Cringila Lions faced the defending champions Albion Park White Eagles at Crehan Park on Friday Night. Both teams would have been looking for their second win of the season. With the grand expectations on the White Eagles, their title defence hit a speed hump. Cringilla caused an unexpected result upseting Albion Park 3-2 after being demolished by Tarrawanna just last week. Albion Park have had a trying week after dropping a 2-goal lead to Bulli last week.

The game started slow, with both teams giving up possession too easily. Neither side able to build up any pressure what so ever. The first shot wasn’t until the 10^th minute when Yosuke Tashiro struck the ball towards goal but in the end, it was comfortable for Boullosa who pushed it away for a corner. Albion Park started to dominate possession as was expected, and in turn control the game. With a trifecta of corners to the visitors, the Eagles looked certain to strike first, but Darren Jones wasted the opportunity, hitting the ball high and wide with the goal beckoning.

With the pressure relieved, Cringila were given a chance to launch an attack of their own, playing dangerous counter attacking football. In the 15^th minute, after a flick by Takao Teramoto found his compatriot Takeuchi in space. With only Daenell to beat, Shinchi Takeuchi stretched forward touch the loose ball past the keeper and into the back of the net. This gave Cringila a goal against the run of play.

A minute later and after Albion Park gave the ball up, a long clearance ball from the Lion’s defence turned into a wonderful deep pass into the Eagle’s half. Cringila’s Milan Atlagic chased the ball. A lack of communication between the goalkeeper and defender gave Atlagic the chance to nod the ball past the keeper. The ball dribbled along the ground into the unguarded net to give the Lions an amazing two goal lead. The milk-white tops of Albion Park looked disorganised and very unlike what we saw from them last year.

A quick flurry from the home side had now given them a cushion. Albion Park would have to do what Bulli had done to them last week and overcome a two-goal deficit.

With Cringila's midfield and defence working well, the first half finished with no other major highlights, even though Albion Park had started to pick up their game after the early setback. The normally dangerous Okuno failed to execute on any of their numerous set pieces.

Half Time Cringila 2-0 Albion Park

Albion Park looked to have perhaps copped a roasting at half time as Jeff Allport can't have been too pleased with their first half. To their credit, they came out of the sheds in the second half, dominating the game by controlling possession. Two shots inside the first 2 minutes of the saw Albion park attempt to drag themselves back into the game early, but they failed to provide the crucial touch. Tashiro had a great chance to put his side back into the game but he skied his opportunity. Perhaps a sign, this was not going to their night.

The Eagles completely dictated the rest of the match with Cringila clearly looking to simply protect their two goal buffer. White Eagles controlling the ball from the 60^th to the 90^th holding much of the possession. Cringila’s defence stood strong together, snuffing out any attack that Albion park attempted.

Eventually the pressure built up by Albion Park was too much for the hosts' defence as they cracked in the 75^th minute. Vaughan Patterson had no problem finishing after latching onto a error by Boullosa giving the vistors some hope of salvaging something from the game.

The goal lifted the Eagles who were starting to throw players forward and get more and more desperate. Dead ball specialist -Okuno found his range with 10 minutes left after he struck a wonderful right footed free kick from 22 yards out. The ball found the bottom right hand corner after the goalkeeper’s touch wasn’t enough to push the ball around the post.

With the scores level, the Eagles with their tales up and Cringila floudering, one would have been forgiven thinking that Park would complete a thrilling comeback.

Football can often throw up some surprises. With time ticking away and Cringila looking like they were happy to settle for a draw, a long clearance caught Albion Park a little short at the back after they had pushed hard for the winner. Rodney Lewin found some space and cut back into into the box where he forced a save from Daenell. Unfortunetely for him and the White Eagles, the ball fell nicely forTodd Sparks who knocked the ball into the empty net effectively netting the winner.

The dramatic 90^th minute winner saw the hosts pick up a surprise victory in a game in which Albion Park will perhaps look back wondering what went wrong. After other results this week, this loss puts the Eagles already 10 points behind the leaders and with a lot of work to do.

The Eagles will need to pick themselves up as they face Wollongong United on Tuesday (Anzac Day) at Macedonia Park whilst Cringila also play the same opposition on Saturday also at Macedonia Park.

Full Time

Cringila 3-2 Albion Park

Cringila Lions-

A.Boullosa, N.MacGraw, G.Wilson, A.Todoroski, T.Sparks, J.Sherwen, I.Cesay, T.Teramoto, S.Takeuchi, S.Katayama, M.Atlagic

Replacements

R.Lewin, A.Brbevski, T.Harvey, J.Martin, N.Purdevski

Albion Park White Eagles

B.Danaell, C.Nathaniel, M.Every, B.Allport, P.Prandalos, D.Jones, Y.Tashiro, V.Patterson, M.Delturco, S.Okuno, H.Kawasakiya

Replacments

L.Gilroy, R.Delbanco, D.Djukic, J.Lopez, J.Hufton

 

Referee: Andrew Naylor   Assistants: Alex Rogers and Emma Hayes

 

Report by Liam Emerton
File Photo -  Kiah Hufton