Rangers continue hot streak to sink Warilla Wanderers

Corrimal Rangers played host to Warilla Wanderers as part of Round 2 of the pre-season Fraternity Cup on Friday night at Memorial Park.

The two District League title challengers come together to jockey for early season superiority, providing a great opportunity to identify where the two teams are and to analyse their off season recruitment and preparation.

Warilla was desperate for a result after losing the opening round of the Fraternity Cup to Wests Illawarra after holding a two goal advantage.

The Wanderers did not have to wait long open their scoresheet against the District League favourites.

In the 7th minute, a superb strike by Paul Gaffney off a free kick flowed past an outstretched Corrimal Rangers goalkeeper Mitchell Blowes to bounce into the net just inside the left post.

The early goal stunned the crowd and Corrimal Rangers who moved swiftly into gear, with the attacking prowess of the Picciolini brothers and company beginning to wear down the Warilla defence with attacking raid after raid.

In the 21st minute, Rangers’ Luke Picciolini threaded a through ball to Mark Picciolini probing near the left post, with a left foot pearler thundering and curling past the inside of Warilla goalkeeper Bradley Hunter for the equaliser.

Only two minutes later, in the 23rd minute, Corrimal Ranger’s Christian Plakias so nearly provided Matthew Cuda a chance to hit the lead, however the shot soared across the face of the posts.

Leading into halftime, both teams increased the intensity with enthusiastic pressing defence and added volume adding to tension between the two squads.

Corrimal Rangers were unable to press forward the territorial advantage, with the score remaining at one goal a piece after the first half.

At the 40th minute, Corrimal Rangers attacking midfielder Luke Picciolini joined the scoresheet with an gorgeous strike powered from outside the penalty area off the right foot, ricocheting down from the crossbar to bounce into the goals.

In the 56th minute, Corrimal Rangers all but consolidated the victory with substitution striker Evan Fitzsimmons powering a low hard driving shot to the left, with the Wanderer’s goalkeeper unable to lay a hand on the ball.

Warilla began to threaten in the latter stages of the match, but the fixture concluded as a 3-1 victory to the Corrimal Rangers.

The Rangers will look to end the Fraternity Cup group stages at the top of Pool 3 by achieving victory against the undefeated Wests Illawarra next Friday night at Memorial Park.

Warilla Wanderers play the also-winless Balgownie Rangers next Sunday at Terry Reserve with only pride on the line, with no team unable to progress to the elimination stages of the Fraternity Cup.

Story by Daniel McGookin

Photo by Pedro Garcia (archive photo)