Wollongong Wolves produced an efficient performance to down current cellar dwellers Bulls FC Academy 2-0 at WIN Stadium on Friday night.
Lachlan Scott’s first-half brace did the damage for the home side as they continued their strong form at WIN Stadium in 2023.
It was a positive start from the Bulls holding possession well early on.
Six minutes in, Anthony Krilic took aim from the right edge of the box but saw the ball clear the bar.
The Wolves went down the other end four minutes later with Lachlan Scott squaring it to Alex Masciovecchio who scuffed it from close range.
However, not long after the side bagged a quickfire double to put themselves in a commanding position.
In the 14th minute, Jake Trew played an inch-perfect ball from the right to Lachlan Scott centrally who guided home a smart finish inside the left post.
Five minutes later, Scott notched his second glancing a left-sided Masciovecchio corner into the far side of the net.
The Wolves almost scored their third half an hour in when Masciovecchio drove through the middle of the pitch an unleashed a strike that just dipped over the crossbar.
The visitors nearly halved the deficit in the 36th minute when Flynn Madden lined up from the edge of the box seeing it fly past the right post.
Wollongong’s Marcus Beattie was denied a superb first-time strike from the edge of the box by an equally special save from Bulls’ goalkeeper Grffin Barry with three first-half minutes to play.
The hosts had one more chance in first-half stoppage time as Trew’s effort from the left of the box flashed wide of the right post.
After a strong first-half display, the hosts went into the break with a two-goal advantage.
The side carried on their display into the second period with Scott denied inside the first two minutes by Barry.
From there though, the Bulls stepped it up looking the better of the two teams as the Wolves sat back on their lead.
Five minutes after that Wolves’ shot, the away side responded with Stephan De Robillard sending one over from the edge of the box.
The Bulls had another chance in the 63rd minute when Jesper Webber fired wide from the right of the box.
Chances kept coming for the Academy as Edward Caspers’ shot was latched onto by substitute Ayman Gulasi in the box seven minutes later who couldn’t direct it on target.
Webber took on another shot in the final three minutes of the game, this time from the edge of the box, that rolled to Tomas Butkovic in the Wollongong goal.
The Wolves managed to hold on for another crucial three points at home.
Coach David Carney was happy with what he saw in the first half but felt the team should have pushed on for more goals after the break.
“I thought the first half was outstanding, second half they [Bulls FC Academy] were good. They should be proud of their performance, but we need to be better in keeping the ball,” Carney explained.
“We could have made it a lot easier for ourselves.
“We were scared to concede instead of going for the three or four [goals] which is a bit disappointing.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 2 (Lachlan Scott 14’ 19’)
Bulls FC Academy 0
Friday 9 June 2023
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Karl Davies
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Hayden Michlmayr
Fourth Official: Brodie Merchant
Wollongong Wolves FC: 13. Tomas Butkovic (GK), 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 7. Marcus Beattie, 8. Samuel Riak, 9. Takumi Ofuka (11. Nav Darjani 37’), 14. Jake Trew, 21. Ethan Beavan, 23. Walter Scott, 24. Lachlan Scott (C), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (6. Senna Stevenson 71’), 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Nenad Vekic (GK), 4. Dax Kelly, 10. Damon Gray, 17. Jake Lavalle
Yellow Cards: Christopher McStay 56’
Red Cards: Nil
Bulls FC Academy: 40. Griffin Barry (GK), 53. Joel Bertolissio (C), 2. Anthony Krilic (11. Stephan De Robillard 25’), 3. Theph Theph, 8. Mason Wells, 19. Jesper Webber, 21. Joshua MacDonald (37. Luka Sterjovski 80’), 22. Edward Caspers, 23. Flynn Madden (10. Ayman Gulasi 65’), 24. Dean Bosnjak (31. Daanish Awaz 65’), 32. Isaac Hovar
Substitutes Not Used: 41. Patrick Williams (GK), 29. Michael Marcevski
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Lachlan Scott (WW)
2 – Alex Masciovecchio (WW)
1 – Jake Trew (WW)
Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @Timg123_
