Tarrawanna have bounced back from their first defeat of the season last week to secure a 2-0 victory over Wollongong United in this round six Illawarra Mercury Premier League clash at Tarrawanna Oval. A penalty to Rick Goodchild midway through the first half was followed by a spectacular volley from Mitchell Ferraro late in the second gave the Blueys all three points.

The opening exchanges weren’t showing many signs of sight on goal with both teams creating very few opportunities early on. Nathan Jagleman had the first chance of the game with a touch and turn from a Naoki Ogawa pass with his shot rising over the crossbar.

In the 12^th minute, Ogawa was the provider again, this time sending Kawasakiya Hikaru through on goal but an onrushing Adam Rodriguez put the striker off as he sent his chip onto the roof of the net.

Tarrawanna’s attacks came through two set pieces from Rick Goodchild towards the right hand sideline. The first attempt found the head of Benjamin Spruce but the fullback couldn’t angle his header on target as it flew wide of the goal.

In the 20^th minute, another Goodchild free-kick from a similar position was aiming for Spruce again but an illegal push in the back from James O’Rourke saw no hesitation from referee, Nathan Wotton to award a penalty. Goodchild stepping up to calmly slot it into the bottom right giving the Blueys the first goal of the day.

United almost got their equaliser just minutes later off a scramble in the box following a corner. A high-flying header from captain, Ben Brooks was saved off the line by Rodriguez. The ball fumbled inside the six-yard box before a desperate Blueys defence stopped Hikaru from sticking in a toe and scoring.

That was all the major action of the half. Tarrawanna leading by a single goal with the game being dominated in the midfield, denying either side from anymore close chances on goal.

The Blueys started the second half with renewed attacking confidence and it was striker Stephen Lloyd running onto a through-ball from Keisuke Hayashi in the 51^st minute. He took one touch trying to round the goalkeeper but the outstretched body of Sam Nastic was able to save the low shot.

There was another quiet patch in the game as Tarrawanna were happy to keep possession. When they didn’t have the ball, they seemed quite comfortable defending any attack United would throw at them.

The introduction of Matthew McNab off the bench for an injured Jagleman seemed to spark something for the visitors. McNab was a threat straight away and his free-kick from 25 yards out just curled wide of the near post.

It wasn’t until the 74^th minute that the Blueys would grab the goal to lead by two. United midfielder, Jake Leighton was dispossessed of the ball deep inside the Blueys half by Mitchell Ferraro. This sparked a quick-firing counter attack that saw the ball be played out to Lloyd on the wing. Ferraro continued his run into the box before an accurate cross picked out the midfielder who blasted it on the volley into the bottom right. A sensational first-time finish to give the Blueys a two-goal cushion.

Just three minutes later, Tarrawanna were inches away from grabbing their third. Substitute, Yusuke Maruyama dribbled along the bi-line before cutting it back to Lloyd in the box. His shot on the turn smashing the post and out for a goal-kick.

United had a couple of chances to finish the game as they surged to pull a goal back. Ogawa delivered a free-kick from near the corner flag before the ball was cleared to Leighton at the edge of the box. The midfielder chested it down for a volley, but it dipped wide. Then in the 83^rd minute, Hikaru’s looping cross to the back post was taken off the chest by McNab, straight into the arms of Rodriguez who fumbled it, sending a scare around the ground. He was quickest to react however, pulling it back into his arms.

Tarrawanna holding on for a 2-0 victory over Wollongong United to continue their strong start to the campaign.

The Blueys still sit in top spot of the table but will be tested next week as they travel to Wollongong Olympic, who are sitting in second spot after a 4-1 win over South Coast.

The loss for Wollongong United sees them drop out of the top five following a Bulli win. They return to Macedonia Park next week to take on Fernhill who are coming off a 3-0 loss to Port Kembla.

 

Sunday 28 April at Tarrawanna Oval

Tarrawanna Blueys: 2 (GOODCHILD 21’, FERRARO 74’)

Wollongong United: 0

 

Line-ups:

Tarrawanna Blueys: Adam RODRIGUEZ, Matthew NAYLOR, Haydyn LLOYD, Corey HORNER, Benjamin SPRUCE, Mitchell FERRARO, Cody WALLER, Sam MUNRO, Stephen LLOYD, Rick GOODCHILD, Keisuke HAYASHI.

Subs: Daniel CHAPMAN (WALLER 84’), Yusuke MARUYAMA (HAYASHI 73’), Liam UNICOMB (S. LLOYD 89’), Jacob FRYDAY, Kaidin HARRISON.

 

Wollongong United: Sam NASTIC, Ben BROOKS, Kawasakiya HIKARU, Mohamed KARDOLI, Jake LEIGHTON, Zac MACLAREN, James O’ROURKE, Billy TSOVOLOS, Kane WRIGHT, Naoki OGAWA, Nathan JAGLEMAN.

Subs: Maty BRENNAN (KARDOLI 72’), Matthew MCNAB (JAGLEMAN 60’), Ryan AKHURST, Nick HIGH (BROOKS 83’), Zak BEDELOVSKI.

 

Referee: Nathan WOTTON

Assistant Referees: Brodie MERCHANT and Jackson COLES

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn