Wollongong Olympic took a major step towards securing the 2019 Illawarra Mercury Premier League title on Saturday afternoon, seeing off title-rivals Corrimal Rangers in a 2-0 win at PCYC. Joey Lavalle sent the hosts ahead shortly after kickoff before a 69^th minute John Martinoski strike secured the win for Olympic, opening up an eight-point gap at the top of the table.

Both sides had gotten a win over the other during the 2019 campaign heading into the match – with Corrimal beating Olympic 1-0 back in Round 4 and Olympic sending the Rangers out of the Bert Bampton Cup with a 2-0 win in the Quarterfinals earlier in the month – but it was Olympic who grabbed the Round 15 encounter by the handle in the opening minutes, with the hosts finding the back of the net after just two minutes of play.

Olympic’s dynamic defender Kojiro Hori helped kick things off with a short cross from the right-hand flank aimed at Julian Minutillo. However, Minutillo was unable to connect his head to the low cross, ducking under the ball, which caused Hori’s cross to be deflected away by the Corrimal backline. But the loose ball only managed to travel as far as Olympic’s Joey Lavalle, who was situated on the edge of the box. Lavalle made no mistake of the chance, lashing a strike past a diving Nic Loe and opening the scoring for the hosts.

After the initial shock wore down, Corrimal began to go out in search of an equalizer and the side almost found one four minutes later after a cross from the right-hand side of the field found Van Elia unmarked in front of goal. However, Elia – who currently leads the league in goals scored this campaign with 16 – was unable to add to his tally, firing his volleyed effort over the crossbar from close range.

The hosts saw a golden chance to double their advantage go begging in the 31^st minute after Julian Minutillo managed to get a hold of a loose ball in the Rangers box. Minutillo was able to tap the ball into the path of Yusuke Ueda, who quickly powered a shot goal-ward, only to be denied by a fantastic reflex save from Corrimal gloveman Nic Loe, who got a foot to Ueda’s effort and ensured that the visitors entered the half-time break only a single goal down.

With the side needing to find a goal to level the scores, Corrimal came out firing in the second half and the side came dangerously close to levelling the scores in the 54^th minute when the side was awarded a free-kick on the right-hand side of the field. Corrimal’s Tomoki Wada stepped up to take the effort, releasing a fantastic curling shot that was denied only by the right-hand upright, ricocheting off the post and bouncing out of play.

Corrimal had another chance to pull level ten minutes later after a quick ball through to Van Elia down the left-hand side allowed the forward to power a shot at goal. Elia’s shot was denied by a fantastic save from Olympic custodian Hayden Durose, who athletically pushed the ball away from goal to keep the hosts in the lead.

Olympic’s one goal lead only lasted for another five minutes however, as the side doubled their advantage in the 69^th minute. A quick ball down the right-hand side of the field found John Martinoski, who was able to bring the pass under control before unleashing a direct shot across the face of goal and into the bottom-left corner of the net, handing Olympic their second goal of the afternoon and leaving Corrimal with a mountain to climb to wrestle back a point.

The Rangers came close to pulling a goal back in the 79^th minute after a Tomoki Wada free-kick from the left-hand side of the field found the head of Banri Kanaizumi in the Olympic box, but the header from the Corrimal defender was unable to trouble the scorers, sailing just wide of the right hand post.

The hosts had a chance to put the result beyond all doubt in the 81^st minute after a John Martinoski free-kick found the head of substitute Vaughan Patterson in the Corrimal box, but Patterson was unable to find the back of the net, with his header just skimming out of play.

Corrimal had another golden chance to nab a goal in the 89^th minute with a Van Elia free-kick from the left-hand side of the park, but Elia’s effort was denied by a strong save from Olympic shot-stopper Hayden Durose, who managed to reach Elia’s effort and flick the ball away from goal.

Wollongong Olympic had one final chance to increase their lead in the third minute of stoppage time when a Ikumi Saito cross from the left flank found substitute Jamie Wakeling in the box, but Wakeling was unable to convert his chance, with the shot skimming just wide of the left-hand post.

The 2-0 win means Wollongong Olympic now have an eight-point lead at the top of the ladder, with the lead potentially being cut to seven points if Albion Park White Eagles defeat Coniston on Sunday. George Antoniou’s side will be looking to maintain their grasp on the title as they travel to Ocean Park next Saturday to take on a Woonona side who will have the benefit of a week off, with their Round 15 clash against Wollongong United postponed due to recent wet weather.

Meanwhile, despite the defeat the Rangers remain in second place on the ladder, although the side will drop to third place if Albion Park beat Coniston. Rob Jonoski’s squad will hope to return to winning ways next Sunday as they host Coniston at Memorial Park, with the side now needing to do all they can to have a chance at catching the league leaders in the final stretch of the campaign.

Saturday 29 June 2019 at PCYC, North Wollongong.

Wollongong Olympic – 2 (Lavalle 2’, Martinoski 69’)

Corrimal Rangers FC – 0

Wollongong Olympic: Hayden DUROSE, Kojiro HORI, Jack KEATING, Mark EVERY, Ikumi SAITO, James KERR, Brendan FORDHAM, Joey LAVALLE, Julian MINUTILLO, John MARTINOSKI, Yusuke UEDA

Subs: Jamie WAKELING (MINUTILLO 86’), Peter PRANDALOS (MARTINOSKI 90’), Ekoue D’ALMEDIA, Vaughan PATTERSON (KERR 60’), Christian PRETTO

Corrimal Rangers FC: Nic LOE, Dean PENDER, Jason ZUFIC, Alvin CECCOLI, Banri KANAIZUMI, Matthew GALANTI, Lukas STERGIOU, Tomoki WADA, Paul GUIDO, Van ELIA, Timothy WYLIE

Subs: Daniel CARRENO (GALANTI 60’), Kyle KIRKLAND (PENDER 75’), Jake GATES (WYLIE 90’), David ZUFIC

Referee – Peter ILCEVSKI

Assistant Referees – Joshua SPAIN and Brendon FOTHERINGHAM

Report by Cal Behrendt, on Twitter @CalBehrendt

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn