Tarrawanna travelled to Ian McLennan Park knowing a win would move them level on points with third placed Kemblawarra Fury. As for South Coast, they came into the match in ninth position hoping to put an end to a three-game losing run in all competitions.

The home side decided to defend deep within their own half, inviting the Blueys to attack them. The first big opportunity came for Jared Fish in the 11th minute. Fish was played through on goal and his strike was smothered away by United goalkeeper, Cameron Camilleri, the ball came back to Fish who tried to pass it into the unguarded net but Greg Valic slid in to clear the effort a metre from the line.

Jacob Fryday managed to hit the post from a tight angle midway through the first half and apart from those two chances Tarrawanna had failed to make the most of their territorial dominance. Tarrawanna were racking up the shots but with most being from outside of the box and missing the goal, there was little concern for the typically resilient United defence.

Tarrawanna had the first three noteworthy chances of the second with efforts from Kazuma Nagaishi and Rick Goodchild in the 50th and 65th minute bookending a free kick from Sam Chapple in the 55th. Chapple struck the free kick from just outside the area, the low drive was heading for the bottom left corner but Camilleri pulled off a crucial save to force a corner.

This kickstarted a spell of attacking intent from the home side who went in search of a goal that would secure a momentous win. The closest they came was in the 77th minute, Oliver Carrasco flicked a header inches wide of the top right corner off a David Stojic corner kick.

Two minutes later, Tarrawanna opened the scoring through Goodchild. Josh Chapple worked the ball down the right flank before crossing into Goodchild who hit a first-time volley that raced into the bottom right corner - a classy finish from the Tarrawanna captain.

United was now forced to scramble for a point but as they pushed bodies forward they conceded a second in the 87th minute. Once again, Goodchild was the difference, with the number 10 playing in an arching through ball from the right wing for Fish to run onto and tuck into the net.

Tarrawanna ended up closing out the match, securing another hard earned three points. It was a match which demonstrated the harsh realities of football with United soaking up a mountain of Tarrawanna possession, only to be hit twice on the counter attack.

The win means the Blueys are level on points with the Fury in third place and eight points clear of fifth. It is also the club's eighth clean sheet of the season and they have not conceded in over 400 minutes of Premier League football. After the match, their coach, Peter Willis admitted it was a tough victory, “It was frustrating… but we stuck at it, we persevered and it paid off.”

Willis also highlighted the influence of the talismanic Goodchild, “He’s got great enthusiasm and that enthusiasm goes throughout the side. With him doing that [score and assist] it makes others buzz around him.”

Tarrawanna are next in action against top placed Bulli. A win for the Blueys could ignite the potential of the most unlikely of title bids.

As for South Coast, the defeat is a repeat of countless occasions this season where a big effort performance is left unrewarded. They remain in ninth, still ten points shy of the top five. Next weekend’s double header could make or break their season with Albion Park White Eagles on Saturday and Woonona Sharks on Sunday. If they snatch more than three points out of these matches they could still yet feature come September.

 

Click this link to listen to the post match interviews with the two coaches - https://soundcloud.com/dylanarvela/post-match-interviews-from-south-coast-united-0-tarrawanna-2

 

South Coast United - 0

Tarrawanna Blueys - 2 (Goodchild 79’, Fish 87’)

 

Sunday the 18th of June, 2017

 

South Coast United - Cameron Camilleri, Chris Valic, Greg Valic, Mate Nimac, Josh Brookes, David Stojic, Ivan Bratjanscak, Shinji Shozu, Oliver Carrasco, Danis Stojic and Moto Kinjo

 

Subs - Steve Dimitrievski (on for Bratjanscak), Jason Pappas (on for Denis Stojic), Abdul Lawal, Junior Mushaba and Kaydin Harrison

 

Coach - Greg Valic

 

Tarrawanna Blueys - Adam Rodriguez, Darren Stone, Matthew Naylor, Samual Chapple, Joshua Chapple, Jacob Fryday, Matthew Mazevski, Woo Oh, Jared Fish, Rick Goodchild and Kazuma Nagaishi

 

Subs - Samuel Rose (on for Nagaishi), Allister Carrigan (on for Fish), Daniel Chapman, Caleb Grace and Brynley Richards

 

Coach - Peter Willis

 

Referee - Blake Herbert

 

Assistant Referees - Brodie Merchant and Lachie Mcrae

 

Report by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela

 

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn