Manly hold Ilinden to scoreless draw at Rockdale
Finals bound Rockdale Ilinden have now gone seven matches without recording a win falling a frustrating scoreless draw against Manly United at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
It’s been the tale of the year for last year’s Premiers who looked as though they’d be challenging for that title this year but have fallen off the mark in the last month.
It was the home side who predictably began the match as the stronger side, managing to pin Manly in on multiple occasions as they searched for an early opener.
But after the first fifteen minutes, Manly were beginning to show their class, as the game became played much more in the middle third, with Rockdale struggling to progress through the away side’s structured block.
In the 30th minute, it was Manly who had the biggest chance of the match, with some beautiful, fluid interplay between their forwards opening up a chance for Farah Koko to cross from the right.
His ball was originally parried by Ronan Mulgrew, but fell into the path of Maxwell Pengelly, who had time to line up a shot from the penalty spot.
However, the midfielder couldn’t find a way around a crowded Rockdale defence, with Mulgrew making a strong save.
But Manly were continuing to build, and were beginning to enter their opponents’ box on a more regular basis, while stifling the home side at the other end.
On the stroke of halftime, Rockdale had a chance to go ahead, as an exquisite through-ball from Brendan Cholakian found Alec Urosevski in behind.
The forward raced through on goal and looked to poke the ball past the onrushing Levi Kaye, but the goalkeeper prevailed in the battle, making a strong save to keep scores level.
The home side continued that momentum into the second half, coming out strongly and going centimetres away from finding the lead in the 55th minute.
Off the second phase of a set piece – from which Rockdale had been threatening all day – the ball fell to Hunter Elliott inside the box.
He lashed a shot at goal, which was blocked, but the rebound fell into the path of the right-back, who now had space to shoot from 12 yards.
Eliott unleashed a stinging effort which rebounded off the inside of the post.
However, it somehow didn’t find the net, flashing across the face of goal in devestating fashion.
Up the other end, Manly had their first chance of the half in the 64th minute, with a flowing counter-attacking move, with a shot from Will Faulder flashing wide of the far post.
One minute later, Manly had another opportunity, somehow not managing to find their goal.
A deep cross from Faulder was controlled beautifully by Stefano Rossello, who instantly found himself in a one-on-one with Mulgrew.
But from point-blank range, the midfielder couldn’t find the target, striking the crossbar in the best chance of the match so far.
In the 74th minute, the visitors went close once more, with a lovely ball over the top from Faulder finding the run of McCarthy in behind.
In the box, McCarthy took a beautiful couple of touches, while keeping the ball in the air, before poking a shot agonisingly wide of the nearpost.
And, despite Rockdale’s territorial dominance, it was Manly who were continuing to create the better chances, with Rossello finding another chance, but striking over the bar.
In the 84th minute, the home side created a chance of their own, with a bouncing shot from Lochlan Constable forcing a save from Levi Kaye, with this match heading strongly towards a 0-0 draw at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.
Five minutes later, Manly created another opportunity, with a threatening Rossello shot from range forcing a save from Mulgrew, who was aided by the crossbar to keep the ball away from danger.
And stunningly, in added time, the away side hit the crossbar for the third time in the match, with a stunning strike from Charlie Kanu just avoiding crossing the line.
After picking up a loose ball, Kanu strode forwards, and from the ‘D’ unleashed a brilliant half-volley which rocketed over the outstretched gloves of Mulgrew.
The ball hit the crossbar and bounced down, but it was adjudged not to have crossed the line, ending an exciting 0-0 draw between Rockdale and Manly United.
The Ilinden faithful are hoping that their recent lack of winning results will change come finals time following round 30 next Sunday.
The club will also be hoping that it’s star man in last year’s NPL Men’s NSW Player of the Year and Golden Boot winner Alec Urosevski rediscovers his goal scoring form as the ace marksman has not hit the target in the last seven matches but is still leading the top scorers charts with 22 goals for the year.
Match Stats
Rockdale Ilinden FC 0
Manly United FC 0
Sunday 24 August, 2025
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Referee: Jake Rose
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Matthew Harris
Fourth Official: Benjamin Hutchinson
Rockdale Ilinden FC: 20. Ronan Mulgrew, 2. Hunter Elliott, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo (88. Christopher McStay 60’), 7. Alec Urosevski (C), 10. Brendan Cholakian (18. Jerry Skotadis 60’), 11. Lochlan Constable, 14. Brayden Sorge, 22. Blake Ricciuto (4. James Nikolovski 82’), 23. Oliver Puflett (9. Moudi Najjar 82’), 24. Ali Auglah
Substitutes Not Used: 28. Steven Kriezis, 99. Matthew Keremelevski
Yellow Cards: Constable 80’
Red Cards: None
Manly United FC: 1. Levi Kaye, 2. Aaron O’Driscoll, 3. Matthew O’Donoghue, 4. Jesse Piriz (C), 8. Stefano Rossello, 10. Harry McCarthy (25. Cai Evans 75’), 14. Maxwell Pengelly, 17. Farah Koko, 24 Toby Bakewell (31. Charlie Kanu, 86’), 28. Jasper Chipman, 34. Aston Hulme (29. Will Faulder 57’)
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Anthony Carreras, 27. Jared Muir33. Max Walker
Yellow Cards: Hulme 56’, Chipman 70’
Red Cards: None
Player ratings:
3 – Jesse Piriz (MU)
2 – Brayden Sorge (RI)
1 – Will Faulder (MU)
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
