Corrimal Rangers earned a 4-2 win over Bellambi Rosellas in the final game of the regular Illawarra District League season on Saturday afternoon at Elizabeth Park.
In a flowing attack match, braces for Mackenzie Szelig and Jackson Dent proved enough for Corrimal despite goals from Lucas Bond and Alhassane Camara for Bellambi.
The Rangers made a purposeful start to the match and almost grabbed the opening goal five minutes in. Jake Gander latched onto a ball in the box, where it ricocheted into Jackson Dent’s path, but Rosellas’ goalkeeper Luke Bellamy produced a vital double save.
Corrimal continued to press forward, with Bellambi maintaining their rigid shape and frustrating their opponents.
In the 15th minute, the visitors knitted together a neat move on the right, resulting in fullback Darren Jones lashing a first-time effort over the bar.
Bellambi created a chance of their own not long after as Bond poked the ball through for Jaiden Nerthcott, who skewed a shot wide from the edge of the area.
In the 18th minute, Corrimal’s Dent lined up a long-range free-kick on the left that sailed narrowly past the far post.
The hosts mustered a strike on target midway through the half when Shoya Nanri’s free-kick bounced to Ryan Noronha in the Rangers’ goal.
Corrimal’s persistence paid off, and they made the breakthrough near the half-hour mark. Dent set off on a terrific solo run down the right, eventually pulling it back for Szelig to convert from close in.
Less than a minute later, Dent doubled the visitors’ lead when he rolled a composed finish from inside the box past Bellamy.
Bellambi responded to conceding a quickfire double right away, having two excellent opportunities to score themselves.
Nethercott prompted a sprawling save from Noronha, however, the ball continued to spin towards the goal, requiring the goalkeeper to claw it away from the line.
Moments later, Matt Richardson blasted the ball goalwards, forcing Noronha to make another sharp stop.
The Rosellas’ spirited response earned them a route back into the game 40 minutes in. Nanri’s dangerous free-kick could only be parried back into the middle of the box by Noronha, where Bond slotted home with a simple finish.
An exciting first half concluded with Corrimal holding a slender lead over their opponents.
Bellambi came flying out after the break and almost equalised three minutes in as Nanri whipped a free-kick just wide of the left post.
Despite the positive start, Corrimal grabbed their third goal in the 64th minute. The side set off on a raid down the right, with the ball arriving at Dent’s feet, who placed his shot into the right of the goal to make it a brace.
The Rosellas remained eager to push numbers forward, and in the 70th minute, Richardson lined up from range, with the ball falling narrowly over the bar.
Corrimal began to spring forward on the counterattack following Bellambi’s attacks and added a fourth goal in the 76th minute. Szelig with a curling effort that nestled in the top right corner – his second goal of the match.
However, six minutes later, Bellambi narrowed the deficit. Substitute Camara nodded the ball into the vacant net in the aftermath of a set piece.
Corrimal held this late Bellambi surge to secure a win on the final day of the regular season, taking them to 11 victories for the year.
Warilla’s defeat against University means Bellambi avoid last place, finishing 11th.
Report by Tim Gibson
