Thirroul have moved just one point outside the top five after inflicting further pain on Berkeley’s horror season with a 5-1 win in this round 17 clash of the PeopleCare District League at Berkeley Sports and Social Club. The Thunder got off to a flyer, scoring in just the second minute through centre-back James Hutton. With the wind behind them, they stormed out to a 3-0 lead at the break then furthered that margin just a minute into the new half. The Goats pulled one back through captain Jarryd King in the 67^th minute before Joel Mucci put the icing on the cake with the last kick of the game.

Before the week off, Berkeley went down 4-0 to title contenders Helensburgh whereas the Thunder edged past fourth placed Unanderra with a 1-0 win at Unanderra Oval.

Within the first minutes of the game, Berkeley were immediately on the back-foot running into strong winds making it difficult to play out of their own half. However, the winds worked perfectly for the Thunder when they were awarded a corner in just the second minute. After struggling to get the ball to stay still on the corner flag, Thirroul captain Daniel Arthur whipped in a curled effort that found its way to the back post to an open James Hutton for an easy tap-in. A devastating start for the home-side but the perfect one for the visitors.

Berkeley were lucky not to go two behind in the fifth minute when goalkeeper Mitch O’Niel tipped a dipping Nathan Mucci free-kick over the crossbar. Then from the corner, Arthur delivered another deadly ball that almost ricocheted in but was blocked off the line by a stray Berkeley leg.

 

With the game steadying out for the next ten minutes, Berkeley looked good in patches but failed to create any threatening chances going forward. Thirroul still continued to look dangerous in attack and had many half-chances that didn’t worry O’Niel too much.

But then in the 20^th minute, another cross from the right by the left foot of Arthur curled in to the back-post following a corner. Again, Thunder had another open player, this time it was Robert Gyngell with an easy volley tap-in to double the visitors lead.

Two minutes later, Josh Hutton sent Arthur through one-on-one up the left-wing but his powered shot just sliced wide of the goal.

In the 28^th minute, Gyngell had a big chance to grab his second but an onrushing O’Niel denied him as he saved his low shot from a one-on-one.

The only half-chance of the first 45 minutes from the home-side came in the 30^th minute when they were awarded a free-kick from 30 yards out. John Muscat stepped up and delivered an accurate curling cross bouncing right on the six-yard box but to the midfielder’s despair, there was no sign of a Berkeley player running onto it.

Thirroul pushed forward yet again and were rewarded with their third of the afternoon after a miscommunication at the back between Hayden Till and Justin Mears gifted Jonathan De Lyall a clear run on goal. The winger made no trouble of his shot when he put it back across his body and into the net.

The action settled down towards the half-time whistle as a wind effected first half helped Thirroul to a comfortable 3-0 lead at the break.

It wasn’t the start to the second-half that Berkeley were looking for as not even 60 seconds in they gave away a penalty when Till brought down N. Mucci inside the box. Joshua Hutton made no mistake from the spot as he calmly slotted it into the right-hand side of the goal.

Thirroul then had another chance just three minutes later when Arthur’s surging run up the left-wing saw him cut it back to an open Gyngell on the penalty spot. However, the striker sliced his shot wide of the goal.

In the 54^th minute, Berkeley had their first shot of the game when Jarryd King found some space 25 yards out and sent a shot goal-wards with a bit of help from the wind, but was saved comfortably by Thirroul shot-stopper Liam Harris.

Then, just one minute later, some neat dribbling up the left from Muscat was met with a shot aiming for the near-post. The bouncing ball looked awkward for Harris as he parried it out. Berkeley started to find their feet early in the second half.

Thirroul thought they had their fifth when midfielder, Todd Davidson continued his run from the centre of the park to get onto a through ball on the bi-line. His looping cross seemed to stay in the air for ages as it was caught in the wind and was met with the head of De Lyall six yards out. But thankfully for Berkeley, O’Niel was able to re-adjust his feet and save on the line.

It seemed to be a bit of a confidence booster for the Goats as they pulled one back in the 67^th minute through King. King stepped up to take a free-kick 25 yards from goal and curled his effort into the top corner of the far-post. Harris got a small touch to it but it wasn’t enough as Berkeley regained some spark in their game.

But with no other promising chances and even adopting to a three-at-the-back tactic, Thirroul almost scored on the counter in the 86^th minute. It was Gyngell running forward to the depleted Berkeley backline as he outpaced Till to get to the ball first. He got to O’Niel inside the box but failed to round the goalkeeper to get his shot away properly as O’Niel was able to bring the ball into his arms.

Then, with virtually the last kick of the game, Thirroul grabbed their fifth. There was a nice passing play between Joel Mucci and substitute, Ryan Latini that allowed some space for J. Mucci to be set-up in the box. The defenders shot was deflected as it rolled into the net, capping off a four-goal victory for the Thunder.

Berkeley remain as the only side yet to win a game in the competition, still chasing their first three points as they sit at the bottom of the table on two points. They are back on the road next week when they take on University at Kooloobong Oval who are coming off a 3-1 loss to Picton.

The win for Thirroul was an important one. They are now just one point behind the students in fifth following their loss against Picton on Saturday. The Thunder return to Thomas Gibson Park next week when they take on second placed Helensburgh with both sides needing wins. The Thistle will be coming off a tight 3-2 win over Warilla.

 

Sunday 14 July at Berkeley Sports and Social Club.

Berkeley Sports FC: 1 (KING 67’)

Thirroul Thunder FC: 5 (HUTTON 2’, GYNGELL 20’, DE LYALL 34’, HUTTON 47’, J. MUCCI 90’)

 

Line-Ups:

Berkeley Sports FC: Mitch O’NIEL, Jon ADAMS, Hayden TILL, Justin MEARS, Dylan EVANS, Jarryd KING, Heath SHEPPARD, Matt MEARS, Brendan SPINA, John MUSCAT, Michael PERINICH.

Subs: Thomas WIRA (SHEPPARD 64’), Brad FISHER (EVANS 72’), James MATHEWS (M. MEARS 76’).

 

Thirroul Thunder FC: Liam HARRIS, Joel MUCCI, Hayden SWEENEY, James HUTTON, Alan MADDOCK, Joshua HUTTON, Jonathon DE LYALL, Todd DAVIDSON, Robert GYNGELL, Nathan MUCCI, Daniel ARTHUR.

Subs: Ryan LATINI (DE LYALL 82’), Lachlan DUNN, Tyler BALL, Marcus RUSBOURNE (GYNGELL 86’), Tyler ADAMS (N. MUCCI 89’).

 

Referee: J. RUSCICA

Assistant Referees: G. JENKINS and C. GILDEA.

 

Report by Nathan Turner, on Twitter @nathanturner23_

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn