A thrilling and intense game dazzled the spectators at Ocean Park with Woonona F.C. roaring to a 3-0 victory in the opening round fixture, courtesy of two late goals.

The scoreline did not reflect the tenacity of the game, with the match in the balance for 85 minutes until late goals from substitutes Suzuki and Tadokoro placed Woonona out of Cringila’s reach.

New Woonona coach Brendan Anderson was not surprised about the challenges Cringila presented them.

“It was definitely a lot closer than 3-0, that’s for sure. We prepared during the week knowing it was going to be an absolute battle.” Anderson said.

“We thought those two (Suzuki and Tadokoro) running at tired legs would cause havoc, so luckily they came on as super-subs and did the job for us.”

Cringila was most threatening early earning a number of corners whilst unleashing a flurry of shots to no avail.

In the 5th minute, Woonona goalkeeper Bradley Jardine in rare circumstances failed to clean up the corner, allowing Cringila forward Joel Craig to have the first genuine chance of the fixture with the ball sailing over the crossbar.

Woonona slowly and surely took control of the fixture, happy to start attacks from deep through their two impressive centre-backs Godfrey Franco and Lachlan Fetterplace.

In the 21st minute, a long range free kick from Woonona’s Trent Worthington miraculously found the crossbar, and with the keeper out of position, Hayden Nicol was able to leap above the pack to head home the rebound for a goal advantage for Woonona.

In the 39th minute, it appeared that Cringila had equalised before half-time through the efforts of the diminutive midfielder Esala Ali. A lovely long ball into the penalty box from Joel Craig presented a golden heading opportunity but Ali recreated the legendary 1986 ‘Hand of God’ and earnt himself a yellow card for his trouble.

Half-time score was Woonona 1-0.

Cringila began the second half as a much-improved outfit forcing an impressive double save from Woonona’s Bradley Jardine in the 50th minute from a Daniel Vasilevski strike.

Both teams generated chances throughout the second half with a golden opportunities gone begging for Cringila, with no better example than a searching cross navigating wide of Joel Craig by inches.

In the 84th minute, Ryo Suzuki took advantage with some quick thinking dispossessing the Cringila defence who appeared to be looking for an off side call. Suzuki's smarts went rewarded with Woonona's second goal.

An extra goal was added in the 87th minute, with Sho Tadokoro threading a ball through for Valentino Merxhushi who was struck down in the penalty box, with Tadokoro calmly icing the penalty and game for Woonona.

New Cringila coach Jason Higgs was disappointed with how his team opened the game.

“Our first half performance wasn't fantastic, but Woonona are a hard side,” Higgs said.

“Scorebook will say 3-0, but it is probably not a true indication of the game.”

Woonona will look to continue their winning start to the season with an away clash against Tarrawanna Blueys next Saturday, while Cringila will take on competition powerhouse Kemblawarra Fury on Sunday.

Higgs is looking forward to the game.

“We are excited about it; the guys get to go play the benchmark team for the past 4 or 5 years. We will go and give it a shake.”

 

Woonona F.C. - 3 (Nicol 21’, Suzuki 84’, Tadokoro 87’ pen.)

Cringila Lions - 0

 

Saturday 26 March 2016

Ocean Park

 

Referee: Greg Reid

Assistant Referees: Angela Gray, Matilda Dauss

 

Woonona F.C: Jardine, Besgrove, Franco, Fetterplace, Minch, Morlando (Hutton 81’), Worthington, Merxhushi, Banks (Suzuki 72’), Nicol, Pattman (Tadokoro 63’) [subs not used: Beezem, Joseph]

Cringila Lions: Tinker, Eldred, Ramirez, King, Taddeo, Atkins, Sparks, Don, Ali (Murashita 82’), Craig, Vasilevski (Veijanovski 63’) [subs not used: Wagus, Camilleri]

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn