Bellambi beat Thirroul 2-0 in a feisty affair at Elizabeth Park. Bellambi went into the game having lost their first game this season in the Illawarra District League going down to a Coniston side who are on fire this season. If they were to get a result, they would have to work for it as they faced a Thirroul side who had won their last two games scoring four goals in each.

The game burst into life within the first minute a Bellambi corner from the right-hand-side missed everyone and found its way to the back post where Tim O’Brien was waiting for it, he eventually hit a right footed shot which was inevitably blocked with so many bodies in the way. Two minutes later, Bellambi’s positive start continued as Andrew Keep’s cross from the right-hand-side met the head of O’Brien who had found space in the box, but his effort went wide of the goal. Four minutes later Bellambi came forwards down the left-hand-side when Matt Richardson delivered a well-timed cross into the box where Chris Cevenini was preparing to tap it in but a vital intervention from Thirroul’s goalkeeper Mitchell Cooper meant that the danger was averted.

Thirroul came into the game in the 13th minute when Nathan Mucci nutmegged Richardson to get around him and then delivered sweeping ball into the path of Matthew Kellond who had made a run in behind the defence controlling it well, he set his sights on the goal, but his attempted chip was saved by the quick reflexes of Jack Dugan. Four minutes later, Bellambi responded after capitalising on Nick Beeten’s poor touch in his own box as Boden Allport took a shot but saw it clear the crossbar much to the relief of Beeten.

Thirroul had their best chance of the half so far when Mucci’s over the top through pass found Coery Haines-Grose who took a positive first touch which set him up for a great opportunity to open the scoring for Thirroul, but a strong left-hand from Dugan prevented the scoring from being opened by the away side. Three minutes after Thirroul could’ve taken the lead Bellambi did. Another cross from the left-hand-side from Richardson came into the box but a deflection meant it found Allport on the penalty spot who quickly shifted the ball onto the right-hand-side for Keep who powered a low drive into the opposite corner across the goalkeeper to open the scoring for the home side. This was the last event of the half.

At halftime, Thirroul could’ve been in front but found themselves behind still with the knowledge that the game was still there to be won as they were only behind by a solitary goal. Bellambi would need to step it up a gear if they were to walk away with all three points and put even further distance between themselves and their opponents today on the table.

The second half started just how the first half finished with Bellambi attacking the Thirroul goal, on this occasion, Chris Cevenini found space inside the box and delivered a shot into the palms of Cooper. Just a minute later Bellambi came forwards again through Mattias Passlack who attempted to pass the ball into the far corner from the left-hand-side, but Cooper got down low and prevented Bellambi’s advantage being doubled.

A couple of minutes before the hour mark, Bellambi had another chance to double their advantage when Passlack was played in behind from the right-hand-side, but a poor touch meant he had to take his shot quickly and as a result missed the target altogether. Five minutes later Bellambi continued their assault on the Thirroul goal as Ilija Prenzoski’s pass from the left-hand-side found Passlack on the edge of the box who attempted to arc a strike into the top corner, but it ended up falling into the keeper’s hands.

A fiery period of the game where both sides struggled to create chances was finally ended in the 90th minute when Thirroul won a freekick around 30 metres from goal, Haines-Grose stepped up and hit a powerful effort goalwards, but it narrowly missed the crossbar. Bellambi finally sealed the game in the first minute of stoppage time when a corner swung in found Passlack on the edge of the box whose shot was blocked and consequently the ball fell Prenzoski who faked a shot on his right foot to open up an angle for his left, this effort curled into the far corner out the keepers reach to double their advantage at the death. After the goal, Thirroul’s skipper Beeten was sent off for his part in the heated aftermath of the goal. The game ended moments later.

This result moves Bellambi back onto the top of the table after Coniston’s shock defeat at the hands of Helensburgh. Though this only on goal difference, it could a huge confidence booster. Bellambi will hope to pick up another three points as they face a Warilla side who are currently level on points with the Thirroul. As for Thirroul, they will be disappointed they didn’t cause Bellambi more problems as when they did Bellambi did look vulnerable. They will now face Helensburgh without their captain who have just beaten Coniston as mentioned before.

 

Saturday 2^nd of June 2018 at Elizabeth Park

Bellambi – 2 (O’Brien 25’, Prenzovski 90’)

Thirroul Thunder – 0

 

Bellambi: Jack DUGAN, Sean POULTEN, Tor PREECE, Nathan THOMPSON, Matt RICHARDSON, Mattias PASSLACK, Tim O’BRIEN, Chris CEVENINI (MARTIN), Boden ALLPORT, Ilija PRENZOSKI (PONTAROLO), Andrew KEEP

Substitutes: Grant ZANNI, Scott MARTIN, Connor PONTAROLO, Brett KEARS

 

Thirroul Thunder: Mitchell COOPER, Daniel BOND, Daniel ARTHUR (RUSBOURNE), Nick BEETEN, Joshua HUTTON, Ashley RYAN, Ryan LATINI (J.MUCCI), Todd DAVIDSON, Matthew KELLOND (NICOL), Nathan MUCCI, Corey HAINES-GROSE

Substitutes: Joel MUCCI, Angus NICOL, Cooper BRINDLE, Marcus RUSBOURNE, Joshua BOND

 

Referee: Jarred THOMPSON

Assistant Referees: Rob SINDEVSKI and Mick THOMPSON

 

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @timg123_

File Photo: Noel Wynn