Round 6 of the District League kicked off on Friday night with Wests Illawarra taking on Warilla Wanderers. The game was transferred off Unanderra Oval due to recent works that have not yet recovered.

Warilla showed their metal by holding off a surge from Wests Illawarra mid-way through the first half before overpowering them through some wonderful transition play that resulted in what was at the end a comfortable 5-2 win.

The game was only 3 minutes old when Colin Walker was upended in the box which resulted in a penalty kick. Luke Greathead stepped up and smashed it past Michael Potter to give Warilla Wanderers a great start.

The game settled after that with both sides battling possession in midfield with Warilla’s Paul Gaffney and Wests’ Oscar Moriera both seemingly looking to dictate play for their respective sides.

On 20 minutes, a nothing ball really from Wests Illawarra into the Warilla penalty area was not dealt with well by the defence. It gave Wests a couple of half opportunities which at the second time of asking struck the hand of defender resulting in a penalty kick. Oscar Moriera stepped up and made no mistake to level the scores and give some impetus to Wests.

Wests at this stage were enjoying a nice little period of pressure and possession without really having any great opportunities. That opportunity though came on the half hour mark when Warilla defender Jason Goldsmith clumsily fell on the ball resulting in a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area. Nic Totarella went for power and it went straight into the far corner with leaving Potter stranded and looking on in awe as Wests took the lead 2-1.

The lead however barely lasted 90 seconds as Paul Gaffney collected a neat pass in behind the defence from Colin Walker and comfortably rounded the advancing Brad Hunter to tuck the ball away into an empty net and level the scores.

It was 2-2 going into the break and one sensed that we could be seeing somewhat of an upset tonight.

Just 6 minutes after the resumption, Colin Walker went on a winding run where he found himself cornered by two players near the touchline. He did exceptionally well to fend off both challenges and whip a dangerous ball across the goal where a surprised and unmarked Nick Del Turco was on hand to push it past the keeper and give Warilla the lead.

The game ebbed and flowed with both teams having cracks from outside the area but no one managed to trouble either keeper.

Then, late in the game substitute Adam White helped himself to a goal as he beat the keeper to a loose ball and seemingly put the game to bed on 79 minutes.

The scoring did not finish there as Wests appeared to have the stuffing knocked out of them as they again fell asleep to inconspicuous ball knocked across goal where White was once again on hand to grab his second just 3 minutes later and effectively kill the game.

Try as they might, Wests were no match today for Warilla as they showed their class. The link up play between Walker and Gaffney was great to watch as they created chance as chance for the Wanderers.

In the earlier fixture (youth grade), Warilla came from behind to beat the previously undefeated Wests Illawarra 3-1 in an absorbing game. Aiden Gallo put Wests ahead before Jack Packham scored two and Nicholas High got the other for Warilla.

Friday 29 April 2016
8.00pm @ Wetherall Park

Wests Illawarra – 2         Moriera (20’ Pen), Nic Totarella (31’)

Warilla Wanderers – 5  Luke Greathead (4’ Pen), Paul Gaffney (33’), Nick Del Turco (51’), Adam White (79’, 81’)

Wests Illawarra: Michael Potter; Luke Melkurts; Dylan Mena; Ben Sallabank; Daniele Marsalla; Oscar Moriera; Jake Bailey; Nathan Pulgic; Nic Totarella; Paul Burleigh; Daniel Jorge;
Subs: Cesar Cicekdag; Joey Yousif; Daniel Saverino

Warilla Wanderers: Bradley Hunter; Toni Atastovski; Adam Martin; Jason Goldsmith; Martin Castelli; Luke Everingham; Nick Del Turco; Chad Keating; Luke Greathead; Paul Gaffney; Colin Walker; S
Subs: Adam White; Jason Jankuloski; Adam Montalbano; Stewart Robinson; Blake Pussell

Referee: Bobby Mazevski
Assistants: Caleb Blanch and Jarryd Higgins