Penrith Nepean score vital win in Wollongong

Both sides desperately needed to take all three points and it was obvious from the outset that this was not destined to be a feast of flowing football.
Neither side was aided by a difficult playing surface. It took a full 10? minutes for the first attempt on goal; a speculative shot from outside the box by Wollongong?s James Monie which failed to trouble Matthew Nash in the Penrith-Nepean goal.
Wollongong was finding it hard to string together the passing game which they had employed  in previous games, while Penrith-Nepean seemed content to spoil , harass and compress play into the middle of the park.
In the 32? minute a clever through ball by Paul Crisp saw a gap in the middle of the Wollongong defence open up. As Alfredo Esteves desperately tried to close down his man, the ball was lifted, he was unable to get his arm out of the way and referee Jason Blackwood had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Crisp stepped up and confidently despatched the ball into the top left-hand corner of the Wollongong net leaving Alex Augusto no chance whatsoever ? 1-0 Penrith.
Despite the setback, Wollongong began to press harder and spread the ball into the wide areas with Ballamadou Conde and Brendan Kearns working hard to get runners in behind the Penrith defence.
On 38? minutes Kieran Deane got down the Wollongong right-flank and whipped in a teasing cross. Monie and Nash contested the ball, Monie?s goal bound header was cleared off the Penrith goal-line but the resulting clash of heads left both goalkeeper and striker prone on the deck. Referee Blackwood stopped the game immediately as both players required lengthy treatment before the game restarted.
3? minutes after play resumed, Nash collapsed and again there was a lengthy delay before Penrith replaced the shot-stopper with Daniel Schwarzer in what may possibly be his last appearance for the team from out west.
Wollongong started the second-half with a great deal more intensity than they had shown in the first and Schwarzer was soon called into action saving sharply at the feet of Cahill.
For Penrith, Crisp and Greg Kondek worked hard in midfield and Mitchell Long?s tireless running kept Dave Able and Esteves busy.
Wollongong?s best effort came in the 58? minute when a delightful shot from Conde hit the underside of the bar, bounced down onto the line and was scrambled clear by a back tracking Penrith defence.
Kieran Deane blasted wide when well positioned and Ilija Prenzoski shot straight at Schwarzer.
Penrith?s best chance fell to new boss Ante Juric. Good work by Crisp saw the ball crossed to Juric?s feet. He turned gracefully on the penalty spot, but as he tried to pull the trigger Able and Esteves dived in to block the effort.
After the game Penrith?s new coach Ante Juric said:
?I am delighted with the three points, it wasn?t pretty but it was effective and at this stage of the season getting the points is what really counts.
?I thought we dominated the game, Paul Crisp and Greg Kondek were outstanding for us.
?Overall I am pleased with how the team played.?
Glenn Fontana from Wollongong said:
?Again a disappointing outcome to a game that we dominated. Penrith had one shot on goal all day and that was a penalty.
?We had our chances and just didn?t finish them. In the second half I think we showed hunger and played some decent football but weren?t able to punish a team who really came here to earn a point and had the good fortune to get a penalty and then put up the shutters.?
In the Grade-20 division, Penrith-Nepean United secured a 1-0 victory against Wollongong Community FC.
Match Stats
Wollongong Community FC 0
Penrith-Nepean United 1 (Paul Crisp 32? (penalty))
Sunday, 28th of June, 2009
Hooka Creek Park, Berkeley
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assistant Referees: David Lockeridge and Adam Coombes
Fourth Official: Lee Pigram
Crowd: 250
Wollongong Community FC: 1.Alex Augusto; 2.Kieran Deane, 4. Alfredo Esteves, 13.Ben Bronneberg, 5.David Able, 15. James Lawrence (16. Corey Gamiero 87′), 6.Ilija Prenzoski, 10.Balla Conde, 12.Brendan Kearns (18.Brian Vanega 68?), 11.James Monie, 19.Lachlan Cahill
Substitutes Not Used: 14.Daniel Cortez, 17.Chris Nathaniel, 20.Matt Brandalise,
Yellow Cards: Alfredo Esteves 10′, Brendan Kearns 54?
Red Cards: Nil
Penrith-Nepean United: 1.Matthew Nash (42. Daniel Schwarzer 42′); 2.Mark Bariamis, 4.Evangelos Petratos, 8.Paul Crisp, 9. Mitchell Long, 10.Ben Gough, 15. Sean Mitchell, 14.Greg Kondek, 17.Ante Juric, 6. Matthew Liddall, 23.Devrim Husseyin
Substitutes Not Used: 11.Dimitrios Petratos, 7.Alex Mansueto, 12.Nic McInerney, 26. Tayfun Buyukuppru
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By David Wallace