Blacktown City FC score maximum points at South Coast expense
The match started brightly with both teams moving the ball around the park quickly, showcasing the quality that had got them to their high position in the league.
It was only 7? minutes before the classy ball movement and high tempo football brought one of the sides undone. South Coast Wolves drew the first blow when Peter Simonovski put pressure on the Blacktown City defence and did enough to earn his side a penalty. Mark Picciolini stepped up and calmly stroked the ball into the back of the net.
South Coast Wolves looked likely again 5? minute later when a smart run down the left by Picciolini drew a free-kick. Sasho Petrovski curled a deep cross to the far post, only for Michael Robinson to head the ball onto the roof of the net.
South Coast Wolves dominated early proceedings, but Blacktown City worked hard to get back into the game. Ryuji Miyazawa was looming as a danger to the Wolves, as he sat in behind the strikers, trying to find the space to deliver a killer ball.
Michael Robinson looked strong for the home side in defence, making several headed clearances for his team. Down the other end for South Coast, Picciolini was likewise using his head to great effect, having two headed chances cleared off the line early.
Blacktown?s hard work payed off on the 34? minute as Travis Major finished off a slick passing move that had South Coast Wolves chasing shadows in their own penalty area. After a long cross to the far post, a couple of quick passes culminated in a tap in for Major, which locked the game up at 1-1.
It was a cagey start to the second-half as both teams tried to find a way to pry each other open. Peter Simonovski was one player who came out firing for the second period.
He made two mazy runs down the left hand side for South Coast that caused panic in the Blacktown City defence.
Blacktown City?s best chance early was when Travis Major ran onto a lobbed through ball. He controlled the ball well and looked set to put his team in front, but Robinson was there to block the shot.
Blacktown started to take control of the game, and mid-way through the second-half they took the lead when sloppy defending led to a 66? minute South Coast Wolves own goal.
In the latter stages of the contest the game became very compact as both teams held very high defensive lines. The long ball in behind for the strikers to run onto became the name of the game and Mark Picciolini for South Coast Wolves broke through and placed a shot into the net, only to be called back for offside.
At the other end Blacktown City sent Luke Roudenburg through on goal, he beat the offside trap but sent his shot high over the crossbar.
A late chance for South Coast Wolves, again via a Petrovski free-kick, caused a mass scramble in the Blacktown six-yard box. The ball was eventually cleared by a desperate defensive header by Roodenburg for Blacktown City.
South Coast Wolves never gave up and continued to push hard to find an equaliser right up to the final whistle, but it just wouldn?t happen for them.
At the end of 90? minutes it was the Wolves turn to taste defeat at home for only the second time this season, going down to a quality Blacktown City outfit.
Blacktown City FC Assistant Manager Kain Rastall said after the game he was very happy with his side?s away win:
?It?s always good to come down here in the cold weather and on a bumpy pitch and get a result against the team that is coming second.
?I thought the first-half was reasonably even, but to go a goal behind early in the game was always going to be a good test of character.
?I think we played some good football in the second-half and our full backs Matty Lewis and Luke Austin were outstanding tonight going forward,? Rastall concluded.
South Coast Wolves Manager Trevor Morgan congratulated his opponents but was disappointed not to get anything out of the match:
?Congratulations to Blacktown, we?re now level on points with each other and we?ll just have to see where we are next time we face each other.?
Match Stats
South Coast Wolves 1 (Mark Picciolini 7? (pen )
Blacktown City FC 2 (Travis Major 34?, Michael Robinson(OG) 66?)
Saturday May 26th, 2012
John Crehan Park, Wollongong
Referee: Chris Young
Assistant Referees: Nick Backo and Michael Robertson
Fourth Official: Wayne Lenardon
South Coast Wolves: 1.Daniel Collison; 2.Jack Keating; 4.Michael Robinson; 5.Samuel Jacob; 6.Nick Littler; 7.Cameron Littler (12. Sean Robertson 68?); 8.Chris Nathaniel; 9.Mark Picciolini; 10.Sasho Petrovski; 13.Peter Simonovski; 26 Jacob Timpano
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Hayden Durose; 11.John Martinoski; 14.Fabian Iacovelli,; 15. James Baldacchio
Yellow Cards: Sasho Petrovski 55?, Samuel Jacob 60?
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 3.Ryo Watanabe; 4.Travis Major (12. David Cain 80?); 6.Matt Lewis; 7. Luke Roudenburg; 8.Daniel Bragg; 9.Ryuji Miyazawa (13.Daniel Vellonio 90?); 10.James Monie (11.Yuchi Yamauchi 75?); 14.Adam Jenner; 16.Luke Austin; 19. Zac Cairncross;
Substitutes Not Used: 20.Lucas Turnbull
Yellow Cards: Zac Cairncross 51?
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Michael Robinson (SCW)
2 ? Travis Major (BFC)
1 ? Sasho Petrovski (SCW)
-By Josh Watt
