Gutsy Ilinden power over Stallions

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Rockdale Ilinden maintained its 2023 Premiership hopes albeit playing the majority of the match with ten men as they all but ended the Marconi Stallions’ run at the title with a heroic 1-0 victory in a tense affair at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

Iain Ramsay scored the only goal of the match early in the first half before pandemonium set in as Ilinden keeper David Bradasevic was given his marching orders prior to the half-time whistle blowing.

It was all hands on deck for the hosts from there on as 18-year-old keeper James Husoy was brought on and what a performance the youngster had as he and his chargers pulled off an almighty result that kept Rockdale’s title ambitions alive.

With so much on the line it was an understandably scrappy start to the game with neither able to create a worthwhile opportunity in front of goal.

The grit, determination and effort was evident but so was the anxiety in profligate and wayward finishing and final ball option and it wasn’t until the 12th minute that Ramsay got a shot on target for the home side albeit scuffed straight at James Hilton between the sticks after a neat shimmy and turn to open up the opportunity.

The next, and better, opportunity, fell to Ilinden midfielder Brendan Cholakian after 22 minutes but his shot went across the face in a crowded area whilst the visitors were still to register an attempt on target.

The deadlock was broken when Hilton thwarted Urosevski in the 26th minute with a classy interception to keep the league’s leading scorer out but the ball fell nicely for Ramsay to thump home for Rockdale.

The tension was never far from the surface and when Stallions’ midfielder Hiroaki Aoyama was cautioned for a foul in the 26th minute it sparked unsightly scenes on the pitch that resulted in both Captain’s Marko Jesic and Urosevski cautioned and Bradasevic being sent from the field. It meant Ilinden had to sacrifice Antoniou to bring on Reserve gloveman Jason Husoy in the 42nd minute when play resumed and the additional six minutes of stoppage time added.

Brandon Vella made a surging run down the right and centred to the back stick for Martin Fernandez but the Marconi man couldn’t find the right purchase to head home an equaliser before the break but with the man advantage and a further 45 minutes to play, more opportunities would fall their way but not before the eventual whistle for half-time.

Playing a man short and a reshuffle for the remainder of the match, Ilinden would need a strong rearguard action against a Marconi outfit gaining the ascendency.

Jordan Swibel was played through just after the restart from a defence splitting ball down the middle, but Husoy did brilliantly to palm the ball out for a corner with his first telling action of the match since coming on late in the first period.

Marconi started to exploit gaps and looked dangerous down the left flank and through the middle of the park, particularly with the ball over the top, but were unable to capitalise.

Urosevski cut a lonely figure up top as Ilinden defended in strong numbers to repel the waves of attack from the visitors, on occasion riding their luck but throwing themselves into every tackle when putting their bodies on the line to frustrate the Stallions.

Nathan Millgate fired way wide of the mark when the ball was played back into his path, but they thought the tide had turned when initially awarded a penalty in the 81st minute however after consultation with the far side Assistant, the original decision was overturned and a corner given, much to the chagrin of the visitors.

And the frustration should have been compounded when Urosevski broke through and rounded Hilton, who came off his line in an attempt to clear the danger, only to  slip the ball wide of the upright with the goal openly gaping.

If any proof were needed this match was full of anxiety, no need to look any further but special mention went to Husoy who, when thrown in at the deep end, was not found wanting in any department and contributed massively to his sides victory.

Nothing more could have been asked from Marconi after throwing everything at Rockdale, but the combination of sweat, toil and luck kept them at bay and it would be Rockdale that inched closer to APIA at the top of the table leaving Assistant Coach, Peter Papoythis, to graciously state after the match.

“I cannot deny my boys effort,” he said.

“The second-half was 50+ minutes of constant attack in and around their box.

“Some days no matter what the ball just won’t go in after we had a load of chances to put it in the net and it just didn’t happen.

“Credit to Rockdale’s defence, they defended brilliantly today and held us out for the entire half

“We believe we had a good penalty shout overturned after the official initially awarded it so I’ll have to have a look at the video later.

“But again, credit to them (Ilinden), they were good in defence and that got them over the line.”

Rockdale’s Assistant Coach Nick Stavroulakis was relieved but satisfied with his sides gutsy performance taking charge of the squad for the full week alongside Vedran Jaganjac with Paul Dee on personal work commitments.

“I feel like I’ve just played the full 90 plus minutes myself,” he stated.

“It’s a situation we’ve been in before when the score was locked at nil-all, and we came away with the win only this time we were a goal to the good at the time.

“It wasn’t unchartered waters for the boys today, and they understood what was needed, but I cannot credit the boys as much as I would like to as they’ve been fantastic all week with Deeza (Paul Dee) away in what was a professional approach to not just the game but the week at training.

“Credit must also go to Vedran Jaganjac who also played a huge role in the lead-up to today’s match.

“For us as a unit we’ve always focused on our model and want to make sure everyone is playing together as a unit and I think that for everyone at the ground and tuning in on NPL.TV, they would have seen one team unite and come together as one today.

“This is a project for us so at the moment we are building to do better things in the future – We aren’t looking at the table as we take each game as it comes and prepare for whichever team we are playing. That is all we are in control of, but in the short-term, we are seeing things come to life and witnessing the spark of something really special within this playing group.

“We are looking only at what we can do better as a team and the results will take care of themselves,” he concluded.

Match Stats

Rockdale Ilinden 1 (Iain Ramsay 26’)

Marconi Stallions 0

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Sunday 30th July, 2023

Referee: Craig Fisher                                  

Assistants: Lance Greenshields and Matthew Harris

Fourth: Jackson Mackie

Rockdale Ilinden: 1. David Bradasevic, 2. Daniel Collins, 4. Nikola Ujdur, 7. Alec Urosevski, 8. Isaac Danzo (42. Ben Wass 88’), 9. Bai Antoniou (26. James Husoy 43’), 10. Brendan Cholakian (3. Lachlan Griffiths 71’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 17. Iain Ramsay (11. Lochie Constable 71’), 21. Diego Celis (23, Jaden Casella,) 66. Mathieu Cordier

Subs not used: 34. Jason Cakovski

Yellow Cards: Diego Celis 24’, Alec Urosevski 39’

Red Cards: David Bradasevic 39’ 

Marconi Stallions: 24. James Hilton, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza (39. Matthew Hatch 84’) (21. Justin Vidic, 5. Liam McGing, 6. Domenic Costanzo (7.Christopher Hatfield  77’)8. Hiroaki Aoyama, 9. Jordan Swibel, 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Daniel Bouman, 17. Martin Fernandez, 23. Brandon Vella, 39. Matthew Hatch

Subs not used: 12. Sam Gulisano, 22.Taylor McDonald.23. Brandon Vella

Yellow Cards: Marko Jesic 39’, Liam McGing 58’

Red Cards:                                                                                                                                            

Player Ratings

3 – Nikola Ujdur (RI)

2 – James Husoy (RI)

1 – Isaac Danzo (RI)

By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock