A hat trick for Rick Goodchild and a 14th goal of the season for top scorer Wandi Jajaw earned Tarrawanna Blueys the three points, ending Cringila's unbeaten run of three games. Jack Keating scored a consolation goal late on for the Lions, who ended the game with 10 men after Daniel Atkins saw red with 15 minutes still to play.

The home side got off to a blistering start, with striker Ilija Prenzoski looking hungry for goals, as first a header flew wide of the upright with only seconds played and then a link-up with Goodchild in the second minute forcing a corner.  

It was no surprise when Tarrawanna took the lead in the third minute. Pat Morales sent a long ball from halfway out to Goodchild on the left. He switched inside, took one more touch to set himself up, and then unleashed a right foot shot that flew into the net beyond the reach of Michael Takacs in the Cringila goal.

A minute later, the Blueys might have doubled their lead when Goodchild set up Prenzoski but full back Keating just got his body in the way to prevent the shot.

The visitors finally got time on the ball in the 10th minute and once in possession they managed to look more composed as a unit. Even with possession, though, there was little penetration and it was significant that it was Keating, pushing forward, who had the visitors’ first attempt on goal after 16 minutes. His effort was not on target, though, nor were headers from Taylor Harvey and a right foot shot from Atkins that ballooned over the bar.

When Christian Cevenini won a free kick for the Lions on the edge of the area, it looked like the visitors’ best opportunity but the Tarrawanna wall did its job and Stefan Dimoski’s free kick was booted clear for a corner.

As the first half drew to a close the game lapsed into a quiet period, with no threat on either goal and both sides trying too many speculative shots from too far out.

Tarrawanna began the second half looking lively again, though, and within three minutes they had their second. This time it was Goodchild playing provider as he set up Jajaw. The Blueys’ top scorer had had a quiet first half, but given the space on the edge of the area, the striker took the ball wide to make room to shoot and fired the ball home for 2-0.

The Blueys’ third came shortly after, this time a solo effort from Goodchild, as he picked the ball up just inside his own half, cut inside from the left and beat two defenders before picking his spot with a sweet right foot.

For the next ten minutes, it was one way traffic towards the Cringila goal.. Prenzoski saw one header saved by Takacs, before the Cringila keeper had to be at his best to keep out another Goodchild shot after he had been perfectly set up by Jajaw. And it was this pairing again who created possibly Tarrawanna’s best move of the game in a quick fire attack that finished when Prenzoski’s flick flew just over the bar.

Tarrawanna’s fourth was not long in coming though. This time it was Prenzoski doing the work, taking the ball to the byline before pulling it back for Goodchild whose shot flew into the back of the net for his hat-trick.

With 15 minutes remaining, a brief scuffle involving a pack of players from both sides saw three yellow cards and a red for Atkins.

But rather than wilting under the scoreline and loss of one man, the incident almost seemed to settle the visitors, who played some of their best football in the remaining minutes. Dimoski came close with a left foot shot that was just wide of the upright. Substitute striker Jonathan Liddle saw an effort taken down low by Christian Pretto in the Blueys goal. And then, with five minutes left on the clock, Cringila reaped the reward for this period of pressure, when Keating curled a free kick past the wall and into the top corner, gaining a deserved consolation goal for the visitors.

Speaking after the game Blueys coach Luke McGuire was obviously pleased with his side's performance. "The lads were really switched on today right from the start and that's a bit unlike us as we're known as slow starters usually. The boys took their chances well and I'm pleased for Rick (Goodchild) as he's the one who sets them up normally."

Cringila coach Chris Jackson was disappointed. "It's always hard when you concede early and you're chasing the game. We really need to tighten up in midfield, where we're giving the ball away too easily. And it's always going to be frustrating when you're pushing forward and then you're caught on the counter. We relaxed a bit after the red card incident and played our best football of the afternoon. But it wasn't our day today."

In other games, Bulli beat Bellambi 4-1 with Ben McDonald and Julian Munutillo scoring two each whilst Jacob Fryday got on the scoresheet for the visitors. A Cameron Banks goal was enough for Woonona to overcome Albion Park White Eagles 1-0 at Ocean Park whilst on Sunday Wollongong United moved back into the top four after beating Dapto Dandaloo Fury 3-2 in a thriller. Daisuke Yuzawa, Johnny Martinoski and Klime Sekutkovski scoring for United and Robbie Shields and Cameron Morgan scoring for the Fury.

Story by Simon Duffin.

Photo courtesy of Illawarra Mercury.