Woonona Sharks, 7:30pm Wednesday 1st May 2019 (home) - FFA Cup

Woonona Sharks were formed way back in 1889 as Woonona FC by coal miners and immigrants. This makes them one of the oldest football clubs in NSW. To put it into perspective, they were formed before Liverpool FC (1892). That is almost 60 years before our Croatia. This amount of history and contribution to the game deserves respect and they currently play in the local Illawarra premier league. On paper this should be a walk in the park, but this is the cup and I get nervous every game we play in it. Anyone who was at the Gladesville Ryde game a few weeks back will testify to that.

The SUS

It was lucky that this game was at home as getting to Wollongong on a Wednesday night would have been problematic to say the least. As it was I headed straight from work to King Tom and arrived around 20 minutes before kick off. It was a warm evening, and the free entry and vibe that is around this season made for easily the largest crowd that I have seen for a game at this stage of the competition since it began 5 years ago. The bar on the hill was even open, and credit has to go to the guys staffing it as I have never seen it open for a cup game this early on. Despite the general consensus on the hill that it was going to be easy, and the assertion that Woonona were “a pub team”, I was still a little nervous at the opening exchanges. It was a cup final to them and they flew out of the blocks, but the returning Markovic put in a good shift and after the opening 15 minutes Croatia began to take control. Woonona were playing a very risky offside trap and it was no surprise when it was sprung by Liam Rose and Patrick Antelmi who ran clear on the goalkeeper and Antelmi finished it off for 1-0. The linesman in front of us was having a poor game and was raising the flag far too late as we almost broke clear on a couple more occasions only to be denied by a late flag. The tie was effectively put beyond Woonona 10 minutes before the break when Sebastian Gallegos finished from close range to make it 2-0.

Match action

The second goal managed to calm my nerves and as the second half started the hill was a happy place to be on a warm Wednesday night. Extra cases of VB were brought in as the idea of getting a BBQ put in the back of the bar was discussed, along with the new sahvonica inspired Barcelona shirt. The fitness levels of the two teams began to show as the half wore on and it became clear that Woonona were not going to score. In the last minute Glen Trifiro added to the score with a beauty to make it 3-0, putting us into the next round. Credit has to go to Woonona, anything more than 3-0 would have been harsh on them as they put in a good display. As for Croatia it is two down and two to go to make the fabled last 32. The sixth round draw is next week after the rest of the games have been played. All the big guns are still in: Rockdale came from behind to win 3-2 and the other NPL 1 clubs had routine wins - Wollongong having the biggest as they put 11 goals past Coledale. Let’s hope we get a good draw in the next round. Sydney Croatia Ole Ole Ole…..

Late night at King Tom for a school night