University made amends for their loss against Helensburgh last weekend with a 3-1 win from behind against Warilla at King Mickey Park.

Warilla started the game strong, putting University under pressure for the majority of the first half, by playing long balls deep into the University half and employing a high press. This tactic looked to have worked to perfection in the third minute of the game when Warilla won the ball in their attacking third, which was played across the box to Tim Walsh who had an open goal to aim at but somehow missed.

Luckily for Walsh, his team ventured into the box a minute later, this time the ball landing at Mark Lee’s feet, who poked the ball into the back of the net to give Warilla a much sought-after early lead.

Continuing to press, Warilla had another good chance to score in the 14^th minute when Adrian Montablano dispossessed a Uni midfielder and released a venomous hot from range only to be denied by an acrobatic Claude D’Alessio.

In the 19^th minute, the theme of missing open goals continued, this time for University when Mikkel Brandsnes was hit a ball across the face of the goal only to have his volley slide off his boot wide of the goal.

As the half wore on, chances continued to fall for both sides, while Warilla’s effective pressing began to wane, none the less, they still maintained the lead at half time.

The second half began similar to the first, however, this time University scored in the first 5 minutes. Lobbed in from deep, Curtis Iverson flicked on a header from within a crowded box to bring the scores level.

It wasn’t too long after that the Students looked certain to score a second when Chris Twigg dribbled past Warilla’s goalkeeper. Twigg, through on goal and about to pass the ball over the line, was miraculously denied when Warilla defender, Drew Shaw, came out of nowhere and slide tackled the ball out from under Twigg’s feet and out for a corner; an effort that should have been celebrated like a Warilla goal.

Yet, Shaw’s incredible display of defending amounted to nothing when University’s left-back, Anthony Oliver released a shot from roughly 30 meters out in the 66^th minute.

The ball swung, swerved and dipped, mirroring Vincent Kompany’s goal against Leicester, and looked certain to be a District League goal of the season contender until it excruciatingly hit the corner of the crossbar and the upright. However, University’s disappointment was short lived as the ball rebounded kindly to the feet of Brandsnes, who made up for his earlier miss and sent University into the lead. In celebrations differing from the norm, most of Brandsnes’ teammates ran over to Oliver rather than the goal scorer.

In the 76^th minute, University scored another when Nelson McLeod coolly side-footed a volley home past Warilla keeper, Brad Hunter. Hunter was left standing in no-mans land after he was caught between going to catch the incoming cross and staying on his line which made McLeod’s finish all the simpler.

Two minutes later, University skipper, Doug Woodiwiss had a chance to wrap the tie up when he struck the post from the edge of a six-yard but ultimately this miss had no effect on the result as University finished victors regardless.

Despite Warilla's excellent start, University was the stronger side overall, their superior fitness showing in the second half, which allowed them to dominate proceedings.

Overall Warilla will be disappointed with the result but should take positives from the pressure they applied to University in the first half ahead of their away clash against Balgownie next week.

To University, they will be satisfied with taking the 3 points but will be disappointed with their sluggish start – something that they’ll need to avoid in the future as they look to cement their spot in the top 5.

18th May 2019 @ King Mickey Park

Warilla – 1 (Marc Lee 5’)

University – 3 (Iverson 50’, Brandsnes 66’, McLeod 76’)

Warilla – Brad HUNTER, Drew SHAW, Jordan NOLAN, Martin CASTELLI, Brenton GERIBO, Jason SAURO, Adrian MONTALBANO, Stewart ROBERTSON, Timothy WALSH, Marc LEE.

Substitutes – Hayden KEELAN (on for Castelli), Sasa GUGALJ, Daniel PEREZ (on for Walsh), Balance PUSELL.

University – Claude D’ALESSIO, James GALEA, Brooklan FRKOVIC, Curtis IVERSON, Anthony OLIVER, Josh MARTIN, Chris TWIGG, Doug WOODIWISS, Adam BASSUNI, Mikkel BRANDSNES, Nelson MCLEOD

Substitutes – Matt CAIN (on for Bassuni), Nathan TURNER (on for McLeod), May PROUT (on for GALEA), Liam STEVENSON.

Referee – Peter Ilcevski

Assistants – Rob Sindevski, Andrew Muirhead.

Report by Nic Wilson, twitter @_nicwilson

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn