Rampant Rockdale seal the points against the Sharks
Rockdale Ilinden continued its push towards the 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW Premiership with a convincing 3-0 victory over local rivals Sutherland Sharks at a rain soaked Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday.
Paul Dee’s troops showed why they are chasing current league leaders Western Sydney Wanderers when Mathieu Cordier began the scoring in the 28th minute from great build-up play. One soon turned into two with Brendan Cholakian scoring via a thunderous shot and Cordier netted a third to round off the scoring.
Alec Urosevski and Mitch Stamatellis were at it from the first minute when the Ilinden striker nipped inside down the right and attempted to slip the ball under Nathan Denham, playing his first match for the club in several seasons. With Nenad Vekic suspended and Jacob Cremen-Cowan still suffering the effects of concussion, was able to get down smartly and block the shot before the ball was eventually cleared. Denham was in the right spot to save another shot from Cholakian a few moments later and when Urosevski found time and space in the 5th minute, the ball wouldn’t drop quickly enough for the Golden Boot leader who fired wide of the upright in a blistering start from the visitors.
It was early in the match yet Sutherland were struggling to contain the effervescent play of Rockdale, Stamatellis and stand-in centre-back Chris Lindsay continually kept on their toes. Rockdale, missing the likes of Bai Antoniou and Lachie Constable through suspension, were cutting a swathe through the Sharks’ midfield seemingly at will to keep the pressure on.
Denham was forced to save twice in succession when beating the ball out for Urosevski to juggle from left-to-right foot and firing toward goal but lacking pace, for the Sharks’ ‘keeper to gratefully gather. It stemmed from a free-kick given away by James Cakovski out on the left, fortunately not joining teammate Matty Jackson in the book.
Cakovski beat Giorgio Speranza on the right wing and cut inside for Sutherland but opted to shoot, instead of passing, from distance in the 27th minute sending the ball wide in Sutherland’s first meaningful attack, The hosts found themselves a goal down less than 60-seconds later when neat passing from Rockdale and a defensive mix-up allowed Cordier to slip in and tap home from close range. It was little more than Rockdale deserved for their enterprising play.
Urosevski stole in and, forced wide, attempted to catch Denham off his line and curled the ball inside the near post from an acute angle but the gloveman was again alert to the danger and managed to palm it out for a corner.
Rockdale were looking determined and hungry for more goals against their local rivals and keep up the momentum in their title tilt.
An undercurrent always threatening to erupt almost did so in the 40th minute when a number of players came together and both Matthew Moric and Cholakian found themselves in the book when the dust settled.
Lindsay cleared off the line from Cholakian in the dying stages off the half and but for stout defending and an element of good fortune.
There would have been clear daylight between the side but Sutherland were still in the game albeit a solitary goal down with it all to play for in the second-half.
Urosevski flicked the ball on for Yinka Sunmola and his backward header found Cholakian running on to the ball and power it past the stranded Denham to double Rockdale’s lead just two minutes after the restart and settle any lingering nerves the visitors may have been harbouring.
Urosevski then set-up Cholakian whose shot was blocked by Stamatellis and fell invitingly for Cordier to add his second and Rockdale’s third in the 56’ minute in a delightfully sweeping move.
There could be few complaints in the Sharks’ camp where they were simply outplayed by the fluidity, pace and movement of a rampant attack.
A raft of changes just after the hour did little to change the landscape of the match but credit Sutherland who kept battling away but it could have gotten worse when Urosevski was sent clean through by So Kataoka in the 70th minute that forced Denham, worthy of mention for his performance despite the scoreline, into saving with his feet leaving Rockdale’s all-time leading scorer unable to find a way past the veteran ‘keeper.
It proved the last action for Urosevski who was given the early rest when replaced by Jason Cakovski with 15 minutes remaining and although not finding himself on the scoresheet this particular evening, his work rate, enterprise and endeavour was done.
Substitute Blake Ricciuto, on for Dean Pelekanos, thought he had added a fourth late on but the goal was disallowed for offside in what would have been the icing on the cake to cap off a superb display away from home from Rockdale and with so many stand out performers on the night.
Stamatellis, as always, a colossus at the back for Sutherland, Pelekanos, Griffiths, Sorge et al for Rockdale.
It was a tough loss for former Rockdale Ilinden and now Sutherland Sharks head coach Steven Zoric, who, credit to him, was full of praise for his opponents.
“I have to say congratulations to them, for me they are the best team in the League at his moment in time.
“We had a game plan to stay compact at the back and try to get in behind the fullbacks who tend to play higher up the pitch and leaving space in behind but unfortunately it didn’t eventuate that way tonight.
“Rockdale came storming out of the blocks and we tried to stem the tide for as long as possible of course so we could grab something out of this game, but again I have to say a job well done by them.
“I’m proud of my guys who put in a great shift today but Rockdale have firepower all over the pitch and it’s difficult to keep them all quiet and my players did everything asked of them, put their bodies on the line and I can’t ask anything more than that,” he concluded.”
While Ilinden coach Paul Dee wasn’t getting carried away by the result and added.
“Tonight was one of our better games and quite comprehensive,” he said.
“We’re happy with how we controlled the ball, created a lot of chances, and deserved the win.
“It’s a good sign when Uro (Alec Urosevski) isn’t scoring goals, he’s setting them up and bringing other players into the game who are stepping up to take the chances and get on the scoresheet themselves. It’s a very good sign for us.
“We scored three but created chances to score a lot more but I’m also glad we kept a clean sheet too of course.
“We did lack a little composure in front of goal but Nathan Denham (Sharks’ ‘keeper) had a great game. He made a number of point blank saves and it was great to see him back playing in this league where he was a standout for so many seasons. He had an outstanding match and you have to take your hat off to him. He was terrific.”
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 0
Rockdale Ilinden 3 (Mathieu Cordier 28’,56’, Brendan Cholakian 47’)
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Saturday 4th May 2024
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistants: Charbel Geha and Eric Aglieco
Fourth Official: Connor Mead
Rockdale Ilinden: 30. Nathan Denham, 4. Mitch Stamatellis, 5. Takehide Umebachi, 6. Sam Gulisano (3. Jordan Roberts 59’), 7. James Cakovski (22. Jordan Graoroski 74’), 9. Maxx Green (8. Mo Ahmed 59’), 10. Mason Fernandez (91. Jonty Busch 64’), 11. Jay McGowan, 14. Chris Lindsay, 15. Matthew Moric, 27. Matty Jackson
Subs not used: 1. Dean Plessas, 26. Jacob Garner
Yellow Cards: Matty Jackson 7’, James Cakovski 20’, Matthew Moric 40’, Mitch Stamatellis 87’
Red Cards:
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Harrison Devenish-Meares, 2. Daniel Collins, 3. Lachie Griffiths (23. Hunter Elliott 72’), 5. Giorgio Speranza (17. Brae Ovens 64’), 6. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (19. Jason Cakovski 74’), 8. Dean Pelekanos (22. Blake Ricciuto 64’), 10. Brendan Cholakian (16. So Kataoka 64’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 15. Yinka Sunmola, 66. Mathieu Cordier
Subs not used: 20. Ricardo Rizzo (Gk)
Yellow Cards: Brendan Cholakian 40’, Lachie Griffiths 57’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Mathieu Cordier (RI)
2 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
1 – Brendan Cholakian (RI)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
