Match of the round- Warilla Wanderers FC-3, Bellambi Rosellas FC-0 @King Mickey Park
In the 7th minute, Bellambi counter Warilla on the backfoot as Shuhei Nagasawa got into the box and squared it to Alhassane Camara.
He struck the ball past the keeper, but the defender knocked it off the line.
The winger had another chance but launched it over the bar.
On the other end, the Wanderers had a clear-cut chance as Jack Murray was able to control the ball down from a cross.
The forward managed to release a shot off before the centre back got a foot to it, but the keeper parried it away in the 16th minute.
Nagasawa had the opportunity to break the deadlock with a free kick on the edge of the box in the 24th minute
The attacker curled the ball around the opposition wall, but it wasn’t enough to get it beyond the keeper, who pushed out of harm’s way.
Warilla had a fortunate chance in the 37th minute as the keeper fumbled a cross into the box, into the path of Murray.
The striker anticipated the mistake and poached the ball past the keeper and the defender attempting to block the shot.
1-0 to the Wanderers.
Warilla came at Bellambi again in the opening stages of the second half as Farshad Valadkhani shot a low driven shot from the wide flank, but the keeper got a foot to knock it away.
In the 63rd minute, Valadkhani curled it to Joshua De Gouveia, who half volleys the ball on the half turn.
The keeper, however, makes a daring save to clear it out of danger and prevent Warilla’s second of the game.
The Wanderers eventually find an opening for their second two minutes later as Valadkhani swung a cross from a corner to Jeremy Rodriguez alone at the back post, who headed it home to make it 2-0 for his side.
Warilla have another pick at the cherry as Rodriguez won a ball high up the pitch from Bellambi’s goal kick.
The midfielder then slipped a through ball to Gouveia, where he rifled it into the bottom left corner from the right flank just inside the box.
For the next match, Warilla have the chance to get another three points with a favourable result against Corrimal, who sit at the bottom of the table.
Bellambi will head into the next round with a tough fixture against Woonona at home, with one point to separate the two teams.
Highlands FC-3, Coledale Waves JFC-1 @David Wood Oval
Highland returned to winning ways with a strong performance at home against Coledale.
Blake Friedrich opens the scoring in the opening minutes of the game to put Highlands a goal up in the first five minutes.
In the 10th minute, the Waves retaliate with a goal by Eduardo Bateman, levelling the score.
Friedrich returned with another goal; his brace put the Highlands back in front to make it 3-1 for Highlands.
Coledale went into the second half a goal down away from home; however, only one goal separated the two sides.
Highlands fortified their lead with a goal in the 56th minute.
Isaac Pemberton chose his spot and put it into the back of the net to seal the win for the home side.
Highlands obtained the much-needed three points to stay up in the top four. They will be challenged by first-place, Shellharbour in the next game at home.
Coledale are fortuned with a bye in the next round.
By Thomas Panayiotou
File Photo: Highlands FC
