Rockdale earn scrappy win over Parramatta
In a scrappy affair, former Newcastle Jets striker Jason Naidovski scored the only goal of the match in the 8? minute to seal the three points for his side.
The match started with both sides testing each other in the middle of the park, eager to get the upper hand early.
Rockdale were the first to create a clear chance on goal in the 6? minute when a Pece Apolevski cross picked out a free James Monie. The tall striker though could only divert his header over the crossbar, much to the disappointment of the visiting fans.
It wouldn?t be too long before the fans were cheering the Suns as they took the lead via Jason Naidovski in the 8? minute. A poor back pass by Parramatta FC saw Naidovski pounce with an easy finish.
The goal lifted the visitors who continued to maintain pressure on the Eagles who were forced to camp out in their own half.
Parramatta finally had their first sight on goal in the 17? minute as Ben Jurman forced Dion Shaw into a save with a driving shot from the left of the 18-yard box.
The home side?s scrappy defence continued in the 25? minute but Costa was well out of his goals this time parrying a Naidovski shot out for a corner.
A minute later Costa was called again as Marino Musumeci floated a long cross into the box with the keeper just getting a touch with Monie lurking in behind him.
Parramatta were not going to give up and in the 28? minute Peter Crevani took the ball up the left hand touchline before cutting it back to Luke Grima. The youngster lobbed the ball over the defence for Crevani whose first time volley hit the side netting.
Shay Spitz started troubling the Eagles defence and in the 35? minute Monie fed his winger a sublime through ball. In a 3-on-2 situation Spitz could not find a teammate as his low cross was missed and cleared for a corner.
From the ensuing corner Parramatta could not clear the ball with Sash Tirovski, Sash Trajcevski and Naidovski all having their shots blocked.
With the game heading into the break both sides concentration levels dropped significantly as they each made simple mistakes losing possession on several occasions.
Rockdale came out of the sheds all guns blazing as they pushed hard to extend their lead.
Parramatta captain Tom Wilson had his side?s first chance on goal of the half in the 51? minute but his shot went straight to the waiting Shaw.
Manny Spanoudakis made his intentions clear bringing on Daniel Fogarty out wide to try and get back into the game in the 55? minute.
The plan almost worked in the 60? minute with Kutaiba Elrich sending a long ball to the free Fogarty who headed the ball to the oncoming Luke Grima. Grima?s chip was touched by Shaw before he sprinted back to claim the ball keeping his team in the lead.
5? minutes later, Elrich followed a through ball over the top of the defence before heading it over the oncoming Shaw. Defender Josh Lawson got back to clear the ball and thwart the Eagles chance.
Parramatta kept the pressure on and in the 75? minute finally hit the back of the net. Unfortunately for the Eagles faithful, referee James Blackwood called that Grima handled the ball keeping Rockdale in the lead.
In the 82? minute Dion Shaw again saved the day for Rockdale after Jurman?s great cross was poorly met by his teammates.
Rockdale parked themselves in their own half with 5? minutes remaining in the match making it very difficult for the Eagles to crack their defence ending the game 1-0.
Following the match, Rockdale City Suns coach Wally Savor said he was happy his side could keep a clean sheet to win the game:
?It was a very scrappy game and Parramatta have some fit boys who kept going all the way to till the end,?? he said.
?Maybe they deserved a bit more towards the end but I?m pretty happy the way the boys dug deep and rounded out the win.??
In the home dressing room a dejected Manny Spanoudakis admitted it wasn?t his team?s best performance:
?We?re creating chances it was just that one lapse in concentration which cost us dearly,?? he said.
?The boys are trying their best with what resources we have. It was a disruptive week with players with the flu and others injured but we tried our best and unfortunately it didn?t come off.??
In the Grade-20 fixture, a ten-man Rockdale City Suns outfit defeated Parramatta FC 2-1.
Match Stats
Parramatta FC 0
Rockdale City Suns 1 (Jason Naidovski 8?)
Sunday August 28th, 2011
Melita Stadium, South Granville
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Parramatta FC: 21.Anthony Costa; 2.Nick McInerney, 33.Luke Grima, 5.George Strogylos, 6.Tom Wilson (C), 8.Bryan Soane (4.Daniel Fogarty 55?), 11.Peter Crevani, 16.Jonathan Castano-Acero, 18.Almir Dizdaric (9.Kutaiba Elrich 46?), 20.Evangelos Petratos, 28.Ben Jurman,
Substitutions Not Used: 15.Ben Delicata, 12.Mark O?Donell, 1.Lachlan Tibbles
Yellow Cards: Jurman 59?, Elrich 71?
Red Cards: Nil
Rockdale City Suns: 22.Dion Shaw; 2.Paul Dee, 3.Shay Spitz, 7.Pece Apolevski (C), 9.Jason Naidovski (16.Anthony Perri 85?), 10.Sash Trajcevski (11.Adem Kir, 70?), 17.Sash Tirovski, 18.James Monie (5.Jeff Issa 66?), 19.Marino Musumeci, 20.Josh Lawson, 21.Mirko Jurijl
Substitutions Not Used: 1.Ben McNamara, 15.Adrian Karakolevski
Yellow Cards: Trajcevski 50?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Georges
