Warilla defeated Thirroul 2-1 thanks to an Adam White winner in the 83rd minute. Going into this game, both sides were locked on 34 points with Warilla sitting above the 5th placed Thirroul on just the solitary one goal differential. Warilla were looking to make it five in a row and with a victory pending a Helensburgh defeat, would climb to 3rd position on the ladder. Thirroul were coming off the back of a 2-0 win against University.

Two minutes into the game, Thirroul had a chance to open the scoring when Corey Haines-Grose hit a left-footed shot on the left-hand-side which just rolled past the far post. Four minutes later, Warilla responded when Jesse French fizzed a ball into the box from the left-hand side which was spilt by Adam Arnott but luckily a red shirt was there first to clear the danger.

In the 11th minute, the lively Haines-Grose cut inside from the right-hand-side and unleashed a powerful strike which could only be parried but the rebound cleared crossbar by some distance. Four minutes later, Thirroul threatened again when Tom Goodier made an inspired run down the left-hand-side and pulled a ball back to Joel Mucci on the edge of the box who tried to curl the ball into the far corner, but it floated just past the back post.

In the 27th Warilla’s Martin Castelli played a ball into the path of Jesse French who was able to turn onto his left foot to shoot but the ball went well wide of the goal. In the 36th minute Thirroul were awarded penalty. Haines-Grose stepped and put a composed effort past Adam Arnott to send Thirroul into halftime with a slim one-goal advantage.

Within the first five minutes of the second half, Warilla were awarded a penalty of their own. Javier Ovando took the penalty, powering a strike into the top corner out of the reach of Mitchell Cooper. In the 51st minute, Warilla couldn’t believe they weren’t in front when a cross in from the left-hand-side found White in the middle who powered a shot which provoked an extortionary save from Cooper. Two minutes later, Ovando delivered a free-kick which again forced Cooper into a difficult save.

In the 58th minute, a long goal-kick from Adam Arnott found Aden Wade who hit a left-footed shot over the bar. Six minutes later, Thirroul should’ve been in front when Haines-Grose made his way down the left-hand-side and delivered a cross into the box which was parried back into the danger area by Adam Arnott, Lewis Clements on the rebound, side-footed a shot off the crossbar from point-blank range.

In the 75th minute, Thirroul’s Nathan Mucci found an unmarked Daniel Bond at the back post who headed over. In the 83rd Warilla retook the lead through Adam White who from the edge of the box put a powerful shot past Mitchell Cooper who had been fantastic all game. Warilla kept pushing for their 4th goal and on the stroke of fulltime Jeremy Lopez crossed a ball into Adam White who from inside the box lashed a shot goalwards but Cooper showed unbelievable reflexes to deny the striker his second of the game.

This is a huge win for Warilla as it sees them into 4th position on points and only behind the 3rd placed Helensburgh on goal difference after their 0-0 draw with Unanderra. Warilla have now won five in a row including wins against two of the top five in that run. This is a huge positive for Warilla heading into the finals series.

Thirroul will be disappointed that they couldn’t win today especially considering they took they lead. Thirroul travel to Shell Cove next week who will go into the game off the back of a 6-0 drubbing from top side Coniston.

 

Saturday 11^th August at Thomas Gibson Park

Thirroul – 1 (Haines-Grose 37’)

Warilla – 2 (Ovando 48’, White 83’)

 

Thirroul: Mitchell COOPER, Daniel BOND, Tom GOODIER, Cooper BRINDLE, Joshua HUTTON, Joel MUCCI (BOND), Lewis CLEMENTS, Todd DAVIDSON, Angus NICOL (LATINI), Nathan MUCCI, Corey HAINES-GROSE (STRUDWICK)

Substitutes: Ryan LATINI, Bradley STRUDWICK, Ashley RYAN, Joshua BOND, Cameron LOGAN

 

Warilla: Adam ARNOTT, Nathan PEGLER, Drew SHAW, Mark MARINELLI, Jason GOLDSMITH, Martin CASTELLI, Ben ELLUL (LOPEZ), Aden WADE, Adam WHITE, Javier OVANDO (GERIBO), Jesse FRENCH

Substitutes: Rhys MARSH, Brenton GERIBO, Stewart ROBERTSON, Jeremy LOPEZ

 

Referee: Brodie MERCHANT

Assistant Referees: Lachlan MCRAE and Anna PHIPPS

 

Report by: Timothy Gibson on Twitter, @Timg123_

File Photo: Pedro Garcia