Blacktown City’s indifferent season continues as Wolves howl to victroy

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Wollongong Wolves have defeated one of the league’s heavyweights Blacktown City in an impressive 1-0 victory at Landen Stadium to move them to third place on the NPL Men’s NSW ladder moving David Carney’s troops off the under the radar list.

Blacktown City were the team who threatened first in the fourth minute, with a corner kick seeing Lachlan Campbell header the ball menacingly wide of the front post.

However, Wollongong showed their competitiveness shortly after, with talisman Lachlan Scott showing his quality with a clever, jinking run to sit down his marker in a good position inside the box

Two minutes later, Wollongong went close once more, with a strong run and cutback from Alex Masciovecchio forcing a poor clearance from Blacktown.

Takumi Ofuka was left to receive the ball and take a touch back inside to finish, but his lacklustre shot in a good position was blocked by Blacktown’s desperate defence.

Both sides were playing good, incisive football in scorching, 31-degree heat in Blacktown; particularly considering that synthetic fields are said to be 5-20 degrees hotter than the air temperature, making Landen Stadium’s surface blistering in more ways than one.

In the direct passage of play following a much-needed mid-half drinks break, Wollongong almost opened the scoring, with a clever flick on from Scott finding his strike partner Jake Trew in behind on a swift counterattack.

The ball drew the attention of Tristan Prendergast, who did well to get there just in front of Trew, winning a strongly contested 50 50 to keep Blacktown safe.

Wollongong had another chance in the 35th minute, with Scott the architect once more; after holding up the ball well inside the box, the striker found the onrushing Masciovecchio, who rifled a shot towards the top-right corner, forcing Prendergast to make a quick save.

In the 41st minute, Wollongong seemed destined to open the scoring, after .

An active Masciovecchio pinched the ball off Mario Shabow in a dangerous central position and quickly slipped in Scott.

Wollongong’s captain and star player was gifted the perfect opportunity to curl the ball around a stranded Prendergast and into the back of the net, but he saw his effort bend miserably over the crossbar.

Two minutes later, it was this time Blacktown who were left to rue a missed chanceafter their original cross and shot was cleared off the line, O’Brien looked set to convert into the back of the net, but volleyed agonisingly above the goal from just metres out.

In the 52nd minute, Blacktown had a good chance, with Joey Gibbs receiving the ball inside the box and turning swiftly to open up space for the shot, but his low effort was gathered calmly by Vedran Janjetovic.

Wollongong responded with threat of their own seven minutes later, as a clever ball from Scott found Christopher Mcstay in behind – the midfielders cutback was waiting to be tapped home by Ofuka, but a quick intervention from Blacktown’s defence prevented the Wolves from biting.

The game had settled into a regular pattern in the second half, with Wolves allowing Blacktown to dominate possession, conserving energy for their quick attacking transitions in the heat.

Blacktown threatened with shots from outside the box and with a few dangerous crosses, but Wollongong remained resolute through their backline and Janjetovic, and were the more dangerous side thanks to their rapid counter-attacking play.

In the 81st minute, Wollongong broke the deadlock, with their biggest threat starting and finishing the move.

Scott received the ball in the attack half and quickly maneuvered past his marker with a clever feint to leave him with space to drive forwards.

The forward played a one-two, continuing a strong run forwards and received the ball in the box, before beating another Blacktown player through an intelligent feint.

Now in on goal, Scott made no mistake in passing the ball past Prendergast in a highly impressive goal that demonstrated the extensive quality of his skillset.

Blacktown were given a good chance to respond just five minutes after the goal, with an inviting cross presenting Martin Fernandez with the chance to head the ball home from inside the six-yard box, but the winger couldn’t gain sufficient contact, and had fouled his marker in the process.

Wollongong Wolves coach David Carney was proud of his side’s performance in the hot Blacktown sun.

“I thought we were very good in the first half, I thought we deserved to go in front but we didn’t, we missed our chances,” he said.

“In the second half they came at us and we had to tighten it up in midfield but we got them on the break and deserved the three points.”

Meanwhile, Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden was disappointed with the home side’s performance in what have been a difficult few weeks for his team.

“I thought our first half was poor – we haven’t been at our best in our last two or three games and again today I thought we weren’t anywhere near what we’d expect from us,” he said.

“To be fair, the two boys up front for them were very difficult to deal with.

“In the second half we started better but we just didn’t create enough opportunities, and when we did we missed a couple of half-decent chances and at the end of the day it always comes back to bite you.

“Credit to Wollongong and we’ve got to go back to the drawing board a little bit.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 0

Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Scott 81’)

Sunday 10 March, 2024

Landen Stadium

Referee: Ivica Covic

Assistant Referees: Patrick Teleki and James Makris

Fourth Official: Rowan Fisher

Blacktown City FC: 1. Tristan Prendergast, 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry (14. Mitchell Mallia 61’), 7. Travis Major (17. Martin Fernandez 74’), 8. Jak O’Brien (11. Danny Choi 81’), 10. Mario Shabow (C) (22. Jacob Manti 74’), 12. Tyren Burnie, 16. Ben Berry, 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 23. Joey Gibbs

Substitutes Not Used: 9. Reuben Awaritefe, 20. Cayden Henderson

Yellow Cards: Major 55’

Red Cards: None

Wollongong Wolves FC: 20. Vedran Janjetovic, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak, 7. Takumi Ofuka, 8. Andre Takami, 9. Jake Trew (11. Sebastian Hernandez 61’), 24. Lachlan Scott (C) (29. Thomas Dunn 88’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio (27. Damon Gray 74’), 88. Christopher McStay

Substitutes Not Used: 13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly

Yellow Cards: Scott 65’, Takami 71’

Red Cards: None

Player ratings:

3 – Lachlan Scott (WW)

2 – Christopher McStay (WW)

1 – Nicholas O’Brien (BC)

By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)