United storm to victory
Warragul United claimed an important win over Eltham Redbacks in its round 18 State 1 fixture on the weekend.
In a dominant display at home, United scored two vital goals to set up victory.
Eltham began the game three points ahead of Warragul on the league ladder.
A win for United would see them leap ahead of the Redbacks with a superior goal difference, so there was a lot at stake.
Warragul’s starting 11 was unaltered from that of the week prior.
Striker Sammy Gatpan returned to the squad but started on the pine. Coach Joe Gauci selected the talented pairing of Bryson Tanti and Paul Kuol to spearhead the forward line.
The diamond formation midfield consisted of utility man Daniel Edey, the defensive presence of big Rory Wagner, and the talented 19year-old duo of Xavier Nardone on the right and Oscar Sheehan at the point position.
United’s defence was rock solid on the day and was led by skipper Matt Gauci and veteran warrior Paul Cooper in the centre.
The ever-consistent Oscar Sceney was on the left and another quality teenager in Mitch Jones at right back.
The man with the golden gloves this year, Liam Andersen, stood firmly between the sticks again in his 18th straight league fixture. Andersen has had a fantastic year and is certainly in the conversation for the coveted best and fairest award.
A wet Baxter Park made conditions difficult for both sides as players struggled to hold their feet. However, the slippery surface suited United and the home team settled into the contest early with some decent patches of quality possession.
At the 20-minute mark, a build-up of pure class involving multiple players and some sharp one touch football paved the way for Warragul to take the lead.
The two Oscars were involved in a quick interchange of passes.
A short ball in on the left from Sceney found Sheehan who flicked a cheeky lobbed ball to the surefooted Bryson Tanti further wide.
A quick change of pace from Tanti allowed him to cut inside and poke a pass into Xavier Nardone at the edge of the box. Nardone’s beautiful first-time ball found Paul Kuol advancing at speed into the penalty area on the right. After a crisp first touch, he squared a ball back across the face of goals where the predatory Tanti slotted home a simple tap in - a fantastic and deserved team goal.
United continued to dominate and went into the half-time break 1-0.
The heavy track was starting to cut up as the game intensified in the second period. A greasy paddock invited players from both teams to throw themselves into several bone tingling sliding tackles.
This aggressive brand of football is United’s “bread and butter” and has been synonymous with Warragul over the years at Baxter Park.
It is one that has given an edge over visiting clubs on countless occasions.
As the game rolled on, Warragul remained in the ascendancy and was able to gather breathing space after finding the net a second time with 20 minutes to go.
Paul Kuol prodded home an instinctive strike that the Eltham keeper could not hold after some good footwork and an inviting ball across goals from Sheehan on the right.
Bryson Tanti, who was Warragul’s best this week, was also involved and was causing the Redbacks’ headaches with his speed and industry.
Kuol’s goal was his fifth of the year and a reward for the work he puts in week after week.
Cooper and Gauci stood tall in the heart of the backline and marshalled the defence for the entire contest.
The talismanic pairing repelled Eltham’s advances as the away club found a purple patch and looked threatening as the minutes ticked away.
Eltham had found some legs and worked its way back into the game. Persistence paid off when Eltham was able to snatch a goal back, making for a nervous final 10 minutes and forcing United to work tirelessly to protect the lead.
As legs got heavy and desperation set it, tackles began flying thick and fast. A loose ball opportunity saw the notorious Rory Wagner and a Redback midfielder both race in wildly for a sliding tackle to win the ball. Wagner went in the more aggressively of the two with a reckless two footed skidding stomp that won the ball yet collected his opponent heavily.
The Eltham players and coaching staff remonstrated and the referee gave the Warragul midfielder a red card, leaving United down to 10 men with only minutes left.
The last 10 minutes were not pretty and there was no love lost between the two teams in a heated battle.
However, United held strong with some gutsy performances.
The referee blew the final whistle sounding Warragul’s important win. The game had finished 2-1 in United’s favour in what was an enthralling contest.
Bryson Tanti had his best game of the year and was named “man of the match”. Paul Kuol was also rewarded for his solid performance as was Liam Andersen for his great job again in the goals.