Corrimal Rangers kept their season alive with a gutsy 2-1 win over Berkeley at Ray Robinson Field on Tuesday night.

Boris Surla struck midway through the second half to put Corrimal back into the lead after Adam White’s first half strike cancelled out Daniel Pisani’s opener.

Rangers proved the more clinical side on a day where either team could have progressed to the semi-finals.

“It was a pretty close game in the end,” said Corrimal boss Richard Lloyd.

“A fair result might have been a draw but we just did enough to put one of those chances away.

“I thought Berkeley played some really good football and kept us on our toes but we made two crucial substitutions and the fresh legs made a big difference.”

An intense start to the match saw both sides squander some early chances that would set the tone for the game.

Corrimal took the lead 11 minutes in when Berkeley failed to clear the ball from inside their own box and Pisani pounced to knock the ball home.

Greg Moon had a good chance to draw the sides level when he got through on goal but Jacob Madden saved well to his left to deny the Berkeley striker.

Berkeley eventually found their equaliser just before half time when White found some room on the edge of the area to place a neat shot into the bottom corner and force the teams into the break tied up at 1-1.

The second half opened with a pair of good chances failing to Moon after some sloppy defending but striker was unable to convert and edge Berkeley into the lead.

In the end it was Surla who broke the deadlock in the 68^th minute when Berkeley keeper Adam Arnott failed to get down quick enough and smother the striker’s drilled effort from 20 yards out.

A number of chances fell Berkeley’s way in the dying moments of the game but Corrimal were able to hold out and ensure they progressed on to the semi-finals.

“It was disappointing,” said Berkeley boss Jason Higgs.

“We had a lot of chances and couldn’t put them away, but the best team won on the day and that’s all there is to it.”

With their season over Berkeley will start to look towards next year while the Rangers will look to recover quickly as they take on Picton on Saturday in another sudden death semi.

 

2-1	Corrimal Rangers	Berkeley
Goals:	D. Pisani (11’); B. Surla (68’)	A. White (41’)
Bookings:		J. King (y); C. Rowlan (y)

 

  Referee: Steve Bozic

 

Julian Keith

FSC Reporter