Tarrawanna and Corrimal played out a 2-2 draw at Tarrawanna Oval in a match which all but ends either sides hopes of playing in September. An entertaining first half hour provided all four goals - a Bradley Acev brace fell either side of Takeru Okada penalty, with Timothy Wylie pouncing on a defensive error to draw scores level a second time. The remainder of the match was tight, as both sides became more compact, with chances at a premium thereafter. Both sides had great chances to win the game, but neither side bulged the net again, with a draw a fair result from an engaging tie.

The first two times either side entered the opposition box resulted in a goal - a frantic half hour for both sides. Rick Goodchild's deep free kick on 10 minutes was headed back across goal, a stretching Acev poking home at the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.

Only three minutes later, Okada made a run down the left flank, his cross striking the arm of Blueys' defender Bradley Durrant. Okada stepped up for the spot-kick and found the bottom left corner, just barely beating the glove of Adam Rodriguez in goal for Tarrawanna.

On 19 minutes, the Blueys had the lead again - a quick break being switched out to Acev, who out-muscled his marker and drove his low shot across goal and into the bottom corner for 2-1.

Corrimal were not done though, and a poor pass out of defence for the Blueys fell straight to the Rangers, Wylie being played through and effecting a mirror of Acev's second goal - rolling home across goal into the bottom corner.

Just before the interval, Okada found a yard inside the box, his chest and scissor kick beating Rodriguez only to clatter into the upright and out, the keeper noticeably breathing a sigh of relief.

Into the second half, Calum Fleming snatched at a quickfire chance from a loose ball in the Tarrawanna area, a great reflex save from Rodriguez parrying the goal-bound effort away.

Jared Fish had his golden chance on the hour mark - Jake Morlando finding the striker's run into the area, lobbing Rangers keeper Blake Coad, only to have the shot float just wide of the far post.

Liam Unicomb had shouts for a penalty waved away after being felled in the area - Fleming coming into the challenge strong, the Tarrawanna winger's touch was probably too heavy to retrieve anyway.

With 15 minutes remaining, Durrant out-jumped Coad on a corner, but his header looped onto the crossbar and dropped nicely for Corrimal to clear.

Again shortly after, Tarrawanna had their opportunity to win it - Goodchild finding substitute Takumi Machida free in the box, but he got well under his shot, and from 12 yards unmarked, put it about 20 yards over the crossbar.

Corrimal almost snatched it themselves in stoppage time; a fast break found Okada off a low cross, his first-time shot beating Rodriguez, however, Samuel Chapple was smartly on the line to clear.

Play finished 2-2 in an entertaining draw, which was probably the right result based on chances. Tarrawanna forged a couple more chances, but were unlucky with the bounce of the ball, whilst they were relying on woodwork and retreating defenders at the other end to keep them in the tie.

The Blueys are now 7 points behind 5th placed Port Kembla, who are yet to play Wollongong Olympic at the time of writing. The next few weeks will be critical to Tarrawanna's chances, facing the bottom three sides in succession.

Nine points over the next three weeks will be critical for Tarrawanna as they face the bottom three sides starting with South Coast United away in two weeks time.

Corrimal, meanwhile, are lingering in mid-table but they have a chance to claim a piece of silverware next weekend when they take on Olympic in the Final of the Bert Bampton Cup. Interestingly enough, their next League match is also against Olympic at the PCYC.

Saturday 21st July - Tarrawanna Oval

Tarrawanna Blueys 2 - Acev 10' 19'

Corrimal Rangers 2 - Okada 13'Pen, Wylie 25'

Tarrawanna Blueys - Adam Rodriguez, Matthew Naylor, Bradley Durrant, Corey horner, Jake Morlando, Daniel Goodhew, Bradley Acev, Samuel Chapple, Jared Fish, Rick Goodchild, Liam Unicomb

Subs - Takumi Machida (on for FISH 74'), Kouryo KUBOTA (on for UNICOMB 85'), Nicholas TOMASIELLO, Benjamin LEARMONTH, Bradley JONES

Corrimal Rangers - Blake COAD, Jason ZUFIC, Dean PENDER, Calum FLEMING, Karouna MICHAEL, Joshua GERSBACH, Takeru OKADA, Kyle KIRKLAND, Timothy WYLIE, Matthew GALANTI, Masahiko MORITA

Subs - Carter MADDEN (on for WYLIE 80'), Klime SETUTKOSKI (on for MORITA), Jamie WAKELING, David ZUFIC, Billy TSOVOLOS (on for KIRKLAND 81')

Referee - Peter ILCEVSKI

Assistants - Tristan JAMES, Ethan ZUARGULIS

Report by David Atherton - Twitter @daveatho5

Photo by Noel Wynn