Cringila Savour Freakish Victory

Illawarra Mercury

Monday March 17, 2008

By PAUL ZALUNARDO

A LUCKY Cord Tolson goal gave Cringila Lions' 40th anniversary celebrations a dream start with victory in yesterday's Corrimal Leagues Club Knockout final at Memorial Park.

A miscued cross sailed over the head of South Coast United keeper Jason Bleakley to give the Lions a 2-1 win in a keenly contested match.

Alan Lo Proto (Cringila) and Ricky Bertakis (South Coast) traded goals in the opening 75 minutes before Tolson provided the late drama.

His lunge at a ball rolling towards the corner flew directly towards the goal, finding a perfect trajectory just out of Bleakley's reach.

A sheepish Tolson was swamped by team-mates, who didn't care how the goal came about.

Cringila coach Icko Atanasoski said the win marked a dream start to an important year for the club.

"The boys showed the character I know they have. They have shown it a couple of times now," he said.

"We now have one trophy in the cabinet, but still have a few more boxes to tick.

"If the boys can keep going the way they are now, good things will come."

After saying the match would test his side's ability to handle the big occasion in the lead-up to the game, Atanasoski left a contented man.

"Everything I have thrown in front of them they have passed so far," he said.

"I am sure there will be tougher tests during the season. We will see how we get through them.

"Every team goes through slumps and bad times. I am sure we will come out the other end even better."

South Coast player-coach Michael Santalab said the nature of Tolson's winner was something his team had to accept.

"I think they deserved to win in the end. It didn't really matter how it came about," he said.

"It has happened at the best levels in the world."

Santalab, who spent the first half on the bench, said the pre-season had been productive for his side.

"We have been playing in very testing conditions," he said. "We are getting there."

In yesterday's play-off for third, Albion Park White Eagles scored a 5-0 win over Picton Rangers.

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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