Woonona narrowly defeated South Coast United 1-0 at Ian McLennan Park on Saturday evening. Despite both teams having the chances to find the net, the only goal of the game came just past the hour mark when Khalid Alali reacted first to a corner kick scramble smashing the ball into the top corner to hand the Sharks all three points.

With a valuable three points on the line, both teams were timid in the opening five minutes as neither side were able to take control of the ball. Despite this, Woonona were able to conjure up a chance in the fifth minute as Jarred Morley lofted a ball over the back of the defence setting Corey Haines-Grose one-on-one with keeper Jason Bleakley. However, the former Thirroul forward was unable to convert either of his chances from a tight angle, with his follow-up effort hitting the post. This sparked an inspired spell of possession for the away side, leading to another golden opportunity to take the lead in the ninth minute, with Tyler Bromham-Fuller making in-roads down the right-hand side of the field before getting to the byline and firing in a cross to Haine-Grose, but the Sharks forward was unable to make meaningful contact with the ball.

At the ten minute mark, United responded to the Sharks’ spell of pressure by creating the best chance of the game so far. Joshua Hawker was released down the right-hand side before going face-to-face with Ben Wunsch. The Woonona custodian bailed-out his side, with a strong save. The next ten minutes saw neither side take charge of the match until the 22nd minute, when Woonona’s Luke McCosker unleashed a curling strike which had the keeper beaten but narrowly missed the far corner. This was backed up six minutes later when a freekick from the centre of the field dropped to Bromham-Fuller in the box, but the defender was unable to put his effort on target from a tight angle. From 15 minutes in, the Sharks seemed the most likely to find the opening with the side holding possession well in the final third.

Another chance came Woonona’s way in the 33rd minute when Corey Haines-Grose lined up a freekick around 30 meters from goal. He fired a right-footed effort goal-wards but Bleakley responded well to the bouncing ball. Four minutes later, the Sharks again came forward as McCosker beat his man down the right-hand side and found Jai Mellor free in the box, but Mellor was unable to direct his effort on target.

Despite both sides having good opportunities to find the breakthrough, neither team was able to break the deadlock in the opening half, with Woonona arguably the better side having created several opportunities exposing South Coast United’s left-hand flank.

Straight after the start of the second period, Woonona created an opening with Haines-Grose dragging a left-footed shot wide of the goal. Despite this early chance for the visitors, United had the better start to the half. Runners out of the SCU midfield were causing issues for the Sharks and in the 49th minute, Kieren Brodnik broke through the Woonona defensive line. Bearing down on goal, he attempted to lob the ball over the onrushing keeper. He succeeded but was collected on the way through by Woonona keeper Ben Wunsch so he missed the ball bouncing out past the far corner of the goal.

United were left ruing their missed chances as in the 64th minute, the Sharks found the breakthrough. A corner kick floated in dropped to Khalid Alali who rifled his effort into the top corner, leaving no chance for Bleakley to respond. Two minutes later, with the away side looking positive, they nearly doubled their lead. Woonona’s Jesse French found space on the left-hand side and mustered an effort on target which was saved at the near post by Bleakley.

In the 72nd minute, the hosts were nearly back on level terms as Cho Byung-Kuk took aim from a freekick around 30 meters from goal. The former South Korean international narrowly missed the top corner with his curling effort. Two minutes later, Woonona resumed their dominance as Jarred Morley found himself on the end of an inch-perfect delivery from the left-hand side. However, once again Bleakley stood tall and blocked the effort.

Woonona substitute Kyle Del nearly had an instant impact when he lined up a volley in the 87th minute from outside the box but his effort dropped onto the post and away from the danger area. Deep into stoppage time, South Coast United goalkeeper Jason Bleakley was sent off for violent conduct but the dismissal did not change the end result, with Woonona getting a valuable three points away from home.

This was an important win for visitors which, despite them not moving up a position on the table, means they are just three points from the currently fifth-placed Corrimal. The Sharks are now just two points off what they managed the whole of last season, highlighting the improvement from them this campaign, with this result meaning they have won two league games in a row for the first time since early May last year. Woonona’s next two fixtures will be played at home against Tarrawanna and Fernhill respectively. Woonona will be confident of causing problems for a Blueys side who only managed to score one goal against them across both meetings last season.

Meanwhile, this result means South Coast United are still winless after ten rounds. This is also the fifth time the hosts have failed to find the net this campaign, meaning they remain the lowest scorers this season in the Premier League. United remain in 11th position and just one point above Cringila, but a Cringila win over Wollongong United on Sunday would see SCU drop into 12th. Their next fixture sees them go up against the Lions in what will be a potential relegation six-pointer for both sides as they seek to keep their Premier League status for another season.

 

Saturday 25 May 2019 at Ian McLennan Park, Kembla Grange

South Coast United - 0

Woonona Sharks - 1 (Alali 64’)

 

South Coast United: Jason BLEAKLEY, Dylan MENA, Chris VALIC, Greg VALIC, Zan HAWKER, Tommy SKARA, Josh HAWKER, Cameron HANSON, Kieren BRODNIK, Cho BYUNG-KUK, Dion STERJOVSKI

Substitutes: Callum RUSSELL (HANSON), Brody MURRELL, Daniel STARR (J.HAWKER), Maurice ALOEGNINOU

Woonona Sharks: Ben WUNSCH, Cameron BESGROVE, Tyler BROMHAM-FULLER, Christopher GIBSON, Khalid ALALI, Jai MELLOR, Jesse FRENCH, Kota ODAKURA, Jarred MORLEY, Corey HAINES-GROSE, Luke MCCOSKER

Substitutes: Tyren MACLOU (GIBSON), Jeremy LOPEZ (HAINES-GROSE), Kyle DEL (MORLEY), Chris WEARING

Referee: Nathan WOTTON

Assistant Referees: Brendan FOTHERINGHAM and Jacob ZIPPARO

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_

File Photo: Kiah Hufton