Away at Corrimal has proven a difficult ask for most teams this season, however Warilla nearly grabbed a stunning result. Their first half was absolutely dominant, not letting the home side even close to a goal scoring chance.

It took Warilla all of three minutes to have the opener, with Chad Keating given time to size up goal from the edge of the box, before driving into the bottom corner past a diving Mitchell Blowes in goal for Corrimal. Paul Gaffney nearly had Warilla's second after only ten minutes, with a defensive slip allowing him deep into the box, but the angle proved too much and a tame cross was all he could offer. Blowes was nearly troubled again after a deep cross from the sidelines was needed to be tipped over the bar from Nicholas Del Turco.

Warilla were all over Corrimal, and the home side were reduced to snatching at half chances. Luke Picciolini hit a swerving half-volley marginally wide from 25 yards, and consecutive volleys were blocked off Mark Picciolini and L. Picciolini twice into traffic.

On the half hour Warilla made it 2-0, with a cross being played back into the box, an air-swing opening up Keating again, smacking it into the left side netting from 15 yards.

Corrimal were slowly getting into the game the longer it played, but still rare chances were the best they had, with Save Treneski curling a free kick onto the crossbar and M. Picciolini narrowly wide off another free just after.

Whatever happened in the Corrimal sheds at halftime was magical though, and they came out a new team. After only two minutes, Lorri Mandredi was barely denied their first, with the outstretched foot of Bradley Hunter in goal saving his effort. Gavin O'Brien was beginning to dominate his role in midfield, shielding his back four and beginning each attack, as Warilla continually failed to shut him down.

On the hour Corrimal had their first, with Mandredi receiving a long ball, taking a heavy touch, but beating his man in a footrace to poke home to the left through traffic for 2-1, and from there Corrimal seemed to have a tangible belief they could win.

In the space of two minutes, Corrimal grabbed the lead. It was again Mandredi finding the ball for the equaliser, retrieving two rebounds inside the box and laying off to M. Picciolini to curl into the far post with Hunter unsighted. L. Picciolini then blocked a clearance from the kickoff, with the ball falling to brother Mark, sliding in Treneski who neatly touched around Hunter for a mandatory finish to make it 3-2 Corrimal.

From there the chances dried up as end-to-end football provided some good breaks but very little to trouble either gloveman. Corrimal played out the time and claimed the points after a less than impressive first half where they rarely offered a threat.

 

Sunday 17th April, Memorial Park

Corrimal Rangers 3 - Mandredi 58', M. Picciolini 76', Treneski 78'

Warilla Wanderers 2 - Keating 3' 32'

 

Referee - J. Ruscica

Assistant - M. Bell

 

Corrimal Rangers - Blowes, Mitkovski, Nanos, Belsito, O'Brien, Guido, Mandredi, Plakias, M. Picciolini, L. Picciolini, Treneski (Bescos 90')

Subs - Purdevski, Stevanovski, Cuda, Bescos, Stojanoski

Warilla Wanderers - Hunter, Anastovski, Martin, Goldsmith, Hajenaar, Everingham, Del Turco (Walker 79'), Keating (Castelli 54'), Greathead, Gaffney, Caric (White 67')

Subs - Nguyen, White, Castelli, Montalbano, Walker

 

Report by David Atherton
Photo by Pedro Garcia (Library archive)