FOOTBALL
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Ricky Goodchild gave a stern reminder as to why he is one of the competition's most dangerous attacking threats by bagging a hat-trick in Tarrawanna's 4-1 win over Cringila.
The attacking maestro was in everything and played a role in all four goals to help sure up the Blueys position in the top five.
He opened the scoring just three minutes in before icing the game midway through the second half with another two.
In-form striker Wandi Jajaw continued his scoring exploits with Tarrawanna's other goal while Jack Keating pulled one back 'at the death' for the Lions.
"The last couple of weeks we probably haven't played our best football but we got back to knocking the ball around, having a good intensity and the attitude was right ... it really helps," Blueys coach Luke McGuire said.
"We dropped points to Cringila in a mid-week catch [game] up a few weeks ago so it was good to put in such a positive performance."
Goodchild's opener came after a incisive diagonal ball from Pat Morales. He turned provider for the Blueys second when he found Jajaw in space in the 48th minute.
Thereafter, Jajaw had no trouble doubling the advantage and added his 14th goal of the campaign.
With the Lions forced to chase the game being 2-0 down, Goodchild quickly put the match well out of their reach.
He did it all himself to complete the hat-trick with a pair of solo strikes in the 56th and 69th minutes.
Keating scored what was probably the pick of the game's goals with a stunning free-kick in the 86th minute, but it was too little, too late.
"We probably could have had two or three more in the first half," McGuire said. "They rallied after we scored the first half and put in a decent performance but then we got our act together in the second half and started knocking it around a bit."
The three points sees them hold down fourth place on the ladder.
The Blueys face Wollongong Olympic next weekend in a match which has the potential to provide even more breathing room in the chase for finals football.
In Saturday's other matches, Ben McDonald and Julian Minutillo both scored doubles as Bulli defeated Bellambi 4-1 while a Cameron Banks goal gave Woonona a vital three points with a gritty 1-0 win over Albion Park.