Crampton curled into the top right corner but as the freekick was indirect, the goal was ruled out.
Tzaneros had another chance for Warilla with a University clearance being smashed into the forward and bouncing wide of the right post.
Midway through the half, University’s Hanson took on a volley from outside the box on the left that required Presilski to parry it round the left post for a corner.
In the 24th minute, Students captain Ryan Sinclair’s freekick on the right sailed narrowly over the bar.
With eight minutes to play in the first half, Wanderers’ player George Marentis attempted to lob the ball over the goalkeeper from the edge of the box but it fell just over the crossbar.
University found the opening goal on the stroke of halftime as Nic Wilson’s left-sided freekick eventually dropped to Gigliotti who lashed a right-footed shot at the back post into the roof of the net.
The late goal for the Students saw the side go into the break with the advantage.
Gigliotti almost picked up his second goal of the match in the first minute of the second half.
A long freekick on the right was hoisted towards the back post for the defender who headed wide of the right post.
Seven minutes after, Wanderers’ substitute Dion Sterjovski wound up a shot from outside the box that University keeper Jordan Kipps was able to hold on to.
University struck the woodwork in the 55th minute as Sinclair burst down the right before passing along the box to Matheus Scapin who saw his shot bounce back off the right post.
Around the hour mark, Warilla’s Crampton conjured up a couple of shots.
The forward received a corner and took on a shot from the left corner of the box that rolled towards the near post for Presilski to scoop up.
Seconds later, he was able to twist and turn on the edge of the box – sending a right-footed shot just over the bar.
In the 66th minute, both Scapin and Hanson saw shots saved by Presilski with the former’s effort being parried into the path of the latter who was unable to convert from the tight angle.
Warilla created a chance 74 minutes in when Andrew Presilski’s left-sided cross found Marentis at the back post, but his header was saved by Kipps.
Four minutes later, Crampton shifted the ball inside from the left and fired an effort towards the near post that rolled to Mitchell Presilski.
Students’ midfielder Scapin was able to wrestle his way into a shooting position inside the box in the final minute of regular time; however, the ball went straight at the keeper.
Scapin then delivered a cross in from the left in stoppage time for Hawkes at the back post who forced an impressive save from Presilski.
University went on to secure on three points with the goal at the death of the first half proving the difference.
The side will travel to face Picton this Saturday with both teams sitting on the same points heading into the match in fourth and fifth respectively.
The Wanderers have a chance to move off the foot of the table with their match against Kiama this weekend with the Quarriers only two points ahead in 11th.
Warilla Wanderers 0
University FC 1 (Anthony Gigliotti 45’)
Warilla Wanderers: PRESILSKI Mitchell, 2. WALKER Chris, 3. ROBERTSON Stewart, 4. GERIBO Brenton, 5. CAETANO Marco, 6. PRESILSKI Andrew, 7. TZANEROS Kori, 8. CASTELLI Martin, 9. CRAMPTON Shane, 10. MARENTIS George, 11. DI CESARE Dylan
Substitutes: 12. STERJOVSKI Dion (WALKER 46’), 13. LOVE Joe (CAETANO 46’), 14. DEGIDIO Ricky (Tzaneros 68’), 15. WHIDDETT Trevor, 16. PUSELL Blake
Yellow Cards: Shane Crampton 45’
Red Cards: Nil
University FC: 1. KIPPS Jordan, 3. GIGLIOTTI Anthony, 42. FRKOVIC Brooklyn, 26. FLINT-PETERSON Eamon, 10. MARTIN Joshua, 19. COETZER Alex, 46. SINCLAIR Ryan, 23. HAWKES Ashley, 13. PRUKS Oscar, 32. HANSON Cameron, 18. WILSON Nic
Substitutes: 33. SCAPIN Matheus (PRUKS 46’), 2. SIMMS Jordan (Martin 74’), 36. TWIGG Christopher (HANSON 78’)
Yellow Cards: Joshua Martin 36’, Jordan Kipps 85’, Nic Wilson 87’
Red Cards: Nil
Date: 10 July 2022
Venue: Ian McLennan Park
Referee: Reece Edwards
Assistant Referees: Steve Bozic and Harrison Fisher
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photo courtesy of Richie Wagner
