A triumphant return to the Illawarra Mercury Premier League was not to be for run-away 2016 District League minor premiers Corrimal Rangers, after falling at home to a Wollongong United side looking to hold on to their 2016 Fraternity Club Cup title and gather first silverware for the season.

It was to be an interesting afternoon at Memorial Park in Corrimal, with neither club able to field a full-strength side. United were missing Ben Brooks at the back and were without Brad Acev, however it was the hosts who would be clipped moreso, with forward duo Luke Picciolini and Sale Treneski absent through suspension.

The game itself proved to be quite the one-sided affair. Whilst hosts Corrimal were valiant in defence and held out Wollongong for extensive periods, it was their lack of go-forward which quietened the home crowd.

Furthermore, the duo of Daisuke Yuzawa and Taka Noji for United were wreaking havoc whenever the Rangers were unorganised at the back.

In the first real highlight of the game, United opened the scoring courtesy of Yuzawa. A solo dribble down the right wing found space, before cutting back on his left foot from the edge of the area and curling into the far side netting past the outstretched Jason Bleakley in goal for Corrimal. There was perhaps a hint of a deflection off Milan Zoric, however a quality finish nonetheless.

From there, United had the wind in their sails and could have furthered their lead shortly after. A corner was put in the box, with Bleakley forced to dive into a mass of boots and effect a brace double-save amidst the pack.

Once more, Corrimal were lucky to escape without conceding, this time Angelo Hajittofi heading a corner past Bleakley, only for Nikola Rusic to head it clear off the line.

The first half horror show continued for Corrimal as Matt Floro and Karouna Michael put together a classy move - a pair of one-two's sending the latter in on goal inside the box, only for Bleakley to rush out and smother the shot.

It was only in the closing minutes where Corrimal had two nearly-chances, and something to take positively into the break - a desperate lunge from Brendan Reilly all that stood between Mark Picciolini and United keeper Sam Nastic, followed by Milan Zoric tracking back in cover defence in time to intercept a long ball to Tim Wylie and Picciolini with no other defenders to be seen.

The single goal lead stood into the interval, and it was more of the same afterwards - United applying the pressure and seemingly not leaving the Corrimal end all half.

A fast counter by the Rangers nearly reaped some rewards against the run of play, with Paul Guido sending Nathan Belsito down the right wing, with a cross-turned-shot glancing off the crossbar and out from a tight angle.

Back down the Corrimal end, in a tense moment, a diving tackle from Guido on Floro saw the United man go down, however referee Nathan Wotton was having none of the claims for either a penalty for Wollongong or a yellow card for simulation from the hosts, instead waving play on to the dismay of many.

The hosts were really stuck for an outlet, obviously missing the hold-up play of Treneski and the pace of L. Picciolini, and were finding it extremely hard to create any meaningful chances to equalise.

The latter stages could have seen the margin increase drastically - Wollongong missing three good chances to garner a buffer. Zac McLaren headed a Yuzawa cross onto the upright with Bleakley beaten, Klime Sekutkoski had a stretching volley find the gloves of Bleakley on the dive, and Sekutkoski again putting an acrobatic volley well over the bar from close range.

Yuzawa nearly added the double for himself and the visitors with only minutes to go, twisting and turning around defenders on the right wing - even running off the pitch to round one - crossing from 6 yards out when he perhaps should've shot, however it was neither on target nor pulled back enough to find Sekutkoski at the far post.

Such was the resolute defending of Corrimal that they held onto the single goal margin and saved face for the club. Putting in a quality performance defensively, the Rangers can take alot from enduring 90 minutes of pressure, however the lack of service and support for Picciolini up top left the talisman cutting an isolated figure amidst the swarming United defence.

Wollingong United, however, had relatively little to do at the back - a quiet day for Nastic in goals - and can take heart in a solid performance up front where, on another day, their chances may have fallen in and could've walked away with another four or five goals. However a win is a win, and the Fraternity Club Cup will be returning to Macedonia Park for another season.

 

Monday April 17th - Memorial Park

Referee - Nathan Wotton

Assistants - Brendan Fotheringham, Steve Bozic, Gary Smith

 

Corrimal Rangers 0

Wollongong United 1 - (Yuzawa 16')

 

Corrimal Rangers - Bleakley, Maclou, Brown, Belsito, Plakias, Guido, Carrasco, Wade, Picciolini, Wylie, Rusic

Subs- Stevanovski, Yilmaz, Carli, Radmanovic, Bedlovski

Wollongong United - Nastic, Brennan, Zoric, Hajittofi, Tsovolos, Awad, Michael, Yuzawa, Reilly, Floro, Noji

Subs - Craig, Sekutkoski, Ardle, McLaren, Ristevski

 

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5

Note: Fraternity Cup games allow unlimited interchange.

Photos by Kiah Hufton