Round 3 of the Premier League saw South Coast play host to an in-form Tarrawanna side. Early exchanges suggested South Coast United would be tough to unlock, with the 5-man midfield deployed by Tarrawanna being picked apart with strong passing out of the back from the home side.

Early chances for South Coast United were plentiful, and could've seen them up 3-0 inside 10 minutes. Aden Wade had a shot blocked off the boot from inside the box, Denis Stojic powered a volley marginally wide off an uncleared corner, and Jun Lee had an acrobatic bicycle kick saved. The chances continued for the home side, with Liam Unicomb slicing a shot off target with only Tarrawanna keeper David Hamilton to beat, and a blazing volley from Robert Brown requiring an incredible reflex save by Hamilton.

Tarrawanna looked confident in possession when they got hold of the ball, and were very reluctant to let it go. They were enjoying long periods of the ball but seemed unable to offer a threat with their build-up play. It took 25 minutes for Tarrawanna's first opportunity, with Matthew Mazevski hitting a driving free-kick quickly at the far post from 30 yards, only for a huge save from United keeper Jason Bleakley to deny what would've been a glorious goal.

From there, Tarrawanna got themselves in the game, with Darren Stone their key outlet down the right wing. On 36 minutes, he crossed into an unmarked Sam Onana Awono, and from 6 yards he bundled it home past Bleakley for the opener against the run of play.

Just 4 minutes later, Stone provided again, collecting an over-hit cross before cutting back and seeing Rick Goodchild sidefoot in off the far post from 20 yards. On the stroke of halftime, Tarrawanna could've collected a third, with an exact replica of the first goal down the right wing, only for Onana Awono to be beaten to the ball.

In what seemed like a half that belonged to United, Tarrawanna found themselves up 2-0 at the break, and from there they cruised into the second half with great confidence. United saw their time in possession pushed back into their own half, and Tarrawanna were pushing hard for more.

It took only 9 minutes for a third, with a defensive slip affording Stone plenty of time in the box to shoot, only to hit it straight at Bleakley, but Goodchild was on hand to poke the rebound into an open net. Once the third went in, the tie was effectively killed off, and Tarrawanna pushed on searching for more.

Mazevski headed just wide from a deep cross and Onana Awono was denied by a fingertip save having cut past 2 defenders in the box. On 67 minutes, Stone provided from another break down the wing, this time cutting back for a tap in for Samuel Isabella to make it 4-0.

On 75 minutes, Tarrawanna bagged a fifth for the afternoon, with Jacob Fryday played in behind the defence, rounding Bleakley and slotting home from a narrow angle.

In what seemed a resounding victory at the end of the match, it really was an outstanding display from Tarrawanna, enduring the initial onslaught that could've seen a very different result. They picked up in the first half and pushed forward, utilising Stone throughout as a key option for dangerous breaks, bagging himself 4 assists.

 

Sunday 10th April, Ian McLennan Park

South Coast United 0

Tarrawanna Blueys 5 - Onana Awono 35', Goodchild 40' 54', Isabella 67', Fryday 75'

 

Referee - Greg Reid

Assistants - Stuart Bell, Damien Donnelly

 

South Coast United - Bleakley, Gilroy, Wake (Carrasco), Valic, Brown (Bertakis), Nimac, Hemda, Lee, Unicomb (Solevski), Stojic, Kiyohara

Subs - Bertakis, Carrasco, Solevski, Lazarevski, Lucas

Tarrawanna Blueys - Hamilton, Chapman, Mortimer (Dolinscak), Young, Morlando, Chapple, Stone, Mazevski, Onana Awono (Fryday), Goodchild, Isabella (Carrigan)

Subs - Pretto, Carrigan, Simpson, Dolinscak, Fryday

 

Report by David Atherton
Photo by Pedro Garcia