Match of the Round-Bellambi Rosellas FC-0, Albion Park FC-2 @Elizabeth Park
Albion Park scored two goals from outside the box to crash Bellambi’s momentum.
In the 8th minute, Matthew Cignarella for Albion Park got through the defence and launched a low and hard effort at the goalkeeper, but the keeper had it covered.
Two minutes later, Conor Edenden flew through the flank and cut it to the edge of the box for Marcus Navarro, but couldn’t find a gap to shoot through and had to settle for a corner.
In the 14th minute, Matt Richardson fired from outside the box; the defence kept their structure and blocked the oncoming shot.
A minute later, Cignarella had another goal attempt, this time from inside the box from a tight angle; however, Lucas Panayiotou blocked the shot in the nick of time.
Zac Jovanovski collected the scraps.
Richardson tried his luck from way outside the box after the keeper got off his line earlier to clear a chance in the 19th minute.
Unfortunately, the keeper was alert and got it back into his grasp.
In the 25th minute, Navarro had a second chance from the edge of the box after a giveaway by the Bellambi defence.
He knocked the ball away from his defender to give him enough room to belt the ball to the far right side of the net.
Jovanovski had a hand to it but couldn’t stop it from hitting the net.
1-0 for Albion Park.
The Rosellas had a golden opportunity to draw level as Shuhei Nagasawa was sent through one-on-one against the keeper.
The agile winger chose to go across the keeper, but the keeper also had the same idea and got down to the ball in time to prevent the goal.
The whistle was blown for the half-time break.
Bellambi coach, Aaron Piercy and his squad had the whole of the next half to turn things around for themselves in this match.
In the 53rd minute, Edenden latched onto a failed clearance by the defence and took the chance to curl it from inside the box, but it buzzed wide.
Against the run of play, the visitors countered back with a ball that travelled into the midfield.
Lukas Kospic saw the goal from distance and tried a daring effort.
He was rewarded with a worldie as it soared from his boot and into the top right corner from yards out, the keeper almost getting a hand to it.
2-0 for Albion Park in the 77th minute thanks to Kospic’s audacious shot.
Albion Park return to winning ways; this victory makes it four wins in the past five games.
They now verse Warilla away from home, who sit in second place.
What awaits Bellambi in the next round is Figtree FC.
A home game which can put them back on their feet with a win.
Woonona Sharks FC-0, Shellharbour City FC-4 @Ocean Park
Shellharbour forced their presence in Woonona’s half, which led to Cassander Grujevski exploiting the defence and putting it in the back of the net in the 10th minute.
In the 22nd minute, James Sekuloski added to City’s tally and made it 2-0.
Nine minutes later, Sekuloski desired another, and the creative forward got his chance and put it home.
Three for Shellharbour, just a minute over the half-hour mark.
The first half finished at 3-0 with the second still to be played.
The game was slipping from the hands of the home side, Woonona, as the clock was ticking down.
Instead of a goal for them, another was scored for Shellharbour.
The scorer was Edvard Grujevski, who nailed it in the net in the 78th minute.
Shellharbour all but sealed the game with their four goals scored, with three in the first half itself.
Woonona’s search for a win extends as they now face Highlands away from home.
Their last engagement ended with Highlands clutching a win by only one more goal, so the Sharks can’t be counted out just yet.
Coledale Waves JFC-2, Warilla Wanderers FC-0 @Tarrawana Oval
Warilla left stunned as they lose out to two late goals in the second half away from home; Coledale are victorious.
Going into this match, Warilla were four points clear of Coledale, who sat below them in third place, while the Wanderers stood in second.
Warilla were the favourites; despite this, Coledale took the fight to them as they shut them out for the whole of the first half.
It got to the hour mark, and still both teams couldn’t find an advantage over the other.
A minute later, however, Archie Tobin-Coldwell caused doom for the away side as he bagged the first of the game in the 61st minute.
The Waves went in front at 1-0.
Warilla’s winning streak was in danger as the game was drawing to a finish, with the game entering the last 10 minutes of the game.
Thomas Spargo shot a critical blow to the Wanderers as his effort got past the keeper to make it two for Coledale in the 85th minute.
Celebration for one while misery for the other as the final whistle was blown to end the scoring at 2-0 for the home side.
Coledale won’t be too discouraged with their next fixture, which is against league leaders, Shellharbour, as their victory against second place, Warilla, is all to be inspired by.
In the next fixture for Warilla, they host Albion Park, another uncertain game to look forward to as Albion Park have lost only once in their last five games.
Figtree FC-2, Corrimal Rangers FC-3 @Harry Graham Park
First win of the season for Corrimal in dramatic fashion with a late comeback against Figtree.
In the 8th minute, Nathaniel Mudie opened the game up; his chance was converted to put Figtree in the lead.
The game remained in Figtree’s favour for the rest of the half.
Six minutes after the break, Figtree doubled their advantage with a finish by Elijah Reys.
The game looked to be in the clutches of Figtree, but in the 60th minute, Isaac Leonard put the Rangers back into the game with his netted finish to make it 2-1.
Five minutes later, Jack Gallagher was presented with an opportunity, and he delivered to square the game at 2-2.
From down by two to now level at two all, Corrimal became hopeful of pulling off a thrilling match to claw their first victory.
In the 75th minute, Scott Weston was the answer as he bagged the winner to send Corrimal on their way to their first win of the season.
Disappointment for the hosts, celebration and triumph for the visitors.
A game between the two bottom sides ends in dramatic fashion and surprise as Corrimal emerge on top.
Figtree travel away for their next match, which is against Bellambi.
Corrimal, with their first win, can continue to celebrate as they head into the next round with a bye.
By Thomas Panayiotou
