Rockdale Suns shine over Wolves
Rockdale has continued its strong start to the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with a come from behind 2-1 victory against Wollongong Wolves at Illinden Sports Centre on Easter Sunday.
Second half goals to Toufic Alameddene and Alec Urosevski were the difference as Rockdale extended its undefeated run to three matches.
Rockdale controlled the flow of the game right from the opening kickoff and were the first to threaten courtesy of a dangerous shot from Alameddene which clattered off the crossbar.
Only 5 minutes later Hristijan Tanoksi scuffed a sure opportunity for the Suns when he sprayed his shot from an Urosevski pass wide of the goal.
Wollongong slowly found their way into the game and forced Rockdale keeper David Bradesevic into action when Brendan Griffin shot on goal after a break away run from Brett Wilson.
The next time Bredesevic wouldn’t be as lucky with Peter Simonoski scoring for the visitors,
Receiving the ball on the right hand side, Simonoski smashed his shot past the outstretched arms of the Sun’s keeper.
The Wolves were able to cut through the Rockdale defence again just before the half time whistle .
Nicholas Bernal found space through the middle of the park and linked a slight pass to Brett Wilson inside the box but Bradesevic raced off his line to make the save.
A half time change for Rockdale worked wonders as Tanoski was substituted for Peter Makrillos.
The number 10 made an instant impact when he created an Alameddene’s equaliser after 48 minutes.
Makrillos darted through midfield before a well-timed through ball left Alameddene with only the keeper to beat.
Wollongong keeper Justin Pasfield was able to keep the Wolves in the match with a double save early in the second half as Rockdale went on the offensive.
Pasfield couldn’t do anything to stop Urosevski in the 66th minute as Rockdale took the lead.
An unmarked Urosevski only needed to tap the ball home after a brilliant run and cross from Alameddene.
Rockdale City Suns assistant coach Matthew Ribarovski praised the resilience of his side to fight back in the second half.
“The boys reacted well to the half time change. They came out firing with Peter (Makrillos) coming on and playing a cracking half of football,” he said
“We’ve gone a few games undefeated now through the pre-season and the cup and we’re looking to build more momentum going forward.”
Wollongong’s Justin Pasfield felt his side’s lack of experience showed on the pitch.
“We had chances to make it 2-0 and kill the game off but we didn’t capitalise on them. Unfortunately in the second half we were second best,” he said.
“I thought the biggest difference today was experience. You look at Rockdale’s team and there is experience all over the park.
“We have a lot of young boys who are playing well but at the moment we lack that final touch.”
Match Stats
Rockdale City Suns: 2 (Alameddene 48’, Urosevski 69’)
Wollongong Wolves: 1 (Simonoski 33’)
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: S. Grasso
Assistant Referees: J. Park and A. Geev
Fourth Official: B. Abraham
Rockdale City Suns: 1. BRADASEVIC David, 2. PETKOVSKI Daniel, 4. MCCLENAHAN Trent, 5. REID Paul(12.EL HAFIANE Idriss 87’) 6. RICCIUTO Blake 7. UROSEVSKI Alex 8. CANAK Alex, 11. TANOSKI Hristijan (10. MAKRILLOS Peter 45’), 15. PETRILLO Nick, 16. SAVOR Isaac,17. ALAMEDDENE Toufic (9. MACALLISTER Dylan 75’)
Unused Substitutes: 22. BAZI Andrew, 3. HESKETH Steven
Yellow Cards: Makrillos 50’, Riccutio 51’, Petrillo 90’
Red Cards: nil
Wollongong Wolves: 1. PASFIELD Justin, 2. KAWASE Kota, 5. BALDACCHIONO James, 6. MCKENZIE Zac, 7. PRICE Chris, 8. GRIFFIN Brendan, 9. SIMONOSKI Peter, 11. WILSON Brett, 18. BERNAL Nicholas, 19. MCGINN Blake (17.ZUCCO Ricky 78’) 23 MATTHEWS Sam
Unused Substitutes: 12. COLLISON Daniel, 15. LAZAREVSKI Danny, 10.STOJIC David, 16.ZUCCO Ben, 17.ZUCCO Ricky
Yellow Cards: Griffin16, Simonoski 44’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Toufic Alamaddene (ROC)
2 – Trent McClenahan (ROC)
1 – Peter Makrillos (ROC)
-by Jack Hislop, PlayStation® National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Reporter, at Iliden Sports Centre, Rockdale
