In what was a battle for finals, fourth versus fifth, 28 points apiece, Thirroul v Berkeley shaped up as a cracking game of football. Both were coming off the back of 2-1 losses from the day prior, against Fernhill and Corrimal respectively.

Initial proceedings favoured the hosts, a crowd nearly bundling in a long throw after only 6 minutes, before Matthew Kellond almost caught Berkeley keeper Josh Brus in possession.

The usual slick passing displays from Thirroul of old were back on show as the midfield went to town on a lax Berkeley outfit sporting a number of reserve grade players. Rhys Patchett and Ryan Latini were constantly orchestrating the play from halfway on their own terms, with the press from Berkeley not shutting down their passing game in nearly as much time as was needed.

In what was a dramatic period of play, the middle section of the half saw 4 goals fly in within the space of 10 minutes.

The influx begun with Berkeley's Greg Moon nodding a long throw in off the near post to open the afternoon's account, however Thirroul did more than just hit back. In a show of top quality football, the dominance which Thirroul asserted in the 10 minutes after Berkeley's goal was simply marvellous.

Corey Hainesgrose was played in behind the defence with a delicate ball, and duly slotted it first-time into the far bottom corner from the left side only 4 minutes later. Kellond then picked off a goal kick moments after only to volley just wide to the right.

However a pair of errors from Brus stretched the lead. Harry Hodda struck a cross from the left wing which drifted straight in at the near post for the second Thirroul goal, with Brus unsighted in the middle, and less than a minute after the restart Todd Davidson strode down the right wing and chipped the onrushing gloveman from 20 yards to quickly make the score 3-1.

From there, the rest of the half cooled off with minimal action troubling either defence. Thirroul realised the goal-fest earlier on had put them in the driving seat to control the rest of the match and see out another victory, whilst Berkeley appeared dejected and without direction going forward.

The second half kicked off in rather emphatic fashion though, with Latini cutting back from the right wing and crossing into the path of Kellond for 4-1 with only three minutes played.

From here Thirroul only went further into a ruthless attacking streak, toying with Berkeley by holding possession for long periods of time just outside their box. Latini rose to head a corner inches over, Todd Davidson drew a fumble from Brus from 20 yards and Latini again headed into his defender from close range.

It was another calamity in goal for Brus for the fifth on 67 minutes, with Hainesgrose bagging his brace from a free kick out wide left again sneaking in at the near post with Brus wrongly positioned in goal by predicting the cross.

Inches were the difference between a magnificent solo effort from Latini and a deserved goal, making another mazing run down the right wing and cutting in, curling a shot agonisingly close to the far top corner off the left foot.

Berkeley managed to hang on in the dying stages with consecutive desperate smothers of shots at close range from a corner which was far from cleared, however the net wasn't breached and scores remained at 5-1.

In what was a remarkable turnaround from the performance from Saturday's fixture against Fernhill, Thirroul really put Berkeley to the sword and not relenting when well in the ascendency. The three points will do their bid for finals a good push in the right direction, with only a disaster against Wests next week and other results required to boot them out.

Berkeley meanwhile have seen their goal difference slip further below their fellow chasing pack and now sit in a group of four chasing what seems to be the last remaining spot. A home tie against heavyweights Fernhill awaits them next Saturday, with a win against the high-flyers surely deserved of a finals berth.

 

Sunday 21st August - Thomas Gibson Park

Referee: G. Jenkins

Assistant Referee: B. Merchant

 

Thirroul Thunder - 5 (Hainesgrose 18' 67', Hodda 24', Davidson 24', Kellond 48')

Berkeley Sports - 1 (Moon 15')

 

Thirroul Thunder: Lewis, D. Bond, Hodda, Snellgrove, Ward, Patchett (Mulholland 82'), Latini, Davidson, Hainesgrove, Kellond (Mittwollen 76'), Arthur

Subs: Mittwollen, Mulholland, Bragg, Goodier, J. Bond

 

Berkeley Sports: Brus, Hardcastle, Crouch, J. Mears, M. Mears, Evans, Perez, Rowlan, N. Mears (Leimbach 85'), Adams, Moon

Subs: Leimbach

 

Report by David Atherton (@daveatho5)

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia (library archive)