Yoogali Football Club 0

HANWOOD Football Club has signalled its return to form in the best possible fashion after defeating cross-town rivals Yoogali Football Club 2-0 in one of the best games of the season at Hanwood Oval yesterday.

With both teams coming out of the box firing, it was always going to be a tough game and the momentum didn't slow down for a second as both sides fought to gain the upper hand.

Hanwood dominated possession for most of the first half, creating a lot of opportunities but failing to capitalise.

But the men in blue and white didn't let the frustration get to them, pressing harder into YFC's half until a scorching effort from outside the box in the final minutes of the first half by Hanwood's Andrew Quarisa tested Yoogali's 'keeper who failed to parry it over the bar.

Hanwood coach Joe Catanzariti said from the fighting spirit shown by his squad and the effort they put in to turn the tables on YFC, they deserved to win.

"Yoogali threw a lot at them but they scrambled well and it was good to turn the tables on them after they beat us 3-1 last time," Catanzariti said.

"The commitment they showed and the good fighting qualities required a full-team effort to get the victory."

Going into the second-half, Yoogali wasn't going to let Hanwood get away with an easy win and fought hard to gain possession and put themselves in the position to make the scores even.

But Hanwood 'keeper Todd Dixon wasn't going to let anything past him on his last day for Hanwood FC and all YFC's attempts to bring the score level were shut down by Dixon.

"Todd made a pact before the game that he would keep a clean sheet and he managed that," Catanzariti said. "We're definitely going to miss him."

Yoogali coach Pat Ciampa admitted his side wasn't playing up to scratch yesterday and he was going to take the team back to the drawing board.

"We played well below par and Hanwood has been hungry to get their season back on track and we happened to be on the end of that," Ciampa said.