June 23, 2025
2025 NSW NPL MENS 1 ROUND 20
WOLLONGONG WOLVES v ROCKDALE ILINDEN
WOLVES DEFEATED BY TOP OF THE POPS, ROCKDALE ILINDEN
The first placed Rockdale Ilinden played the eleventh positioned Wollongong Wolves and duly achieved the three on points on offer with a 3-1 victory. The Wolves had much of the early play up until when the first goal was conceded but any scoring opportunities presented were not converted and how this did not happen is a true mystery. At half time it was 0-2, with mistakes leading the two goals. This certainly put the Wolves on the backfoot as far as the game was concerned. A penalty conversion by Nicholas Olsen put some spring in the Wolves’ step and even though a third goal was conceded with ease, the Wolves kept creating chances until the final whistle blew. Coach Warren Grieve put strikers on straight after half time as substitutes to add extra zest to the attacking formation, and Sebastian Hernandez played his first minutes since last playing in Round 7., which was a plus. Rockdale’s Moudi Najjar scored a brace, and Ali Auglah scored the other. The Rockdale players were quick and slick in transition and used their physical strength to push some of the opposition players off the ball.
The game opened with the Wolves running towards the southern end with Rockdale kicking off. Rockdale got the ball forward quickly and Chris McStay was tackled by Ralph Le’Ai. Ali Auglah, who was a danger to the Wolves all match, tried a pass to Alec Urosevski, the Rockdale goal machine, only for the offside flag to scupper his opportunity.
The Wolves showed their attacking intent as Alex Masciovecchio put Olsen forward on the right only for the ball to go away as other teammates waited expectantly in the box. Good interplay from Olsen, Ben Giason and Masciovecchio saw Olsen subsequent shot blocked. Later, an Olsen corner kick flew to the safe hands of Rockdale’s custodian, Nick Sorras.
At the other end, Urosevski worked into scoring range on two occasions with Banri Kanaizumi sticking like glue to him and winning the ball and a shot being taken by the Wolves’ custodian, Daniel Solsky. Both these chances were from proximity to the goal. A twelfth minute corner kick by McStay was cleared by Dylan Ryan and earlier Giason mopped up as a cross emanated from the right side. Giason a few minutes on, commenced an attacking raid with a run upfield. He then threaded a pass to Le’Ai, but his effort brought no joy. On fifteen minutes, the Wolves central defender Harrison Buesnell got in to defuse the situation as Najjar and Auglah vied for the ball in Rockdale’s quick break. A good chance fell to James Anagnostopoulos, but James Nikolovski got a foot in to deny.
A suspected handball by Urosevski was not spotted by the referee and played continued after a free kick went to Rockdale. Prior to this, Olsen dispatched the ball to Woon Sub Sim and his effort was sent to the far post, but Sorras thwarted the chance.
At the other end, Le’Ai won a corner with persistence as two defenders were in attendance. Later, he put the ball across the goal and just missed going in at the far post.
Sub Sim enacted a defensive over the bar as Rockdale exerted pressure, and the following McStay corner kick was non-threatening.
However, the deadlock was broken in the thirty-seventh minute. Najjar had rampaged forward and shot. The Wolves custodian, Daniel Solsky saved this initial strike, but the ball ran loose. Auglah, following up, was able to slot the ball into the goal to put Rockdale into the driver’s seat.
Le’Ai produced a strike that unfortunately was narrowly wide of the goal as his team for an immediate response to Rockdale’s goal.
Rockdale had other ideas and with half time looming, Lochlan Constable crossed to the centre from the right. Solsky managed to intervene and palmed it away. Only trouble was approaching and Najjar was quick to swoop and send the ball home to increase his team’s lead to two.
In time added on the first half, Ryan’s shot narrowly flew over the bar with the Wolves looking for that elusive goal. Half time came and Rockdale held the upper hand.
Following the break, two strikers in Liam Hall and Damon Gray were brought on and an Alex Masciovecchio shot was palmed away by Sorras for a corner kick.
A McStay cross cannoned off Ryan and Ryan cleared another Rockdale cross later.
Le’Ai eluded defenders in a good run only for McStay, who was one of the chasers, got back to rob Le’Ai and conclude this phase of a Wollongong comeback.
In the fifty-fourth minute, Solsky took the ball off the bootlaces of Jordan Graoroski to stifle this Rockdale attack and three minutes the Wolves got on the scoreboard after Gray was barrelled over by McStay in the box. A spot kick ensued with Olsen powering his left footed drive to the right of goal as Sorras dived in the opposite direction.
The Wolves now had a lifeline. Rockdale attempted to sure up their victory when from a McStay corner, Najjar headed high. A McStay up field pass found Urosevski with room to move and he was subsequently dispossessed by the reliable Kanaizumi.
The next manoeuvre saw Urosevski pushing the ball forward for Najjar to run onto. Solsky anticipated the danger so left his line. He could get adequate control and Najjar gained possession and charged forward to the goal and from a metre in front blasted the ball into the vacant goal frame.
Four minutes on, Auglah burst forward with intent and space, but Buesnell was there to close him down.
A stinging effort from Hernandez had Sorras palming the ball away as the Wolves maintained their equilibrium.
With a quick turnaround in this match with each team defending one minute and then attacking the next minute, Urosevski was through on goal with Beattie ultimately thwarting him by conceding a corner kick. McStay’s kick went straight to Solsky. With five minutes of normal time remaining, Beattie stole the ball of Najjar as he shaped to shoot.
Six minutes of additional time elapsed and the Wolves kept at it until the conclusion. Solsky made a save and Gray put in a strike that Sorras took in his stride.
The winning ways of Rockdale Ilinden continued and maintain their position at the top of the standings while the Wolves sit in eleventh place. The Wolves were defeated but not disgraced.
Coach Warren Grieve – ‘You just about summed it up. We had the better of the first thirty minutes and then mistakes and you are chasing the game. We had our game plan, and it was implemented but these little things hurt you. We were playing the top team, but we were creating chances right at the end. ‘
Ralph Le’Ai – ‘We were better in the first half, and I had a few chances, but they would not go in. it was a difficult game playing the top team. I hope to score some more goals like last week.’
MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES F.C………………..1
Nicholas Olsen 56’ penalty
ROCKDALE ILINDEN…………..………,,,,…3
Ali Auglah 37, Moudi Najjar 42’, 64’
@ WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
SATURDAY 21st JUNE 2025
7.00 p.m. kick off
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach: Warren Grieve
!3. Daniel Solsky GK 2. Harrison Buesnel 4. Dylan Ryan, 6. James Anagnostopoulos, (10. Liam Ball 45’) 14. Banri Kanaizumi, 7. Woon Sub Sim (9. Damon Gray 45), 17. Marcus Beattie 21. Nicholas Olsen, 29. Ben Giason 25. Alex Masciovecchio 77. Raphael Le’Ai. (11. Sebastian Hernandez 77’)
Substitutes not used: 1. Oliver Yates, 8. Ryan Lowe, 15. Dax Kelly
Yellow Cards: Woon Sub Sim 16’
Red Cards: Nil
ROCKDALE ILINDEN
Coach: Paul Dee
- Nick Sorras, 4. James Nikolvski, 6. Giorgio Speranza, 5. Isaac Danzo, 7. Alec Urosevski (23. Oliver Puflett 87’) 9. Moudi Najjar, 11. Lochlan Constable (16. Michael Marcevski 91’), 18. Jordan Graoroski (17 Brae Ovens 61’), 24. Ali Auglah (45. Jesper Swadling 91’), 88. Chris McStay, 99. Matthew Keremelevski (14. Brayden Sorge 61)
Subs not used: 20. Ronan Mulgrew,
Yellow Cards: Giorgio Speranza 27’, 99. Matthew Keremelevski 41’ Isaac Danzo 72’
Red Cards: nil
Referee: Mujtaba Ebrahimi
Assistant Referees: Aaron Bloch and Hayden Michlayr
Fourth Official: Travis Griffith
By Malcolm Rowney
