Wolves take points in scrappy St George battle
Wollongong Wolves edged out St George FC 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at Albert Butler Memorial Park in a typically scrappy game.
The Primbee venue made it tough for either team to get the ball down and play, often resorting to set pieces and long balls to create chances.
Wollongong’s winner came from the skilful Sebastian Hernandez 13 minutes in – who continued to make a name for himself in the NPL Men’s NSW.
The match got off to a chance-shy start as the teams struggled to get control of the ball consistently,
However, 13 minutes in, the hosts grabbed an early lead. St George fullback Thomas Brown failed to cut out Christopher McStay’s ball into the right channel. This allowed Hernandez to race in behind down the right and arrow a shot into the bottom left corner.
The Wolves were targeting the right side where Hernandez – who had recently trialled with A-Leagues side Brisbane Roar – was continuing to threaten.
With neither side still able to create many chances, Wollongong went close to a second half an hour in. St George goalkeeper Mackenzie Syron parried away Jake Trew’s left-footed prod from the edge of the area.
St George had had little joy with the balls they were lobbing up towards the Wollongong defence with Harrison Buesnel and Banri Kanaizumi repelling well, leaving Chan Yelchan frustrated up top.
But in the 36th minute, visitors forward Yelchan finally had some joy. He flicked the ball over for Conor Quilligan to drive a low shot at goal that Wolves’ goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic managed to hold onto.
There was another big chance for Wollongong in stoppage time when Hernandez skipped past his man down the right. He funnelled in a low cross to Lachlan Scott; Syron making an important stop from point-blank range.
The game adopted a similar tone in the second period as the ball bobbed on the pitch, meaning set pieces were pivotal.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, McStay’s free-kick found Buesnel who headed over the advancing Syron, but the ball went wide.
In the 74th minute, McStay whipped in a right-sided corner that fell to Dylan Ryan, the left-back’s shot held onto by Syron.
Moments later, Hernandez escaped down the left showing his pace and trickery before drilling the ball into the centre of the box for Mustafa. But Syron pulled off a superb save to deny him from close range.
The Wolves probed again 85 minutes in when a bouncing ball dropped into Samuel Riak’s path, where the midfielder poked the ball wide.
Mustafa had his shot saved for the Wolves in stoppage time, as it looked like Wollongong would need to defend their slender advantage to see out the result.
The hosts held on and secured another win to boost their bid for finals football.
St George had failed to create much throughout the fixture, even though they had been chasing the game from early on.
St George FC winger Jaden Casella said that the side lacked the necessary teamwork throughout the match.
“It was a very scrappy game from the first minute but in terms of our performance we just had to get a bit more stuck in today and work a bit more as a team,” Casella said.
“I’m sure we’re going to definitely bounce back next week and come away with a result.
“I think we’re going to have no issues in terms of that relegation battle and I’m very confident we are going to start picking up results.
“The pitch got the better of us today.”
Wolves’ captain Lachlan Scott said his team were worthy winners, while craving more clinical finishing.
“The pitch didn’t really help either of us, so it was quite a battle out there,” Scott said.
“A lot of ball in the air, a lot of second balls and a lot of 50-50s but I thought we did pretty well in the fight and were the better team, so we deserved the win.
“We just want to be playing well and playing the right style of football and hopefully the results will come off the back of that.
“We have to be more clinical and that’s on us boys up the top.
“We’re not looking too far ahead; we’re just going to keep chipping away and hopefully get a home final if we can.”
Match Stats
Wollongong Wolves FC 1 (Sebastian Hernandez 13’)
St George FC 0
Sunday 21st July 2024
Albert Butler Memorial Park, Primbee
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant Referees: Ethan Zvargulis and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Matt Staples
Wollongong Wolves FC: 20. Vedran Janjetovic, 2. Harrison Buesnel, 3. Darcy Madden, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak, 9. Jake Trew (7. Takumi Ofuka 58’), 10. Yagoub Mustafa, 11. Sebastian Hernandez (25. Alex Masciovecchio 85’), 24. Lachlan Scott, 88. Christopher McStay
Substitutes Not Used: 8. Andre Takami, 13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly, 29. Ben Giason
Yellow Cards: Dylan Ryan 15’, Darcy Madden 81’
Red Cards: Nil
St George FC: 99. Mackenzie Syron, 3. Troy Danaskos, 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 8. Conor Quilligan, 17. Thomas Brown (11. Anthony Morabito 46’), 18. Mark Rodic, 23. Evangelo Souris (16. Sebastian Cerecedo 46’), 27. Jayden Seeto, 33. Jaden Casella (22. Aeden O’Shea 86’), 38. Chan Yelchan (37. Jakov Malbasa 55’)
Substitutes Not Used: 10. Harry Jones, 20. Daniel Axford
Yellow Cards: Mark Rodic 85’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 – Sebastian Hernandez (WW)
2 – Mackenzie Syron (STG)
1 – Samuel Riak (WW)
Report by Tim Gibson
