June 17, 2024
2024 NPL MENS 1 ROUND 20
WOLLONGONG WOLVES v BLACKTOWN CITY
LACHLAN SCOTT SCORES LATISH GOAL TO EVEN THE SCORE
Four goals in total were achieved in this Wolves-Blacktown City confrontation with the first and last goals scored by the Wolves in this 2-2 draw. Goals to Jake Trew and Lachlan Scott were offset by the attainments of Nicholas O’Brien and Tyren Burnie.
The Wolves went into this match having won against St George City and Sutherland Sharks, while Blacktown succumbed to Sutherland Sharks and won against Manly United in the two previous outings for each team. Blacktown was in third position with the Wolves in seventh.
Scoring opportunities were prevalent with the safe pair of hands from Vedran Janjetovic keeping the score down. Two opportunities, one for each team, were denied by the goal frame.
Proceedings began with Blacktown kicking off with an up and under with the Wolves running towards the southern end. Before long, Blacktown displayed their attacking mantra when Mitch Mallia put in a teasing cross from the left. The Wolves custodian Janjetovic was able to take the ball with ease. Greg Lynch had supplied Mallia. Lynch was a lynch pin at the back for Blacktown and kept the Wolves’ captain under wraps for most of the encounter until Scott had the last laugh in the eighty-first minute.
The Wolves had a gilt-edged chance after Takumi Ofuka provided an opportunity for Trew across the face of goal but somehow this went begging. Sebastien Hernandez ended up with the ball and he moved it on for McStay who hit a skyward shot. This was in the sixth minute mark.
A minute later, Jak O’Brien, a player with twelve goals this season, put the ball to the far post with Janjetovic taking high. Shabow got the better of Hernandez and a corner kick culminates. Mallia’s corner kick was swung in with Janjetovic to the fore.
The Wolves broke the twelve minute deadlock going forging ahead. A throw in emanated on the right side. Scott got the ball, and he passed out to Sebastian Hernandez. He in turn sent the ball back to Yagoub Mustafa, who despatched it up to McStay. He provided a pinpoint pass to Trew, and he split the defence and was one on one with the Blacktown custodian, Tristan Prendergast. Trew took a few touches before slotting the ball past the custodian with his right foot into the goal on thirteen minutes. This was Trew’s fourth goal in seven days from three matches.
Blacktown was eager to get back on even terms and had an opportunity to score a minute later. Jayden Trenkoski got in close in the Wolves’ domain and provided a high shot.. Janjetovic touched it out for a corner kick.
However, this close shave for the Wolves caused alarm. The lead had only lasted for two minutes for the Wolves as Blacktown restored the equilibrium. Captain Mario Shabow from the right, crossed in with his left foot after a short corner kick. A glancing header from Nicholas O’Brien flew into the goal from close vicinity with two defenders around him.
Not to rest on their laurels, a Shabow cross found Lynch in the centre. He rifled in a shot that was thwarted by Janjetovic. Blacktown’s Jak O’Brien, a player with thirteen goals to his credit in 2024, worked his way through the middle and drove in a targeted shot. Janjetovic was equal to the task, again to deny.
The Wolves soaked up some pressure and now began to exert some their own. Scott went to was looking for an opening, but two defenders converged on him simultaneously with the ball ending up with Prendergast. Dylan Ryan attempted cross was blocked by Travis Major and Hernandez hit the ball with the outside of his right foot as he attempted to curl the ball in. Prendergast got a hand to it and a corner emanated. From McStay’s set piece, Dylan Ryan met the ball, projecting his header straight to the Blacktown custodian. Prior to this, (Ryan’s header), Mallia achieved a productive run down the left, shaking off two of his markers before getting close to the Wolves goal. He shot and his former Sydney FC teammate, Janjetovic saved.
The Wolves at times misdirected their passes which did not assist their cause and doing this against a team like Blacktown is fraught with danger.
Towards the end of the first forty-five, a few mistakes from the Wolves allowed Nicholas O’Brien an opportunity to bring up his brace, but it was not to be. At the break it even Stevens.
It just four minutes after play resumed that Blacktown went ahead. Prendergast sent the ball to Ben Berry who pushed it upfield. It went up to Burnie and he was way in front of defenders to be one on one with Janjetovic. As the custodian came to narrow the angle, Burnie placed the ball into the goal to the right of Janjetovic.
Wing/back Yagoub Mustafa lobbed the dangerous Mallia and looked to take advantage and get his team back in the hunt. On fifty minutes, Mallia weaved his way with deft skill through the defensive line before enacting an effort that zoomed towards the Wolves’ goal. Janjetovic was there to keep him at bay.
The Wolves best chance for an equaliser occurred when Hernandez produced his drive that went agonisingly wide of the post. Four minutes later, following a Mustafa cross, McStay’s header crashed into the right post. The Wolves were oh so close.
Janjetovic saved a Joey Gibbs header from a Jak O’Brien cross, and Lynch slid in to deny Trew. Janjetovic nullified Jak O’Brien.
Andre Takami came on in the second half and worked the ball to Takumi Ofuka. His ensuing seemingly goal bound effort narrowly traversed over the cross bar.
Harrison Buesnell blocked Danny Choi as he was about to cause danger and a good move saw Mustafa steaming forward. In the final up shot, Scott laid off the ball to his right for Ofuka. He in turn returned serve, with Scott hitting the ball first time by sweeping it into the goal., with nine minutes of regulation time remaining.
A share of the points looked likely as each team defended valiantly in the final minutes. Blacktown were hampered by the post in time added on. Burnie progressed down the right before crossing. Choi hit it first time and the ball whacked into the post. The rebound was met by Gibbs, only to be blocked by a desperate lunge by Kanaizumi.
The Wolves played more productively in the second half but were chasing the game once more. However, the resilience and never say die attitude was to be admired thereby earning a valuable point. Blacktown are a formidable outfit and remain in third position while the Wolves occupy eighth. The Wolves have now earned three points out of four versus Blacktown City in 2024.
Set piece specialist Chris McStay – ‘We certainly fought back. We’ve had a great mentality over the last few weeks and that is why we have the results that we have. We came back against Sydney United, and we had the same approach in this game., though we started better. We were driving at least to get a point. When you are playing against a team like Blacktown, and you are complacent, you have to watch out, as they will go for it. … There are no easy teams in this league, and you always must be at your best and maintain a high standard. I was gutted then. (when hitting the post) and it was disappointing. But you can only do your best. ‘
MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES ………………..…2
Jake Trew 13’ Lachlan Scott 81’
BLACKTOWN CITY……….………………..…2
Nicholas O’Brien 15’ Tyren Burnie 81’
@ WIN Stadium, Wollongong
SATURDAY 15th 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 (8. Andre Takami 69’), 7. Takumi Ofuka 9. Jake Trew (27. Damon Gray 88’) 10. Yagoub Mustafa 11. Sebastien Hernandez (25. Alex Masciovecchio 60’) 24. Lachlan Scott (Capt.), 88. Christopher McStay.
Substitutes Not Used: 3. Darcy Madden, 13. Oliver Yates,
Yellow Cards: Harrison Buesnell 45’
Red Cards: nil
BLACKTOWN CITY
Coach: Mark Crittenden
- Tristan Prendergast (GK), 3. Jayden Trenkoski (22. Jacob Maniti 66’) 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major, 8. Jak O’Brien (17. Martin Fernandez 84’) 10. Mario Shabow (Capt.), 12. Tyren Burnie 14. Mitchell Mallia (11. Danny Choi, 66’), 16. Ben Berry, 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 23. Joey Gibbs
Substitutes not used: 20. Cayden Henderson 42. Lachlan Henderson
Yellow Cards: Mario Shabow 65
Red Cards: nil
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistant Referees: Matthew Harris and Charlotte Flynn
Fourth Official: Luke Chapman
By Malcolm Rowney
