MATCH OF THE ROUND
Terrigal 1 – 3 Avoca
Avoca get their year up and running, defeating local rivals Terrigal in a Battle of the Beaches and our Round 5 Match of the Round.
It was a wet and wild Sunday afternoon as this derby was moved to Bloodtree Oval after Duffy’s Oval was out of action.
A slow start from Terrigal allowed Avoca to create some quick chances at the start of the game.
Avoca took full advantage of Terrigal’s slow start, moving the ball quickly, and opened the scoring early after Noah Nicholls found Tyler Wade with a cross from the left which captain Wade finished with a deft header.
With their tails up, Avoca looked to push and double their lead, but a fast break from Terrigal forced an outstanding double save from Avoca’s Phil Anderson to keep his team in the lead.
Minutes later, O’lad James Lee was slipped into the box behind Avoca’s backline. His cross found Aidan Bastick at the back post who hit the post with the ball ricocheting out and another chance had gone begging for Terrigal.
There was a reoccurring theme in the first half as both keepers kept their sides in it on a very slippery pitch and neither side was able to produce another goal inside the opening 45 minutes.
As the second half went on, Terrigal began to push for a goal, creating multiple chances to even the score line.
It was a tense opening sequence for both teams until Jesse Parnell scored with a well-struck long-range shot that took a nasty deflection to evade Connor Noble, wrong-footing the keeper, and doubling the Sharks lead.
Needing to find a goal, another fine save from Anderson off an Aidan Bastick shot denied Terrigal, but they looked to be getting closer.
With 25 minutes to go Terrigal were awarded a penalty for a push in the box. Ciaran Simmons managed to sneak it in after Anderson got a hand to it and it was game on in the derby.
For the remainder of the game, both teams had chances, with the excellent Phil Anderson keeping shots at bay, and Terrigal hitting the post again.
As Terrigal pushed men forward for an equalizer they were nearly rewarded when Max Vegter was millimetres away from scoring.
However, in committing men forward they were caught out in stoppage time, and Avoca’s Tyler Wade beat his tired defender and then cut it back for Justin Paul, who provided a powerful finish to seal the game and Avoca’s first win of the season to cap off a big day for the Sharks.
“It was a very hard-fought win, and Terrigal made things really tough for us,” noted Mitch Harrison.
“Terrigal provided a unique challenge to what we’ve come up against so far and will do well this season. I’m just so proud of the effort from all of our players across the squad who made it a memorable day for our club.”
Match Official – Miles Allen-Scott
Berkeley Vale 3 – 1 Ourimbah
Four straight wins has Mark Pratt’s Berkeley Vale climb up to second on the ladder after they were able to overcome the difficult standards at Mingara Oval to claim another crucial three points.
The match was played on a very damp field, not allowing free-flowing football. Ourimbah opened the match with a game plan to set up and stop Berkeley Vale from having the freedom to play by trapping them in areas and not allowing their dangerous players on the ball.
Ourimbah opened the scoring 30 minutes into the contest when a tackle inside their own half saw the Falcons regain possession and attack with intent.
William Bowden found Noah Wharton who snuck behind the Berkeley defence and cooly finished one-on-one to give Ian McAndrew’s side the lead.
Ourimbah had a breakaway chance to double their lead, but Toby Brown was fouled heavily, resulting in a yellow card for the Berkeley Vale player as the Ourimbah sideline felt the tackle deserved to be punished more.
Berkeley Vale continued to try and play and create chances. Only a few moments before halftime, a goalmouth scramble was punished by Scott McGinley who poked home from close range to tie the contest at the break.
The second half was much the same as the ground deteriorated in the wet conditions and the game was very much an arm wrestle.
Berkeley continued to attack while the visitors Ourimbah defended strong and looked to break away on the counter.
Another goal-mouth scramble and a clever finish by Jakeb Brownlow gave Berkeley the advantage after 76 minutes played.
The third and final goal came deep into injury time as Berkeley Vale were awarded a penalty. Paul McGinley stepped up and calmly converted as the Wombats were crowned victors.
Mark Pratt had high praise for the opposition after the contest. “After playing Ourimbah in preseason you can see a marked improvement.”
“Ian has them more organised for the battle of the MPL no team should underestimate them and for us that was a good win that last season we may have dropped points which shows an improved level of maturity that we can continue to build on.”
“It’s a tough defeat to take considering the performance and poor decisions at the time of the game cost us,” stated Ourimbah’s McAndrew after full-time.
Match Official – Brayden McDonald
Wyoming 1 – 6 Southern & Ettalong
Matt Page’s Lions put on another goal-scoring clinic to continue their unbeaten run as Southern & Ettalong now find themselves out right on top of the MPL Ladder and Wyoming drop down to the middle of the pack.
Four goals from Jacob Lepre saw the previous MPL Player of the Year, walk away with the match ball and three crucial points to see Southern enter the week as outright leaders.
His first goal of the game came in the 21st minute, Lepre whipped a corner in which was rebounded back out to him. Lepre then guided the ball back into the box with a first-time cross that beat every player and ended up in the back of the net at the back post.
Lepre was on the scoresheet again 15 minutes later, this time on the right side, Lepre hit a direct ball into the box which once again beat everyone including the goalkeeper to double Southern’s advantage.
Still in the contest, Wyoming looked to build into the game in the second period but a third goal to Southern in less than five minutes after the break resumed made their comeback feat almost impossible.
Trying to play out from the back, a misplaced pass from the Wyoming keeper found the feet of Lepre. Lepre drove into the box and finished well with his right foot for his hat-trick goal.
Wyoming responded 13 minutes later, a free kick in the opposition’s half saw defender Henry Walker get on the end of a well-placed ball to head home and give the Tigers a lifeline.
However, an Alfie Martin run just moments later saw him brought down in the box. Todd Balneaves once again stepped up from the spot for his side, firing low to the bottom right corner to extend Southern’s lead to 4-1.
Next on the scoresheet for the Lions was right-back Preston Daniel. Daniel received the ball out wide and yet another cross turned shot saw the ball fly into the back of the net despite a touch from the Wyoming goalie.
Last but not least, Lepre eventually got his fourth goal. A switch of play from the left to the right saw Lepre make an unmarked run into the box.
Teammate Keith Gumbs was able to play the ball in front of Lepre who first-time placed the ball into the top corner, cementing Southern’s 6-1 victory.
“I was very pleased with the performance of the lads on Saturday. Despite the score line, the young Wyoming side made us work very hard for the three points,” reported Matt Page.
“We were a little bit sloppy in the first half, but we were building pressure throughout and managed to convert enough of the chances we created to have a lead at halftime. Second half we were better, and we ran the game out well.”
Page also had high praise for Wyoming’s leaders, “We had the opportunity to see Henry (Walker) up close at preseason trials and were disappointed we couldn’t convince him to play with us for the season. He definitely showed what he’s capable of on Saturday, and along with Jared McNee, they are the perfect experienced duo that can lead the young tiger’s side to more victories this season.”
Scott Snodgrass gave a run down on how he saw the contest, “In the game for thirty mins and at two nil at half time, the team were still quite positive.”
“The next goal killed us taking it to 3-0, and after that, we threw numbers forward which got us a goal but opened up the game which played further into Southern’s style. A step backwards for us this weekend albeit against a good football side.”
Match Official – Mikayla Ryan
Kanwal 0 – 3 Budgewoi
Budgewoi’s Chris Lennon continues his outstanding form, netting a brace after last week’s hat-trick to hand former table toppers Kanwal their first defeat of the 2025 season.
Straight from kick-off, Budgewoi showed their intent, pressing high and winning the ball as Olly Appo tested the Kanwal keeper with a dangerous low shot.
Very much like his goals last weekend, Chris Lennon opened the scoring with a perfectly timed run in behind the Kanwal line as his pace proved too much for the chasing defenders and he finished expertly between the legs of Joel Cowan.
As the game went on, the conditions at Wadalba Sports Complex took a turn, making for a very wet and very slippery surface.
The second goal of the evening came in the 54th minute when Budgewoi were awarded a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the Kanwal box.
Stuart Adams fired the ball in low, and a clearance attempt by the Kanwal player fell towards the looming Jamison Costa who made no mistake with his effort on goal from close range, doubling Budgewoi’s lead to 2-0.
With time running out, Kanwal couldn’t find a response. A long kick from the hand of goalkeeper Nathan Denton was pounced on by Lennon. With the ball at his feet, Lennon beat his marker before bending a shot into the top corner for the game’s third and final goal.
“It was a tough game in very wet and slippery conditions. We knew we had to be close to our best to match them, and I think we did that today,” said a proud Haydn Appo.
“Although the scoreboard has been kind to us over the last two rounds, we are very happy with our defensive efforts from the squad.”
Match Official – Preston Lorusso
Killarney 3 – 2 Woongarrah
A Lucas Dominello double helped Killarney to their initial win of the year as last year’s League Champions Woongarrah now find themselves on the bottom of the ladder to conclude round 5.
A determined Killarney started the contest on the front foot and should have scored inside the opening moments after one shot was put just wide and another effort was saved well.
Despite an early influx of chances for the Terriers, Killarney found themselves down on the scoreboard after Woongarrah found some better field position.
8 minutes in and the clinical Jacob Melling found the bottom corner from just outside the 18-yard box.
10 minutes later Woongarrah would fail to clear a defensive corner, and the ball would go wide as Killarney’s Harrison Fountain did well to put the ball back into the box. The dangerous ball would touch a Wildcat centre-back and end up in the back of his own net to take the game level.
Some desperate defending in their own half saw Killarney regain the ball. Tim Knight evaded a defender before playing Lucas Dominello in on goal as the attacker finished his one-on-one chance to give Killarney the lead.
Killarney were first to strike in the second period, doubling their advantage. After little chances presented themselves for either side, substitute Jay Swadling took matters into his own hands 66 minutes in.
Swadling linked up well with Braith Hedley with a one-two before finishing well for his second goal of the season.
A determined Woongarrah would fight back, creating a few chances of their own and unlucky not to pull one back after hitting the post on two occasions.
Eventually, the pressure would result in a goal with Joey Lewis getting inside the box and finding an unmarked Ridge Mapu to fire home.
Woongarrah would push and come close to an equaliser, but Killarney would hold on and win 3-2.
A pleased Chris Ackerley mentioned, “I was pleased with the win as we haven’t been that far away from putting it all together, still a lot of work to be done, but hopefully we can get on a run and push ourselves up the table.”
Luke Rogers stated, “Congrats to Killarney on the win. They fought hard for the entire match. The conditions didn’t help with our style of play but if we want to be at the top, we have to do better when these situations arise.”
Match Official – Luke Dunkerley
Golden Boot Standings –
| 6 | Logan Moore (Kanwal), Jacob Lepre (Southern), |
| 5 | Christopher Lennon (Budgewoi), |
| 4 | Todd Balneaves (Southern) |
| 3 | Joshua Cairelli (Berkeley Vale), Stuart Adams (Budgewoi), Jacob Brownlow (Berkeley Vale) |
Points Table –
Division 1
Round 6 Results –
Points Table –
