Woonona all but sealed their place in the top four with a 1-1 draw with Balgownie at Judy Masters Oval. Interestingly enough, it was the third time these sides have played out this exact result this campaign but this time it leaves the Rangers hanging onto their finals aspirations but the thinnest of string.

 

It took less than a minute for the Sharks to have a sight on goal with Elyse Mcnally’s shot from inside the right of the box gobbled up by Ranger’s number 1 Lorraine Edkins. Woonona would go on to have the controlling stake in the opening period of the match and the capitalised on that with a goal in the 20th minute through Georgia Lang who received the ball off Kayla Draper before slotting it past the onrushing Edkins.

 

The visitors would have a golden opportunity to double their lead with 10 minutes left in the half when a ball in from the right found Fiona Leafe who couldn’t keep her shot from skying over the crossbar. There would be no changes to the score in the final minutes of the half and though Woonona had dominated the territorial battle, real chances were few and far between.

 

The second half was juxtaposed to the first and it was now the home side who were able to control a majority of the ball. Balgownie weren’t able to make the swing in possession count through clear-cut chances, however, that wouldn’t stop them from pulling level in the 63rd minute. Rikki-Lee Wardle found a pocket of space 25 metres from goal before her cracking strike nestled in the top left corner despite the efforts of Sharks goalkeeper Khalia Rasch.

 

Woonona nearly hit straight back after a shot from outside the box forced Edkins into a parrying save. The ball fell to Woonona’s top markswoman Sinead Bailey but Edkin was able to recover and make a brave block.

 

The Rangers continued to push but chances were hard to come by with another long-range attempt in the 85th minute the closest the side would come to a crucial winner. Ashleigh Anderson made a marauding run down the left wing before thumping the ball from 35 metres out - it looked as if the ball would sneak inside the left post but Rasch was able to push it out for a corner. This would be the last moment of note in the match with the sides forced to share the points.

 

The result keeps Woonona in third place despite Kiama picking up a 1-0 win against bottom of the table Thirroul. They sit four points ahead of fifth-placed Balgownie with a round remaining though the Rangers have a game in hand against Albion Park. Sharks coach Mick Sutton was pleased with his side’s ability to hold on for the draw saying, “In the second half we didn’t have as good of the possession as we did in the first, we lost the midfield due to tired legs but apart from that it’s a good result because it keeps us in the finals.” The last round pits Woonona against Kiama at the Quarry.

 

As for Balgownie, it was a case of what could have been with coach Earle Canvin admitting a 90 minute display would probably have seen them keep their finals hopes within their own hands saying, “[The first half] was our worst half for some time but credit to [my team] we changed our shape a little bit and come out and dominated the second half, a bit of luck and we would have grabbed a winner.” Canvin went on to say his side was still in contention for the finals by “the hair of their chinny chin chin” which they are but they will now need to beat Russell Vale next weekend before securing a result in a catch up match against Albion Park who won their 52nd match in a row on Sunday.

 

Sunday August 5 2018 @ Judy Masters Oval

 

Balgownie Rangers - 1 (WARDLE 63’)

 

Woonona Sharks - 1 (LANG 20’)

 

Balgownie Rangers - Mikaylee AIR, Alicia ANDERSON, Ashleigh ANDERSON, Indeya CANVIN, Lorraine EDKINS, Aymie HILL, Mikayla HILL, Isobel HUMPHREYS, Courtney RIORDAN, Chelsea TASEVSKI, Rikke-Lee WARDLE, Kristen CARIO, Kayla ISMAIL, Lauren BELLINATO, Gabrielle DAVIS

 

Coach - Earle CANVIN

 

Woonona Sharks - Sinead BAILEY, Kayla DRAPER, Sara HAMILTON, Ainsley HAWES, Georgia LANG, Fiona LEAFE, Elyse MCNALLY, Morgan POTTER, Khalia RASCH, Kate STEWART, Jordan WHEATLEY, Rachelle WILSON, Hannah BROADHEAD, Rochelle LOGOZZO, Meika Quinn, Makayla MOORE

 

Coach Mick SUTTON

 

Referee - Eddie BAGOLY

 

Report and photo by Dylan Arvela, on Twitter @dylanarvela