Port Kembla made it a double in Illawarra Premier League 1 Second Grade, securing a 1-0 win against Coniston in the Grand Final on a scorching Saturday afternoon at Crehan Park.
Coniston showed significant energy in the first few minutes and were eager to exploit space in wide areas, but promising shooting chances were rare.
Port Kembla soon started to find their feet in the contest, and delivered some dangerous balls into the area, however, Coniston held firm.
In the 27th minute, Port’s Ryan Chard nodded down a long ball in the left of the box for Daniel Cunzolo, who blasted a shot onto the crossbar.
Persistent Port pressure finally paid off a couple of minutes later. Cunzolo whipped a right-wing corner towards the far post that flew spectacularly over Coniston goalkeeper Zak Bedelovski to nestle in the goal.
Coniston sought a quick response to falling behind. In the 32nd minute, Thomas Hastings’ volley from the right edge of the area dropped towards Leo Atkins, but the midfielder’s looping header narrowly missed the crossbar.
The side came close again in first-half stoppage time, when James Jovanovski latched onto a ball into the right channel, but skewed his effort wide.
Port Kembla held on to their slender lead heading into the sheds, with the heat still beaming down onto the Crehan Park pitch.
The game opened up in the second half, as Coniston pursued an equaliser with more vigour.
Just before the hour mark, a ball floated towards the left post caused chaos in the Port Kembla box, where Ned Glasgow saw his effort barely cleared from the goal line.
The game took a huge turn in the 65th minute, when Jovanovski raced in behind down the right.
The striker took a touch around the on-rushing Port goalkeeper Noah Tasker, who took out his opponent, before referee Steven Payne showed him a red card.
Blake Coad came on in goal for Port Kembla and delivered a confidence-boosting save from the resulting free-kick.
Port Kembla remained resolute at the back in the latter stages of the match to earn another trophy in a speculator season for Zebras.
Port Kembla defender Aiden Chard was named the player of the match for a committed performance at the back.
Report by Tim Gibson
Photos: Gragrapix
