A winless Oak Flats Falcons side took on a confident Warilla Wanderers at Keith Bond Oval on Saturday. After two wins on the trot against Helensburgh and Kiama in their previous two encounters, Warilla went into the game as slight favourites. Both sides named quite strong lineups for the clash, with both teams having potential game changers looking to fire their side to victory.

It was the home side who looked the stronger in the opening term. Warilla coach Barney King would not have been too pleased with his team’s start to the match, with a variety of passes not finding feet allowing for the game to be quite open.

On 13^th minutes, the first goal of the match arrived. After a scuffed shot in the build-up, Oak Flats left winger Daniel Munilla cut inside onto his right foot to send a powerful shot past the helpless Warilla goalkeeper Adam Arnott via the near post.

Munilla’s second came just seven minutes after his opener. A free kick delivered into the Wanderers penalty area was too difficult to handle for the defence, with a couple of half clearances not enough to get the ball out of danger. Munilla had the simple task of tapping home. Suddenly, Warilla had an uphill task ahead of them, with a shock loss looming just 20 minutes into the tie.

Warillahadto find a way back into the game and they nearly had their lifeline on the 29th minute mark. A break away allowed for a through ball from Javier Ovando to Warilla right fullback Nicholas Del Turco who lifted his cross onto the head of Adrian Montalbano, who put his free header over the cross bar.

Oak Flats goalkeeper Ryan Franks was called into action to save a shot off Warilla striker Jeremy Lopez. It seemed at this point that there might be a slight turn of the tides in the match.

Right on the stroke of half time, a free kick was given to Warilla. What eventuated was the complete opposite of what Oak Flats needed to happen in order for coach Mark Vinton to present a calm half time team talk. Jesse French continued his goal scoring form with a textbook header from inside the six-yard box. The score became 2-1 and made for a potentially mouthwatering second half for the fans to observe.

The second half started quite open with both sides unable to really get their foot on the ball and control the match. The first chance of the half was a real thunderbolt from the 18-yard box from Oak Flats forward Michael Wilson which clattered against the post.

Oak Flats restored their two goal buffer on the 68th minute through Jack Madgwick. It was a goal that perhaps managed to define the pattern of the contest in its entirety, with an imposing attack down one end resulting in a swift counter from down the other end.

There were many chances in the second period falling to Oak Flats. On the 79^th minute there was a particularly dangerous situation looming for Warilla following their own offensive corner. Again Michael Wilson was the spearhead, playing a through ball in which Arnott was forced to intervene with a sweeping clearance out of play.

Arnott was forced to make a strong right handed save off Munilla – who was seemingly looking to take home the match ball – with his right-footed strike being palmed away from the Warilla shot-stopper. Munilla’s positive runs down the left flank became increasingly difficult for Warilla to handle in the closing stages.

On the 90^th minute the result was put well beyond doubt through a second from Oak Flats playmaker Jack Madgwick. After sneaking in behind the Warilla defensive line, a shot across his body with his right foot was hit straight at Arnott’s right hand which, unfortunately for Warilla, was not enough from preventing the ball from creeping over the line.

It was a very positive performance from Oak Flats who will be feeling confident going into their next fixtures, with some eye-catching link up play between their midfielders, Christian Cappetta and Jarryd Vinton. It sets up another must win clash next week for Oak Flats away against Shell Cove on Saturday, a side who will want to bounce back quickly after their 3-1 loss to Kiama.

As for Warilla, coach Barney King must dust his side off after a bit of a slip up in their quest for finals football. They play at King Mickey Park against Berkeley Sports next Saturday and will feel that anything but three points, will be a failure in front of their home supporters.

 

Saturday 14 April @ Keith Bond Oval

Oak Flats Falcons – 4 (Munilla 13’, 20’, Madgwick 68’, 89’)

Warilla Wanderers – 1 (French 45’)

 

Oak Flats Falcons – Ryan FRANKS, Alan WARBURTON, Brenton LLOYD, Dominic GIUSTINIANI, Jamie STEVENSON, Christian CAPPETTA, Jarryd VINTON, Justin BEREGSHASY, Michael WILSON, Jack MADGWICK, Daniel MUNILLA

SUBS – Lance CONDELLO (on for MADGWICK), Matthew THORNTON (on for BEREGSHASY), Chad FERNANDEZ (on for WILSON), Chris JARMAN

Coach – Mark Vinton

 

Warilla Wanderers – Adam ARNOTT, Nicholas DEL TURCO, Ryhs MARSH, Martin CASTELLI, Jason GOLDSMITH, Jesse FRENCH, Jeremy LOPEZ, Ben ELLUL, Aden WADE, Javier OVANDO, Adrian MONTALBANO

SUBS – Brenton GERIBO, Mark MARINELLI (on for GOLDSMITH), Toni ANASTOVSKI (on for DEL TURCO), Drew SHAW (on for MARSH), Blake PUSELL

Coach – Barney King

 

Referee – Nicholas Ryan

Assistant Referees – Mick Agim, Demi Goddard

 

Report by Jordan Warren, on Twitter @jwarren0817

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia