Umina 3 – 2 Woy Woy
The penultimate Match of the Round of the regular season in Men’s Division 1 was the Peninsula derby as the Champion Umina Eagles played host to their rivals, the Woy Woy Roosters.
Woy Woy came into the round just needing a point to secure a playoff berth, but the hosts had no intention of giving it to them as they were two wins away from the perfect season, having won every game so far.
In the end, Umina would keep their run alive, but not without a resilient Woy Woy team refusing to let the Champions have things their own way.
The match began with Umina probing the Woy Woy defence as their star-man, Christopher Payne, looked to create havoc for them in the final third.
Early on, Payne played a lovely through ball along the ground to Hayden Tucker on the right wing, who took it closer to the box before putting in a dangerous cross across the face of the goal that none of his teammates managed to meet.
The pressure would stay on, but a tenacious Roosters defence would deny the usually free-scoring Eagles shots on target.
The next opportunity began with Tucker, who played Jack Driscoll down the right flank. Driscoll attempted to slide in a ball towards the penalty spot, but Woy Woy’s Luke Broadhead produced a crucial block to prevent the chance from developing.
Moments later, Tucker and Driscoll would combine again, with Driscoll teeing up Tucker to shoot from just beyond the arc and draw a good save from Roosters’ keeper Angus Fotheringham down to his left.
Despite this resilience, it was apparent that Woy Woy were struggling on the ball, unable to transition through the high Umina defensive line, which resulted in pressure constantly building.
Another chance fell to the hosts when Aaron Walters played Driscoll through on the right, an area that was constantly open for the Eagles. Driscoll cut in this time, skilfully beating two defenders on his way to the penalty spot, but once he unleashed his shot, Woy Woy captain Trent Butler arrived to block it.
A quick burst of chaos ensued at both ends, and Umina keeper Corey Hubbard lost control of the ball just outside his box, allowing Brendan Saunders to get a look at goal as he retreated, but the composed Umina defence forced a stop.
Then, down the other end, Driscoll sent a shot into the crossbar from inside the box, and with almost 30 minutes gone, it was remarkable that the game was still 0-0.
That would finally change when Ollie Jones produced a brilliant aerial long ball from just beyond halfway straight onto the chest of Payne inside the box. Payne controlled the ball in the air, then turned and flicked it across himself straight into the bottom left of the net for 1-0. It was another special goal from a special player.
In the 34th minute, Umina’s lead would double from a right-sided corner taken by Driscoll. Everyone in the box for both teams seemed to stand still as the ball soared in, all except Walters, who crashed into the box with perfect timing, meeting the ball with a header down into the net for 2-0.
Woy Woy would then steady the ship somewhat in the closing stages of the half.
The Roosters would have a dangerous free kick just inside the final third centrally, and Jackson Browne would step up to take it. Browne’s strike was a good one that looked destined for the top right corner, but Hubbard leapt up to stop it.
However, in the shadows of halftime, Woy Woy would claw a goal back from another set piece.
The third goal of the afternoon began from a right flank free kick sent in by Butler just next to the sideline in line with the box. Butler sent the ball hard towards the near post, where it ricocheted off players before somehow hitting the inside of the right post and landing over the line for 2-1.
It didn’t matter how it ended up in the net; what mattered was Woy Woy having the perfect end to the half, which set up an enticing second period.
The second half began with an audacious attempt at a goal from Payne, who received a bouncing ball just beyond the halfway line on the left. Payne spotted that the Woy Woy keeper was well off his line, and so, on the half volley, Payne sent the ball high into the air, soaring over the retreating Fotheringham, looking destined for goal as the crowd held its breath. The shot appeared to be dipping perfectly to go under the bar, but it fell too early, bouncing around the penalty spot up over the bar as the crowd exhaled, stunned that Payne even got it close.
The second half would then settle into what was a much scrappier affair, as neither team really managed to get going, a testament to how well both sides defended.
Umina’s Darcy Doran, off the bench, would create one chance for Payne when he produced a cross that found him at the back post, but Payne’s half-volley shot would go wide.
Woy Woy, who were now playing much more directly and transitioning the ball better as a result, would then have a half-chance when Saunders played Browne through down the left with only one to beat. The last man was Umina’s Rio Leasa, who sprinted across from the right and defended smartly, containing Browne until he spotted the perfect moment for him to lunge in and put the ball out over the sideline.
Fotheringham would be called upon to make more classy saves as both Payne and Driscoll peppered him in goal, but he was always up to it, and as the half went into the 75th minute, it seemed the score would end 2-1.
Yet, moments later in the 80th minute, a moment of magic happened to spark the game back to life.
Umina’s third goal began innocuously as Mason Oldfield received the ball from Walters a few meters beyond halfway. Oldfield was wide open as the Woy Woy defence retreated, expecting the holding midfielder to pass; instead, he produced the goal of the afternoon. Utilising the time, Oldfield flicked the ball up and struck it with the top of his foot at goal, where it looped into the net, sending both fans and players into a frenzy as the score became 3-1.
The remaining time saw the ball mainly out over the sideline until Woy Woy were granted a glimmer of hope.
Just before the 90th minute, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Nicholas Johnson fouled Browne after losing control of the ball in the box and dragging the Woy Woy forward down as he stole the ball.
Butler stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake, blasting it into the bottom right corner to set up a grandstand finish.
Into injury time, Woy Woy threw everyone forward, doing everything they could to find an equaliser.
Their best chance came when Butler sent a ball in from the left to the back post, where Saunders and substitute Lachlan Russell both leapt to meet it, but Hubbard got there first.
Full-time soon followed, ending the game 3-2, leaving the Eagles on a perfect 20 wins from 20 games.
However, because of Gosford’s 3-1 win over Toukley, Woy Woy are now locked into the playoffs with Gosford and Doyalson; it only remains to be seen which Premier League team will join them.
Speaking to Umina coach Pete Graham after the match, he praised his side for their spectacular season and his opponents for what was a tough contest in the derby.
“I’m very proud of the team, obviously, that’s racked up another win for what’s already a fantastic season,” Graham said.
“You win any way you can sometimes, and that was one of those very tight derby affairs, not just in the scoreline but in the style of game it was, it was quite rugged at times, quite physical, and both teams match up pretty well like that.
“It wasn’t our best game, but in saying that, Woy Woy didn’t give us much easy ball or good ball in good spaces, so credit to them for that.
“The scoreline says it all really, it was a tight game that was played between two sides that were physically matched up against each other”.
While Woy Woy coach Thomas Macerola paid credit to the Champions and looked ahead to the playoffs in their bid to join Umina in the Premier League.
“Umina have been the benchmark in the competition all season. They’ve got a lethal attack and are very well organised at the back,”. Macerola began.
“We went into the game with a clear plan — to be resilient and relentless without the ball, and to make the most of our transitions knowing the pace and quality they have in the final third”.
I’m incredibly proud of the boys. We worked hard as a unit, executed our transitions well, and stayed in the fight right to the end”.
“With a finals position now confirmed, we will take the positives from today’s performance into the final round of the season against Toukley to build momentum for the minor Semi”.
Written by Mark Goodyear
All Round 20 Results –
