MATCH OF THE ROUND – Cringila Lions def Tarrawanna 3-0 @Crehan Park
Tarrawanna’s season struggles continued as they were humbled 3-0 at Cringila on Friday night.
The club lost their coach mid-week with Greg Flood appointed as interim coach. Despite a couple of midweek signings, they were simply outplayed by Cringila, who in fairness could have won by a greater margin.
It was a fast start with Harrison Anagnostopoulos having his effort from the edge of the box saved by Jackson Cracknell whilst at the other end Advin Trebincevic has his shot from ten yards blocked by James Ralston.
Midway through the half, Anagnostopoulos combined with Simonoski to set up Kostovski whose first touch evaded him just a few yards out as the defence swarmed in to snuff out the danger.
Just minutes later, a long throw was flicked on with Simonoski, who perhaps should have done better volleying over from seven yards.
On the hour, Cringila’s dominance finally paid dividends. Simonoski getting in behind the defence before tucking the ball under Cracknell to open the scoring.
Just five minutes later, Simonoski was through again, this time, Cracknell threw out a leg to deny him.
Tarrawanna were perhaps lucky to be down by just one at the break however just seconds after the restart, Thomas Dimeski nearly restored parity as his headed effort from close range saw Ben Manevski smother his effort against the post and away.
The missed opportunity proved costly as just a few minutes later, Simonoski combined with Anagnostopoulos and was brought down by Cracknell in the area. The referee applied advantage with Anagnostopoulos tapping in an empty net to put the home side two-up.
On the hour, some good lead up work from Shotaro Iwamoto saw him lay off to Anagnostopoulos who blasted his shot from the edge of the box against the cross bar.
Anagnostopoulos made amends on 75 minutes after he made a yard of space on the left before cutting back in and squeezing the ball inside the near post.
Some good work on the right late in the game from new recruit and Tarrawanna substitute Salieu Kamara saw Manevski deny him a debut goal with a fine save.
The win now puts Cringila in the mix of teams mid table. They have the chance to build on that when they take on Shellharbour FC this week.
Tarrawanna remain rooted to the bottom of the table. The club have announced new head coach – Paul Carter who is no stranger to the IPL. He will be looking to regroup and refocus the playing group as they head to Berkeley Sports next weekend.
Photos: @Gragrapix
Bulli FC def Coniston FC 3-2 @Balls Paddock
After starting the season with two wins, Coniston FC have now gone six games without a win with Ben McDonald sinking Coniston with a hat trick.
Midway through the first half, McDonald received ball in midfield. He turned his opponent drove towards goal and fired a low shot that found the bottom corner.
McDonald doubled Bulli’s lead on 36 minutes. Coniston partially cleared a corner kick to the edge of the box. The ball was sent back across goal where McDonald reacted quickest getting a touch and flick it in.
On the hour, Coniston found a way back into the game. They executed a swift counterattack down the left before sending in a sweeping cross that saw Sebastian Tomasiello bury it in goal.
Just as Coniston were threatening for an equaliser, McDonald was brought down in the box earning a penalty which he duly converted to secure his hat trick and restore the two-goal buffer.
Coniston made it interesting late in the game when Cameron Morgan pounced on a loose ball calmly slotting into the goal setting up a nervous finish.
It wasn’t to be as Bulli saw out the game. The win moves them into sixth spot where they will face South Coast United next week.
Coniston will be hoping to arrest their slide and misfortune as they host Wollongong Olympic on Saturday.
Photos: Kylie Patterson
Wollongong United def Port Kembla 3-1 @Wetherall Park
Wollongong United extended their lead at the top courtesy of a strong second half performance where they outmuscled Port Kembla.
A scoreless first half saw half chances to both sides as Port Kembla’s defence stood tall.
Kaito Mukuno finally broke the deadlock for the visitors ten minutes into the second half after Blake Coad misjudged a free kick cross. Mukuno poking the ball home through a crowd of players.
It was short-lived though with Nicholas Tomasiello finishing from close range after getting on the end of a cross just four minutes later as Port Kembla levelled it up.
On 72 minutes, Jordan Nikolovski won the ball on half way and spotted Coad off his line. From all of 50 yards, he launched a shot that eluded the goalkeeper in a goal of the year contender putting United back in front.
To make matters worse, Port Kembla lost Joe Lavalle to a second bookable offence moments later.
It was a lead they would not surrender with Daniel Geroski sealing it in the 88th minute after he forced a turnover on the right side. He cut back in and curled an effort into the far post to hand Wollongong United a 3-1 win.
They now face Helensburgh next week in what should be a mouth-watering clash whilst Port Kembla will be hoping to avoid a fourth straight loss as they take on the high-flying Eagles in their next fixture.
Photo: Richie Wagner
Wollongong Olympic def Shellharbour FC 3-0 @Barrack Heights Sportsground
Shellharbour put up a strong performance against heavy weights Olympic before succumbing to a second half blitz that mainly came off mistakes.
Mitchell Brooker opened the scoring after capitalising on a turnover on 53 minutes to put Olympic ahead.
Jason Madonis doubled Olympic’s lead on 72 minutes to put the visitors in cruise control. Madonis has been in good scoring form as he notched up his eighth goal in as many games on 86 minutes to add the icing to the cake.
It was a clinical display from Olympic who now have four wins on the trot as they move into second place.
They take on Coniston next week whilst Shellharbour who haven’t won since round one will be hoping to turn their fortunes around against Cringila this week.
Albion Park White Eagles def Berkeley Sports 1-0 @Terry Reserve
The White Eagles have shown some defensive resilience of late having gone nearly five hours without conceding.
They edged out a plucky Goats side that perhaps can consider themselves a little unlucky not to get something from the game.
Damon Gray scored the only goal of the game on 15 minutes.
Berkeley Sports went extremely close midway through the half with an effort that was cleared off the line.
The win keeps the Eagles in fourth as they look to go three straight against Port Kembla.
Berkeley have a cup game midweek but will be looking to stay in touch with the pack as they host Tarrawanna on the weekend.
Photos: JK Media
South Coast United defeated Helensburgh 3-2 @Ian McLennan Park
South Coast prevailed in a thrilling contest that saw late drama.
Josh Keremelevski scored his seventh goal of the season as early as the sixth minute to put South Coast United in front.
The league’s highest scoring team bounced back when Charlie Jones slotted home after 17 minutes to level the scores. His tenth of the season.
In an open and entertaining affair, Vicent Fedele landed a strike that put South Coast United back ahead just moments before the break.
With minutes winding down, Helensburgh were probing with United giving as good as they got.
Helensburgh’s persistence and desperation looked to pay off with Luke Simac turning the ball into his own goal three minutes into stoppage time to level the scores.
Incredibly and just 45 seconds later, some good work from Simac saw he fire a shot at goal from an angle. It was blocked by Luke Morgan but it fell to Toranosuke Nakajo who slot the ball home deep into stoppage time as South Coast responded quickly to the setback.
It was a crazy game of football that put patrons through a roller coaster of emotions.
The win elevates South Coast into fifth place with Helensburgh suffering their first loss of the season.
Thistle will need to regroup as they visit Wollongong United next week in a top of the table clash. South Coast United will be buoyed by that result and they will go into their clash with Bulli with confidence.
