Whilst mathematically still a chance to pip Fernhill for third place on the ladder, Thirroul remain with their eyes behind them as the chasing pack seek to snatch one of the two spots up for grabs in the finals. Only two of Thirroul (28 points), Kiama (28), Berkeley (27), Balgownie (25) or Helensburgh (24) will progress, so this wasn't the best of times to visit the now infamous Corrimal side chasing an undefeated season with the Minor Premiership in the bag.

As soon as the game had started, Thirroul were in trouble. A free kick by Christopher Stevanovski from deep on the right flank found the free head of Mark Picciolini in the 6 yard box who couldn't miss as he opened his account with only 3 minutes on the clock.

With the regular season wrapped up for Corrimal, and this game going according to plan, the murmurings around Memorial Park turned to the Golden Boot race between Mark Picciolini and Save Treneski, with the opener drawing them level on 23 apiece.

The game was played on the Rangers' terms, restricting Thirroul to the counter attack with the pace of Matthew Kellond and Ryan Latini threatening the back three of Corrimal only on rare occasions, struggling to pierce them for a shot on target for large portions of the game.

Down the other end, it was an onslaught from the front 5 of Save Treneski, Domenic Magill, Stevanovski and the Picciolini brothers, switching play and passing the Thirroul defence to death. Treneski nearly doubled the lead with Jayden Lewis misreading the flight of a free kick onto his head, before Stevanovski drew a fingertip save from Lewis to deny a near-post shot from the same spot as his opening assist.

Thirroul did enjoy the ascendancy in the middle portion of the opening stanza, with Kellond denied a close range shot by a last-second challenge from Paul Guido, Adam Ward rippling the roof netting from a 30-yard free kick, whilst Kellond skewed a half volley up and over the crossbar from an acute angle.

Corrimal got back in the action with their typical slick movement which has been terrorising oppositions all season. Treneski dribbled through three defenders only to produce a poor pass, Magill powered into the side netting from the left wing, Treneski made a tackle on the last defender and set up M. Picciolini who drew another fingertip save from Lewis across goal.

It was with 3 minutes until the break where Corrimal stamped their place on the game, M. Picciolini stretching out a leg and doubling his tally for the afternoon, taking him ahead of Treneski onto 24.

It resumed how it finished, with M. Picciolini completing his hat-trick 6 minutes after the interval, the ball ending up nestled in the bottom right with considerable on-field confusion, however the goal was awarded and play moved on.

Minutes later, Treneski was brought down in the box by Tyler Snellgrove, and stroked home his own penalty by sending Lewis the wrong way and bulging the bottom right for 4-0 and bringing him to within one goal of Picciolini's quarter-century.

It was staggering how well Thirroul were holding on in the circumstances, with Corrimal going rampant up front it could easily have been much worse on the scoreboard. M. Picciolini made a tackle in their box and had a shot from a narrow angle saved easily.

As simple as the pair made scoring look all season, Treneski and M. Picciolini endured their fair share of bad luck against the Thunder. Treneski dribbled through four defenders and beat Lewis with the shot only to clatter off the near upright and out. Minutes later, M. Picciolini headed a free header into the only defender in his way, before smashing the rebounded volley into yet another defender. A flashy volley soon after also dipped just after clearing the crossbar with Lewis clutching at air.

It was in fact a marauding run forward from Andrew Nanos who claimed the fifth goal of the afternoon, sprinting onto an inch-perfect header from M. Picciolini to nod in at the far post uncontested with 15 minutes to play.

Thirroul could've had a late consolation through Corey Hainsegrose as he out-muscled Matthew Cuda to latch onto a searching long ball, however his shot was slow and sliced wide.

The last action of the game came in the 85th minute - perhaps fittingly on the day Corrimal Rangers were presented with their Premiership Trophy, that it was the combination of Treneski and M. Picciolini who came together for the sixth. A back-pass fell at the feet of Treneski, who drew Lewis and unselfishly squared to an unmarked M. Picciolini with an open goal.

The pair displayed corresponding undershirts stating their new partnership of 50 goals as they made their way over to a rapturous crowd and bowed to the applause. Equally loud were the boo's as the yellow card was produced for the jersey removal, but the understanding smiles from both players matched the appreciative viewpoint of the referee.

Curiously, M. Picciolini must have a thing for scoring near the start and end of halves, grabbing one at the start and end of each half to grab his 4 and now sit 2 ahead of Treneski on 26 and 24 goals respectively with only away trips to Berkeley and Kiama remaining in the regular season.

 

Sunday 14th August - Memorial Park

Referee: A. Crawley

Assistant Referee: J. Higgans, G. Jenkins

 

Corrimal Rangers - 6 (M. Picciolini 3' 42' 51' 85', Treneski 57'(pen) , Nanos 75')

Thirroul Thunder - 0

 

Corrimal Rangers: Purdevski, Mitkovski, Cappetta, Nanos (Plakias 75'), Hmda, Guido, Stevanovski (Belsito 70'), Magill (Cuda 79'), M. Picciolini, L. Picciolini, Treneski

Subs: Cuda, Yilmaz, Belsito, Plakias

Thirroul Thunder: Lewis, Bond, Hodda, Snellgrove, Ward, Patchett (Gyngell 70'), Latini (Goodier 79'), Davidson, Hainesgrove, Kellond, Arthur

Subs: Mulholland, Bragg, Gyngell, Goodier, Hunter

 

Report and photo by David Atherton (@daveatho5)