Sharks scrape home for hard fought win
Sutherland Sharks gained three precious points in a dour match against relegation threatened Blacktown Spartans with the solitary goal from Jack Press at Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday evening.
As expected, it was a tense tussle during the opening stages with so much at stake for both sides in the context of the season – The Sharks chasing a possible top five spot and the Spartans fighting to stave off the threat of relegation with games running out and as such no real opportunities were created by either.
English Premier League referee Stuart Atwell had little to do until having a word with Thomas Whiteside in the 12’ minute just to calm him down after a cheeky tackle that was slightly late from behind but not malicious.
Jack Press forced a save out of Carlos Saliadarre when pushing it around the upright in the 14’ minute when Patrick O’Shea stole the ball in midfield to set the Sutherland striker on his way. It was the first action either ‘keeper had been forced into.
Tomohiro Kajiyama followed this up moments later when trying to beat the Spartans custodian at his near post after cutting in from the right, but with no power behind the shot, it was easy pickings.
The Sharks put Blacktown under plenty of pressure midway through the half but couldn’t capitalise on their efforts, a complaint often heard during this campaign.
Matt Gordon crossed from the left, unusually with his right foot, that was flicked on for O’Shea who unluckily side-footed wide of the post on 28’ minutes that perhaps should have opened the scoring for the home side.
Spartans midfielder Jason Trifiro slipped Futa Nakamura through with a well found pass, the pacey Blacktown striker was able to take to the by-line however just as he was about to whip in the cross, the ball took a bobble and looped up harmlessly for Nathan Denham to gather as a craftily worked opening went begging for the visitors.
Kajiyama should have put the home side ahead on the stroke of half-time but his volley was wayward.
It was one of those games where the shooting boots had certainly been left in the dressing room for the opening 45’ minutes.
Nakamura weaved his way through traffic on the left at the restart and had Denham down sharply but again the shot wasn’t hit cleanly that made it easy for the ‘keeper to smother but it showed promise from the visitors.
It became bogged down in the centre of the pitch with little in the way of goalmouth action however a scoreless draw would suit neither team as the game cried out for someone to put their foot on the ball, slow it down and pick out the perfect pass.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 66’ minute when Press fired in a thunderous shot, Saliadarre did well to get to but couldn’t keep out. It was a precious goal for the Sharks but a potential nail in the coffin for the visitors.
The Spartans hit back strongly but couldn’t find a way through the home defence no matter how hard or often they knocked on the door. It was a resolute performance from the home back four.
Sharks defender Taku Murayama fell heavily near the end and appeared to put his shoulder out and was forced to leave the field to a standing ovation from the crowd but with Sutherland having used all their subs they would need to play the five minutes of stoppage time with only ten men. Was this the chance for Spartans to fight back?
Sharks substitute Laureano Castro-Gomez should have wrapped it up on the break for home side yet his shot was scuffed wide of the mark when clean through in 93’ minute that should comprehensively have settled the result but they would have to be happy with the solitary strike and the three precious points.
Carlos Villazon commented about the Sutherland performance and on his side’s lacklustre but gritty performance to Football NSW.
“I wanted us to finish the season strongly now that everyone knows my philosophy on the football I want us to play. I brought in a different mentality and style of play and now it’s starting to show.
“This wasn’t a good game tonight but Blacktown Spartans played with desperation with relegation threatening them so we knew it would be tough against them but winning maximum points are all that mattered tonight.
“We have built the platform throughout the year and it was always about that and next season we want to be winning trophies.”
His counterpart Ben De Haan cut a different figure in the opposing dressing sheds.
“Its been the story of our season and we’ve copped another soft goal to be honest.“Carlos (Saliadarre) did well to get to it but couldn’t keep it out but without him, this term we probably would have copped plenty more.
“It’s not been a campaign of fortune for us and the reality is we have beaten ourselves by shooting ourselves in the foot too many times but we’ll battle on until the final match.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 1 (Press 66’ )
Blacktown Spartans 0
Saturday, 6th August, 2016
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Stuart Atwell Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling & Daniel Horstead Fourth Official: Anthony Mansour Sutherland Sharks: 1. DENHAM Nathan ©, 3. MURUYAMA Takuya, 4. KAYES Stephen, 5. LITTLER Nicholas, 6. GORDON Matthew, 7. PRESS Jack (17. JAMES Andrew 86’), 8. MCSTAY Chris, 14. O’SHEA Patrick (13. COX Jeremy 73’), 15. MOUSTAKAS Perry, 19. FITZPATRICK Callum (16. CASTRO-GOMEZ Laureano 77’), 35. KAJIYAMA Tomohiro Yellow Cards: Red Cards: Blacktown Spartans: 1. SALIADARRE Carlos ©, 3. TANNER Joshua, 4. QUIGLEY Xavier, 7. SASAKI Shu, 8. OTT Jacob (37. 80’), 10. NAKAMURA Futa, 11. CHRIGHTON Jordan (2. JAWJAW Wand 67’), 14. MORTON Hayden, 15. WHITESIDE Thomas (17. WHITE Aaron 83’), 20. TOSI Benjamin, 25. TRIFIRO Jason Substitutes Not Used: 39. MOOY Alex, 41. NASCIMBEN Domenic Yellow Cards: 4. Quigley 49’ Red Cards:
Substitutes Not Used: 12. STERGIOU Lucas, 21. LOE Nikolas
