Wolves hold out Ilinden for draw at Wollongong
Rockdale Ilinden has fought back to snatch a point in a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Wollongong Wolves at Albert Butler Memorial Park on Sunday.
A screamer from Patrick Savor late in the second half was enough to secure a point for the reigning champions as they battled back after conceding not long after the interval.
Wollongong thought they had done enough for the win after Lachlan Scott put the home side ahead after 50 minutes, but it wasn’t to be as Rockdale struck late to ensure both teams shared the spoils.
It was a scrappy start to the match as the visitors looked to press high up the field and push for the early opener.
The Wolves looked to take advantage by playing the ball over the top to catch their opponents napping.
The first true attempt on goal didn’t arrive until the 22nd minute when a deflected Alec Urosevski shot, after cutting in from the right flank, bobbled in front of Reds’ ‘keeper Hayden Durose who parried it out for a corner.
A goalmouth scramble immediately after was eventually cleared by the Wolves defence and when Brayden Sorge surged through he appeared to be fouled in the area by Durose but managed to get a cross in that again was hastily dealt with by the home side.
Rockdale was starting to find space and create half-chances but was, so far, unable to convert them and at the other end, David Bradasevic a virtual spectator between the sticks.
Daniel Petkovski, Rockdale’s skipper, brought the best out of the home ‘keeper when unleashing a wickedly swerving shot from distance.
Sorge saw his header cleared off the line from an inviting Michael O’Neill cross from the left and Wollongong were rocking but, most importantly, remained un-breached at the half-time whistle.
The second half started as the first finished with Rockdale on the attack until Bradasevic was adjudged to have brought down Jennings in the box.
The penalty duly dispatched by Scott in the 50th minute to put the home side ahead against the run of play. It was the ace marksman’s fifth goal of the 2021 NPL NSW Men’s campaign.
Petkovski wriggled through and fed Urosevski but a scrambling Wolves defence managed to rally and thwart the threat but in pushing forward in search of the equaliser, Rockdale were beginning to get caught on the break.
Amaury Gauthier, on for Bai Antoniou, headed over but it was Pat Savor with a rare strike that restored parity with an absolute screamer after 71 minutes.
It was a real contender for goal of the week and he almost added a second but saw it deflected agonisingly over the bar with Durose stranded.
Urosevski couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball to curl it into the top corner and yet another opportunity went begging for high flying Rockdale and when Petkovski didn’t connect sweetly with his left foot the points were destined to be shared.
Luke Wilkshire was pleased with his side’s performance
“We’ve got a lot of boys out and had young Dax Kelly making his debut at the back and doing a great job,” he said.
“We did what we needed to do and obviously it took a fantastic goal to break us down in the end.
“We denied them space in behind us which we allowed when we played them at their ground and paid the price in the opening round and then managed to hit the lead from the spot.
“Overall I’m very happy with the way we handled ourselves today and in getting a point, it’s always tough playing against Rockdale.”
A somewhat dejected Rockdale coach, Steve Zoric, wasn’t too pleased with the result
“Everyone is defending deep against us at the moment and frustrated that we had the chances today but didn’t take them,” Zoric said.
“We did everything but win the game today but I have to congratulate our lads on the performance after going behind to a soft penalty.
“We stuck to the game plan but couldn’t find a winner today and I never question the character of this side. I know they give everything and will continue to do so for the rest of this season but I am very frustrated with the result today.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves 1 (Scott 50 pen)
Rockdale Ilinden 1 (Savor 71)
Albert Butler Memorial Park, Primbee
Sunday, 16th May 2021
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright & Amber Morris
Fourth Official: Emmi Demestre
Wollongong Wolves: 23.Hayden DUROSE, 2.Taylor McDONALD, 5.Dax KELLY, 6.Ethan KAMBISIOS, 7.Marcus BEATTIE, 8.Brendan GRIFFIN, 11.Leroy JENNINGS (9.Jarvis PATTERSON 90’), 14.Brendan LOW, 15.Daniel LOE, 20.Liam WILLE (10.Nav DARJANI 59’), 24.Lachlan SCOTT (13.Stefan DIMOSKI 75’)
Substitutes not used: , 12.Harrison TARANTO, 19.Evan BALL
Yellow Cards: Scott 35’, Beattie 70’, Low 83’
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale Ilinden: 1.David BRADASEVIC, 2.Daniel PETKOVSKI, 3.Michael NEILL, 4.Mitchell STAMATELLIS, 5.Banri KANAIZUMI, 6.Daniel ARAUJO (16.Mo AHMED 75’), 7.Alec UROSEVSKI, 8.Tomoki WADA, 9.Bai ANTONIOU (10.Amaury GAUTHIER 61’), 14.Brayden SORGE, 19.Patrick SAVOR,
Substitutes not used: 11.Samual GULISANO, 22.Enrol ORDONEZ SUAREZ, 23.Jordan FIGON
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Savor (RI)
2 – Durose (WW)
1 – Stamatellis (RI)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Micky Brock
