Picton travelled to Tarrawanna Oval on Saturday hoping to avenge their first round loss to the Blueys and at the same time consolidate their position in the top 5.

Early on it didn't look like that was going to be possible as Tarrawanna dominated the opening exchages and really should have been 'out of sight' by the time 30 minutes had passed. 

Tarra's new striker, Brad Welch was the central figure in the first ten minutes as the Blueys lay siege on the Rangers goal as they strived to take the early initiative.
Only two minutes in, Welch got in behind the visitors defence only to see his square pass across the face of goal scrambled clear by a last ditch defensive effort when a goal looked certain. In next to no time, the pacy striker was able to fire in left foot shot on goal from 14 metres which was well saved by Bradley Jones in the Picton goal.

Next it was the turn of Midfielder, Matthew Mazevski who was able to get in at the back post and on the end of a Ricky Goodchild cross but his shot hit the side netting from a tight angle.

The onslaught continued and when speedy wing man Darren Stone ventured down the left hand side and slid a perfect pass/cross across the face of goal, Welch looked certain to score but the ball squirmed under his foot and the chance went begging from close range.

It wasn't until 15 minutes in that Picton managed to have their first attempt on goal but it came to nothing when Ben Realph who had ventured forward from his defensive position, shot high & wide from the edge of the Tarrawanna penalty area. A short time later Dale Nicol was on hand at the back post but he could only steer his header wide of the goal from just inside the six yard box after getting on the end of an Aiden Matthew's free kick.

Picton's forays into the opponents half were few and far between and once again it was the turn of the Blueys to show the way in an effort to be first scorers in what was turning out to be an enterprising opening 45 minutes.

On 20 minutes, new signing Sang Yu Park tried to make a name for himself on debut but his effort from the edge of the penalty area sailed over the cross bar.  Shortly after, Jake Morlando made a great interception at the back to turn defence into attack and sent a great 40 metre pass into the path of the industrious Goodchild wide on the left. However, on this occasion Goodchild was unable to deliver a telling ball and his cross sailed harmlessly over the cross bar.
Just after the 30 minute mark, Goodchild was in the thick of the action again and this time his effort on goal from distance was well hit only to find Jones was up the task between the posts and the keeper pulled off a great save.

Ten minutes before half time, Tarrawanna  produced the best move of the match thus far, when Mazevski, Goodchild, Stone and Welch strung together a passing movement which began in Tarra's half of the field and ended with the player from the Carribean shooting straight at Jones who made a comfortable save. 

Although they had no goals to show for it, the home side were displaying a lot more endeavour than in their previous home game against Shell Cove two weeks earlier but it would be these missed opportunities that they would rue later in the piece.

The last chance of the half fell to the Ranger's Connor Dymond who appeared to be through on goal and even though the gap closed quickly, Dimond was able to get a shot away which was deflected with the ball falling into the hands of Tarra Keeper, David Hamilton.

If the first half belonged to the Blueys, then most certainly the second stanza went the way of the visitors. Whatever, was said at half time in the sheds, the Rangers came out alot more hungrier and never allowed Tarrawanna anywhere near as much latitude as they had enjoyed in the first half. The Blueys couldn't cope with the physicality and never say die attitude that Picton always bring to the game.

Having said that, it was the home side that almost broke the deadlock 11minutes after the interval when Stone hustled and busseled deep inside the Picton danger area and when he managed to get his shot away on the turn, much to the dismay of the Blueys faithful the player could only watch in dismay as his shot hit the post and the ball scrambled away to safety.

That was as good as it got for Tarrawanna and four minutes later, Picton snatched the all important goal that would decide the contest. There was an element of luck about the vital goal as a couple of Tarrawanna defenders had an opportunity to clear the ball but Dymond was 'Johnny on the spot' as he put the finishing touches to a goalmouth scramble to poke the ball home from ten metres.

Six minutes later, the visitors almost doubled the lead and would have done so if Matt Mazevski had not cleared the ball off his own line with Keeper Hamilton beaten.

With 15 minutes left,Tarra had one last chance to get something from the game when Welch played Stone in on goal with a neat pass but the latter was unable to make proper contact when placed under pressure by Picton defender, Scott Miranda and his shot went over the bar from six yards.

In the end, Picton ran out winners one goal to nil with the three points taking them onto 18 points which is already turning into a rewarding season in their first season back in the top flight.

When interviewed at the end of the game, Picton Coach, Brett Morley was magnanimous towards the opposition when he said he felt the game should have been out of reach for his side after the opening 20 minutes.

Morley singled out his Keeper Brad Jones for special mention and felt his side were best served by Scott Miranda and Connor Dymond.
He felt that his side held the ball better in the 2nd half and coupled with the Rangers' being resolute and showing plenty of fight helped collect a valuable 3 points.

As far as Tarra Coach, Peter Willis was concerned he was left pulling his hair out at the number of chances that were spurned and was wondering when his side's luck was going to change.

 

Match Stats

Tarrawanna 0 

Picton Rangers 1 (Connor Dymond 60')

 

Tarrawanna Oval, Tarrawanna

 

Referee: Bobby Mazevski 

Assistant Referees: Gareth Jenkins & Darcy Jordan

 

Tarrawanna: David Hamilton, Allister Carrigan(Jarryd Mortimer 71'), Bryce Dolinscak, Daniel Chapman (Samuel Isabella 76'), Jake Morlando, Samuel Chapple, Matthew Mazevski, Darren Stone, Rick Goodchild, Bradley Welch, Sangyu Park(Sam Onana Awono 76').

Subs not Used: Jacob Fryday, Christian Pretto.

Yellow Card: Nil.

 

Picton Rangers: Bradley Jones, Ben Realph(Jesse Howard 78'), Dale Nicol, DanielGoodhew, Bradley Durrant, Nicholas Mugridge, Aiden Matthews, Jarred Morley (Cain Hall 90'), Connor Dymond, Dayne Morley, Scott Miranda.

Subs not Used: Andrew Borg, William McLeod

Yellow Cards: Dayne Morley 87'.

 

By David Naylor

Photo courtesy of Noel Wynn