Bellambi were effectively eliminated from the Pool, with 2 losses in a row, however Thirroul were in with a shot of grabbing First place, with Helensburgh and Berkeley playing in the other fixture. Only a win would do for Thirroul, requiring favourable results in the other match. The windy afternoon at Macedonia Park made any long-ball attempts futile, however the amount of attempts was still rather high.

Thirroul took an immediate hold of the game, with good opportunities from the get-go. Corners were swung in, with Matthew Kellond narrowly shooting wide with an audacious bicycle kick from Daniel Arthur's cross. Corey Hainesgrose was running the show for Thirroul and could've had a hat-trick inside 20 minutes. Hainesgrose had a volley blocked from close range, before again being afforded too much space at the top of the box, shooting uncontested straight at Bellambi keeper Jason Petty, and once more taking advantage of a defensive slip to dip a powerful shot across goal into the bottom right after 20 minutes.

Such was Thirroul's dominance, they restricted Bellambi of their first real chance until the 20th minute. Michael Flood punted wide from inside a congested box, yet missed opportunities were not what Bellambi could afford.

Thirroul's lapse in concentration didn't last long though, with their second of the game coming only 5 minutes after the first, with Kellond finishing off a slick passing move, seeing the ball switch twice on the counter, before volleying home a missed clearance for 2-0.

Bellambi had another chance from a defensive error, with Daniel Pivovorski sliding his shot straight into the Thirroul keeper Joshua Williams' arms. However that was as good as it got in the first half for Bellambi, with their keeper Petty the busiest man on the team. Peter Besnard set Hainesgrose in on goal, requiring a good save low by Petty, only for Arthur to side-foot the rebound well over. Moments before halftime Petty was called upon again, with Kellond open down the wing hitting a curled shot, with a fantastic save from the keeper's outstretched leg keeping the margin at only two.

The first half was all Thirroul and the score-line showed an accurate reflection of the match. Bellambi never really had a defining chance and made little use of what they created.

Perhaps surprisingly, bearing in mind the first half's dominance, it was Bellambi who came out stronger in the second half. They crafted their third chance of the match shortly after the interval, however yet another regulation save for Williams saw the threat fizzle out. Pivovorski was later fouled off the ball in a dangerous area, however the resulting free kick was hit well over.

From there it returned to the storyline of the first half - Thirroul got the ball and never looked in doubt of losing the game. The chances forged were more threatening - requiring a sliding tackle from Matt Wallace to deny Kellond a shot - and some unlucky rebounds to deny Thirroul further scoreboard dominance. Thirroul substitute Luke Mittwollen found himself in a tight angle near the by-line, with his shot saved, however it was not until a goal-line clearance from Jarryd Sweeney that trouble was averted.

Bellambi were forced to resort to long range shots and set-piece routines to even trouble Williams, yet the other end was a constant threat. Substitute Jonathan Delyall nearly provided a spectacular goal from the sidelines. An attempt at an early cross was picked up by the wind and floated goalward. A panicked Petty backpedalled, however left relieved as the ball sailed into the roof netting for a goal kick.

In a comprehensive display, Thirroul easily played the better brand of football on the night, running out 2-0 winners. It wasn't enough to grab the lead in the Pool, with the other fixture not producing a favourable result, and leaving them in equal first on points, but third on goal difference.

 

Thirroul FC - 2 (Hainsegrose 20', Kellond 24')
Bellambi FC - 0

 

Friday 4th March

Macedonia Park

 

Referee: Michael Kusi-Appauh

Assistant Referee: Bobby Mazevski

 

Thirroul FC: Williams, Bond, Mulholland, Hutton, Maddock, Davidson, Latini, Patchett, Hainsegrose, Kellond, Arthur

Sub: Hodda, Matiscenko, Delyall, Besnard, Mittwollen

Bellambi FC: Petty, Sweeney, Ramsey, Gilgannon, Harris, Dwyer, Passiack, Pivovorski, Toro Illanes, Pontasolo, Flood

Sub: Wallace, Hughes, Dunster, Van der Stok

 

Report by David Atherton