Berkeley Sports have all but sealed the League Championship with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Corrimal Rangers midweek.
Preston Ridley had a hand in all goals, which included a personal hat-trick.
The warning signs were there in the early stages, with chances to Chris Hollingshead and Ridley denied by some good goalkeeping from Ryan Noronha inside the opening ten minutes.
Berkeley’s frontline pressure pegged back Corrimal, who were struggling to get out of their half.
That pressure told on 12 minutes when a neat combination on the edge of the box between Luke Boersma and Brent Mccance saw the latter turn a defender inside the box before squaring to Ridley, who made no mistake from five yards out.
The goats made it two in quick time when Hollingshead flicked on a Ridley corner as it was adjudged to have crossed the line before being cleared.
Berkeley were relentless in the first half as Corrimal were simply looking to hang on. On 16 minutes, Hollingshead had a crack from just outside the box that was not far wide.
Corrimal Rangers brought themselves back into the game with a determined solo effort from Jake Gander, who needed two attempts before bundling it over the line to reduce the deficit.
The comeback was short-lived as Ridley’s sublime footwork on the edge of the box crafted a chance which he took with aplomb. Berkeley gained their two-goal buffer back.
Hollingshead’s snapshot from the edge of the box on 39 minutes was a little off target as Berkeley maintained their intensity.
The game was all but over just before halftime when Ridley’s shot was not held by Noronha. The ball fell to Hollingshead, who controlled possession and slotted it past the goalkeeper, making it 4-1 at the break.
The game settled in the second half as Corrimal desperately tried to get themselves back in the contest. On the hour, Mackenzie Szelig did well to keep the ball under pressure before firing a shot that narrowly missed the target.
On 65 minutes, substitute Ryan Chapman managed to find a yard of space on the left before whipping a dangerous ball across the goal. Jackson Dent saw his effort smothered by Damien Bedwell, denying Corrimal a golden opportunity.
The game was put to bed on 71 minutes with Hollingshead turning provider this time as he squared to Ridley, who tapped in for a simple finish, securing his hat trick.
Corrimal had one last chance late in the game with Dylan Hogan’s free kick whistling the wrong side of the post.
The game fizzed out with Berkeley showing why they are league leaders. The goats are now nine points clear with three games left, and with a superior goal difference, it will take a major blowout to deny the goats the championship from here.
Photos courtesy of JK Media
Report by Bobby Mazevski
