Ilinden officially crowned Premiers after epic win over Mariners
Rockdale Ilinden ended it’s monumental 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW campaign in style as they celebrated lifting the Premiership in front of their fans following a comprehensive 4-1 over the Central Coast Mariners at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
A party atmosphere in Sydney’s South soon followed following the club clinching the Premiership after 40 long seasons while it was a bitter pill to swallow for the Mariners who will now face the Bulls FC Academy in their bid to stay in the top-flight with a two-legged promotion/relegation playoff.
The man of the season once again Alec Urosevski started the festitives netting a goal late in the opening stanza which settled the home team nerves.
The ‘Baker’ then added a second to wipe out a strike from Bailey Brandtman before substitute Brae Ovens extended Rockdale’s lead once more before Hunter Elliott completed the rout.
Rockdale took the chance to break the 70 point barrier for a 30-game season, eclipsing APIA Leichhardt FC’s 65 during 2023 and with a superior Goal Difference also, with Urosevski pushing through the 30-goal barrier (ending with 31), small statistics that may well stand the test of time whilst also retaining the Club Championship for a second consecutive year to boot.
The Mariners came out strong and fast, as they had to as a win would stave off and relegation fears yet it would prove an unsustainable pace allowing the more experienced Rockdale side to bide their time and pace themselves.
Jordan Small had the opportunity to set the visitors on their way in the 7’ minute but headed over from just inside the box with Nicholas Sorras needing to be alert moments later to turn a Brandtman shot around the post when losing possession out on the right.
After good lead-up work down Rockdale’s right, the home side slowly working up through the gears, it was So Kataoka who skewed the final ball wide of the woodwork when Rockdale started to make inroads into the Mariners’ backline.
Urosevski, again from a right sided build up, brought ‘keeper Jack Warshawsky into play when blocking a shot at his near post before both he and Yinka Sunmola conspired to plant the ball over the bar on the half-hour when, unfortunately for the home side, they both went for the same ball.
Brendan Cholakian was to put the ball wide almost immediately afterwards, the Mariners goal leading a somewhat charmed life.
Ricciuto cleared off the line from Nicholas Duarte and the conspicuously nervy Ilinden defence managed to block another from the Mariners’ striker follow-up shot but a last ditch perfectly timed tackle at the other end denied Kataoka as the pendulum swung the other way in a topsy-turvy game of football.
Yet it was that man Urosevski who finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when finding the net, and hitting 30-goals for the season into the net, with not the prettiest of strikes but undeniably an important one and it could have been doubled in stoppage time when Warshawsky did well to force the ball out for a corner.
If the Mariners needed a result prior to kick-off, that urgency increased as Sutherland Sharks were leading at the break in their match to add to the conundrum of logistical permutations at the bottom end of the table.
The visitors kicked-off the second period with their season in the balance however it was Ilinden who made the first change with Brayden Sorge replacing Lachie Griffiths, suffering a heavy head knock in the opening 45’ minutes on the restart.
However, direct from a corner Brandtman managed to find the net with the ball weaving its way through a crowded 6-yard box and eluding all and sundry to add a further twist to the tale. The battle at the bottom going down to the wire before Urosevski saw another effort turned on to the post from Warshawsky.
A couple of changes for Ilinden worked wonders as Urosevski, scoring goals for fun in 2024, found himself in the clear to slide home his 31st of the campaign when rolling the ball into an empty net to again put Rockdale ahead with his last involvement of the game when replaced by Brae Ovens.
The result was put relatively in no doubt when substitute Bai Antoniou broke down the left and delivered an inch perfect ball for fellow sub Brae Ovens to side foot home and extend the home teams lead with 15 minutes to play.
The Mariners came and did their utmost to secure a vital win but another pinpoint pass from Antoniou scuppered those plans when allowing Hunter Elliott to net Rockdale’s fourth of the afternoon to compound the result and may well have been more as Cholakian could have added the cherry on the cake in stoppage time but skied his effort over the bar.
There was disappointment in the Mariners camp without question but with destiny remaining in their hands it was a season of trial and error, something the squad can build upon.
Rockdale Ilinden’s assistant coach Nick Stavroulakis couldn’t have been prouder of his squad that dominated the rest of the league in season 2024.
“We’re very proud of what this side has achieved this season, making a Cup Final and winning the Premiership after 40-years,” he said.
“Words can not express the emotions we all feel but we are well aware there’s still work to be done and although we’ll celebrate tonight, we’ll also have our focus on Wednesday’s finals games to see who we will face come next Sunday here at what should be a packed stadium.
“We’ll be ready but super proud of what this team has already achieved this season,” he concluded.
At the whistle as the party celebrations began, Ilinden’s record proudly stands at: P30 W23 D3 L5 GD +36 from an outstanding season in raising the bar in the top flight of NSW football, and thoroughly deserved.
Congratulations to all at Rockdale Ilinden FC on a magnificent season, Finals Football awaits.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden 4 (Alec Urosevski 43’, 61’, Brae Ovens 75’, Hunter Elliott 81’)
Central Coast Mariners Academy 1 (Bailey Brandtman 50’)
Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale
Sunday 25th August, 2024
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assistants: Lance Greenshields and Travis Griffith
Fourth Official: Thomas Dale
Rockdale Ilinden: 1. Nicholas Sorras, 2. Daniel Collins, 3. Lachie Griffiths (14. Brayden Sorge 46’), 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo (8. Dean Pelekanos 72’), 7. Alec Urosevski (17. Brae Ovens 72’), 10. Brendan Cholakian, 11. Lachie Constable (23. Hunter Elliott 58’), 15. Yinka Sunmola (9. Bai Antoniou 58’), 22. Blake Ricciuto, 77. So Kataoka
Subs not used: 20. Ricardo Rizzo
Yellow Cards: Daniels Collins 66’
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners Academy: 1. Jack Warshawsky, 2. Michael Paragalli, 3. Cher Dong, 4. Parker Williams (17. Jai Ross 83’), 5. Harry Menham (41. Alexander Gountounas 83’), 6. Jordan Small, 7. Arthur De Lima, 8. Lucas Scicluna, 9. Nicholas Duarte (10. Taye Hedley 68’), 11. Donatien Niyonkuru (13. Yani Nassifs 68’), 37. Bailey Brandtman
Subs not used: 12. Haine Eames, 40. Dylan Perica-Cullen
Yellow Cards: Nicholas Duarte 61’, Lucas Scicluna 68’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Alec Urosevski (RI)
2 – Brendan Cholakian (RI)
1 – So Kataoka (RI)
By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock
