Spirited Blacktown earn win on South Coast

Having fallen behind to an early John Martinoski goal, Blacktown City battled to snare an equaliser via a Dave Abel deflection before Mitchell Duke found the winner in the second-half.
Players and spectators were upstanding for a minutes silence during pre-match to honour the life and memory of Blacktown City?s Tyler Simpson, whose tragic passing on Thursday afternoon came as a shock to the football community.
In a sombre atmosphere Wolves began brightly against their initially lethargic opposition as Sasho Petrovski showed early signs of attacking intent with a 30-yard drive that was well held by Simon Jaeger.
Blacktown City went close to grabbing an early lead soon after when Mitch Long headed wide from Travis Major?s cross.
South Coast Wolves broke the deadlock on 10? minutes when an incisive breakaway saw Mark Picciolini through on goal. The striker was unselfish in attack, teeing up John Martinoski for the simplest of tap-ins.
Picciolini looked to get on the scoresheet himself soon after, testing Jaeger with a 25-yard drive that was well held by the Blacktown custodian.
Blacktown City regathered and pushed forward in search of an equaliser, with Jacob Timpano?s timely challenge denying Travis Major before Mitchell Duke?s shot from the edge of the area was well saved by Brody Crane.
Petrovski went close to doubling Wolves? advantage midway through the first-half when he cut past his marker and launched a rasping drive inches wide of goal from 25-yards.
Mitchell Duke put Milorad Simonovic through on goal seconds later; the combative midfielder rounded Crane only to see his shot cleared off the line by a well-positioned Timpano.
An error from Alex Mansueto saw his aimless pass out of defence intercepted; he was let off the hook as the ensuing attack ended with Crane easily gathering Major?s improvised goal-bound flick.
Mansueto caused nervous moments at the back again soon after as his mistimed header from Major?s throw in struck the frame of the Wolves goal.
Blacktown City finally grabbed a deserved equaliser on the stroke of half-time when Major collected Long?s short corner, skipped past Andres Gomez and sent a low cross into the box, which found its way into the back of the next via an unfortunate deflection from Dave Abel.
After their morale boosting goal and Mark Crittenden?s half-time team talk, Blacktown emerged from the sheds with new found confidence, dominating the second-half from the outset.
Duke went within inches of grabbing the lead when his rasping drive deflected inches wide of Crane?s far post seconds after kick off.
Long volleyed over soon after when Wolves failed to clear their lines.
Wolves spurned a couple of chances on the break midway through the second period, as Petrovski fired wide on his weaker foot before Picciolini recovered from a poor first touch only to place his shot wide on the turn.
Blacktown City finally grabbed the lead on 70? minutes when Luke Austin skipped past Mansueto and found Mitchell Duke on the edge of box, who curled his first time shot through a maze of players and into the bottom corner.
Wolves rallied for an equaliser but could not penetrate Blacktown?s solid defence, with the home side?s only chance coming from Petrovski?s free kick which was well held by Jaeger.
Blacktown controlled the closing stages, and despite Kain Rastall and Long missing late chances to confirm victory, the away team held on for victory after a tough week for the western Sydney club.
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was proud of his squad after coming away with a win in a performance dedicated to the memory of Tyler Simpson:
?To come to the South Coast and get the points today was a good effort for the lads,? said Crittenden.
?You?ve got no idea how tough it?s been on them.
?We did it for him (Simpson) obviously, we tried not to overdo that factor; we didn?t try and get too emotional about it. We wanted to come here and play and do the best we could.
?The South Coast guys have been great. I spoke to Trev (Morgan) before the game and anything they could do for us they were quite happy to do so we thank the club,? added Crittenden.
Crittenden also remarked that he was not surprised at the sluggish start his team made, and was confident they?d dig deep to find the inspiration required to win today:
?In the first 10? minutes we were pretty scrappy and lethargic and I probably expected that,? said Crittenden.
?I think we deserved to be 1-1 at half-time, we had a few chances in that first-half to get at least one back ? we had a bit of luck to get it.
?I think that considering our week we battled really well.?
South Coast Wolves coach Trevor Morgan was disappointed with the result in a match he felt was up for grabs:
?The game could have gone either way today,? said Morgan.
?In the first 20? minutes it looked like they would be a little flat, from there they started to dig in a little bit.
?We gave away a soft goal on half-time and it was enough to fire them up.?
Morgan?s squad has been depleted in recent weeks by injury and illness, forcing him to test the capabilities of his developing youth players:
?I think we finished with five people over the age of twenty on the pitch so we?re almost an under 20s side,? said Morgan.
?The young players are doing their best, young John Martinoski is starting to show that he can be a very effective first grade player at this point of time.
?We lost in a struggle ? that?s partly credit to them and partly we?ve got our own things we need to overcome,? Morgan concluded.
The afternoon?s Grade-20 fixture saw Blacktown City FC grab a late winner over South Coast Wolves.
Match Stats
South Coast Wolves 1 (John Martinoski 10?)
Blacktown City FC 2 (Dave Abel (og) 45?, Mitchell Duke 70?)
Sunday March 29th, 2011
John Crehan Park, Cringila
Referee: Gerard Parsons
Assistant Referees: Craig Parsons and Allyson Flynn
Fourth Official: Michael Weiner
Crowd: 300 Approx.
South Coast Wolves: 1.Brody Crane; 2.Alex Mansueto, 3.Dave Abel, 4.Jacob Timpano, 12.Jack Keating, 13.Stephen Paric, 14.Cam Littler (11.Chris Nathaniel 30?, 22.Mitch Delturco 78?), 15.John Martinoski, 8.Andres Gomez (17.Jake Duczynski 46?), 9.Mark Picciolini, 10.Sasho Petrovski
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Zac Freeburn, 20.Hayden Durose
Yellow Cards: Sasho Petrovski 35?
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City FC: 1.Simon Jaeger; 13.Matt Lewis, 4.Travis Major (17.Adam Jenner 65?), 5.Patrick Gatt, 16.Luke Austin, 19.Zac Cairncross, 9.Kain Rastall, 10.Mitch Long, 3.Mitchell Duke, 7.Luke Roodenburg, 11.Milorad Simonovic
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Matt Pressello, 18.Bruno Pivato, 20.Justin Biega
Yellow Cards: Zac Cairncross 45?, Travis Majors 58?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Mitchell Duke (BC)
2 ? Jacob Timpano (SCW)
1 ? Travis Major (BC)
-By Michael Shoolman