Match of the Round
Terrigal 4 – 1 Wyoming
A cold night under the bright lights of Pluim Park saw Terrigal extend their winning streak to three games, their longest of the season, against a defensive Wyoming side who failed to get the best of the O’lads in the round 11 match of the round.
Despite the trying temperatures, the Terrigal side were up for the battle as they got the chance to play on the main pitch and also to showcase they were better than the performance the last time they faced Wyoming.
Much like their first meeting, Wyoming set up again with a deep line. Operating with five at the back and looking for Terrigal to over-commit players and catch them on the counterattack.
Terrigal started the game well but struggled to find the final ball in moments. A scrappy first half saw them take a rather fortunate lead around halfway, with a cross from Mark Partridge catching out the opposition goalkeeper and landing just under the bar to give the O’lads a 1-0 lead at the break.
After the halftime talk, Terrigal focused on the principles in which they needed to improve. In the second half, they were much more dominant, scoring some excellent goals.
The second goal came again down the left side, after switching the play Terrigal managed to get Mark Partridge free on the overlap, he delivered a wicked cross that found a great diving header from Daniel Bird which flew far post past the keeper.
A third came shortly after with a great bit of link-up play through the midfield released Stu Adams in behind the Wyoming defence, who in turn delivered a perfect cut back to striker Mahkye Brownlie who lost his marker in the box and fired home.
At 3-0, Terrigal were in complete control until a sloppy error playing out gave Wyoming a chance to run at their defence. Jack Clipperton shot from the edge of the box and the ball slip through Terrigal’s keeper’s hands and bounced off the crossbar into the back of the net to give Wyoming some late hope.
However, the game was finally put to rest from a corner that was met by captain Jai McNamara who headed home for Terrigal’s fourth of the night as the O’lads secured wins in all three grades.
A very pleased Pete Edwards spoke on his teams win post-game, “A much better second half from us, that showed the quality of football we’re capable of producing, especially on a good playing surface. “
“Credit to a young Wyoming side who worked hard all game but ultimately we had the quality and possession to get the points. An important round with all squads picking up wins in a nine-point Saturday. We’re all keen to keep this momentum going into next weekend as we travel to Woy Woy.”
Wyoming’s Ian McAndrew also spoke on the fixture, “It was a game of two halves, in the first half Terrigal had all the ball but our shape was holding them at bay until a shot cross saw them take the lead.”
“In the second half, I had to make two changes due to injury, this resulted in our shape becoming very open and a lack of communication. Terrigal was really good to exploit us, and they ran away with the game. Congrats to Terrigal on the win.”
McAndrew also applauded his team, especially the youngsters making their debuts. “I would also like to praise the six players who made their starting debut for the club in first grade, five of them being under 19 and they held their own for long periods of time against one of the best teams in the comp.”
Match Official – Mark Roberts
Avoca 2 – 2 Southern & Ettalong
Southern & Ettalong travelled to Paul Oval for the first time on Sunday to take on Avoca knowing that the playing surface was going to be a challenge but also knowing that they needed to get back on track after a narrow and controversial 2-1 loss to competition leaders Killarney the previous week.
However, inside the first five minutes the Lions found themselves 1-0 down after Noah Ajala pounced on a weak back pass to give the home side a crucial early lead.
It was evident Southern were struggling to get cohesion in their attack due to good pressure from the Avoca side and Southern being too slow in their decision-making and ball movement.
However, on the 30-minute mark after strong appeals for a penalty were turned down as Southern’s Matt Caisley unleashed a powerful strike that the Avoca keeper couldn’t hold and striker Jamo Flynn netted the rebound to take the game on level terms.
Ten minutes from the interval Southern again gifted Avoca an opportunity which they took full advantage of as Mat Fulwood hit a long-range shot which the SEU GK should have done better with as Avoca headed into the break 2-1 up.
Two minutes after the resumption, Southern drew level after some good combination play in the build-up, golden boot leader Jacob Lepre finished with a good strike to again level the scores at 2-2.
With the game in the balance, both teams had chances but couldn’t convert as the two sides were forced to split the points.
Avoca’s Neal Hide declared that the draw was a fair result post-match. “Credit to both teams, as both teams had key players missing. A draw was probably a fair result. A good performance from Avoca after the previous week’s tame second-half performance against The Entrance.”
A letdown Dale Eggleton also spoke after the game and reflected on his side now two weeks without a win. “Disappointed is how I felt after the game our decision-making and execution were not at the standard we have come to expect from the side.”
“It would be easy to find excuses but full credit to Avoca who worked hard for each other and made it hard for us to get flow in our game. The challenge for us is to not let slip the good start we have had to the season and be prepared for the contest every week if we want to achieve success this season.”
Match Official – Gerrod Young
Kanwal 3 – 1 The Entrance
A dominant Kanwal performance from start to finish saw the Bulls record their fifth win of the season and their inaugural win at home in 2023, picking up maximum club championship points this past Sunday.
The opening half saw Kanwal create many chances in front of the goal, but poor finishing would see the home side squander all of these opportunities.
In the first 15 minutes, Kanwal would have three close-range chances and missed them all, which almost came back to haunt them with the Entrance getting a good chance of their own in the 34th minute only to be denied by the Kanwal keeper as the game remaining locked at 0-0 at the half time break.
Kanwal began the second half strong and within three minutes of the start, the home side found themselves 2-0.
Firstly, a Mason Lavery cross to the far post was headed back to Logan Moore who controlled the ball nicely and finished into the bottom corner. A minute later a through ball to Logan was played across the box to Rory Rizzi-Lutgerink for another neat finish.
Kanwal continued to dominate opportunities but again couldn’t increase their advantage with a number of missed chances which kept the Entrance in the game.
A Jason Cozens free kick in the 73rd minute could have put the game to bed, but the crossbar denied him a goal. It wasn’t until the 90th minute that another Jason Cozens free kick found the back of the net to effectively kill off the game.
The Entrance got a consolation goal through 16-year-old Benjamin Giles in the dying minutes of injury time. However, Kanwal walked away with a well-deserved 3-1 victory.
Ryan Walker was pleased with the effort of the boys and the number of opportunities created. “We played well today and created plenty of chances, just need to be a bit more clinical in front of goal. It was a successful day around with three wins.”
Match Official – Miles Allen-Scott
Woy Woy 1 – 6 Berkeley Vale
Berkely Vale records their biggest win of the season, scoring six goals past Woy Woy to claim their sixth win of the season and move just two points behind second place with a game in hand.
Berkeley Vale had complete control of the contest as they stretched Woy Woy all over the park and took a convincing 4-0 lead after 30 minutes.
Berkeley Vale’s first of the day came from a penalty after Shane Littlehales was fouled inside the opposition’s box. Club veteran Paul McGinley stepped up for his side and coolly converted for his first goal of the year.
Their second of the day came from a Kane Woolston flick ball over the top of the Woy Woy defence as his winger Ashton Hurley met the ball on the half-volley and rocketed it into the top corner, leaving the opposition keeper with no chance.
Kane Woolston was able to get on the scoresheet himself after cutting onto his left and placing the ball into the bottom corner to extend the Wombat’s lead to three.
Up next was Matthias Palmqvist who got his second goal in back-to-back weeks, heading the ball into the top corner off a corner.
Woy Woy however was able to pull a goal back after a free kick led to a goalmouth scramble and Ty Daniel was able to capitalise for the home side as the Roosters went into the sheds 4-1 down but with something to hang on for.
The second half was extremely scrappy compared to the first, but Berkeley Vale were able to keep their goalscoring momentum going as a ball dropped for Daniel Rojas at the back stick from a corner as he belted it past a crowd of players to mark his first goal of the season.
With less than 10 minutes to go, Shane Littlehales was once again brought down in the box as Kane Woolston stepped up this time, sending the opposition keeper the wrong way to claim his second of the day and eighth goal of the season.
With the win all but secured, Berkeley Vale allowed Conor George to make his first-grade debut as the match finished 6-1.
“We will re-group for Terrigal next week and have a real good think about our performances and dig deeper in our next match and find that extra to make things happen,” spoke Neal Morris of Woy Woy.
Neal also added, “We weren’t good enough today in any areas, to play ourselves into the game for a decent period of time. Big lesson learnt and must be better to compete.”
Match Official – Jasper White
Killarney 2 – 1 East Gosford
Following their controversial loss in the first round by a last-minute goal, East Gosford were looking forward to the challenge of playing league leaders Killarney at their ground.
Going into this match on the back of a four-game unbeaten streak, the Rams’ confidence was high, and it showed from the start.
It took the home side less than five minutes to find the opening goal after they broke the defensive line of Killarney and a last-gasp slide by Will Hamilton saw the defender turn the ball into his own net to give East Gosford a 1-0 lead.
32 minutes in Tim Knight finished off a lovely move down the left to smash home a goal from 10 yards out to record his eighth goal of the season and take his side back on level terms at 1-1 which it stayed for the remainder of the first half.
The second half started where the first left off, end-to-end football and both keepers being tested. Killarney was applying sustained pressure in periods but Luke Gunn in goal was up to the challenge.
Killarney looked to their bench in the hopes of getting maximum points out of the fixture and in the 82nd minute it was substitute Declan Ackerley who collided with an East Gosford player on the edge of a crowded box as the official pointed to the spot for the visitors.
For the second week in a row, Harry Fountain stepped up for his side from the penalty spot to secure the win as Killarney now goes six points clear at the top of the MPL ladder.
“Congrats to Killarney, always a pleasure to play them and always played in the spirit of the game,” Spoke Ricky Sansom from East Gosford
A delighted Chris Ackerley also commented on the contest as he now sets his sights on next week’s important match-up. “We survived the last 10 minutes with East Gosford throwing everything at us, to come away with a hard-fought victory.”
“I’m very pleased with the result after backing up after the battle the week before against Southern which took a lot out of both sides. Onto next week, another huge game against Berkeley which I’m sure will be just as hard.”
Match Official – Des Patch
Golden Boot Standings –
| 9 | Jacob Lepre (Southern), Logan Moore (Kanwal) |
| 8 | Tim Knight (Killarney), Kane Woolston (Berkeley Vale) |
| 7 | Keith Gumbs (Southern), Cooper Ebrington (Avoca), Andy Klijn (Killarney) |
| 6 | Charlie Entwistle (East Gosford), Ben Flakus (Terrigal), Kane Woolston (Berkeley Vale), Nathan Baker (Woy Woy) |
| 5 | Jakeb Brownlow (Berkeley Vale), Tyler Wade (Avoca), Matt Caisley (Southern) |
Points Table –
Club Championship –
Division 1
Round 11 Results –
Points Table –
Club Championship –
