Yoogali SC has taken out the first Riverina Derby in the NPL2 competition with a 3-1 win over Wagga City Wanderers at Solar Mad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
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Playing their final home game, Yoogali were able to hit the ground running with Danny Roche finding the back of the net in the fourth minute, and coach Luke Santolin felt the early strike was crucial.
"Getting the early goal allowed us to relax and get into our patterns, so that was a positive," he said.
"Then the three substitutes came on and added a bit of excitement at the end. It was good to blood some of the young boys as well."
Yoogali came close to getting a second before Wagga City had their first real opportunity, but the home side's defence was able to scramble the ball out of danger.
On the brink of halftime Yoogali were able to double their advantage after a through ball from Roche put Preece in behind the Wanderers defence but rather than take the shot himself, Preece laid the ball off to Calvin Roddie who made no mistake looking at the empty net.
The halftime break did little to slow the Yoogali side as just after the break, despite some suspicions of offside, Roche was able to make a break down the wing after being found by Samuel Scarfone before playing the ball off to Mitch Bagiante to see him score his sixth of the season.
Yoogali almost made it a four-goal advantage and if not for a strong save from Robert Fry in the Wanderers goal the game would have been put to bed.
However, the visitors were able to get a slight glimmer of hope after Elijah Brooker was brought down in the box and the young forward made no mistake from 12 yards out.
The introduction of Dean Catanzariti, Jordan Bavaresco and Mason Donadel off the bench gave Yoogali new life and right on the final whistle it looked as if Donadel had wrapped the win up after he chipped the keeper and found the back of the net.
The celebrations were short-lived with the play called back for offside and when the final whistle blew soon after Yoogali picked up the three points with a two-goal victory.
The win now means Yoogali have all but wrapped up a top-two finish which, according to their coach, passes any expectation they had set.
"We didn't know what we were going to come up against this year but to finish top two in our first year in the NPL2 is amazing," he said.
"I'm proud of the boys, but we will need to reset now because it only gets harder from here."
Yoogali will now finish the regular season with a busy weekend next weekend according to Santolin, and he was pleased not to be losing any players at this stage.
"I believe that we have a doubleheader next week so a game on Saturday and Sunday," he said.
"To get through the game without any injuries or red cards is a bonus."
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