Thirroul have finished confident winners in their high-table clash against Balgownie, holding off the Rangers 2-0. An early goal to Nathan Mucci followed by a late goal by substitute, Corey Haines-Grose helped the away side continue their strong start to the season.

The two teams had meant once previously this season in a Fraternity (Pre-Season) Club Cup group stage match. Both sides even on the day as the game finished 1-1.

It didn’t take long for the visitors to open the scoring. Balgownie were caught with possession in their defensive third before Nathan Mucci picked the ball up on the edge of the box and hit a delicate chip to get the better of Hugh Bahnert. The ball brushed the goalkeeper’s fingers, just going in under the bar.

The next real chance for either team wouldn’t come until the 17^th minute through Thirroul’s Angus Nicol. Mucci found himself in space on the right wing before lobbing a cross over to Nicol, unmarked at the back post. It was to Nicol’s surprise that he would receive the ball and a late reaction saw the ball fly over the goal.

Balgownie would then follow with a couple of missed opportunities halfway through the half. First, James Seymour took the ball off Daniel Arthur who failed to clear. The striker then opened up for a right footed shot that sailed just wide of the goal. The next chance came one minute afterwards, as Mucci would be on the retrieving end on some well-worked skill by Jim Youssef before pulling him down 25 yards from goal. Scott Muilwyk took responsibility of the free kick but would not trouble Thunder goalkeeper, Joshua Williams who caught it comfortably.

A couple of minutes later, the Rangers saw themselves on the receiving end of a free kick in a dangerous position. A clear foul by Rangers defender, Brandon Lewis on Matthew Kellond gave the visitors a shot 20 yards out. As Mucci stepped up to take it, Balgownie could only hope as they stood and watched the free kick curl around the wall and struck the left post. The follow up from Ashley Ryan would see it rise over the bar. A lucky escape from the Rangers would still see them trail 1-0.

One last chance in the half for Balgownie as midfielder, Tom Shannon pushed forward on goal with a nicely waited through ball by Lachlan Veney. A low driven shot would fall awkwardly for Williams just pulling it into his grasp following a bounce.

The second half kicked off and both teams were slow off the mark. The opening 10 minutes didn’t see either team come up with any suitable chances. It wasn’t until the 12^th minute when Balgownie would launch the first real opportunity of the half. A Sunday-league-like long throw-in by Veney found an unmarked Youssef at the back post. With no time to adjust to the incoming ball, Youssef wouldn’t get any power behind his header, which fell safely in the arms of Williams.

The game wouldn’t see too many more chances for either team in the next 15 minutes but when the chance came, it was Thirroul’s Kellond who really should have seen them double their lead in the 72^nd minute. A miscommunication on the Rangers left side defence saw Thunder’s Corey Haines-Grose win the ball off Veney. Haines-Grose then delivered an accurate ground pass across goal that picked out a wide-open Kellond 10 yards out. A first time finish saw supporters celebrate but they were shortly silenced as the ball narrowly rolled past the post.

Within the next few minutes, Balgownie would continue the fight back. It was through winger, Jake Boyle, who won a corner after a cross forced Ryan to head it to safety. It was from the corner; Boyle would find Shannon, only for the midfielder to see his header fall wide.

The three points was well and truly secured for Thirroul when substitute, Haines-Grose scored in the 76^th minute. Losing possession in the midfield, Balgownie could not recover quickly as Mucci sent the ball over the Rangers defence to an oncoming Kellond. Balgownie had their suspicions for offside but a well-timed run for Kellond saw him bring it down and selflessly pass it across goal for Haines-Grose to slip into the bottom corner past Bahnert. An important goal by the substitute in his first game of the season.

The Rangers would continue to pressure Thunder’s defence as several chances came up the left hand side through fullback, Anthony Oliver. Although, it was to Thirroul’s delight, as they would see all of Oliver’s crosses land safely in the hands of Williams.

A slow finish to the game saw Thirroul hold on to be 2-0 winners away from home and secure all three points.

The loss now sees Balgownie lose two in a row, just hanging onto their top five spot. In another tough match next week, they travel to Warilla who are on equal points on the table, sitting above the Rangers on point differential.

In another top-quality fixture next week, Thirroul host high-flying Coniston who are still undefeated this season. Both sides sit well in the top five looking to continue their solid start and could produce the game of the round.

 

Saturday 28^th April at Judy Masters Oval

Balgownie Rangers FC: 0

Thirroul Thunder FC: 2 (MUCCI 5’, HAINES-GROSE 76’)

 

Line-ups:

Balgownie Rangers FC: Hugh BAHNERT, Mathew MCCOY, Brandon LEWIS, Lachlan VENEY, Anthony OLIVER, Jim YOUSSEF, Tom SHANNON, Scott MUILWYK, James SEYMOUR, Sabastian DALLAS, Anthony VARADEFF

Subs: Jake BOYLE (MUILWYK 45’), Jonathan MCCREARY, Lucas BRUCE (SEYMOUR 89’), Liam STEVENSON, Mathew BUBB (VENEY 79’)

Thirroul Thunder FC: Joshua WILLIAMS, Daniel BOND, Daniel ARTHUR, Tom GOODIER, Joshua HUTTON, Ashley RYAN, Ryan LATINI, Todd DAVIDSON, Matthew KELLOND, Nathan MUCCI, Angus NICOL

Subs: Corey HAINES-GROSE (NICOL 69’), Adam WARD (KELLOND 84’), Marcus RUSBOURNE (MUCCI 86’), Jonathon TOBIN, Simon WARD

 

Referee: Brodie MERCHANT

Assistant Referees: Stuart BELL and Ethan ZVARGULIS

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo by Noel Wynn