Demons add further woe to Wollongong

The home team scored twice to get back in the hunt before a soft late goal to Daniel Wilkinson saw Demons secure victory.
The 0-2 score-line at the break would indicate that Blacktown City had things their own way in the first-half though it was far from it.
In the 2? minute Ilija Prenzoski was fouled on the edge of the penalty-area; the resulting free-kick from Jimmy Lawrence was deflected into the path of Prenzoski, though the speed at which it went towards the Wollongong striker saw Prenzoski only deflect it straight at Brody Crane in-between the goalposts.
Out of nothing in the 7? minute Blacktown advanced forward through Tyler Simpson who skipped past a couple of midfielders, virtually untouched, and then rolled the ball into the back of the net from 20-metres out. It seemed to happen in slow motion and it was one of the softest goals conceded all season.
On 19? minutes, A-League bound Matt Lewis missed a good chance at the far post for Blacktown before Luke Austin headed away a dangerous Lawrence cross, just out of the reach of an advancing striker ready to head the ball home at the far post.
Gavin Forbes then missed out as he tried to strike the ball from distance only for it to come off his foot poorly with the ball finishing well-wide of the target.
However things were to go Blacktown?s way 3? minutes later as a free-kick from a tight angle was touched onto the crossbar by Alex Augusto at the near post, only for the ball to spin back towards goal when it hit the ground at the far post where Blacktown had two unmarked players ready to pounce. The goal to Nick Sama looked to indicate a good win for Blacktown but over the rest of the half it was the locals who had many of the chances.
In the 33? minute another Lawrence cross had Jamie McMaster try a spectacular bicycle-kick which ended up playing Brian Vanega in at the far post but Vanega could only turn on the ball and the chance seemed gone. Vanega somehow got more time on the ball and just curled it outside the top corner of the goal. Then, 5? minutes later, a couple of corners went the way of the home-side and Blacktown?s defence had to head them away from Wollongong players as they advanced goalwards.
Perhaps the best chance for the home-side came in the 40? minute when another corner came across and was deflected away to Alfredo Esteves at the far post who half volleyed it but the ball went the wrong side of the post for the local fans.
In the second-half it seemed as if it was well and truly Blacktown?s day when the Wollongong defence tried to dribble the ball out of danger in their own defensive area, lost the ball, failed to clear it effectively and it landed at Ray Miller?s feet who struck the ball well to give his side a three-goal lead.
Over the next 15? minutes the possession was all with Blacktown City, although they could only create half-chances for themselves.
Substitute Agyei Akwasi should have scored when free on the right but it went wide of the far post.
The ball went up-field and Fulham bound Corey Gamiero broke through midfield to pounce on it, split the defence and slide the ball past the advancing Crane in goals to give Wollongong what looked like at the time a consolation goal.
3? minutes later Luke Austin advanced down the right-flank, stepped inside three defenders and curled a shot just off target, Blacktown seemingly back in control of the game.
However, Wollongong had not finished. In the 72? minute young 16-year-old starlet Peter Simonovski headed the ball goalwards at point-blank range only for Crane to pull of a wonder save. The resultant corner saw the ball come to Simonovski at the far post and this time he made no mistake and put his team well and truly back in the match.
It could have been 3-3 when in the 82?^d minute a cross was headed on to Kieran Deane at the far post but he could not keep the ball down with his volley and the ball went over the crossbar.
Two minutes later the game was over as a match when Daniel Wilkinson was presented a free-kick right on the edge of the penalty-area after Esteves pulled down Akwasi as he honed in on goal. Wilkinson?s free-kick rolled along the ground, in-between two of the members of the defensive wall, and into the back of the net.
Like their first goal Blacktown looked to have played this goal in slow motion and it challenged their first effort as one of the softest goals of the season.
In the end the result was a disappointing one for the home fans as they looked to see off their team on a winning note at home after such a poor season.
First Grade manager Bob Stallard echoed the fans disappointment:
?We were unlucky today it could have ended 3-3, but in the end letting in three soft goals cost us dearly.?
Blacktown coach Ken Schembri was pleased to come away with the points:
?Three weeks ago we sat down and aimed to be competitive over the last four weeks. Since then we have won two of our matches. We lost our way through the game today and let them back into the match but in the end we got the points. This is not an easy place to play at and we now look forward to the challenge Bankstown will give us next week.?
Match Stats
Wollongong Community FC 2 (Corey Gamiero 67?, Peter Simonovski 73?)
Blacktown City Demons 4 (Tyler Simpson 17?, Nick Sama 27?, Ray Miller 49?, Daniel Wilkinson 84?)
Sunday, August 3, 2009
Hooka Creek Park.
Referee: Peter Vrtkovski
Crowd: 425
Wollongong Community FC: 1.Alex Augusto; 2.Kieran Deane, 4.Alfredo Esteves, 6.Ilija Prenzoski, 12.Brendan Kearns, 13.Corey Horner, 15.Jimmy Lawrence, 16.Jamie McMaster, 17.Chris Nathaniel (14.Peter Simonovski 26?), 18.Brian Vanega, 19. Corey Gamiero
Substitutes Not Used: 7.Josh Price, 5.Gecke Duzynski, 11.Nick Littler, 20.Bryce Deanell
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City Demons: 40.Brody Crane, 2.Tyler Simpson, 4.Luka Dukic, 5.Daniel Wilkinson, 10.Luke Austin, 11.Nick Sama, 12.Brendon Maroney, 14.Gavin Forbes (13.Travis Major 85?), 15.Ray Miller (18.Agyei Akwasi 58?), 16.Ante Deur, 29.Matt Lewis (17.Adam Woodbine 88?)
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Matt Ryan
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Stuart Jones