Five in a row: Full grand final coverage
Photo: Pedro Garcia - FSC
The Thunder celebrated a fifth consecutive FSC District League second grade grand final win under the coaching of Kevin Lewis and their seventh title in 10 years with a hard fought 2-1 defeat of Oak Flats.
For coverage of the win, please find below:
Match report - Dominic Criniti
Photo gallery - Soccer Shots Illawarra
Video highlights - Peter Harkin: Thirroul FC Youtube
Extended highlights and presentation - Lin Hampton
Full match replay with commentary - Jum Media
Match Report
Thirroul Thunder secured their fifth consecutive District League Second Grade title with an eventful 2-1 win over Oak Flats Falcons on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Ian McLennan Park.
It was a tale of two halves as all three goals came in the first period with Thirroul opening the scoring in the 24th minute through Jordan Cox before Oak Flats answered within minutes when Joshua Swinton scored one of the goals of the season to put his side level in the 27th minute.
Thirroul went ahead again in the 38th minute with a goal from eventual player of the match Lachlan Dunn which was enough for them to secure the grand-final victory.
The action began in a rapid pace with both sides looking to gain an early advantage, the Falcons were almost rewarded in the 12th minute when David Kotric found himself open from a corner but his header narrowly missed the back post.
To read the full match report click here
Thirroul opened the scoring in the 24th minute when a deflected shot bounced straight to Cox in the box, he powered his shot into the roof of the net to give his side the lead.
Soon after the Thunder were agonisingly close to doubling their advantage when Dunn’s header from a corner beat the keeper but was just saved off the line by Luke Day at the back post.
Oak Flats desperately needed an answer to Thirroul’s constant pressing and found it through a world-class strike from Swinton. Adam Casey’s cross found Swinton at the end of the box, before he sliced the ball on the half volley and watched it sail into the back of the net to put his side level and gave himself, the club and the fans a grand-final goal they’ll never forget.
The Falcons could have been in the lead in the 31st minute when Alex Bausch made an incredible solo run from his own half and had a powerful shot from 25 metres out which forced Chris Wearing into an outstanding save.
The Thunder regained their lead in the 37th minute when a free-kick was awarded outside the box for a handball, the following cross found Dunn at the back post where he made no mistake slotting his header home to put his side up 2-1