MATCH OF THE ROUND
Woongarrah 6 – 1 Ourimbah
Woongarrah picked up their biggest win of the year thanks to a 5-goal flurry in the second half to claim three crucial points as the Wildcats are now three points clear of the relegation play-off place on the ladder.
The home side opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Ridge Mapu would play the ball to an open Jack Gallagher who rammed home from just inside the box.
Minutes later Jack would almost double the lead from almost the same spot unfortunately just putting it over.
This kicked Ourimbah into gear and woke them up as they started passing and breaking down the wildcats with ease. The equaliser came in with a well-worked play, starting from centre back Toby Browne.
The ball worked its way up the field and over the back line of Woongarrah with Lachlan Kroemer quickest to relax, catching the Woongarrah keeper having a snooze at the back and conceding, making it 1-1 and into halftime.
10 minutes into the second half and Daniel Ott would lob a ball in between two Ourimbah defenders. Dylan Holz would get himself to the ball first, chesting it and then outmuscling two defenders to get a half volley away and beat the oncoming goalie to reinstate Woongarrah’s lead.
Seven minutes later Woongarrah would lead 3-1. A play would start from the back and a Gryffyn Stevenson ball would find Jack Gallagher in the 6-yard box and with a deft flick he would assist Dylan Holz for his second of the day as Holz finished from close range.
Again, it wouldn’t take Woongarrah long to further extend their lead. A cross from Harrison Stiffle would be misjudged from the covering Ourimbah defender, coming off his boot and falling to the head of Alex Govorcin to nod home.
Matthew Johnson was next on the scoresheet after a ball into the box would find Johnson who beat everyone to the ball for another close-range finish for the Wildcats.
Jacob Melling was last on the scoresheet after Woongarrah were awarded a penalty. Melling would have no problem in converting to cement Woongarrah’s 6-1 win.
A proud Luke Rogers voiced, “It was great to win the DMC cup. The boys played well and created plenty of goal-scoring opportunities and could have won by a lot more.”
“We know we still have plenty to do in the upcoming weeks. Good luck to Ourimbah with the rest of the season.”
“First half we took a little bit to get into gear but once we settled, we showed we were the better team, easily breaking Woongarrah down,” reflected Kyle Lawther.
“Unfortunately, the boys didn’t come out in the second half. We came out as a completely different team, didn’t execute our roles, blokes went missing and as a team just shut off. It doesn’t help when blokes get away with off the ball elbows”
“We move onto the last two weeks with a couple of troops back and looking forward to the challenge of staying up in MPL for next season,” added Lawther.
Match Official – Trent Dickeson
Killarney 0 – 0 Berkeley Vale
Wet weather saw this fixture moved from Edsacc Oval to the mainstage on Pluim Park as neither team could produce a goal inside the ninety minutes, as Berkeley Vale only have one win in their last four games as they look to break this slump heading into Finals.
The contest was played out as expected from the Wombats with the opposition setting up defensively, happy to forfeit the majority of possession as Killarney looked to hit Berkeley Vale on the counter.
Berkeley Vale tested Killarney’s Declan Drake early on, with a long-range strike from Shane Littlehales that was easily dealt with by the Killarney keeper.
Felix Beed also tried his luck from distance for the Wombats, but his show failed to hit the target as the Killarney defence remained solid.
Although they struggled to make chances of their own as their big man Ryan Gibson was missing from the line-up, Killarney’s defence dealt with everything thrown at them by the Wombats.
Killarney started the second half with some positive attacking plays, but soon enough Berkeley reinstated control of the contest as they looked to be the ones to open the scoring.
Neither side truly created any clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities. The best chance of the game came in the 80th minute for the Terriers as Lucas Dominello fired a close-range effort on goal, but a terrific reaction save from Jack Arigho kept the score locked at 0-0 where it finished.
Chris Ackerley now shifts his focus to an important Ash Grant Cup fixture next week. “All the best to Mark & Andre for the final series to come. Onto next week’s game with Terrigal, another big game in the fight to stay out of the bottom two, which I’m sure will be hard fought.”
“Well done to Chris and his team on gaining a valuable point that takes them a little further away from the danger zone,” spoke Mark Pratt.
“Hopefully the rain can hold off and allow us the opportunity to get some work done on the training pitch this week.”
Match Official – Anthony Kabbout
Southern & Ettalong 3 – 2 Terrigal
A disheartening goal with essentially the last kick of the game saw Terrigal drop what could be a crucial point in their fight to avoid relegation, as Sam Webb’s winning goal keeps a small glimmer of hope alive for Southern’s quest for League Champions.
The first half was a pretty even contest with Terrigal content to sit back in a block and frustrate Southern.
Southern’s first real chance of the contest was a free kick on the edge of Terrigal’s box. Set-piece specialist Jacob Lepre stepped up, directing the ball over the wall but his effort was unable to dip as his shot just missed the target.
Matthew Jacobsen almost opened the scoring as the attacker intercepted a loose ball from the Terrigal backline. Jacobsen found Jack Ellwood who found Jacobsen again in the box, but his shot rolled wide of the target.
Southern’s defence remained strong as Terrigal looked to attack, forcing attackers Ryan Pearce and Aidan Bastick to shoot from distance which didn’t trouble the Southern number 1.
The game’s first goal came on the 40-minute mark when Sam Webb found the feet of Jayke Browne who turned his defender inside the box and whipped a right-footed shot into the side netting to give the Lions a 1-0 lead at the break.
It took Southern only two minutes to extend their lead to two in the second period as Jayke Browne was on the scoresheet again for the Lions.
Jacobsen was played out wide, delivering a ball which Browne headed into a defender. The ball fell nicely for Browne who rifled a powerful shot, leaving the opposition keeper no chance at saving.
Down 2-0, Terrigal started to play their best football, creating two quick chances as they looked for a response back into the game.
With 15 minutes to go, the ball found Ryan Pearce at the halfway line, and he put a looping through ball for Aidan Bastick with only the goalie to beat. As he dribbled around Alex Wardle, he was fouled, and the ref gave the Southern keeper a straight red card at a free kick to Terrigal.
Their substitute keeper Dane Johnson not long after coming on brought a player down in the box as Terrigal were given their lifeline when awarded a penalty.
Captain Max Vegter stepped up for the Terrigal, sending Johnson the wrong way as it was game on for the O’lads.
A minute after conceding, Jacob Lepre was shown a second yellow card and Southern were now reduced to 9 men.
With momentum well and truly on their side, Terrigal found their equaliser in stoppage time thanks to a Mitch Allen wonder strike that found the top corner, sending the Terrigal bench into loud cheers.
Backing themselves to get the victory, Terrigal searched for a winner, but a slip in the midfield allowed Jack Jenkins to release Jack Ellwood on goal.
Ellwood found Jenkins whose shot on goal was parried into the path of Sam Webb who tapped home from close range, sending the Southern bench into a rupture of cheers and celebrations.
“I think tactically we got the game right this time,” reflected Ryan Pearce. “It was obviously helped by the red cards, but we put ourselves into the game and competed for the full 90.”
“I’m gutted we didn’t get more out of it. As a coach, I will learn a lot from the last five minutes and hopefully my boys do too.”
“Pagey’s boys played a great game and were incredibly resilient in the last 10 when they were down on players. We wish them the best of luck for the rest of the year and in the finals”
Match Official – Michael Tohme
Wyoming 1 – 3 Kanwal
A Kanwal victory sees the Bulls lock in a top-four finish as Ryan Walker and his men will be looking to gain maximum momentum in the final two weeks in the hopes of overcoming their Finals Football slump from recent years.
With all the recent heavy rain, it was a game played on a pitch that didn’t really help either team play attractive football.
A game where Kanwal needed a quick bounce back from a poor performance and where Wyoming needed to win to move up the ladder and away from the relegation battle.
Kanwal had plenty of early possession but were again wasteful in front of goal with Wyoming’s best chance seeing Kurtis Mahon make a great save from a dangerous one-on-one situation.
It would be a penalty that allowed Kanwal to break the deadlock with Evan DeSilva dribbling into the box only to be brought down by the Wyoming defender.
Up stepped Logan Moore who made no mistake to give Kanwal a 1-0 lead. The score remained 1-0 at the halftime break.
Kanwal started the second half strong and were rewarded when a free kick was whipped into the box by Zac Moore and deflected off the Wyoming defender into his own goal to give Kanwal a 2-0 lead.
Wyoming never gave up the entire game and were rewarded with a goal of their own through Patrick Mills to make it 2-1 and an interesting finish to the match.
Kanwal would get a third when Cal Dunkerley hit a free kick from outside the box into the top corner, giving the Wyoming keeper no chance and Kanwal a more comfortable 3-1 lead.
Although Wyoming pressed hard in the remaining stages of the game, Kanwal were able to keep their composure and walk away with a 3-1 win.
Ryan Walker was pleased with the attitude of his boys throughout the game. “They brought the desire and hunger we spoke about during the week that we lacked last weekend. Good luck to Scott and the Wyoming boys with their remaining two games.”
“Don’t know what to say this week. Boys were up for it,” voiced Scott Snodgrass.
“Can’t fault the effort, but again, decision-making in crucial moments cost us. We pressed and fought hard for 90 but it wasn’t to be. Congratulations Ryan, K and their squad and good luck for the finals.”
Match Official – Jasper White
Avoca 0 – 8 Budgewoi
A second-half flurry of goals sees Budgewoi produce the biggest scoreline of the MPL season as they are now just one win away from making history to be crowned the 2025 First Grade Premiers.
It took the visitors 18 minutes to open the scoring after a corner was punched to safety from the Avoca keeper. Budgewoi reclaimed the ball out wide, whipping another ball into the crowded box as the human tower Liam Sterrett rose above the pack to head home.
Budgewoi didn’t get their second goal until deep in the first half as the home side were well organised and tough to break down in the opening 45 minutes.
The goal came as Josh Swadling cleverly flicked a ball over the Avoca defence to Chris Lennon. Lennon was closed down by the Sharks’ defence, and laid the ball to a free Swadling who rifled home first time past a sea of defenders.
Seven minutes into the second period, Budgewoi got their third after a brilliant through ball by Bayley Appo was struck first-time by Tahj Werner, whose effort found the roof of the net.
Immediately from kick off, Budgewoi was on the scoresheet again as Swadling found the bounding run of Lennon as the attacker coolly placed the ball past the oncoming keeper for his first of the day.
Lennon got his second just four minutes after his first as a swift Budgewoi counterattack saw Lennon receive the ball in the box. Lennon faked a defender before placing the ball into the bottom corner for Budgewoi’s fifth.
Stuart Adams was next on the scoresheet for Budgewoi as a corner was failed to be dealt with by the home side and Adams was first to react to tap home against his former side.
Another goal, another goal scorer as a long ball was played from the back to striker Chris Lennon. Lennon headed the ball into the path of Charlie Entwistle who didn’t hesitate and fired home first time for a 7-0 lead.
The last goal for Budgewoi was their best yet as Lennon was able to secure his hat-trick. Winning the ball back out wide, Swadling found Lennon on the edge of the box who curled a powerful shot into the top right corner for the game’s final goal.
Avoca’s loss sees them remain in last place with eleven points, putting them at risk of relegation this weekend if they don’t secure a result against Kanwal.
“We knew that Sunday could be challenging on the Fagan Park pitch. Credit to the lads for sticking to the script and not allowing the playing surface to be an excuse. We wish the Avoca boys all the very best with their remaining two fixtures,” spoke Haydn Appo.
“Budgie showed why they’re top of the league, they’re a great side. They were so clinical in the second half. We have to dust ourselves and get ready for a massive game next week,” said Mitch Harrison.
Match Official – Anthony Ryan
Golden Boot Standings –
| 16 | Christopher Lennon (Budgewoi) |
| 15 | Tahj Werner (Budgewoi) |
| 14 | Jacob Lepre (Southern) |
| 13 | Logan Moore (Kanwal) |
| 11 | Charlie Entwistle (Budgewoi), Jayke Browne (Southern) |
| 9 | Conor Fitzpatrick (Berkeley Vale), Stuart Adams (Budgewoi) |
Points Table –
Division 1
Round 20 Results –
Points Table –
