Helensburgh Thistle have continued their 2018 season alive after netting in the final minutes of regular time to knock out Thirroul Thunder in the WCG Cranes District League Elimination Final at Terry Reserve on Saturday afternoon. Junya Okamoto fired Helensburgh into the lead with 25 minutes left to play before Thirroul’s Corey Haines-Grose levelled the scores with four minutes left on the clock. But the deadlock lasted only three minutes before Helensburgh midfielder Kei Mitani fired the Thistle back ahead. Thirroul had a chance to level the scores with a 92^nd minute penalty, but Haines-Grose fired into the crossbar to deny extra time and send Helensburgh into the Minor Semi-Final.

Despite both sides finishing on 40 points during the regular season – with Helensburgh eking into fourth spot thanks to a three-goal advantage in goal difference over the Thunder – it was the Thistle who had the history advantage heading into the Elimination Final, with Helensburgh picking up two wins and a draw against Thirroul in 2018.

But Thirroul was out to avenge their elimination from last season’s finals at the hands of Helensburgh – a match which saw Thirroul go down 2-1 in the Minor Semi-Final – and heading into the match it was the Thunder who had the brighter form guide, including a 1-0 win over Bellambi on the final matchday of the regular season.

However, once the game got going Helensburgh was quick to exercise their grip over the match, with the side firing a warning shot in the opening minute after Cody Cuthbertson released the ball to Brad Watts in the middle of the field, who then duly spun the ball out left to an open Luke van Zyl, who fired straight at Thirroul gloveman Mitchell Cooper.

But despite the warning shot early on, it was the Thunder who had some of the better chances of the opening exchanges, with the side adopting a counter-attacking approach to increase pressure on Thistle keeper Josh Williams – who formerly played for Thirroul – and this approach nearly paid off in the 19^th minute when pressure on the Helensburgh defence allowed Angus Nicol to fire a loose ball at goal from distance, but Nicol’s effort sailed past the left post, failing to trouble Williams.

Despite some early chances, neither side was able to create many significant chances in the opening half, with stellar defensive displays from Helensburgh’s Jarrod Benham and Thirroul’s Cooper Brindle among others helping the match reach the half-time mark with no goals scored.

With the game still locked at 0-0, Helensburgh came out for the second half raring to start, and the side almost picked up the first goal of the match in the 47^th minute after a deep Luke van Zyl free-kick found Cody Cuthbertson near the right post. Cuthbertson used his first touch to fire off a shot at the Thunder goal, but Thirroul keeper Mitchell Cooper was left untroubled after Cuthbertson’s effort sailed across the face of goal and out of play.

However, Helensburgh finally managed to open the scoring in the 65^th minute when Brad Watts sent off a perfectly weighted through ball to a rushing Junya Okamoto down the left-hand side of the pitch. Okamoto then took a few steps to ensure the ball stayed out of reach of rushing Thirroul defenders before firing a powerful shot that rocketed off the crossbar and down into the back of the net, giving the Thistle the lead with 25 minutes left on the clock.

With the Thunder now behind, Thirroul attempted to throw everything they had into attack to pull level, and the side came agonizingly close to netting ten minutes later after a quick break from Corey Haines-Grose saw him spin the ball off to Lewis Clements, who then crossed the ball out to Daniel Arthur, who was bursting down the left-hand side of the Thistle box. Arthur controlled the cross with an excellent bit of ball control, before shooting the ball past Helensburgh keeper Josh Williams but his effort was unable to find the back of the net, skimming across the face of goal and out to the right-hand side of the field.

But Thirroul managed to strike level in the 85^th minute through their top scorer Corey Haines-Grose. Haines-Grose, who had been applying pressure to Williams and the Helensburgh defence all match, finally saw this tactic pay off, as he was able to wrestle the ball back from a pair of Helensburgh defenders before firing an effort into the right side of the net, drawing Thirroul level and opening up the possibility of extra-time to decide a winner.

However, Helensburgh were desperate the get the result sorted in regular time, and three minutes later the Thistle retook the lead. A deep ball into the box found substitute Ben Watts, who managed to do enough against Thirroul defender Daniel Arthur to let the ball roll loose to a waiting Kei Mitani. Mitani needed no hesitation to fire Helensburgh into the lead, pushing his effort past Thirroul custodian Mitchell Cooper and sending the travelling Helensburgh support into jubilation.

 

With Thirroul having to chase the game again, the side was given a golden chance to force extra time in the 92^nd minute after the Thunder were awarded a penalty after a clash between Lewis Clements and Helensburgh’s Junya Okamoto in the box. Thirroul’s Corey Haines-Grose – who had already levelled the scores minutes earlier – stepped up to take the penalty, but his effort was too powerful and flew into the crossbar, rocketing away from goal and ensuring that Helensburgh secured the win.

Helensburgh’s victory means the side staves off Mad Monday for at least another week, with the Thistle now taking on Bellambi – who finished 2^nd place in the regular season with 54 points to their name – in the Minor Semi-Final next Saturday. The Rosellas went down 3-1 to an in-form Warilla Wanderers in the Qualifying Final at King Mickey Park on Saturday afternoon and will be hoping to restart their finals campaign with a result against the Thistle, a side which failed to get any points against the Rosellas during the regular season.

For Thirroul however, their season ends at the first hurdle in the finals campaign, with the Thunder now extending their winless streak in finals matches to seven games, with the last success for Thirroul in a finals match being a 2-1 win over Balgownie Rangers in 2009. However, the side will look to 2019 hoping that the loss to Helensburgh will be the last result in the streak.

Saturday 1 September 2018 at Terry Reserve.

Helensburgh Thistle FC – 2 (Okamoto 65’, Mitani 89’)

Thirroul Thunder FC – 1 (Haines-Grose 86’)

Helensburgh Thistle FC: Josh WILLIAMS, Jarrod BENHAM, Ryan HOPE, Jaydn FALKINER, Junya OKAMOTO, Reggae ROWLEY, Luke VAN ZYL, Kei MITANI, Blake CHARMAN, Brad WATTS, Cody CUTHBERTSON

Subs: Brad BOARDMAN (CHARMAN 65’), Eamon VAN ZYL, Ben WATTS (B. WATTS 83’), Luke MILLER (VAN ZYL 92’), Matt WARDLE

Thirroul Thunder FC: Mitchell COOPER, Daniel BOND, Daniel ARTHUR, Cooper BRINDLE, Cameron LOGAN, Angus NICOL, Ryan LATINI, Todd DAVIDSON, Lewis CLEMENTS, Nathan MUCCI, Corey HAINES-GROSE

Subs: Joshua HUTTON (NICOL 71’), Bradley STRUDWICK (DAVIDSON 88’), Joshua BOND, James TOWNSON, Jonathon DE LYALL (CLEMENTS 96’)

Referee – Greg REID

Assistant Referees – Reece EDWARDS and Jackson COCKS

Fourth Official – Bobby MAZEVSKI

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photos courtesy of Kiah Hufton