Thirroul Thunder 1-1 Berkeley Sports FC

Thirroul Thunder salvaged a point with the last kick of the game after playing for over an hour with only ten men. Ryan Hunter’s late goal cancelled out Greg Moon’s earlier strike for Berkeley, though it was the visitors’ top scorer Tony Paglialunga who had the most dramatic afternoon, providing the assist for Moon’s goal, hitting the woodwork three times, including from the penalty spot, and himself receiving a red card ten minutes from time.

With the two teams lying in 2^nd and 3^rd places in the WGC Cranes District League at the start of play, this was always going to be a tight affair, and both sides had their chances early on.

Paglialunga showed his intent as early as the 4^th minute, with a right foot shot that flew just wide of the upright. A minute later he hit the post with another right foot, before seeing his far post header crash against the angle of the goal in the 10^th minute.

At the other end, Thirroul top scorer Matt Kellond had the home side’s first effort on goal, with a neat turn inside the area and a right foot shot that went just wide. And he pulled the ball back from the byline to find Ryan Latini for Thirroul’s best chance of the first half, with Berkeley keeper Tyrone White bravely saving at point blank range as Latini pulled the trigger.

It was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 21^st minute with a quick move from the halfway line that caught the Thirroul defence sleeping. Jone Mladenoski found Paglialunga on the edge of the area. A quick flick on to Greg Moon saw the striker with only the keeper to beat. He picked his spot well to give Berkeley the lead.

Things got worse for Thirroul shortly after, when James Townson was sent off for a second yellow card. When right back Shayne Mulholland was taken off shortly after the break with a suspected broken wrist, it just didn’t look like being the Thunder’s day. They had more of the ball in the second half, but however much coach Garth Bowley switched things around, it was hard to see where their equaliser might come from.

But Berkeley failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage and chances were few and far between as the game wore on. When Moon was brought down inside the box, Paglialunga stepped up to take the penalty but his spot kick hit the post with just the hint of a touch from Thirroul keeper Josh Williams. And moments later Puglialunga was heading for his early shower after a clumsy challenge saw him receive a second yellow card.

That left Thirroul with just over ten minutes to get something out of the game playing 10 against 10. The Thunder threw everyone forward, but still that goal wouldn’t come. Corners were swung in, free kicks in dangerous spots came to nothing until, with seven minutes of added time played, Ryan Hunter received the ball just inside the 18 yard box and somehow managed to steer a shot through a packed area, though a suspected deflection may have helped the ball over the line to equalise for the Thunder with what was the last touch of the game.

Speaking after the match Garth Bowley said he was very proud of his players for digging in and holding on after going down to ten men so early on. “The boys showed real character today,” he said. “By the end, we were playing with just two at the back as we threw everyone forward, and obviously we’re happy with a result that keeps us in touch with the leaders and just ahead of Berkeley.”

Jason Higgs, the visitors’ coach, had had to sit out this game having received a red card of his own when playing for the Reserves earlier in the afternoon. He was pleased with his team’s performance, though, especially in the first half. “We’re known as a team that starts slowly, but actually today we were better in the first half. We tried to play more aggressively and I thought we played really good football. We’re still missing a few players, but this is giving an opportunity to some of the younger guys in the club. With two games next weekend and a tough evening fixture at Picton to come, it’s good to have depth in the squad.”

In other games Picton played the majority of the game with 10 men yet still managed to overcome Corrimal 2-0, Kemblawarra needed a late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw to Coniston, Fernhill pipped Warilla 4-3 in a goal-a-thon, University solidified their playoff hopes with a 4-1 win over Wests whilst Helensburgh got the job done with a 4-0 win over Balgownie.

- Simon Duffin -