Maroons take advantage in the Coledale Cup

WARILLA, Australia, May 23 (CRNS) - Coledale Maroons took a 7-3 first leg advantage over the Whites in the first ever Coledale Cup competition on Saturday.
Although played at Warilla, due to a wet St James Park and a kind offer from Warilla's junior club president, it was a Maroons home game and the three away goals scored by the Whites might prove crucial when the Cup, for supremacy between Coledale senior teams, is decided in round 22.
A late decision was made to move the match but both teams were at full strength with players having to be rostered out.
The best playing surface we have seen this season allowed for some good football on the ground and the rain held off as only a stiff breeze intruded on the style.
The Whites started the stronger, despite running uphill and into the wind, and caused a few anxious moments in the Maroons penalty area.
At the other end, several balls were played too long with the breeze before Paul E cracked the conditions with a fine ball in behind the defence. TH10 came through the gap and didn't have to break stride in placing the ball past Goalie Glenn.
Soon after it was 1-1 as a Whites corner pinballed around the six yard box, taking a decisive and ingenious flick on from AB12, and over the line. It was hard to tell who got the final touch.
Paul E put the Maroons back in front from a corner, leaping high to head home. The Whites were having trouble picking up forwards in the box and the pattern repeated a few more times during the afternoon.
TH10 scored twice more in the half, the second converting a perfect ball in from Tom after a short corner, and Paul E blazed in a powerful shot for a 5-1 halftime lead.
With the wind behind them the Whites controlled the game at the start of the second half as the Maroons failed to clear the ball from midfield.
Mark G was twice unlucky not to get on the scoresheet. Ref Ian blew his whistle for a Whites freekick just outside the box but a fraction later Mark thundered a ball past Pete H and into the net. Although Ian went to give the goal, he succumbed to Maroon protests and paid the freekick.
Mark took the shot and bent it low around the wall only for Pete H to make a fantastic save.
With the Whites fired up in the tackle and Les demanding 1000 percent commitment, they put together the best goal of the game. Several crisp passes cut through the Maroons midfield and Les let fly with a long range cracker for 5-2.
The Maroons, habitually unable to close out games with a mimimum of fuss, were starting to wobble but some calm play from Graeme P and Kev, plus Shane in his first game of the season, steadied the team and they went on to increase their lead.
A ball from the right skimmed some hair as it flew across the area and found TH10 unmarked in front and eight yards out. Goalie Glenn got down well but just couldn't keep out the shot.
In the next attack, a Maroons corner proved fruitful again, Fergus rising the highest to glance his header into the far bottom corner.
Ant clipped the ball over the advancing keeper after a great run from Gary J and Fergus went close to a second when his long range shot whistled just wide. He wasn't done however and, under pressure from Stevie H, nodded into his own net. It was the last action of an open match.
(Thanks to all who travelled. Apologies for the Maroon bias to the report. Would love to read one from the Whites.)