Corrimal Rangers secured a crucial 2-0 win over relegation rivals South Coast United at Ian McLennan Park on Saturday night.
First-half goals to Cody Wehmeyer and Bailey Flemming were enough to ensure all three points for the away side.
The hosts had a bright opening 10 minutes with Jamie Wakeling almost nicking an early lead in the match for the side.
Four minutes in, Wakeling’s bouncing volley from the right of the box was held onto by Corrimal shot stopper Takumi Tomizawa.
Seconds later, winger Kieran Brodnik went through on goal in the right channel one-on-one against Tomizawa with the keeper parrying the ball only as far as the edge of the box.
Wakeling received the ball and attempted the loft a right-footed effort into the left side of the net, but Tomizawa pulled off a spectacular diving save to prevent the goal.
The forward had another shot a couple of minutes after firing just over the right of the goal from the left edge of the box.
The Rangers had a positive spell midway through the half, winning several set pieces.
A succession of corners in the 20th minute culminated in sWehmeyer’s first-time shot from the edge of the box sailing just over.
Elias Ayoub took on a shot from the right of the box four minutes later that cleared the crossbar as well.
The visitors had another chance 26 minutes in with Zane Wilson powering a volley from inside the box towards the bottom-right corner, but United goalkeeper Bleakley made the save.
Two minutes after, Rangers midfielder Dominico Tripodi wriggled his way into the middle of the box sliding a left-footed shot wide of the right post.
The pressure on the South Coast defence finally told in the 32nd minute with Corrimal scoring the opening goal.
A ball floated into the middle of the box from the right found an unmarked Wehmeyer who made no mistake from close range side-footing a volley in the right side of the net.
The home side looked to respond over the next five minutes with Brodnik finding space on the right and driving into the box, causing a couple of scrambles in the Rangers’ defence.
The resurgence was short-lived for United as Corrimal doubled their lead with three minutes to go.
The original shot from Ayoub inside the right of the box was palmed by Bleakley into the path of Fleming who nodded in a second goal for the side heading into halftime.
It was a quiet first 10 minutes of the second period as neither team created anything of substance other than Corrimal’s Fleming shovelling a shot from outside the box well over.
South Coast stepped up the ascendancy to the hour mark starting in the 56th minute with Brodnik’s right-sided cross finding Adrian Vranic in the middle who was unable to hit the target.
The side went forward again a minute later as Adam Farkas’ shot from the right of the box was batted away by Tomizawa.
Farkas had another shot 74 minutes in shifting the ball inside from the left edge of the box, but it finished up over the bar.
With six minutes to go, United winger Brodnik dribbled into the left of the box and delicately played a ball across the box, but there was no player to get the decisive touch as it rolled away.
The side were unable to find a goal in what remained of the match with Corrimal securing a vital 2-0 win.
The Rangers host Woonona next Sunday at Memorial Park and United are also at home next week, taking on Bellambi at Ian McLennan Park.
South Coast United 0
Corrimal Rangers 2 (Cody Wehmeyer 32’, Bailey Fleming 42’)
South Coast United: 1. BLEAKLEY Jason, 2. MENA Dylan, 9. WAKELING Jamie, 10. PENISI Marco, 11. FARKAS Adam, 23. BRODNIK Kieran, 25. VOLKANOVSKI James, 26. KARLJEVIC Luka, 29. VRANIC Adrian, 32. LUCAS Daniel, 17. HMDA Kolan
Substitutes: 15. HAYASHI Kodai (LUCAS 46’), 18. NAKASONE Tatsuma (VRANIC 58’), 6. LONCAR Lucas (VOLKANOVSKI 69’), 16. ANIC Antoni, 31. BYRNES Harry
Yellow Cards: Adam Farkas 87’
Red Cards: Nil
Corrimal Rangers: 1. TOMIZAWA Takumi, 2. PAULL Luke, 3. LEON Mauro, 4. ALLPORT Boden, 5. CALLAWAY Reid, 6. CATAN Dylan, 7. AYOUB Elias, 8. WEHMEYER Cody, 9. WILSON Zane, 10. TRIPODI Dominico, 11. FLEMMING Bailey
Substitutes: 12. MONTGOMERY Joshua (TRIPODI 86’), 13. BUSSOLETTI Jaxon, 14. SZELIG Mackenzie, 41. O’BREE Lachlan
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Date: 20 August 2022
Venue: Ian McLennan Park
Referee: Brendon Fotheringham
Assistant Referees: Tony Roder and Club
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
Photo by Edmund Esterbauer
