Picton Rangers came from behind to book their place in next weekend’s District League Grand Final with a 3-2 win in Saturday’s Preliminary Final. It was heartbreak for Helensburgh Thistle, who had raced to a two goal lead early on, raising hopes of a major upset against the League Champions.

Andrew Paine’s penalty had given his Helensburgh side the lead in the 18^th minute before Chris Russell’s opportunist goal seven minutes later. Picton pulled one back before half time, with a penalty themselves converted by Daniel Goodhew, and raced out of the blocks in the second half with a quickfire equaliser from Dayne Morley before Jack Taseski’s winner twelve minutes from time.

Defences were on top in the early stages of the contest, with Helensburgh’s makeshift centre backs Mitch Buchan and Nick Lenton handling any threats from Picton’s top marksman Mitchell Hall. And at the other end Helensburgh’s top scorer Andrew Paine was looking dangerous with his probing runs from deep.

The opening goal came from a defensive mix-up when the unlucky Liam Bergin – later stretchered off with a back injury – slid into his own goalkeeper and let his hand touch a rather innocuous cross from the right. Paine stepped up and tapped home the penalty, for his 24^th goal of the season.

Thistle doubled their lead when Picton keeper Bradley Jones failed to deal with a corner and was stranded off his line when Chris Russell pounced and prodded the ball through a packed six-yard box.

This seemed to be the trigger for Picton target man Hall to step up a gear. He finally slipped his marker and fired a right foot shot straight at Thistle keeper Massimo Ioppolo, but nobody was there to pick up the loose ball for Picton. In the 28^th minute, though, Hall received a perfectly-weighted ball from Aidan Matthews and was brought down in the area as he prepared to shoot. This time Daniel Goodhew stepped up to slot the spot kick low to Ioppolo’s left for his 10^th goal of this campaign.

And Hall again almost equalised just before the break when he fired a right foot volley from the edge of the area, only for Ioppolo to tip it away for a corner.

By the half time whistle Picton were starting to dominate and within seconds of the restart the League Champions had equalised. Taseski took the ball down the right touchline and laid the ball off to Hall, whose shot was blocked by Ioppolo. This time Dayne Morley was on hand for the rebound, though it took him two attempts to find the net, with Ioppolo performing acrobatics to try to keep his side in front.

Once Picton had equalised, there was only one likely winner of this tie, though. Helensburgh legs began to tire and they created few chances in the second half.

Picton on the other hand were stringing good passes together and looking a constant threat. A delightful move involving Scott Miranda, Jarred Morley and Hall ended with the striker firing his shot just wide of the upright. And Dayne Morley set up Hall on the edge of the area, though he was again denied by Ioppolo who raced out to block the incoming shot.

It was a pinpoint pass from Dayne Morley that set up the winner in the 78^th minute. He found Taseski inside the box with time to pick his spot for a right foot shot that gave Ioppolo no chance.

Late substitutions gave Helensburgh some energy and hope, but Jones in the Picton goal was barely tested again, and the Rangers held on for a well-deserved victory.

Speaking after the game, Picton coach Brett Morley acknowledged his side had come through a tough test against a good Helensburgh side: “We’ve been failing to score goals recently, but we put away a couple today.” He has some concerns about key players not being available for the Grand Final after yellow cards today, but “We will battle on, knowing it will be a tough contest against Corrimal, but we also know our eleven boys will be fighting to win next weekend, whoever gets selected.”

Helensburgh coach Brod Crighton was pleased to get a couple of goals against a team that had ‘thumped’ his side 6-0 and 2-0 earlier in the season. After going two goals up, he had hoped to get a result today, but “they’re a good side and they deserved to win in the end.” He had special praise for his keeper Massimo Ioppolo who “made some great saves all day”. Overall, he’s been pleased with his first season in charge, but he promised his Helensburgh side would be hungry for more next year. 

- Simon Duffin -