DISTRICT LEAGUE FIRST GRADE GRAND FINAL MATCH REPORT

A thunderbolt strike from Captain Aiden Matthews late in the second half gave Picton Rangers their second consecutive District League Grand Final victory. Man of the Match and winner of the Matt Horsley Medal in Picton’s 2-1 victory over Corrimal Rangers was Jarred Morley.

Corrimal came so close to making it a dream return to the Grand Final, 26 years after their last appearance at this stage. A purple patch midway through the second half saw them equalise and then press strongly for a second goal that may well have won them this match.

But Picton held on and then claimed victory with Matthews’ wonder strike.

Picton looked the most comfortable on the ball early on, with Jack Taseski and brothers Jarred and Dayne Morley putting together some nice passing moves.

But defences were on top in the early stages of the match, with some crunching tackles at both ends in what was a tough, physical game.

It was Taseski’s strength and perseverance that set up Picton’s opener. He drove past two defenders along the byline in the 29th minute and fed the ball through to Dayne Morley who managed to bundle the ball over the line to give Picton the lead.

His brother Jarred almost doubled that lead five minutes later when he tried an audacious lob from near half way, but Corrimal keeper Alex Baird stretched back to keep the ball out.

Other than that, chances were few and far between in the first half, and Bradley Jones in the Picton goal was untroubled, as Corrimal failed to look effective in the final third.

Picton continued to look comfortable in the opening stages of the second half, and It was beyond the hour mark when Corrimal had a real effort on goal, Paul Guido and Tony Dulevski linking well and Dulevski’s shot taking a deflection that made Jones adjust his position before making the save.

Minutes later, Lorri Mandredi sent a long ball into space for the advancing Nathan Belsito to run onto, but the Corrimal midfielder slipped in the wet conditions before he could control the ball.

That proved to be a dress rehearsal for the Corrimal midfielder’s equaliser in the 74th minute, though, with Belsito this time running onto a ball into the area and driving his first time shot into the back of the net.

The goal galvanised the team in red, and minutes later Dulevski took one touch too many before unleashing his shot, giving Jones time to get into position for the save. Then Belsito again lost his marker down the right forcing another diving save from Jones.

Picton’s second came out of the blue in the 84th minute. A long range free kick from Dale Nicol was cleared only as far as Aiden Matthews, whose superb strike from the edge of the area flew into the back of the net.

Down at the other end, there was still time for one last chance for Corrimal. Again the approach play was down the right, with Belsito this time playing provider, as his cross raced across the face of the goal, but it was just out of reach for Dulevski to get a touch on it. And Picton hung on for their second Grand Final victory in a row.

After the game, Picton coach Brett Morley would single out no individual player as key contributor: “We were good all over the park today. Conditions changed through the game and when it got a bit slippery, the team that wanted it a bit more was going to get there. Corrimal gave us a good run and they’re never dead and buried, so I’m just pleased we finished on top and got the double. It rounded off a really successful year for us”.

Story by Simon Duffin and Photo courtesy of Fotozportz.




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