Parramatta stun Wolves for a share of the spoils on the South Coast
The crowd may have been subdued by the temperature, but the players seemed to be unaffected.
The opening period of the game was lively, with both teams using quick passing and wide runs to strategically break down their opponents and create some half chances.
The speed of Kwabena Appiah-Kubi upfront and the wide passing range of Aaron Pederson were combining well for Parramatta. Unfortunately for them their final passes into the penalty box were not being met by their teammates.
South Coast Wolves opened the scoring through a sublime volley from Peter Simonovski on 18? minutes. From the edge of the box he swivelled into a volley shot that hit the crossbar and then bounced in and out of the goal.
Fabian Iacovelli and Sean Robertson were combining well down the right hand wing for the Wolves. With Robertson over lapping from right back and providing the crosses out wide, it allowed Iacovelli the chance to push into the penalty area. His presence almost led to a goal when he volleyed over the bar from short range.
A header by Daniel Gullo in the 30? minute brought Collison off his line. Gullo beat Collison to the ball but was unable to keep his effort under the bar. He continued to look dangerous with his endless running down the right wing. Another long ball brought an identical chance for Akiyoshi Saito in the 40? minute but once again Collison done enough to put the attacker off his header and the ball fell safely wide of the goal.
Parramatta FC hit back on the 43? through some brilliant build up play between Akiyoshi Saito, Bryan Soane and Aaron Pederson down the right hand side. They put five or six passes together as they weaved through the Wolves defence – the move culminated when a cross found Kwabena Appiah-Kubi, who scored with a side footed shot underneath the goalkeeper.
The opening of the second-half gave the impression that both teams were prepared for a real battle. Tackles flew in and passes were delivered with pace as both teams seemed to believe that the next goal could be decisive.
On 52? minutes Appiah-Kubi showed his skill on the ball when he skipped past two wolves defenders with a very creative spin and a turn of pace. He was at it again minutes later as he burned past his marker and delivered a shot that didn?t do the move justice in the end.
The Wolves were next on the score sheet after a deep cross to the far post in the 57? minute dropped onto the head of Mark Picciolini who calmly headed his team into the lead.
South Coast Wolves seemed to have knocked the wind out of Parramatta with their second goal. They began to enjoy the lion?s share of possession and created half chances for Picciolini and Simonovski.
However, Parramatta FC were only pretending to be dead and buried. They surprised the Wolves with a goal in the 69? minute. A cross dropped neatly to the feet on Appiah-Kubi in a crowded penalty area, he reacted quickly and almost ripped a hole in the net with his second goal of the night.
A tense battle ensured as both teams defied their fatigue in search of the winning goal. On 84? minutes, Picciolini was brought down on the edge of the box and his free-kick curled just wide of the post. Parramatta continued to use the long ball as a weapon and almost put substitute Bruno Pivato though onto the keeper late on, but solid defending from Jacob Timpano came to South Coast Wolves rescue.
In the end, a draw didn?t aid either teams aspirations, but it was a fair result for a tightly contested match between two very even teams.
South Coast Wolves coach Trevor Morgan was not surprised by the result:
?I knew it would be a difficult fixture because I know their coaching staff are very experienced and they are probably due a win,? Morgan said.
?In the end a point each is fair for the game, but it?s also a lesson for us because a team that was more hungry than us could have done us tonight.? Morgan concluded.
Parramatta FC coach Lee Sterrey also expressed his respect for the opposition:
?I knew it would be a tough game because South Coast Wolves are up near the top of the table.
?But I think we had the better of the game and used our pace up front well, but we gave away stupid goals, which is something we have been doing all season.
?But we have a young squad and hopefully they will be quick to learn from their mistakes,? Sterrey concluded.
Match Stats
South Coast Wolves 2 (Peter Simonovski 18?, Mark Picciolini 57?)
Parramatta FC 2 (Kwabena Appiah-Kubi 43?, 69?)
Saturday May 12th, 2012
John Crehan Park, Wollongong
Referee: Alex Glasgow
Assistant Referees: Allyson Flynn and Sarah Ho
Fourth Official: Scott Edeling
South Coast Wolves: 1.Daniel Collison; 2.Jack Keating, 4.Michael Robinson, 5.Samuel Jacob, 6.Nick Littler, 8.Chris Nathaniel (11.John Martinoski 71?), 9.Mark Picciolini 14.Fabian Iacovelli (7.Cameron Littler 63?), 10.Sasho Petrovsk, 12. Sean Robertson, 13. Peter Simonovski (15.Mathew Floro 81?), 15.Lee Gilroy, 26 Jacob Timpano
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Hayden Durose, 3.Joseph Savor.
Yellow Cards: Chris Nathaniel 55?, Nick Littler 70?
Red Cards: Nil
Parramatta FC: 1.Matthew Nash; 2.Nicolas McInerney (15. Y Tamari 87?), 3.Andy Matloub, 4.Domenic Trimboli, 5.Mark O?Reilly, 18.Nicholas Napoli, 8.Bryan Soane (13.Daniel Rezo 90?), 9.Aaron Pederson (11.Bruno Pivato 80?), 10.Akiyoshi Saito, 14.Kwabena Appiah-Kubi, 16. Daniel Gullo
Substitutes Not Used: 6.Graziano Trimboli, 23.Tomi Romic
Yellow Cards: Andy Matloub 5?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Kwabena Appiah-Kubi (PFC)
2 ? Daniel Collison (SCW)
1 ? Daniel Gullo (PFC)
-By Josh Watt
