A chilly afternoon in Corrimal saw the two Rangers play off, with Balgownie hoping to keep touch with the chasing pack and hosts Corrimal seeking to reinstate their 7 point advantage over second placed Warilla. Both had strung together wins, Balgownie on a pair, and Corrimal 13 on the trot since the opening round draw with Fernhill.

Unlike some afternoons at Memorial Park, the visitors showed some early verve and sought to push the hosts. They were going chance for chance at each end, with both Corrimal's Mitchell Blowes and Balgownie's Chris Todd busy with the gloves.

Proceedings could have started very differently, with Balgownie nearly hitting the lead after only three minutes. Anthony Vardareff got to the by-line on the left, teeing up Kieren Duggen who couldn't connect with a flick from behind him. The rebound bobbled in the box and Corrimal's Andrew Nanos was able to pressure Matthew Bubb into blazing his shot over the open goal from 12 yards.

From there Corrimal took the front foot, and went on the major offensive, rattling off constant chances throughout the first half. Paul Guido had a curling shot tipped wide by Todd having turned on the top of the box and snuck a shot at the bottom corner, and had a half-volley easily saved from the left side of the box.

Talismanic striker Mark Picciolini could've had an easy run on goal shortly after, however predicting Frank Timpano's defensive trip was impossible, Todd advancing to claim it and snuff out any threat. The attacking talent combining up front for Corrimal is undeniable and it proves very hard for opposing defences to withhold week after week. Luke Picciolini drilled in a low, hard cross for Dominic Magill, who could only hit the body of Todd from close range, and was unable to effect a pass to Sale Treneski off the ground.

Again Corrimal found their form in the attacking half uncharacteristically off, with M. Picciolini hitting the chest of Todd from a 1-on-1, L. Picciolini hitting a free kick into the wall, and both O'Brien and Treneski firing way wide.

Balgownie threatened to take the lead again with another chance better than anything Corrimal had yet offered. A one-touch counter attack between Duggen and Vardareff tore apart the hosts' defence, drawing Blowes off his line, however the defence tracked back to shepherd the pair to the touchline and safety.

Directly down the other end, however, Corrimal did grab the lead just before the half hour. L. Picciolini put a free kick into a dangerous area, with the huddle of players unable to clear and Magill ended up bundling home for the opener from close range.

Minutes later Treneski was brought down in the box after showing good strength, L. Picciolini stepping up to send Todd the wrong way from the spot for 2-0.

Balgownie were also lacking the end product, with Vardareff air-swinging from the top of the box and Duggen skying over from 12 yards, however they were all coming from quick counters.

It was a replica of the second goal on the stroke of halftime which finished the tie, again Treneski being fouled inside the area and L. Picciolini firing straight down the middle for 3-0 with the last kick of the half.

The second half proved much less entertaining than the first, with both sides being wasteful in front of goal. Guido was playing well in midfield for Corrimal, turning a player each time he took possession and playing dangerous switches to open up the pitch.

Jackson Dummett tested Blowes from 20 yards and Michael Todd couldn't direct a volley through traffic, with Treneski again threatening from another diagonal run before skewing a shot high and wide and M. Picciolini heading straight at Todd.

Corrimal were on the defensive as well, with their back three of Bescos, Nanos and Mitkovski playing as a unit, dropping deep and breaking down each play with relative ease. A momentary lapse could have afforded Balgownie a foothold back in the game on the hour. Jordan Scott was picked out with a lovely pass across the box, and if not for the last-ditch lunging tackle from Mitkovski, would've had an open shot on goal.

Again Balgownie threatened, a Dummett free kick floating in to be headed onto the crossbar by Nicholas Morgan, and the rebound cleared off the line by Nanos. Moments later, Michael Todd was robbed of a perfect run at Blowes, with play being called back for an earlier foul from Corrimal with advantage deemed to have been over. Again Blowes was on hand to tip another free kick over the bar, this time from Morgan.

It was down the other end where the net in fact did bulge, with Treneski beating two inside the box to claim a goal himself this time, sliding a shot across the face of goal for 4-0 on the hour.
From there, both sides seemed resigned to the score-line, with only half chances in the last half hour.

Nanos nodded substitute James Walker's free kick into the side netting and fellow substitute Christopher Stevanovski intercepted a short goal kick but a heavy touch eluded him. Aerial interplay between Guido and M. Picciolini led to a blocked volley from the latter to finish a slick move.
Again Balgownie should've grabbed their first with 15 to go, Michael Todd beating two in the box with a lovely turn, for a blocked shot to rebound to Bubb who smashed a free shot over the bar from 10 yards.

M. Picciolini took advantage of tiring defenders to weave through five and have his shot blocked by the last man, before repeating it minutes later to the save avail, past a mere three on the second attempt.

The last chance of the game came for substitute Stevanovski after Kolan Hmda beat 4 players on a mazing run, sliding a pass out to the right for Stevanovski to draw a fine save from Todd at his near post down low.

With Corrimal playing Warilla away next week, three points for the league leaders would establish a 10 point buffer with only 8 matches remaining, and Warilla having to play third placed Fernhill the week after. Warilla have their fate, and that of Corrimal, in their hands over the next two weeks.

Sunday 26th June - Memorial Park

Referee - G. Reid
Assistants - T. Arnold, K. Moss

Corrimal Rangers 4 - Magill 27', L. Picciolini 31'pen 45'pen, Treneski 62'
Balgownie Rangers 0

Corrimal Rangers - Blowes, Mitkovski, Besos, Nanos, O'Brien (Stevanovski 56'), Guido (Cuda 78'), Hmda, Magill, M. Picciolini, L. Picciolini (Walker 74'), Treneski
Subs - Stevanovski, Cuda, Walker

Balgownie Rangers - C. Todd, McCoy, Veney, Timpano, Bubb, Morgan, Scott, M. Todd, Duggen (Boyle 74'), Dummett, Vardareff (Howell 74')
Subs - Howell, Boyle, Kewton, Dorahy

Report by David Atherton

Photo: Pedro Garcia (library archive)