Picton Rangers have shocked the League with a last minute win over Illawarra Premier League powerhouse Wollongong United at Hume Oval on a warm Saturday afternoon.

A Rangers penalty and goal off the last kick of the game was enough for the locals to seize victory, sending home a frustrated Wollongong United.

Picton coach Brett Morley was elated following the clash.

“We just competed for everything, just worked hard and the harder we worked, the luckier we got,” Morley said.

“We created a few chances, and probably on chances the game was even but we snuck two goals in so we will take the win graciously.”

Both teams tested out each others defence early, with the ball reaching both keepers hands by the 3rd minute.

Picton Rangers were grasping to keep in touch with a classy United outfit, but their commitment made the class difference difficult to spot.

In the 5th minute Picton’s Ben Roberts directed a ball through to provide striker Mitchell Hall an early opportunity, who was unable to finish the movement by misdirecting the strike.

United’s Johnny Martinoski was dangerous early with a powerful strike forcing an impressive save for Picton’s goalkeeper Brad Jones in the 10th minute.

Wollongong United hit the lead in the 43rd minute, with goalkeeper Brad Jones only feebly knocking the ball away following a corner kick, allowing United’s Billy Tsovolos to direct the ball high into the netting for a one goal lead.

It appeared Wollongong United would be able to dictate proceedings for the remainder of the clash at the halftime break.

Play resumed with a strong opportunity for United captain Brendan Reilly following a cross by Jinya An, with Reilly unable to control the ball from just outside the 6 yard box allowing an easy save.

The committed Picton outfit continued to toil, rewarded with their efforts in the 61st minute following a long ball into the penalty area in which United goalkeeper Sam Nastic dropped the ball cold allowing Rangers’ Mitchell Hall to tap it into the goals to equalise.

Drama struck in the 73rd minute, Picton’s Bradley Jones charged out of his goals and at the ankles of United’s Karouna Michael with the referee having no hesitation to award a penalty to Wollongong United.

Johnny Martinoski stepped up for the penalty and powered it low and right, right into the hands of Picton goalkeeper Bradley Jones who made up for his penalty with a super impressive save.

Rangers appeared happy to play out for the draw with desperation keeping the scores level in the 85th minute when Picton defender Bradley Durrant was able to slide and save a ball on target, after goalkeeper Bradley Jones charged at the striker and left behind an open goal.

In injury time, Rangers made one final charge into the goal square when striker Mitchell Hall got tackled from behind in what appeared a late challenge from United captain Brendan Reilly with the referee awarding a penalty kick to the home side.

Daniel Goodhew stepped up to the penalty spot and dispatched the ball into the netting to allow Picton to celebrate an unlikely victory in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

Picton Rangers will take confidence from a 6-1 victory in the FFA Cup against Balmain Tigers, the 2015 FFA Cup Cinderella team and now taking all three points away from Premier League heavyweights United wraps up a great week for them. They will battle Port Kembla at Wetherall Park next Saturday afternoon.

Wollongong United will seek to avenge their loss when they host South Coast United at Macedonia Park next Saturday night.

 

Picton Rangers - 2 (M.Hall 61’, Goodhew 90+2’ pen.)

Wollongong United - 1 (Tsovolos 43’)

 

Saturday 9 April 2016

Hume Oval, Picton

 

Referee: Adam Naylor

Assistant Referees: Michael Bell

 

Picton Rangers: Jones, Nicol, Goodhew, Durrant, Mugridge, Hall, Matthews (Dymond), J. Morley, D. Morley, Miranda, Roberts (Sheerin 79’)

 

Wollongong United: Nastic, Yuzawa, Brooks, Hajitofi (Kinjo), Welch (Sekutroski 75’), Michael, Tsovolos, Martinoski, An, Floro, Reilly,

 

Story by Daniel McGookin

Photo: Pedro Garcia (FSC photo library)