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Ilinden brought back down to earth by Manly United

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National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Round 11 saw Manly United bring high flying Rockdale Ilinden back down to earth in a tight encounter that was only divided by a penalty from Bruno Mendes in the first half. 

Both sides had their chances but in the end the visitors displayed a touch more grit to claim all three points.

The opening salvo of the game arrived in the 7th minute when a free kick by Jade Casella for Rockdale Ilinden was well parried by goalkeeper Jack Greenwood, but only as far as Mitchell Stamatellis who seemed certain to score from close range, yet somehow Finn Ashton courageously got in the way and ball went over for a corner.

It was a close call but Manly United survived the scare thanks to Ashton’s great defending.

Manly then replied in the 10th minute when Seiya Kambayashi ran down the right flank but goalkeeper David Bradasevic came out, narrowed the angle for the shot and forced the ball wide for a corner.

Manly United though didn’t have to wait much longer and took the lead in the 20th minute through a penalty.

Kieran Paull charged dangerously into the area before being brought down and referee Adrian Arndt jogging on the spot had no hesitation in awarding the visitors the spot kick.

Bruno Mendes stepped up to the mark and dispatched it calmly sending the home side ‘keeper Bradasevic the wrong way.

In the 36th minute a powerful diagonal drive by Alec Urosevski sailed narrowly wide of the intended target as the visitors breathed a sigh of relief before the break and they held onto their narrow lead.

In the second stanza of play the first real chance arrived in the 52nd minute when a corner reached Nikola Kuleski who fired through from just outside the box, but the ball took a deflection and ended up wide for another corner.

Shortly afterwards Rockdale were at it again when a free kick by Stamatellis beat all and sundry except for the Manly United goalie Jack Greenwood.

The visitors replied in the 56th minute when Kambayashi seemed through on goal but he failed to properly control the ball and Bradasevic made an easy save.

A long, through ball in the 61st minute saw Kambayashi charge towards goal but in the end he was thwarted by some great defending from Jamie Percevski and a corner was forced.

Kambayashi turned provider in the 74th minute with a precise cross from the right that reached Dom Ferguson who fired a thunderbolt just wide of the post.

In the 82nd minute Rockdale almost scored when an acute but deflected cross from near the by-line by Urosevski was cleared off the line by an alert Paull.

In the 87th minute replacement Ben Koop seemed to have all the time in the world at his disposal for the visitors but somehow, unmarked in front of goal, he fired just over the crossbar in what was the last real chance of the encounter.

After the game Manly United coach Adam Griffith was delighted with his team and their overall win.

“We were solid defensively and we worked hard on our defensive structure,” he said.

“We also had a lot of good chances to score and they had a couple too, but I thought that we also had a couple of good moments to finish the game even though we didn’t convert those.

“Our mentality now is to win every single game and we were coming to win this game against a very good team, but we are also a very good team that’s going to keep pushing.”

His counterpart at Rockdale Ilinden Steve Zoric was philosophical about the defeat that had come against a well prepared Manly United side.

“It’s a frustrating result after nine games undefeated,’ he said.

“Well done to Manly because they came out and played a good game.

“They compacted their lines and made it hard for us to get anything out of that game.

“We had our chances and were pushing for it, but they defended very well.

“The ball didn’t fall for us at times but I have to congratulate Manly for playing a good game.

“We’ll just move on and look towards our next game against Blacktown, adjust a few things during the week and keep charging towards the top of the table.”

Match Stats

Rockdale Ilinden 0

Manly United 1 (Mendes 20’p)

Sunday 15th May 2022

Ilinden Sports Centre, Rockdale

Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Joon Park and Alessandro Llana

Fourth Official: Hadi Al-Nakeeb

Rockdale Ilinden: 1. David Bradasevic, 4. Mitchell Stamatellis (16. Mo Ahmed 67’), 5. Will Mutch, 7. Alec Urosevski, 8. Nikola Kuleski, 10. Tomoki Wada, 11. Peter Kekeris (25. Alex Masciovecchio 66’), 14. Brayden Sorge, 15. Jamie Percevski, 23. Jade Casella, 88. Chris McStay (9. Bai Antoniou 75’)

Substitutes Not Used:  31. Matt Morran, 33. Vincent Fedele

Yellow Cards: 58’ Urosevksi, 88’ Percevski, 90’ Ahmed

Red Card: Nil

Manly United: 20. Jack Greenwood, 2. Kieran Paull, 3. Jesse Piriz, 4. Jimmy Oates, 5. Tom Fay, 7. Seiya Kambayashi, 10. Luca Kmet (9. Ben Koop 83’), 12, Finn Ashton (8. Dom Ferguson 46’), 18. Lucas Rainbird, 19. Alen Aganovic, 22. Bruno Mendes

Substitutes Not Used: 17. Zenden Hart, 15. Kristian Santich, 21. Lucas Rainbird, 29. Marcos Lal

Yellow Cards: 29’ Ashton, 88’ Greenwood

Red Card: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Jimmy Oates (MU)

2 –  Kieran Paull (MU)

1 – Jaden Casella (RI)

By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo

O’Donovan steals all three points for Olympic at Blacktown

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Sydney Olympic secured a 2-1 victory over Blacktown City at Blacktown City Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon thanks to a late winner by marquee signing Roy O’Donovan. 

The National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Match of the Round clash saw Charles Mendy open the scoring after a defensive error by Olympic allowed the lanky striker to nip in and find the net before Darcy Burgess restored parity, muscling his way through the Blacktown defence to sweetly strike the equaliser in the second half.

In a game that had it all, including a saved penalty, it was a stoppage-time strike from O’Donovan who sealed the points for Sydney Olympic.

Adam Berry fired in a free kick, earnt by Mendy, from outside the box to be met by the head of Mitch Mallia that slipped narrowly wide of the woodwork in the 2nd minute for an injury-ravaged Blacktown side.

O’Donovan then worked some space at the other end to fire into the side netting in a very lively start to the game.

Another deep cross from the right, this time via Dakota Askew, had Jak O’Brien haring in at the back stick, but he headed into the ground for an easy take for Sydney Olympic ‘keeper Nick Sorras.

Mendy switched flanks and set off on a sprightly run down the left and centred for Mallia who shot into the side netting from an acute angle, Blacktown enjoying the better of the early chances.

Olympic were under pressure but remained strong at the back as epitomised by the gutsy Mathieu Cordier who, in a challenge with Askew, received a head knock that required treatment before both players returned swathed in bandages.

As expected between two high-flying sides, the tension was palpable and the tackling fierce, one such leading to Mendy receiving the first caution of the match.

From a deep corner, Adam Parkhouse pumped the ball back into the middle but the Oliver Puflett strike soared over the bar in the 28th minute as the visitors clawed their way back into the match.

It changed all too quickly for the visitors when Mendy capitalised on an error moments later to nip in and find the back of the net for Blacktown to open the scoring on the half-hour mark, after Sorras was left stranded.

On the balance of play it was deserved if somewhat fortuitous in its arrival.

Olympic were incensed when they, and in particular O’Donovan, felt they should have had a penalty that was waived away adding to their growing frustrations.

Neither side could find the net again before the break, although O’Donovan joined Mendy, harshly according to the burly striker, in the book in first-half stoppage time.

Olympic came out firing for the second period but Parkhouse soon found himself in the book for simulation in the Blacktown box, not a decision that went down well with the travelling support.

Lachlan Campbell was also cautioned for a tackle on Nikola Ujdur. The tension was building within both camps with so much at stake this early in the season.

Mallia tried an audacious overhead kick that went wide of the mark in the 55th minute from skipper Matthew Lewis’ centre – it was entertaining and would have been a contender had it bulged the onion bag.

Olympic restored parity through the effervescent Darcy Burgess in the 59th minute when Blacktown failed to deal with a Cordier long throw.

The match was becoming somewhat passionate and threatened to boil over on a couple of occasions, such was the nature of this fiercely contested football match.

After a flurry of niggling cautions, Michael Glassock was added to the list when bringing down Campbell in the area for a penalty in the 69th minute.

Lynch stepped up for the spot-kick but Sorras, having a tremendous campaign, was smarty down to his left to push the ball around the post to keep the scores locked at one apiece.

O’Donovan found the net in the 80th minute, but the goal was eventually disallowed to further inflame the mood of the crowd.

Hiroaki Aoyama was hoping to cap a quiet match with a winning strike but his 25-yarder sailed over the goal by some distance, the diminutive midfielder leaning back on the shot and failing to get over the ball.

It was a feisty, testy game played between two very evenly matched sides, but it was O’Donovan who had the last laugh when racing into the area to side-foot a volley home in stoppage time to give the visitors the points.

It was a tough pill for Blacktown City fans to swallow and left coach, Mark Crittenden, to state after the match.

“I think we 100% deserved to get something out of the game,” he commented.

“But you can’t let a ball come across with a couple of minutes to go like we did and expect anything less from a side like Olympic.

“We had a penalty saved and I’m happy with the effort the lads put in if not the outcome as it was poor from us at the last.

“It’s always a cracking game between these two sides and I felt we did enough to win the match today and if it ends 1-1 everyone walks out happy but like I said, I felt we did enough but credit to them.”

Sydney Olympic coach, Ante Juric, obviously happy with the late, late win.

“I felt we were the better team taking nothing away from Blacktown as they are a top side and we had to be at our best today.

“There were patches where we didn’t put it together, particularly in the first half but after the break, we were a better side.

“To come back from a goal down, the penalty save and score the winner in stoppage time showed a lot of character in the side and that is something we’ve tried to instill into the team.

“If we get beat or are a goal/player down, we keep going to the end and it paid off today.

“In a match like this between these two sides, that’s a very valuable three points at this stage of the season but we need to start games like we finished today and not put ourselves under pressure but very happy with the win and the character shown by the boys.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City 1 (Charles Mendy 30’)

Sydney Olympic 2 (Darcy Burgess 59’, Roy O’Donovan 90+2)

Blacktown City Sports Centre

Sunday 15th May 2022

Referee: Craig Fisher

Assistants: Brodie Merchant and Amir Hosnani

Fourth Official: Eric Saba

Blacktown City: 30. Alex Robinson, 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Matthew Lewis, 8. Jak O’Brien, 11. Mitch Mallia (12. Tyren Burnie 75’), 17. Dakota Askew, 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 19. Adam Berry, 21. Charles Mendy (9. Jake Trew 78’), 32. Hiroaki Aoyama

Subs not used: 9. Jake Trew, 14. Caleb Jackson-Brown, 16. Ben Berry, 23. Charles Eriku, 40. Dylan Niski

Yellow Cards: Charles Mendy 24’, Lachlan Campbell 53’

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney Olympic: 1. Nick Sorras, 2. Tom Whiteside, 3. Nikola Udjur, 5. Michael Glassock, 6. Mathieu Cordier, 8. Sam McIlhatton (10. Brendan Cholakian 60’), 9. Oliver Pufflet, 11. Adam Parkhouse (17. Marley Peterson 70’), 19. Darcy Burgess, 23. Daniel Dias, 99. Roy O’Donovan

Subs not used: 22. Fabio Ferreira, 24. Hagi Gligor, 30. Jeremy Pollard, 36. Peter Politis

Yellow Cards: Roy O’Donovan 45+1’, Adam Parkhouse 49’, Oliver Puflett 64’, Tom Whiteside 68’, Michael Glassock 69’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 –  Nick Sorras (SO)

2 –  Darcy Burgess (SO)

1 – Dakota Askew (BC)

By National Premier Leagues  NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock

Late Sean Symons strike rescues point for APIA

By

APIA Leichhardt fought their way back into their battle with Sydney United 58, settling with a 2-2 draw at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday evening.

United 58 managed two goals in the first half through Patrick Antelmi and Chris Payne, leaving APIA stunned as they made their way to the sheds for the half-time break, but the visitors worked their way back into the match with Jack Armson scoring their first in the 60th minute and Sean Symons equalising at the death.

The hosts wanted to kick off its winning run once more after they defeated local Blacktown District FA side Quakers Hill 7-0 on Thursday evening in their round 4 Australia Cup Preliminary fixture which set them up with a juicy round 5 clash against Rockdale Ilinden.

Sydney United 58 didn’t wait long to start the action, creating a shot on target in the first minute of the match.

Some combination play saw Payne with a chance to shoot from range, but APIA Leichhardt shot-stopper Ivan Necevski collected.

A few early chances to APIA in the opening stages showed that they were hungry for a win after a 4-1 loss to Marconi in Round 10.

One of APIA Leichhardt’s strongest goal scorers in 2022, Jason Romero, came close in the 12th minute, but his effort travelled across the goalmouth.

APIA were inches away from opening the scoring in the 28th minute as Romero drove forward and let off a shot that came off an incoming Danijel Nizic and fell to Walter Scott.

Scott passed back to Armson, whose shot hit the crossbar before hitting the ground around the line and bouncing away.

APIA earned a free kick in the 29th minute and Romero swung it into the area to Themba Muata-Marlow who got on the end of it but couldn’t send it into the netting.

While there were plenty of chances for both sides, United 58 were the next to convert their chances, scoring through Antelmi in the 38th minute.

Payne played the ball off Tariq Maia and to Antlemi, who weaved past Muata-Marlow and sent his shot into the goal.

Sean Symons sent a ball up the park to Romero in the area, who weaved through United 58’s defence and sent a strike towards goal, but Nizic was well prepared to parry it away.

As the first half tipped into extra time, Maia had his chance to extend the lead, but Necevski tipped it over the bar.

Glen Trifiro sent in the resultant corner, which came off the head of a APIA defender and fell to the edge of the box.

Devante Clut sent the ball towards Payne in front of goal, who neatly sent it into the netting, giving the home side a two-goal advantage at the break.

The visitors made their way onto the scoreboard in the 60th minute through Armson, whose low drive was out of reach of Nizic as it slid over the line.

United 58 were quick to retaliate, with Devante Clut sending a strike blazing towards the target in the 61st minute, but Necevski made a sensational save to tip it over the bar.

Sean Symons had a chance for APIA in the 63rd minute, but this shot had a bit too much on it and it skimmed high and wide of the goal.

APIA continued to mount pressure and create chances as they tried to claw something from the match, and their perseverance paid off in the fifth minute of additional time.

Romero swung the ball into the area and substitute Nathanael Blair collected, sending it across to Armson in a central position.

Armson directed it into the area and Symons quickly got on the end of it and cleanly finished to equalise in sensational fashion, stealing a point from the match that drowned the home fan noise as Danial Cummins’ troops secured a draw.

Match Stats

Sydney United 58 2 (Antelmi 39′, Payne 47′)

APIA Leichhardt FC 2 (Armson 61′, S. Symons 96′)

Sunday, 15th May, 2022

Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: Emma Kocbek and Patrick Teleki

Fourth Official: Mujtaba Ebrahimi

Sydney United 58 FC 1. Danijel Nizic, 3. Jordan Roberts (16. Jacob Poscoliero 63’), 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 6. Chris Payne, 9. Patrick Antelmi ( 8. Kyle Cimenti 77’), 10. Devante Clut (5. Anthony Tomelic 77’), 11. Yianni Perkatis, 15. Tariq Maia (14. Andreas Agamemnonos 67’), 17. Matthew Bilic, 18. Glen Trifiro, 22. Yianni Fragogiannis

Substitutes Not Used: 13. Jordan Ivancic, 55. Goran Palecek

Yellow Cards: Bilic 30’, Payne 36’

Red Cards: Nil

Northbridge Bulls: 1. Ivan Necevski, 4. Joshua Symons, 5. Nicholas Azzone (20. Nathanael Blair 73’), 8. Deigo Celis, 9. Jason Romero, 14. Jack Armson, 15. Themba Muata-Marlow (21. Michael Kouta 79’), 16. Sean Symons, 18. Adrian Ucchino, 23. Walter Scott, 38. Yianni Nicolaou

Substitutes Not Used: 3. Paul Galimi, 10. Franco Parisi, 19. Fabian Monge, 22. Luke Turnbull

Yellow Cards: Romero 36’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Jack Armson (AL)

2 – Chris Payne (SU)

1 – Ivan Necevski (AL)

 

 

 

 

 

Bulls snatch points off Stallions

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Marconi Stallions and Northbridge Bulls shared points in a hard-fought battle that ended in a 2-2 draw at Marconi Stadium on Saturday evening.

An early goal to Lachlan Rose was answered by Marko Jesic in the 29th minute to see the sides in a 1-1 deadlock at the half-time break before substitute Moudi Najjar took back the lead in the second half and Jesic completed his brace and equalised yet again, converting a penalty late in the game.

Marconi’s winning run came to an end against the young side that had bolstered their team with a number of A-League level players for the occasion, however they remain unbeaten for eight National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s games.

The draw demonstrates Northbridge’s ability to stand up against the experienced teams in the competition and will likely give them some confidence as they head into the second leg of the season and fight to get off the bottom of the table.

The visitors came out to the park with plenty of fire, creating some goal-scoring opportunities in the first minutes of the match.

Rose came close to a goal in the 6th minute, but the offside flag was raised to keep the striker hungry.

Northbridge came back for more in the 14th minute through Jed Drew, but the attempt couldn’t find the target.

Their perseverance paid off in the 17th minute as the Bulls opened scoring through Rose.

Drew played a ball into Rose, who was well positioned in front of goal and clinically tapped the ball in to finish.

Marconi were poised to equalise in the 24th minute as Chris Hatfield made a run forward and played a ball in front of Charles Lokolingoy to run onto.

Lokolingoy drew out Northbridge Bulls ‘keeper Nicholas Suman but slid his attempt to the right of an open goal.

The equaliser would come in the 29th minute for the Stallions as captain Jesic made magic happen yet again.

Connor Evans whipped the ball into the area from outside the 18-yard box to a well-placed Jesic in front of goal and the captain tidily controlled the ball and struck it into the netting to even the playing field.

Marconi had another chance that would have put them in front just minutes later but Lokolingoy sent it soaring over the bar.

The hosts were back on the attack in the 36th minute as Lokolingoy received the ball just inside the 18-yard box and cut to Hatfield, who sent it on target but Suman was ready to deny.

Marconi earned a free kick in the 38th minute after Sam Gulisano was brought down while charging forward.

Domenic Costanzo, who has pulled off some terrific free kicks so far this season, sent his strike soaring over the woodwork.

Jed Drew came hunting for the visitors in the 42nd minute, trying some tricky footwork to get through Roberto Speranza but his effort went wide.

Both sides retreated to the sheds for the half-time break with a goal apiece as they looked to regroup and take hold of the match.

Roberto Speranza had a goal-scoring opportunity for the hosts in the 46th minute, as the ball fell to him from a free kick, but his shot went directly to Suman.

While both sides had their chances, Northbridge took back the lead in the 56th minute through substitute Najjar, despite some confusion as the offside flag was raised.

While Najjar collected and shot an impressive strike from the edge of the 18-yard box and into the netting, Rose and Drew looked to be standing in an offside position when the shot was taken, causing the lineswoman to raise her flag.

After discussion, referee Sam Kelly blew his whistle and pointed to the halfway mark, awarding the goal.

Marconi substitute Thomas James was brought down inside the area in the 82nd minute, causing the referee to blow his whistle and point to the spot.

Jesic stepped up to take the penalty and calmly converted to equalise for the second time for the Stallions – it was his eleventh goal of the NPL NSW Men’s campaign with the Stallions skipper in red hot form.

It was end-to-end football for the final period as both teams were searching for a winner but neither team was able to find it, finishing the match with a 2-2 draw.

Marconi coach Peter Tsekenis was pleased his side was able to get something out of the match, especially considering the talented players that were brought into the Northbridge squad this week.

“The team that was on the park, if you look at the list, wasn’t the team that’s sitting at the bottom of the table,” he explain.d

“They brought some reinforcements and you can see why some of these boys played at A-League level and they’re gonna give you a bit of grief, but I thought we contained them.

“I thought we had the better chances, I thought if we took our chances at the right time we probably would have got the result but it was a tough game.

“It probably could have gone either way when you don’t take your chances but we’ll take the draw and move on.

“Credit to the boys they stuck in there and sometimes you get a loss out of a game like that and we clawed our way back and could have and should have easily won that.”

Match Stats

Marconi Stallions FC 2 (Marko Jesic 29’, 82’)

Northbridge Bulls FC 2 (Lachlan Rose 17’, Moudi Najjar 56’)

Saturday, 14 May, 2022

Marconi Stadium, Bossley Park

Referee: Sam Kelly

Assistant Referees: Matt Staples and Anastasia Filacouridis

Fourth Official: Aaron Bloch

Marconi Stallions: 1. Nenad Vekic, 2. Nathan Millgate, 3. Giorgio Speranza, 4. Roberto Speranza, 6. Domenic Costanzo (17. Martin Fernandez 73’), 7. Chris Hatfield (9. Thomas James 65’), 8. Connor Evans, 10. Marko Jesic, 11. Charles Lokolingoy, 13. Samuel Gulisano (23. Brandon Vella 65’), 22. Taylor McDonald

Substitutes Not Used: 18. Adrian Valenti, 19. Zac Cairncross, 20. Dion Shaw

Yellow Cards: Hatfield 12’, Costanzo 17’, McDonald 71’,

Red Cards: Nil

Northbridge Bulls: 1. Nicholas Suman, 2. Jack McLoughlin, 3. Nathan Dimou, 7. Mason Wells (6. Moudi Najjar 45’), 8. Brodie Clarkson, 10. Rory Jordan (19. Lachlan Sepping 71’), 14. Alhassan Toure (9. Diego Bonilla 65’), 15. Eddie Caspers (11. Stephan De Robillard 71’), 16. Oliver Jones, 17. Jed Drew (13. James Cakovski 83’), 31. Lachlan Rose

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Levi Kaye

Yellow Cards: Dimou 38’, Jones 82’, Sepping 89’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Marko Jesic (MS)

2 – Lachlan Rose (NB)

1 – Connor Evans (MS)

Heroic ten-man Wolves hold out Sharks

By

A 10-man Wollongong Wolves earned a 1-0 victory over Sutherland Sharks in a fierce encounter on Saturday afternoon at Seymour Shaw.

Leroy Jennings was sent off for the visitors in the 61st minute, but just a couple of minutes later the side scored the only goal of the match through Josh Macdonald.

The match is the first for Sutherland under the new leadership of Luis Contigiani and Steve Gordon, after former coach Nick Dimovski moved to the Director of Football role this week.

The Wolves created an opening within the first four minutes as Lachlan Scott turned on the left corner of the box and curled a right-footed effort just wide of the far post.

Ten minutes later, the away side had another chance as Takumu Tsujimura took on a first-time shot from the edge of the box that was held onto by Jacob Cremen-Cowan in the Sharks’ goal.

In the 16th minute, Sutherland created a chance of their own as Patrick O’Shea capitalised on a turnover from the Wolves on the edge of their own box, lofting the ball just over the crossbar.

Seven minutes later the side had another opportunity as James Andrew burst into the right channel of the box weaving his way through several challenges, however his shot went wide of the near post.

With 10 minutes to go in the half, Wolves’ midfielder Macdonald delivered a corner from the left that was met by Jennings at the near post whose flicked-on header was blocked.

Three minutes after this, Sutherland forward Andrew found himself in behind with  space on the right but his cross went over the crossbar for a goal kick.

At the break, the scores remained deadlocked with neither side able to consistently create chances in the match.

Andrew was involved again for the Sharks in the 49th minute, this time taking on a volley from the right that bounced into the arms of Wollongong ‘keeper Hayden Durose.

Macdonald crossed a free kick from the right towards Nick Littler at the back post in the 56th minute, but Littler could only head wide of the left post.

Two minutes later, Sharks’ player Lachlan Everett took on a first-time shot from outside the box that bounced into the gloves of Durose.

In the 61st minute, the away side was reduced to 10 men when Jennings was shown his second yellow card of the match.

However just two minutes later Wollongong took the lead as Macdonald was played in behind in plenty of space on the left and sent a composed finish past Cremen-Cowan into the net.

Midway through the second half, Sutherland nearly equalised as a cross into the box from the left found Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu, who from close range could not get over the ball with his header going over the bar.

With 15 minutes left to play, Gabriel Contigiani had a shot from a long way out for the Sharks that sailed over the bar.

Wollongong keeper Durose failed to hold onto a ball into the box in the 85th minute, with it eventually dropping to Lachlan Macdonald but his effort was blocked.

Moments later, Ahmed-Shaibu had a shot that was cleared off the line by Wollongong defender Senna Stevenson.

In stoppage time, Sutherland’s Michael Neill found space on the left but powered his shot wide of the near post.

Despite a late surge of attacks for the Sharks, they were unable to find an equaliser as the Wolves ran out 1-0 winners.

Sutherland co-coach Steve Gordon was happy with the commitment the side showed in the match.

“We had a disruptive week. The boys actually stood up and trained well,” he said.

“Proud of the boys’ effort [in the game], we just couldn’t get there in the end.

“That’s football.”

Wollongong Wolves goalkeeper Hayden Durose was delighted with the victory especially considering the side were a man light for the last third of the match.

“It’s unbelievable from the lads. Being a man down as well and even scoring after it happens showed a lot of heart, desperation as well in defence,” he said.

“Desperately needed those three points. [It’s been] a bit of a slow start to the season.”

Match Stats

Sutherland Sharks 0

Wollongong Wolves 1 (Josh Macdonald 63’)

Saturday, 14 May, 2022

Seymour Shaw, Miranda

Referee: Hassan Jomaa

Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright and Amber Morris

Fourth Official: Logan Jones

Sutherland Sharks: 26. Jacob Cremen-Cowan, 2. James Baldacchino, 3. Gabriel Contigiani, 6. Patrick O’Shea, 10. Lachlan Everett (99. Lachlan Macdonald 65’), 12. Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu, 14. Chris Lindsay, 17. James Andrew (9. Jeremy Cox 75’), 21. Michael Neill, 22. Nick Sullivan, 23. Mark Rodic

Substitutes Not Used: 16. Nathan Denham, 25. Luke Sauer, 28. Jacob Tresoglavic, 80. Nelson Lam

Yellow Cards: James Baldacchino 34’, Gabriel Contigiani 39’, Lukman Ahmed-Shaibu 42’, Mark Rodic 53’

Red Cards: Nil

Wollongong Wolves: 1. Hayden Durose, 3. Darcy Madden, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Senna Stevenson, 9. Peter Simonoski (4. Nikola Djordjevic 90+1’), 10. Takumu Tsujimura, 11. Josh Macdonald, 15. Nick Littler, 16. Guy Knight, 22. Leroy Jennings, 24. Lachlan Scott (14. Nicholas Duarte 76’)

Substitutes Not Used: 19. Jake Lavalle, 25. Nav Darjani, 12. Harrison Taranto, 13. Tomas Butkovic,

Yellow Cards: Leroy Jennings 45+1’ 61’, Josh Macdonald 69’, Guy Knight 90’

Red Cards: Leroy Jennings 61’

Player Ratings: 

3 – Josh Macdonald (WW)

2 – Senna Stevenson (WW)

1 – James Andrew (SS)

-By Tim Gibson