June 13, 2024
2024 NPL MENS 1 ROUND 19
WOLLONGONG WOLVES v SUTHERLAND SHARKS
JAKE TREW BRACE HELPS TO SCUTTLE SHARKS
On a bitterly cold winters night, the Wollongong Wolves achieved their third win in succession with a 2 – 1 over the northern neighbours, Sutherland Sharks at Albert Butler Memorial Park..
Jake Trew scored a well taken brace to truly end his goal drought after scoring in the previous round for his initial 2024 strike. The Sharks equalised through Levi Sciuriaga.
The initial goal of the match emanated two minutes after the half hour mark. Just outside the penalty area, the Sharks appealed for a hand ball which was ignored by the referee. This momentarily took the focus for the Sharks. The ball bounced around with finally Trew hooking the ball with his left foot for it to curve high into the goal, eluding the Sharks’ custodian, Nenad Vekic, who played with the Wolves in 2023.
The Sharks restored parity nineteen minutes later in this tight contest. Matthew Jackson produced an attempt that was kept out. The ball ran loose and Sciuriaga was first to get to the loose ball and ram it in.
The winning goal was scored on the hour. Alex Masciovecchio made inroads down the right and he passed to Trew and he flicked it home.
The home team kicked off running towards the southern end with Lachlan Scott dispatching the ball and Harrison Buesnell knocking the ball forward.
Before long, Buesnell was to the fore under pressure from Sciuriaga. The Wolves opening passing manoeuvre went through a lot of feet keeping possession, but headway was limited. Sharks were on the front foot and were optimistic about their outcome after defeating Blacktown City the previous week.
The Wolves right overlapping defender, Yagoub Mustafa, made a timely intercept of a Sam Guilisano pass. He was impressive throughout proceedings with his speed in chasing back and winning possession and his attacking forays. Scott tested at the other end, but the Shark’s defence held firm. The opposition’s first targeted shot occurred in the seventeenth minute. Guilisano drove the ball from outside the box. The Wolves custodian, Vedran Janjetovic, deterred with a regulation save.
The Wolves employed a pressing game and while this had some effect, the Sharks were playing through it. Around the twenty minute mark and beyond, Buesnell, Dylan Ryan and Mustafa were tested. Buesnell headed it out as Sutherland probed from the right, Ryan cut out a cross and Mustafa intercepted a Sciuriaga cross. The match was a to and fro affair as each team looked for the decisive outcome. Chris McStay hit a shot from distance that went skyward over the goal frame. The Wolves kept up this attacking momentum but Mitchell Stamatellis disposed Scott as he looked to cause havoc. Two minutes later, the Wolves struck. Further shots by Takumi Ofuka failed to change the score.
In the minute added on the Sharks were hell bent on securing an equaliser. However Banri Kanaizumi made a timely interception as Sciuriaga endeavoured to break the line. A Nenad Vekic goal kick signalled the end of the first half action, with the Wolves holding a slender lead.
As the second half got under way each team had the ambition to garner the win. Scott knocked Stamatellis off the ball and later Alex Masciovecchio’s attempts at goal were summarily blocked. However, Sutherland achieved an equaliser and the Sharks were back in the hunt. Chris Lindsay placed the ball over the crossbar from a free kick outside the penalty area as the Sharks looked for a winner. Buesnell dispossessed Jackson, Ryan blocked Maxx Green to come away with the ball and Janjetovic also denied Green.
Despite this Sharks offensive pressure, the Wolves scored their second with Trew achieving his brace. The match was not over by any means as the Sharks with thirty minutes to go. Sciuriaga set forth into the Wolves area but would be disappointed with his skied effort. Trew, as he tried to achieve a third goal, was blocked as he shaped to shoot.
Janjetovic thwarted two Sharks’ attempts in succession by Green and James Cakowski. late in the match but could alter the scoreboard.
With this result the Wolves still occupy eighth position, while Sutherland now fall precariously into the drop zone.
Wollongong Coach David Carney – ‘We won ugly, and we were not quite as good as last week. We need to make sure of our chances and this will make it a little easier for ourselves. … When I put Mustafa in the defence, many people ask me why. He certainly has come into his own.’
Brace Scorer Jake Trew – ‘Yeah, good to finally get on the score sheet. Confidence was not that high, but now I can go on and hopefully score more.’
MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES ………………..…2
Jake Trew 32’, 60’
SUTHERLAND SHARKS………………………1
Levi Sciuriaga 51’
@ Albert Butler Park Memorial Park
WEDNSEDAY 12th JUNE
7.00 p.m. kick off.
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach: David Carney
- Vedran Janjetovic GK,2. Harrison Buesnell, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 6. Samuel Riak, 7. Takumi Ofuka 8. Andre Takami 9. Jake Trew (11. Sebastian Hernandez 81’) 10. Yagoub Mustafa (29. Thomas Dunn 82’), 11. Sebastien Hernandez (27. Damon Gray85’) 9. Jake Trew 24. Lachlan Scott (Capt.) 25. Alex Masciovecchio (27. Damon Gray 81’), 88. Christopher McStay.
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Darcy Madden, 13. Oliver Yates, 15. Dax Kelly.
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil
SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Coach: Steven Zoric
- Nenad Vekic, 2. Kotaro Katsuta, 4. Mitch Stamatellis, 6. Sam Guilisano (9. Maxx Green 46’), 8. Mohamed Ahmed (3. Jordan Roberts), 11. Jay McGowan, (James Cakovski 77’) 14. Chris Lindsay 23. Ethan Beaven, 26. Jacob Garner, 27. Matthew Jackson (66. Alexander Trajanovski 77. Levi Sciuriaga (Ikko Arimoto 87’)
Substitutes not used: 30. Nathan Denham
Yellow Cards: Ethan Beaven 21’
Red Cards: nil
Referee: Brodie Merchant
Assistant Referees: Hayden Kaye and Damien Delovski.
Fourth Official: Reece Edwards
By Malcolm Rowney
