Port Kembla continued their recent good form by defeating Woonona 3-1 at Wetherall Park. Port went into the game with five wins in their last six games scoring ten goals in the process. The most recent result being an important win against fellow finals hopefuls Tarrawanna. Woonona, on the other hand, were really struggling having not won in their last six games including a Cup exit to Corrimal in mid-week. They were also in goal scoring trouble having only scored 11 goals all season and just the one in the last five games which is lowest in the competition. On the face of it, it seemed that Port Kembla would ease to victory.

From the kick-off Port Kembla showed attacking intent with a ball from the right-hand-side coming out to Ben Zucco on the edge of the box who hit a first-time shot but couldn’t keep it down and it went over the bar. Five minutes later Port came forward again through Jason Perez who found himself in a shooting position 20 metres from goal but put it straight down the throat of the goalkeeper. In the 14th minute, Woonona had their first opportunity of the game with Brendan Pattman hitting a shot but this didn’t trouble Brad Jardine who was able to hold onto the ball.

Just a minute later Port Kembla opened the scoring. Cameron Morgan beat the offside trap finding himself one-on-one with Jacob Madden, he smartly slotted a finish into the far corner. In the 19th minute, they doubled their advantage as Morgan’s cross from the left-hand-side found Sandy Lowcock at the back post who fired a shot on goal which was saved but the rebound fell to Makoto Ishihara who was able to tap in from less than a metre out.

Woonona responded to the relentless pressure of Port Kembla just past halfway point of the first half. A ball lofted forwards was brought down well by Thomas Mindzas who was able to lay the ball off for Brendan Pattman who got a shot on goal but couldn’t find the net. In the 26th minute, it got worse for Woonona, Lowcock making his way in behind the Woonona defence and playing a ball across to Ishihara who had the simple task of putting the ball into the vacant net. A couple of minutes later it could’ve been more for Port Kembla once again the lively Lowcock beating the getting behind the defence and finding himself face-to-face with Madden. He put a confident finish past the keeper but was flagged for offside moments later.

With Port Kembla’s tails up, they continued to attack. On this occasion, Perez played a quick one-two with Morgan and hit a left-footed shot which was blocked. Port Kembla continued to dominate chances and with few minutes to spare in the first half, Ben Zucco had an opportunity to put the game to bed when William Mobbs’ cross wasn’t dealt with by the Woonona defence, meaning the ball fell to Zucco who tried to drive a finish past Madden but the shot was blocked.

At halftime Port Kembla were in complete control of affairs with just the odd half-chance for Woonona on the break. Woonona really needed to respond in the second half and get more shots on goal.

Woonona came out the better of the teams in the second half and six minutes in, a corner to the far post found captain Christopher Gibson who headed a shot on target which was well saved by Brad Jardine. On the hour mark Woonona came the closest they had all game to scoring when Mindzas cannoned a shot off the crossbar. Woonona were vastly improved in the second period and they were holding on to the ball better, it seemed only a matter of time before they were to get one back. In the 69th minute - eight minutes after hitting the crossbar - Woonona were awarded a penalty. Valentino Merxhushi stepped up and fired the ball off the inside of the left post. Woonona were on the board, but it wouldn't be enough as Port Kembla ran away with the three points.

This was another crucial win for Port Kembla as it gives them an eight-point buffer from sixth-placed Tarrawanna. They go into tough fixtures against Wollongong Olympic and Bulli with plenty of confidence after six wins in seven matches in a period where they have netted on 13 occasions.

Woonona were much improved in the second half, however, their first-half performance left them with too big of a mountain to climb. Sharks' coach Dan McGoldrick believed his side "gifted" the goals to Port, labelling the first half showing as "very very disappointing." Woonona's next match sees them take on third-placed Albion Park and McGoldrick acknowledges in order to get a result the Sharks will need to "play like we did second half here from the beginning."

 

Saturday 14 July at Wetherall Park

 

Port Kembla – 3 (Morgan 15’, Ishihara 19’, 26’)

 

Woonona – 1 (Merxhushi 69’)

 

Port Kembla: Brad JARDINE, Fabian IACOVELLI, William MOBBS, Nathan BELSITO, Carlo STELLA, Jason PEREZ, Ben ZUCCO, Cameron MORGAN, Makoto ISHIHARA, Sandy LOWCOCK, Joseph LAVELLE

 

Coach: Noel SPENCER

 

Woonona: Jacob MADDEN, Cameron BESGROVE, Dylan NIKOLOVSKI, Christopher GIBSON, Khalid ALALI, Dejan DJUKIC, Brendan PATTMAN, Kwang WOO KIM, Thomas MINDZAS, Trent WORTHINGTON, Valentino MERXHUSHI

 

Coach: Dan MCGOLDRICK

 

Referee: Peter ILCEVSKI

 

Assistant Referee: Demi GODDARD and Jackson COCKS

 

Report by Timothy Gibson on Twitter, @timg123_

Photo by Port Kembla