Boardman back to his best with brace against Wollongong CFC
In-fact, Boardman was unlucky not to have netted a hat-trick on more than one occasion during the 90? minutes.
Wollongong defender Ben Bronneberg had to head clear as early as the 4? minute with both Boardman and Panni Nikas closing in – and it was not the last time he was forced into coming to the rescue.
Moments later, Michael Katz was called into action at the other end when nicking the ball off the toe of visiting captain Steve Hayes as he pulled the trigger, but it was the last effort Wollongong were to really have during the first-half.
Sutherland poured plenty of pressure on Wollongong and it was inevitable they would make the breakthrough at some stage, and when it came it was worth the entry fee alone. Dynamic midfielder Nick Stavroulakis was fed the ball and he sent over an inch-perfect long cross that Boardman met and looped a header over the despairing Alex Augusto and into the net for the Sharks lead.
Before Wollongong could even contemplate recovering, they found themselves two goals behind when the impressive Neil Jablonski netted with a beautifully placed cross-shot.
The home-side almost let Wollongong back into the match when Jimmy Bakis appeared to bundle Hayes over inside the penalty-area, leaving referee Kurt Ahms with no choice but to award the spot-kick. Ilija Prenzoski stepped up for the penalty, though not hit sweetly, Nathan Denham made the save to keep the scoreline at 2-0 after 28? minutes.
Wollongong tried hard and Michael Robinson was forced into a last-ditch tackle in the box with little more than 10? minutes in the half remaining, which ultimately led to a hamstring strain that saw him replaced at half-time by Aram Tayebi, although before the break it was Denham called into action again when James Lawrence was clean through though the Sharks shot-stopper saved the follow-up effort also.
The tie was put beyond doubt on 53? minutes when Boardman, turning in a man of the match performance, netted his second of the night leaving the south coast side with only their pride to play for.
The lanky Sharks striker tried hard for his third but was thwarted several times by Augusto in the visitor?s net when saving well from a left-footed attempt and again after Boardman flicked the ball right-footed over his shoulder for the ?keeper to save at point blank-range thanks to instinctive reaction alone.
Wollongong started to put some passes together late on and Denham saved well once more from James Monie when well held in slippery conditions.
In stoppage time, Denham denied Monie again down at the base of the right-hand upright, although by now they should have been four down when Matt Hall ran onto a loose ball and lobbed Augusto but the shot went wide.
Wollongong captain Steve Hayes said afterwards:
?We win or lose together and Sutherland were the hungrier tonight and wanted it more.
?They anticipated better and seemed to know what was going to happen before it did and this is the first time I?ve lost against the Sharks with Wollongong and it?s a bitter pill to swallow really.
?They were definitely the better side tonight as they mastered the conditions quicker on their home ground but we?ll bounce back.?
Sharks boss Robbie Stanton was relieved his side picked up maximum points:
?We?ve had a hectic month, but I?m very happy with the result tonight.
?I?ve given the players a very tough workout this week and told them to step up, even after the result against Sydney United last week, and tonight they have got the rewards for their hard work.
?I can?t single out any one player as they?ve all done extremely well but it?s good to see Boardo (Brad Boardman) back on the score sheet although we have a couple of new injury worries to contemplate now.
?We play Bankstown City (Tiger Turf Cup) midweek and the 4pm kick-off against Marconi Stallions at Shark Park next Saturday ahead of the Sydney FC and North Queensland Fury fixture, before meeting Sydney FC ourselves the following midweek; so we have a tough schedule ahead and need all hands on deck.?
In a feisty Grade-20 match it was the Sharks who clinched maximum points by scoring the only goal of the game against Wollongong Community FC.
Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Bradley Boardman 13,53, Neil Jablonski 18)
Wollongong CFC 0
Saturday 20th, June, 2009
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Kurt Arms
Assistant Referees: Scott Edeling and Christian Mehl
Fourth Official: Nick Tragoustis
Sutherland Sharks: 1.Nathan Denham; 2.George Souris, 4.Michael Robinson (21.Aram Tayebi 46?), 6.Chris Price, 7.Jimmy Bakis (8.Nathan Ralph 64?), 9.Brad Boardman, 11.Ben Spruce, 12.Neil Jablonski (10.Matt Hall 78?), 14.Nick Stavroulakis, 15.Michael Katz, 23.Panni Nikas
Substitutes Not Used: 17.Jordan Nikolovski, 18.Kyle Stuart
Yellow Cards: Neil Jablonski 80?
Red Cards: Nil
Wollongong Community FC: 1.Alex Augusto; 2.Kieran Deane, 5.David Abel, 6.Ilija Prenzoski, 9.Steve Hayes, 10.Balla Conde (18.Brian Vanega 78?), 11.James Monie, 12.Brendan Kearns, 13.Ben Bronneberg, 15.James Lawrence, 19.Lachlin Cahill
Substitutes Not Used: 4.Alfredo Esteves, 14.Aden Wade, 16.Corey Gamiero, 20.Matt Brandalise
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Micky Brock
