Walking wounded in triumph at Seymour Shaw

As the ball came in from the right Prenzoski managed to hook it over his shoulder and across the face of Phillip Zabaks in the Sharks? goal to see it ripple the net and book the Wolves a place in the Grand-Final.
The match didn?t start well for either side as nerves played a major factor early on but with the Sharks looking more than a little ring rusty and the Wolves resorting to the long ball game, neither team took the time to put a foot on the ball and take control, although it appeared somewhat against the run of play when the Sharks took the lead.
As early as the first minute and the visitors were unlucky not to have gotten a fantastic start when Tynan Diaz crossed to the back stick only for Chris Price to hit it back across the face with no-one able to get the final touch.
A let-off it was and the Sharks started to slowly take control. In the tenth minute they were ahead after some terrific lead-up work saw striker Brad Boardman almost over the goal-line beyond the goalkeeper?s right stick with no room to maneuver, somehow clipped a left footed cross back over his shoulder for Jim Bakis to thunder in and prod home. 
In truth it was a goal that was deserved and majestic in set-up and finish, and knocked the Wolves out of their stride as they still attempted the long-ball for Mitch Long and Michael Hawrysuik up front to chase down to little avail.
Without George Souris (injured) and Pedj Bojic (CC Mariners) it fell to big Neil Jablonski and Michael Robinson to fill the gap. The reality, though, was that Robinson probably had the worst game of his season, albeit he has had limited opportunity, and was caught out of position on many an occasion.
Half-time came and went with no change to the score but Brian Brown must have had some strong words in the dressing room as the Sharks finally came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. One thing that can be said of the Wolves is that they don?t know how to lie down and scrapped their way back into the game, greatly helped by the form of Michael Turnbull in goal.
First the goalkeeper saved a point-blank effort from Brendan Gan after Boardman set Michael Katz away down the right and his cross found Gan in space only for Turnbull to fling himself at the ball and beat the chance away.
If that was a sensational stop his next effort was outstanding as Gan stole the ball and played Boardman through. Slipping his marker and striding through a couple of attempted tackles, Boardman found himself bearing down on goal with just Turnbull to beat and clipped a curling shot around the custodian only to see him make a full length diving save that was simply breathtaking.
In between times though, it was the Wolves who managed to level the tie when Matthew Bailey finally found the net after patient lead up work saw him in the clear and he slotted home at the back stick.
Gan was unlucky again as an effort cannoned back into play from the crossbar and away to safety but the Wolves were not going to let the home side have it all their own way and fired a few warning shots themselves as the Sharks pushed forward as extra-time beckoned.
Man-of-the-Match Nick Stavroulakis couldn?t gain enough purchase to steer a header goalward from a Katz cross 5? minutes into the first-half of extra-time and a minute later Gan put a cross over for substitute Matthew Hall to squander before Katz hit a scorcher from fully 20-yards out that must have shaved some paintwork form the post as the Sharks really charged up a gear.
It seemed only a matter of time before the Sharks would score again and settle the tie until four-minutes from the end. Ilija Prenzoski, as he has done so many times this season, netted the decider on the day to seal the Wolves a spot in the Grand-Final.
Wolves Coach John Turner said afterwards:
?It was a very even game with the Sharks taking the honours in the first-half and us the second and it was a typical finals game as every player was out on their feet at the end.
?We have made it a habit of coming from behind in the last few weeks so although I would prefer it not to be the case, it didn?t worry us and we stuck to the game plan.
?I had to ask five of the players this morning if they thought they would be fit enough to play today and if it were a League match I wouldn?t have considered them, but with the status of this game they all said they would play.
?I?m very proud of what the guys achieved today and we can now look forward to the Grand-Final and whoever we play we know it is likely to be a very tough match.?
John Turner continued:
?To Bomber (Sharks Coach Brian Brown) and his lads I can only say well done on a great game and a terrific season so far.?
Brian Brown was philosophical when summing up the game afterwards:
?We didn?t take our chances and against a team like the Wolves you simply have to.
?Turnbull made two or three outstanding saves and kept them in the game but generally the Wolves were hungrier on the day.
?They won more challenges, were first to the ball more often and just kept coming at us.
?You have to credit a side that plays that way and with the raw spirit they showed and I hope we meet them again in a couple of weeks but before we worry about that we will have to see off Sydney Olympic and they are no easier to beat either.
?We?re down now obviously, but we?ll pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and do everything we can to make the Grand Final because these guys deserve it and so do our magnificent fans,? concluded Brown.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 1 (Jim Bakis 10?)
Wollongong Wolves 2 (Matt Bailey 66?, Ilija Prenzoski 106?)
Venue: Seymour Shaw Park
Crowd: 983
Referee: Peter Vrtovski
Assistant Referees: Murray Wilson and Scott Edeling
Fourth Official: Khodr Yaghi
Sutherland Sharks: 99. Phillip Zabaks; 15. Michael Katz, 39. Neil Jablonksi, 38. Mike Robinson, 6. Shane Lyons (37. Jim Nikas 106?), 3. Brendan Gan (20. James Lawrence 105?), 7. Jim Bakis (10. Matthew Hall 75?), 8. David Huxley, 14. Nick Stavroulakis, 11. Ben Spruce, 9. Brad Boardman
Substitutes Not Used: 21. Matt Brandalise, 16. Ben Price
Yellow Cards: Nick Stavroulakis 84?
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong FC: 20. Michael Turnbull; 2. Alfredo Esteves (10. Balla Conde 61), 5. Steve Hayes, 6. Ilija Prenzoski, 7. Michael Hawrysuik, 8. Mitch Long, 12. Chris Price (15. Steve Eagleton 102?), 13. Tynan Diaz, 14. Danial Cummins, 17. Ben Blake, 19. Matt Bailey
Substitutes Not Used: 11. Samat Kaynak, 16. Michael Karouna, 1. Justin Pasfield
Yellow Cards: Michael Hawrysuik 102?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Nick Stavroulakis (SS)
2 ? Michael Katz (SS)
1 ? David Huxley (SS)
-By Micky Brock