South Coast United have been struck down by promoted Picton Rangers 3-2 at Ian McLennan Park on an overcast Sunday afternoon.

The two first round losers battled shoulder-to-shoulder the 90 minutes, but it was Picton Rangers who will return up Mt Ousley with the tough away trip spoils.

Picton Rangers coach Brett Morley was relieved that his team has earnt their first points in the 2016 Premier League campaign.

“Getting the win is massive. Huge for the confidence of the boys.” Morley said.

“We know it is going to be tough every week and this game was certainly no different, being pushed for 90 plus minutes.”

South Coast United were determined to make amends for their opening round defeat to a 10 man Shell Cove and played all over Picton for the opening minutes with an abundance of energy and enthusiasm.

In the 4th minute Giovanni Leuzzi had a strong chance to power South Coast United to an early lead with a strike that soared feet above the crossbar.

In the 7th minute, as South Coast United continued to set up camp in attacking position, Oliver Carrasco directed a dangerous free kick towards the goals bringing Rangers goalkeeper Bradley Jones into the game with a sharp save to his left.

Picton Rangers began to connect passes and build pressure with a rise in patience with the ball at foot. Threatening the United goals Picton’s striker Mitchell Hall was tripped in the box by South Coast captain Greg Valic earning the away team a penalty.

Daniel Goodhew had no trouble with the 19th minute spot kick, pushing Picton to a 1 nil lead.

Only minutes later Picton nearly had the chance to really punish United with a 2 on 1 against a charging South Coast goalkeeper Jason Bleakley, with Picton forward Benjamin Roberts unable to control the ball allowing Bleakley to swoop on the save.

In the 36th minute Picton Rangers did not make the same mistake. Following some silky lead up work, Roberts provided a lovely tap to Mitchell Hall who struck the ball low for a classy finish from just outside the box.

Rangers forward Key Mitchell was stretchered off with a suspected medial strain forcing an early substitution, in the 42nd minute.

At half-time Picton looked to be in control of the fixture, with a 2 nil lead.

South Coast burst out of the gates in the second half with a new sense of purpose and venom in attack.

In the 51st minute, a reckless challenge in the penalty box by the Picton defence allowed Jun Lee to sink his second penalty in two games and bring South Coast a goal away from a result.

As South Coast began to feel their way back in the fixture, Picton’s Benjamin Roberts in the 65th minute sank the home crowd hearts with a left foot strike bouncing in off the crossbar, after finding the United goalkeeper out of position.

United did not even give Picton a chance to celebrate, with a lovely chip into the penalty box only a minute later finding Robbie Brown who had no trouble uncontested in the air to direct the ball into the netting to bring the score to 3-2 to pour fuel onto the even contest.

The final 25 minutes South Coast United continued to press and press for the match-equalising goal in front of their willing home crowd.

Jun Lee unleashed a venomous strike off the whilst facing his own goals that brought about another impressive save from Picton’s Bradley Jones in the 75th minute.

Reckless tackles triggered yellow cards for both teams but the Picton Rangers remained as relieved 3-2 victors as both teams battled all the way to the final whistle.

South Coast United will return to Ian McLennan Park next Sunday to battle the early ladder leaders Tarrawanna Blueys for their first points of 2016 in a crucial fixture.

Picton Rangers will take on Illawarra Premier League powerhouses Wollongong United at Hume Oval in a daunting fixture.

“There are no easy games in the league but Wollongong United are probably just that little bit harder,” Morley said.

“We just have to prepare well during the week, go in with a plan and hopefully execute it.”



South Coast United - 2 (Lee 51’ pen., Brown 66’)

Picton Rangers - 3 (Goodhew 19’ pen., Hall 36’, Roberts 65’)

 

Sunday 3 April 2016

Ian Mclennan Park


Referee: Steve Bozic

Assistant Referees: B. Herbert & B. Fotheringham
 


South Coast United: Bleakley, Gilroy, Valic, Brown, Nimac, Carrasco (Hemda 76’), Lee, Leuzzi, Unicomb (Waide), Stojic (Terzic 81’), Kiyohara [subs not used: Cailotto, Lazarevsky]

Picton Rangers: Jones, Nicol, Goodhew, Durrant, Hall, Matthews, J. Morley, Mitchell (Mugridge 42’), D. Morley (Sheerin 81’), Miranda, Roberts (Dymond 84’) [subs not used: Takas, Howard]


Report by Daniel McGookin
Photo: Pedro Garcia (Archive)