A Second Half Comeback See’s Manly & Wollongong Share the Points
Manly United and Wollongong Wolves were forced to share the spoils despite a frantic final half an hour playing out a 1-1 draw at Cromer Park on Saturday.
With both sides in need of all three points from the do-or-clash, the result was an all-round disappointment for both sides desperate to secure their finals fate.
Wollongong’s Peter Simonoski opened the scoring against the run of play 14 minutes in, but his strike was cancelled out by a 63rd minute Jamie Lobb header.
While Manly enjoyed plenty of positive field position during a tight opening, they struggled to create clear cut opportunities in the final third.
The Wolves, on the other hand, forged enough openings to snatch it late.
However they were cruelly denied by a combination of Dylan Mitchell, the woodwork and a miraculous Kieren Paull goal line clearance.
In the end, both outfits were left with a bitterly disappointing point.
While reigning Champions Manly played with confidence early on, they were exposed on the break.
Wolves’ leading goalscorer Jacob Simonoski found himself through on goal 11 minutes in, but he could not keep his half volley down.
However the marksman did not make the same mistake four minutes later.
A loose ball fell into the number 9’s path inside the penalty area, and he lashed the ball past Dylan Mitchell to give his side the advantage.
A resolute Wolves defensive effort meant that Manly would not register their first clear opportunity until the 41st minute.
Captain Jamie Lobb’s set piece was palmed away from the bottom left corner by Justin Pasfield, in the last sight on goal of a relatively subdued first half.
While the second period looked in danger of continuing this in similar fashion, the match sprung to life on the hour mark thanks to another Manly set piece.
Brendan Cholakian stepped up to the dead ball on this occasion, and while Pasfield was up to the task yet again, his parry fell into the path of Lobb who sent a looping header into the back of the net.
With parity restored, both sides then gave it their all in pursuit of the elusive winner.
Dylan Mitchell denied both Yuzo Tashiro and Darcy Madden from close range in the 72nd and 74th minutes respectively.
The pick of Manly’s efforts then fell to substitute Braden Cheng, but his half volley whistled over the bar.
The closing stages belonged to the Wolves.
Youngster Jordan Nikolovski, almost had a decisive impact off the bench, releasing a curling effort that had Mitchell rooted to the spot. However, the ball struck the outside of the post and stayed out.
Steven Hayes then pounced on a Madden cross inside the six yard box, but the scrambling defence of Manly saw Kieren Paull somehow keep it out.
As the clock ran down on Wollongong’s season, Simonoski so nearly stepped up to the mantle.
With what was to be the final kick of the game, the striker’s venomous strike flew agonisingly wide of the mark.
Sitting in 8th position, five points from a finals place, a Wollongong season that provided plenty of promising signs looks to have come to an end.
Similarly, Manly United will need a some extreme good fortune in the remaining three rounds if they are to have a shot a retaining the National Premier League NSW Men’s title.
Their boss Paul Dee rued his side’s execution in the final third:
“We came here to win, and I think that showed in the latter stages of the game,” he said.
“We had momentum, and were trying to force the agenda in the game, but unfortunately some sloppy execution in the final third led to a numerous amount of counter attacks (for Wollongong).
“Even the draw could have slipped away right at the end, but it shows that the players wanted to get the win but probably lacked a little bit of composure when we had attacking opportunities.
“We could have got something more from it but that’s the way it is.
“We will just see what happens now with other results.”
Jacob Timpano, on the other hand, was left frustrated by a continuation of his side’s poor fortune:
“We should have won the game with the chances we created today,” he said.
“We didn’t, and that has been consistent all season, but it is unfortunate that today was more of how this season has gone.
“We created enough chances which is positive, but if you don’t put them away you’re not going to win.
“We aim to end the season strong, and hopefully get our curse in front of goal off our back.”
Match Stats:
Manly United 1 (Lobb 63’)
Manly United 1 (Lobb 63’)
Wollongong Wolves 1 (Simonoski 14’)
Saturday July 28, 2018
Cromer Park, Dee Why
Referee: M. Salisbury
Assistant Referees: R. Osborne, H. White
Fourth Official: T. Plastro
Manly United: 1. Dylan Mitchell, 2. Kieren Paull, 3. Jamie Lobb, 4. Travis Oughtred, 5. Sam Wilson (7. Braden Cheng 64’), 6. Dominic Ferguson, 8. Sasa Macura, 9. Dylan Macallister (11. Nikola Taneski 66’), 10. Brendan Cholakian, 12. Leigh Egger, 13. Scott Balderson (21. Joseph Fox 54’),
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Shaun Catlin, 23. Daniel Alessi
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Wolves: 1. Justin Pasfield, 3. Darcy Madden, 4. Michael Robinson, 5. James Baldacchino, 6. Nicholas Montgomery, 7. Chris Price, 9. Peter Simonoski, 23. Steven Hayes, 26. Luke Wilkshire (8. Brendan Griffin 26’), 30. Yuzo Tashiro (14. Ethan Kambisios 88’), 40. Takuya Nozawa (Jordan Nikolovski 82’)
Substitutes Not Used: 11. Brodie Clarkson, 16. Luke Kairies
Yellow Cards: Darcy Madden 76’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Chris Curulli
