Corrimal Rangers are looming as the dangers in this year’s competition as they opened up a four point lead at the top of table after a very productive week with another two wins which leaves them undefeated from seven games played.

In the two games against Coniston Lions and Helensburgh Thistle(Rd 5-Tues), played at Memorial Park, which were won by the same slender score-line of one goal to nil, there was nothing fancy about their play but simply a case of grinding out results.

Both games could have gone either way and in both instances the winning goals were scored by substitutes late in the piece.

Against Coniston, the game looked destined to end in draw until Jayden Bubb nipped in to snatch a dramatic winner in time added on (90+2).

On Tuesday night against the Burgh, Corrimal started brightly enough and if not for the heroics of the Helensburgh Keeper, David Schofield, could have been a couple of goals to the good inside the opening 20 minutes.

As the game wore on, the visitors came more into the game as it turned into a bit of arm wrestle with the patience of the Referee being tested on a number of occasions and both sides being fortunate to finish the game with ten men on the field.

In the end, the game could have gone either way but Nick Tortorella with a touch of individual skill was able to conjure up the decisive goal, 11 minutes from time.

On Saturday, Helensburgh entertained Berkeley Sports at Rex Jackson Park with the visitors arriving on the back of a fantastic mid-week Cup victory over IPL side, Bulli.

This was another very even match-up which was not decided until the final ten minutes of the game and the fortune favoured the Burgh. Mitch Buchan scored the decisive opening goal (80’) before the points were sealed with a stoppage time penalty scored by Grant McDonald which resulted in the Berkeley Keeper, Adam Arnott being sent off for denying a goal scoring opportunity. The end result Helensburgh running out winners two goals to nil.

Albert Butler Park was the scene for the tussle between local rivals, Kemblawarra and Warilla Wanderers. The Wanderers opened the scoring after 28 minutes through Chad Keating but this was cancelled out when the home side struck back close to half time when Branden Ristevski (44’) found the back of the net.

With both sides playing their utmost to gain the upper hand, two goals in ten minutes from the Wanderers proved to be insurmountable for Kemblawarra with first Andrew Kyriacou (60’) and then Luke Everingham (70’) scoring as the visitors ran out winners three goals to one to hold onto second spot on the table at this early stage of the season.

Thirroul Thunder welcomed Kiama Quarriers to Thomas Gibson Park and continued their good form of late with a three goals to one success.

Andrew Bradshaw opened the scoring after 16 minutes when he picked up the crumbs after Dean Beichert in the Kiama Goal had done well to parry a goal bound shot before Peter Lewis doubled the lead from the penalty spot 20 minutes later. Kiama got back into the contest four minutes from half time but required a piece of luck as Daniel Bond was unfortunate to put through his own goal.

Just after the hour mark, all three points were secured when Bradshaw grabbed his second of the match. There was nothing scrappy about this goal as Bradshaw executed a superb over- head scissors kick (one which Christiano Ronaldo would have been proud of).  You can watch all the Thirroul goals by clicking on http://youtu.be/mgUygRuzkZM

Shell Cove FC scored an impressive four goals to one victory over Balgownie Rangers at Myimbarr Park to keep in touch with the leaders.

Chris Jankulovski opened the scoring on 27 minutes with the lead doubled ten minutes later when Tom Markovski scored. The Cove threatened to go on the rampage when Ile Kostovski scored again on 41 minutes but James Seymour was able to pull a goal back on the stroke of half time.

Ten minutes after the interval Jankulovski scored his second but there were no more goals as the home side ran out comfortable winners.

In a close fought affair at Kooloobong Oval, it was the visitors who prevailed after a great tussle as Picton Rangers were able to overcome UOW FC by two goals to one.

Both sides traded goals inside the opening 15 minutes with the Ranger’s Ben Roberts first on the score-sheet (10’) quickly followed by an equaliser from Lochlainn Ryan four minutes later.
Jarred Morley scored what proved to be the winner eight minutes after the mid-game break.

In the remaining game at Unanderra Oval, Chris Murdzevski proved to somewhat of a nemesis against his old club when he scored two goals in two minutes (20’21’) which were the only goals of the game as Oak Flats Falcons beat Wests Illawarra.

With the win, the Falcons, the bulk of the side made up of Wests Players from last season, retained third spot on the table, five points off the pace but it is very early days.