Kicking off the season for District League was the fixture between Thirroul and University. Both sides enjoyed a relatively fruitful return from the Fraternity Cup in pre-season, Thirroul unbeaten in the Pool before a loss to Fernhill, and University grabbing two wins but not progressing. After a venue change from the weather, play begun in the drizzle as the Thomas Gibson pitch held out.

University would have considered themselves unlucky to not have opened the scoring in the fourth minute, Evan Fitzsimmons making a driving run to the by-line and crossing in low and hard only for a lack of support to see the dangerous ball fly across the face of goal without a touch.

From there, Thirroul took the upper hand, their defence tightening from the initial scare and completely shutting out the Students' attacking pushes.

A smooth play from the attacking trio of Thirroul saw Daniel Arthur cut back from a run down the left wing, curling a pass into the run of Bradley Strudwick, who glanced a shot into University keeper Liam Stevenson, with Adam Ward following through to snatch at a fast chance, only able to slice his shot across the face of open goal from close range.

Thirroul continued to push hard, with University's David Hamilton clearing a James Hutton header off the line, and Arthur drawing a fingertip save from Stevenson off the resulting corner to pile on the pressure.

Thirroul thought they had the lead, with Arthur nudging home a far post cross, only for the offside flag to call it back, however just before the half hour they got their reward.

A free kick from Corey Haines-Grose skidded off the wet ground, the trajectory misread by Stevenson who could only parry into the path of the following-in Shayne Mulholland for a simple tap-in to open the scoring.

University had their shouts to get into the game again, with a handball call inside the box waved away and a big save from Joshua Williams down to his left from long range keeping the shut-out alive.

Immediately following, Arthur continued owning the left wing, dribbling down and passing into Strudwicl, who switched over to Todd Davidson for a cool finish at the near post for 2-0.

Within a minute of their second, Thirroul had a third - Arthur putting a corner onto the head of Hutton to really take the game from University.

Strudwick could've made it four just before the interval, with a twisting and turning run resulting in a shot barely off target, striking the outside netting at the base of the upright.

The interval came at a good time for Uni, with their defence looking leaky and each Thirroul attack seeming likely to score. It was the visitors who indeed came from the break with new drive, and whilst Luke Vandenberg was called offside, a neat chipped through-ball from Thomas Shannon and the strong shot - albeit saved acrobatically by Williams - were a positive sign after a rather lacklustre first half.

Again, the Students looked to pounce on a defensive blunder - Hutton passing straight to Fitzsimmons 20 yards out, but the first time shot was well over.

From there it was like a highlight reel for Thirroul, their attacking play simply sweeping across the pitch from side to side, opening up the visitors defence at will.

Daniel Bond was afforded a volley from a deep free kick, with the shot blocked off the boot from close range and Haines-Grose allowed time for a powerful drive off a short corner, with the deflection nearly turned in by Ward.

With 15 left to play, the hosts sealed the game with another quick-fire double.

Davidson slapped a powerful skidding shot from 25 yards on target to the far corner from a central position, but an unlucky deflection off substitute Andrew Christie put it out of reach of Stevenson and in for the fourth, and three minutes later Strudwick headed in a fade-away cross from Arthur into the inside netting for Thirroul's fifth.

It was a game which gradually got further and further away from University, and the strength of Thirroul was well and truly on display in perhaps a sign of things to come this season from the boys in blue. They were rarely troubled at the back, offering up a mere handful of quality chances throughout the entire game, and spent large periods of time in the University half peppering the defence.

Up next for Thirroul is a visit to Berkeley, whilst University travel to Bellambi, both of whom suffered first round defeats.

 

Saturday 25th March, Thomas Gibson Park

Referee - G. Reid

Assistants - S. Bozic, B. Kemp

 

Thirroul Thunder 5 - Mulholland 27', Davidson 36' 75', Hutton 38', Strudwick 77'

University FC 0

 

Thirroul Thunder - Williams, Bond (Brindle 70'), Haines-Grose, Hutton, Mulholland (Rusbourne 80'), Snelgrove, Ward (Latini 77'), Davidson, Strudwick, Mucci, Arthur

Subs - Latini, Rusbourne, Brindle. Gyngell, Wearing

University FC - Stevenson, Ryan, Cugliotti, Hamilton, Maubey, Hood (Olendar 57'), Pitt (Christie 57'), Shannon, Fitzsimmons, McCann, Vandenberg (Van Der Stuk 72')

Subs - Olendar, Christie, Van Der Stuk, Dean

 

Report by David Atherton @daveatho5

Photo - Pedro Garcia (Library Archive)