Caleb Grace's second-half double was the difference between Wollongong United and Tarrawanna as the Blueys clinched the Under 23s Illawarra Premier League championship. Despite having failed to beat Wollongong United in the three times they had previously faced each other this season, the underdogs proved to be the dominant side of the afternoon and deserved winners.

Nerves were evident during the opening minutes of the match with miskicks and slips commonplace among both sides. However, the class of the Minor Premiers, Wollongong United shone through in the 17^th minute of the match when Ryan Akhurst buried his first time shot into the back of the net from the top of the 18-yard box. Receiving a ball played across the box from Emmanuel Kamara, Akhurst made no mistake tucking the ball just inside the right-hand upright to put United into the lead.

Eight minutes later, Wollongong United’s top goal scorer, Nick High came close to adding to his 34 goal tally for the season when he poked the ball goalward from the edge of the six-yard area. However, he was denied by the excellent Kaydin Harrison between the Tarrawanna sticks, diving towards the near post and parrying the ball away for a corner.

Harrison’s save lifted the Blueys who conjured up four good opportunities to equalise around the half-hour mark. Rising star, Nic Tomasiello tried to be too tricky in the 29^th minute when Bowen Simpson played him in, one on one with the keeper in the six-yard box, where he opted to attempt to go around the keeper rather than shoot. This would be to his detriment as United keeper, Zak Bedelovksi snatched the ball from Tomasiello's feet. Less than a minute later Tomasiello found himself with the ball at his feet in the six-yard box again and this time opted to shoot only for Bedelovski to palm it away.

Tomasiello’s troubles in front of goal resonated with his teammate when Bowen Simpson skied Tyson Black's cross from the edge of the six-yard area over the crossbar. The final chance for Tarrawanna in their two minutes of mayhem saw Tomasiello drive into the box and was brought down by Bedelovski, however despite loud Bluey cries for a penalty, the referee turned away their appeals.

Tarrawanna would have one final chance to equalise before the break when Caleb Grace dribbled into the area. Despite Tomasiello being free in front of goal, Grace chose not to square the ball, shooting instead and being denied by Bedelovski whose save rebounded to Tomasiello. However, like his previous chances, Tomasiello failed to hit the target less than five metres away for goal and consequently, Tarrawanna went into the sheds a goal down.

However, Tarrawanna’s hunger to score continued into the second period and it wasn’t long until they were rewarded for their efforts. In the 54^th minute, Tomasiello exploited his pace as he beat United goalkeeper, Bedelovski to the ball leaving the goalkeeper stranded on the edge of his area. Tomasiello then showed why he is first-grade quality, audaciously chipping Bedleovksi from close to the corner to bring the scores level.

Unfortunately for Tomasiello, his magnificent goal would be one of his last involvements in the game when he went off injured in the 69^th minute of the afternoon. While most teams would struggle after losing one of their key players, the Blueys lifted and took the lead six minutes later. After defending some good build-up play, it was surprising when an innocuous long ball caught out the Wollongong United defence. The lapse in concentration allowed Caleb Grace through on goal who hit the ball first time with his left into the bottom corner as the crowd erupted.

The pressure to score now lay on the shoulders of Wollongong United who began sending a series of crosses into the box. In the 82^nd minute, it looked as though United's chance to equalise had arrived when Michael Mendes cross found the head of the unmarked Nick High on the edge of the six-yard box. However, the competitions top scorer somehow headed the ball in the opposite direction to the goal.

The uncharacteristic miss from the prolific striker made it seem as though this would be Tarrawanna’s day. This was confirmed in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Caleb Grace scored his second. Once again it was a long ball that undid the United defence as they watched the ball bounce over their heads for Grace to run onto and tuck away past the goalkeeper.

Victory for Tarrawanna was officially confirmed a few minutes later as the referee blew his whistle. While they may have come into the encounter as the underdog, Tarrawanna deserved the win, outplaying their more favoured opponents.

Commiserations for Wollongong United, who unfortunately failed to deliver a performance similar to the ones that had earned them the League Premiership.

22^nd September 2019 @ WIN Stadium

Wollongong United – 1 (Akhurst 17’)

Tarrawanna – 3 (Tomasiello 54’, Grace 75’, 90+4’)

Man of the Match: Caleb Grace

Wollongong United – Zak BEDELOVSKI, Daniel JORGE, Jake BAILEY, Jonah KALMANIDIS, Andre DIAS, James STOJANOVKSI, Ryan AKHURST, Elisseo CHIODI, Emmanuel KAMARA, Nick HIGH, Daniel CARELLA.

Substitutes – Blake COAD, Daniel CHICHARO (on for Jorge), Michael MENDES (on for Carella), Samuel ADNUM (on for Kamara), Thomas DARJANI

Tarrawanna Blueys – Kaydin HARRISON, Trent THOMPSON, Rogan LAMEY, Christian CABO, Brody PAGE, Toby DRAIN, Tyson BLACK, Ben LEARMONTH, Bowen SIMPSON, Nicholas TOMASIELLO, Caleb GRACE

Substitutes – Liam THOMAS (on for Black), Adam CHICARO (on for Drain), Lachlan DONNELLY (on for Tomasiello), Jake ATWELL (on for Simpson), Jacob BOSEVSKI

Referee – Nick RYAN

Assistants – Ethan ZVARGULIS, Lachie McRAE

4^th Official – Martin ROWNEY

Report by Nic Wilson, on Twitter @_nicwilson