Two on the trot for Warragul

Warragul United secured fifth position on the state 1 ladder after a hard-fought victory on home soil over second placed Manningham.

After accounting for the St Kilda Celts 3-0 last week, United continued their good form with back-to-back wins at home edging the club further up the league table.

Warragul entered the game with a slightly altered line up to the winning starting 11 that did the business against the Celts the previous week.

Skipper Thomas Ahmadzai pulled up lame after hyper-extending his knee and was not included as was last week’s early goal scorer Matt Maselli, who also copped a knee injury through a nasty late tackle.

Matt’s brother, Stevie ‘Wonder’ Maselli would slot in at the point position behind the attack with the hard-working defensive midfield duo Nathan Lugton and Ash Ross just in behind.

The in-form big unit Jake Richardson once again kept between the sticks and was ably supported by a quality centre back pairing of ‘flying Scotsman’ Robbie Stephen and the ever-young Paul ‘PC’ Cooper.

The experienced defender Matty Gauci and young blood Dayne Dodenciu rounded out the backline on the flanks.

Up front United started with the plucky Sammy O’Dea on the right and Joel Baldwin, who always looks dangerous, on the left. Rory Wagner, who popped up for a goal off the bench last week, started at the number nine and spearheaded the United attack.

Fresh legs on the pine included the silky left footed Massimo Santucci and Adam Ahmadzai, who has been out for a stretch with frustrating hammy issues.

Son of a legend, young Oscar Sheehan was named as a sub for only the second time after playing the first half in the twos.

In an evenly contested game, Warragul found themselves in front after Rory Wagner hammered home a right footed low volley off a sumptuous ball in from the flank.

Big Wags, whom many believe is the clubs best option as an out and out centre forward, played well and with his physical presence gave the Reds a defined target man going forward.

Some controversial refereeing awarded the visitors with a penalty kick right on half time to the fury of the team in red and black and Manningham converted making it one all at the break.

Coach Peter O’Dea was forced to make an early change in the second half as Ash Ross made way for Adam Ahmadzai. Rossy battled for much of the first term with a couple of broken ribs and had done enough.

The classy Warragul back line held strong and were rarely tested. The midfield, led by the hard running Lugton and company, worked their tails off and combined well with the forwards.

Mid-way through the second half after a good spell of Warragul pressure, Wagner was tripped in the box and the inevitable square up spot kick was presented to Warragul by the referee.

Rory Wagner confidently tucked away the penalty to an open right side of the goal after a jerking ‘stop-start’ run up which tricked the keeper into diving left.

The away team did not appreciate Wagner’s touch of arrogance and complained emphatically that it was an illegal approach. The referee was having none of it and the goal stood 21 United.

Peter O’Dea introduced Massimo Santucci from the bench up front for Sam O’Dea, who had worked ‘till his tank was empty and in the dying minutes Baldwin, who was on a yellow card, was replaced by youngster Oscar Sheehan who made his senior debut for the club.

The final whistle blew and three vital points were secured.

Everybody has heard of the term ‘winning ugly’, well this may have to go down as one of those days. To the boy’s credit however, every player dug in. They earned it and they deserved it.

Warragul travel to Clifton Hill (who are ninth) next week in a winnable fixture.

Award winners on the day – Rory Wagner, Paul Cooper, Dayne Dodenciu, Rory Wagner.

Reserves

In the Reserves, the result finished 3-3 and United, once again this season, were so unlucky not to come away with the points.

Playing without captain Mick Lewry, who was taken ill, was always going to be difficult, however the Ressie lads stood tall and played some great football for much of the contest.

The commitment and endeavour from the group was outstanding this week and has sometimes been an area which has gone astray in patches this year.

This reserves squad is capable of beating any side in the competition and many of the score lines in the opening 12 rounds have not reflected the team’s dominance on the day.

There is some great young talent along with experienced veterans in United’s reserves team and this blend really shone through.

Jimmy Mills skippered for the day and started at centre back alongside David Biggs in front of glove man Lachie Galea with the two O’Dea brothers Ben and Daniel at left and right full back.

The young holding midfield partnership of Riley Dastey and Oscar Sheehan gave United the drive through the midfield along with Paddy Byrne-Nelson in good touch at the point.

Aidan Huizer was included following Lewry’s late scratching and was whacked in as a target at centre forward. The big man played well and brought wingers Lachie Huizer and Daniel Edey into the game.

The sure-footed Toby Capp was introduced and on the left side, along with Declan ‘Usain Bolt’ Morrison up front. Steve Brotherton got in on the action late in a frenzied finish where United could have snatched it.

The game could have finished 7-3 United’s way after a goal was disallowed, one on one’s were squandered, the ball hit the uprights, goal mouth scrambles were, unluckily, not converted and a penalty was missed.

The opener came through Oscar Sheehan who nailed a low left footed drive from the edge of the box and ‘goal of the day’ recipient Lachy Huizer curled home a long-range header that would’ve given Alan Shearer tingles.

The ever-reliable Paddy Byrne-Nelson equalised late, chipping in with his usual instinctive close-range strike to tie the game at 3-3.

Award winners – Aidan Huizer, Oscar Sheehan, Paddy Byrne-Nelson and Lachlan Huizer.