In what turned out to be a dead rubber in Pool 2 of the Fraternity Cup - Bulli running out winners on 7 points from a possible 9 - Picton played off against Wollongong Olympic at Memorial Park for their final Pool game.

The match turned out to be an end-to-end affair, with both Picton and Wollongong's midfield picking off pass after pass into the attacking thirds. Olympic enjoyed the share of possession, however talisman Yuseke Ueda was kept very quiet all game by the Rangers defence.

Picton should have opened the scoring after 10 minutes, with a non-threatening cross striking the hand of Daniel Thompson, with referee O'Sullivan awarding the penalty. Daniel Goodhew stepped up for the spot-kick, but the captain placed his shot high and wide from 12 yards with Hayden Durose going the wrong way.

Eight minutes later and Picton did open their account with an acrobatic volley from Rey Mitchell starting the day off well for the Rangers. A long cross cleared the box and fell to Mitchell at the back post, where he had to stretch to get the shot off, but he powered the ball through the arms of Durose and in for 1-0.

Olympic had a couple of chances in the middle of an otherwise sparse half - Blake Coates having a shot blocked off the boot from only 3 yards out and Ueda shooting against a hard angle from the left wing saved easily down low by Picton gloveman Brad Jones.

Picton finished the half strongly, maintaining a high press on the Olympic midfield and forcing them to play out quickly.

Mitchell Hall had two chances to really test Durose and possibly add another before the interval, however his first time half-volley from a defensive error drifted just wide of the upright from 20 yards, and a sliced shot fell into the arms of Durose minutes later.

At the interval, Picton would have felt hard done by to only be up 1-0, with the missed penalty a big talking point.

Rightly so, considering it took Olympic a matter of four minutes for parity to be restored. Ryan Lappin dribbled down the wing after a long ball forward by Durose, crossing in for Coates to chest home from close range and bring scores to 1-1.

Olympic continued the pressure with Lappin losing out to heavy touches inside the Picton box on two consecutive occasions in what were shooting positions.

Picton could've jagged a second if not for some fortune going the way of Olympic keeper Durose - a wayward shot from Jared Morley was headed well across the face of goal only for a deflection off Daniel Morley hitting the chest of Durose. Anywhere else on target and Picton retake the lead but it was not to be.

Picton appeared to be struggling to maintain their up-tempo pressing of the Olympic midfield midway through the half, as Wollongong were afforded much more time and space on the ball with the game opening up a lot.

Jonathon Michalopoulos bundled home a scrappy free kick only for the offside flag to be raised, and Lappin poked a shot straight at Jones from a one-on-one, and this brought Picton back to life.

It was now Olympic running on fumes, chasing ghosts around midfield as the Rangers took the game to them.

Ben Roberts was allowed to run freely down the right wing and get within 10 yards of goal before being challenged, and were it not for a series of well timed tackles by Jake Duczynski, Olympic were in trouble at the back.

D. Morley poked a shot wide from an extremely acute angle, with Hall allowed to run unmarked down the right and encroach on goal to again meet Duczynski in the area.

Picton grabbed a goal late on to seal the game - Josh Miaolo charging down the left wing and beating two, squaring to D. Morley lurking on the penalty spot who side-footed into the right side-netting for the 2-1 advantage.

Picton managed to play out the remaining 5 minutes in the Olympic half and saw out the final whistle to take home a well earned 3 points.

 

Sunday March 12th - Memorial Park

Referee - R. O'Sullivan

Assistants - D. Morriea, A. Crawley

 

Picton Rangers 2 - Mitchell 18', D. Morley 63'

Wollongong Olympic 1 - Coates 39'

 

Picton Rangers - Jones, Mitchell, Diamond, Realph, Miaolo, Goodhew, R. Lloyd, Storkey, Hall, J. Morley, Berkley

Subs - Horee, Sheerin, Howard, Roberts, D. Morley

Wollongong Olympic - Durose, H. Lloyd, Aloegninou, Duczynski, Coates, Brown, Perlovski, Ueda, Martinoski, Lechner, Thompson

Subs - Galanti, Lappin, Michalopoulos, Belsito

 

Note: Unlimited subs in pre-season games. Halves are 35 minutes.

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5