Picton Rangers have drawn the curtain on the 2016 Illawarra Mercury Premier League finals race by booking the 5th position, courtesy of a gritty 2-0 victory over Wollongong Olympic.

It was a breezy Saturday afternoon clash at Hume Oval, coinciding with Picton Rangers Old Boys day and the reunion of the Picton Rangers 2005/06 Premier League championship squad.

Picton coach Brett Morley was a proud man reflecting on the clubs achievements on their return to the Premier League.

“On the old boys day, I think it just shows the spirit of the club,”Morley said.

“Its a great effort for the club, and everyone has bandied together and it has been really successful. We will enjoy it while we can.”

Wollongong Olympic enjoyed the early ascendancy in the clash with their creativity leading to a number of chances that went begging.

Targetman and Olympic leading goalscorer Yusuke Ueda latched onto a number of crosses at the far post from the right sideline by Harrison Brown, but was never able to convert.

Picton Rangers were struggling to keep the ball down in their attacking third, with Olympic repeatedly getting their body behind the ball with left back Ja Kon Yu leading the way.

In the 19th minute, a looping cross found Yusuke Ueda in a dangerous position to the left of the goals, and after a subtle touch setting the ball for a right foot strike Ueda failed to even challenge Picton goalkeeper Bradley Jones with his strike.

Picton defender Key Mitchell went down with a leg injury at the 21st minute, forcing an early substitution introducing Ben Reaph into the game.

The combination between Olympic’s Harrison Brown and Yusuke Ueda was dangerous at all times, with link-play in the 30th minute triggering another Ueda strike with forcing a strong save from Picton goalkeeper Brad Jones.

In the 38th minute, the Harrison Brown to Yusuke Ueda danger struck again with the ball rolling into the goals, only to be denied by the linesman’s flag signalling a goal-kick to the disgust of the Olympic players.

Wollongong Olympic was creating all the chances, but typical Picton Rangers defence was able to keep the scores level.

The half-time score read 0-0, the same as the full-time score in the Round 10 clash at PCYC between the two teams.

In the 52nd minute, a strong chance for Olympic to score as another Harrison Brown cross found Chris Jackson at the far post who wasted his powerful strike but sending it wide of the goals.

Only minutes later, Olympic on the counterattack with Harrison Brown taking the ball upfield before passing it across the face of goals to Sam Gordon who wasn't able to work the tight angle to finish past the impressive Picton goalkeeper Brad Jones.

Against the run of play, lovely interplay between the Morley brothers saw Jarred Morley chip the ball forward to Dayne Morley who showed his class with a left foot finish that wrong footed the Wollongong Olympic goalkeeper to give the Rangers an unlikely lead in the 55th minute.

Desperation began to set in for Olympic, with a 64th minute corner resembling a rugby scrum as bodies flung everywhere in the penalty box as the ball bounced around for up to 10 seconds hitting everybody and everything until Picton finally cleared the ball to safety.

In the 75th minute, Dayne Morley found space as he travelled upfield before threading the ball to striker Mitchell Hall who scurried behind the defensive line and did not hesitate with his tight finish as the ball navigated centimetres next to the post to secure a 2-0 lead to the home side.

Space began to open up for Picton as they slowed down play and no matter the strong attitude of Olympic, the fixture finished as a 2-0 victory for Picton Rangers.

Wollongong Olympic coach Rob Birkin now has one eye on the finals, as today’s result has gone close to booking a repeat knockout fixture between the two teams in the opening week.

“It was probably a game where we didn't take our chances. They had a lot to play for today and they have rightfully earn their spot in the semi-final race now,”Rob Birkin said.

“Finals is a different format and have a different meaning, so we look forward to the challenge.”

Picton Rangers will travel to Barrack Heights Sportsfield next Sunday to battle bottom-of-the-table Shell Cove FC in the final round while Wollongong Olympic will host lowly placed South Coast United next Sunday for their final preparations.

 

Saturday 20 August, 2016

Hume Oval

 

Referee: P. Ilcevski

Assistant Referees: L. Foster & N. Moore

 

Picton Rangers 2 (Dayne Morley 55’, Mitchell Hall 75’)

Wollongong Olympic 0

 

 

Picton Rangers: Bradley Jones, Dale Nicol, Daniel Goodhew, Bradley Durrant, Key Mitchell (Ben Realph 21’) Mitchell Hall (Jesse Howard 89’), Aidan Matthews, Jarred Morley (Connor Dymond 85’), Matt Tesoriero, Dayne Morley, Scott Miranda

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

 

 

Wollongong Olympic:Hayden Durose, Kyle Hazebroek, Haydyn Lloyd, Jake Duczynski, Ja Kon Yu (Jamie Wakeling 71’) Jack Keating, Brendan Fordham, Chris Jackson (Harvey Rodriguez 62’), Yusuke Ueda, Sam Gordon, Harrison Brown

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

Report by Daniel McGookin

Twitter: @mcgoookin93

Photo courtesy of Pedro Garcia