WOLVES DENIED VICTORY BY CCM LATE GOAL TO DRAW

2025 NSW NPL MENS1 ROUND 4

 

WOLLONGONG WOLVES v CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

WOLVES DENIED VICTORY BY CCM LATE GOAL TO DRAW

 

The Wollongong Wolves had a seemingly victory snatched from their grasp in the final minute of time added on with the Central Coast Mariners’ striker Arthur De Lima heading past Wolves custodian Oliver Yates. De Lima has been a thorn for the Wolves since he first scored three goals in 2024 Round 28, and he scuttled the Wolves again today. The lead for much of the game rested with the Wolves who achieved through Alex Masciovecchio and Nicholas Olsen before Ayouk Mow got one back for his side. CCM had certainly improved since their earlier three losses in 2025.  The Mariners also had the ball into the goal on two other occasions but offsides cancelled them out fortuitously for the Wolves. The Wolves played good football and were looking home and hosed.

 

With the Wolves running towards the southern stand, the Mariners kicked off proceedings.  From the centre the ball went straight back to custodian Jack Warshawsky who pumped the ball up field. There was a short time of aerial ping pong as the ball went through in the air with hitting the ground. The Mariners’ Kye Schumacher tried to release the dangerous Jai Rose but there too much on the pass and attacking foray fell away.

 

CCM have a period of possession in the first few minutes and the game throughout was played at a quick tempo. The Wolves Banri Kanaizumi was put under pressure by Ayoub Mow, but the danger quickly passed as Wolves custodian Oliver Yates saved.

 

At the opposite end, a Wolves initial foray saw striker Lachlan Scott shooting wide.

 

Rose dispossessed Marcus Beattie and showed with his speed that he was a handful. An Olsen free kick had Scott stretching to reach but was in vain. Masciovecchio gained a loose pass and set forth only to be dispossessed by Lucas Scicluna and a Woon Sim Sub corner kick caused consternation in the Mariners box. Raphael Le’ai made a groundbreaking run down the left but was tackled by Michael Paragali. De Lima rode a Kanaizumi tackle as he burst through only for Harrison Buesnell to intervene. From the fifteen-minute mark, Le’ai shot over and as he shot he was tackled. A penalty shout was heralded but it fell on deaf ears. Prior, a powerful Le’ai shot was repelled by Warshawsky. The CCM custodian came of his line as Le’ai came in from the shoot. A driving effort was on target only for the custodian to turn away.

 

However, on twenty-three minutes the Wolves went ahead. Scott sent Le’ai and his pace spreadeagled the defence on the right. He sent the inward and Masciovecchio and defenders converged on the ball, but Masciovecchio got the touch to scramble the ball home.

 

Muginga Mpota looked to draw parity with his header at the far post which went high.

 

However, the Wolves went further ahead through Olsen, scoring his fourth goal in four matches and be the team’s top scorer. He moved the ball, after receiving a pass from Sub Sim to his left to elude a defender, found space and subsequently projected the ball with his left foot.  The ball zoomed into the right bottom corner of the goal from his position outside the penalty area. It was a tremendous strike.

 

CCM redressed the situation somewhat when Mow blasted the ball into the goal a couple of minute later. He was to the left of goal and pushed the ball to his right before unleashing his shot. Yates got a hand to the ball, and it struck the crossbar before entering the goal.

 

A great shot from Scott after receiving an Olsen pass, was turned away by Warshawsky in attempt to add to the score and a later Olsen corner kick saw a Scott header lacking power and direction. Olsen outstretched a defender and rampaged from his own half before firing wide.

 

CCM were looking for an equaliser before half time, and Sub Sim blocked a De Lima shot that looked to be dangerous and before, Buesnell tracked Mpota before Yates intervened. Scicluna provided a corner kick which the Wolves survived and a Le’ai shot flew wide.

 

However, half time eventuated with the Wolves winning 2-1.

 

In the second half CCM through their play did not lack conviction. They moved up quickly and had slick passing. A Pecora pass was picked out by Dylan Ryan as CCM mounted an early second half attack. The Wolves James Anagnostopoulos’s effort traversed narrowly wide of Warshawsky’s post. Ryan after a bullocking run, played a pass intended for Masciovecchio, but Warshawsky was first to the ball.

 

Le’ai cut the ball back into the goal area, but Rocco Smith was there to take ball off his line and thwart the foray before Beattie dispossessed Mow as he looked to inflict problems.

 

A free kick provided an opportunity for the Mariners in the seventy first minute. From outside the penalty arc, De lLma let fly, only for his effort to go high over the target. A Mariners corner kick kept applying pressure on the Wolves defence, but they held firm.

 

The injection of fresh legs aided the CCM in the second half as Logan Sambrook and Lawrence Taylor impressed with their endeavours. Wave after wave of Mariners attacks kept the defence on their mettle and the odd counterattack by the Wolves kept the momentum flowing.

 

An effort from Scicluna was hit wide, a Damon Gay shot was spilled by the custodian, but no-one was there to take advantage, and De Lima launched his shot over the bar.

 

With time added on, the tension ramped up. CCM were looking for an equaliser and the Wolves were intent on denying this.

 

De Lima on the right touchline kept the ball in play before dispatching a short pass along the line to Sambrook. He progressed forward then propped, before sending his cross in. Le Lima had worked his way into the box off the ball. Sambrook’s cross reached him at the near post. With Wolves’ defenders standing off, De Lima had a free header that went over Yates to lodge into the goal. The Mariners had fought back to get a share of the spoils.

 

Unfortunately try as they might, the Wolves tried to wind the clock down but could not close out the victory with minimal time to do so and so forfeited the three points. However, the team is still unbeaten with a win and three draws in the can. The Mariners had shown desire, and it was first point, duly earned.

 

 

MATCH STATISTICS

 

WOLLONGONG WOLVES F.C…………………….2

 

Alex Masciovecchio 23’ Nicholas Olsen 26’

 

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS…………..………,,2.

 

Ayouk Mow 29’ Arthur De Lima 90+5

 

@ WIN STADIUM, WOLLONGONG

 

SATURDAY 1^st March

 

6.00 p.m. kick off

 

WOLLONGONG WOLVES

 

Coach: Warren Grieve

 

1. Oliver Yates (GK), 2. Harrison Buesnel, 6. James Anagnostopoulos, (15. Dax Kelly 87’), 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 17. Marcus Beattie, 21. Nicholas Olsen (3. Darcy Madden 70’) 24. Lachlan Scott, 7. Woon Sub Sim, 77. Raphael Le’ai, (9. Damon Gray 76’), 25. Alex Masciovecchio.

 

Substitutes Not Used: 8. Sebastian Duarte, 13. Daniel Solsky (GK), 29. Ben Giason.

 

Yellow Cards: Banri Kanaizumi 58’ Darcy Madden 71, Alex Masciovecchio’ 86’

 

Red Cards: nil

 

CENTRAL COAST MARINERS

 

Coach’ Lucas Vilela

30. Jack Warshawsky, 2. Luca Pecora,3. Michael Paragali 4. Rocco Smith, 5. Ben Mewett, (14. Angus Reid 87’) 7. Ayouk Mow, (17. Jesse Mantell 87), Lucas Scicluna (Capt.)10. Arthur De Lima 11. Jai Rose, (39. Harper 24. Kye Schumacher (23. Lawrence Taylor 57’), 21. Muginga Mpota (13. Logan Sambrook 66’),

Substitutes nit used:  40. Joel Wade Dylan Scicluna 86’

Yellow Cards: Rocco Smith 59’

 

Red Cards: nil

 

 

Referee: Thomas Dale

 

Assistant Referees: Cameron Wright, Travis Griffith.

 

Fourth Official: Joshua Kermond.

 

By Malcolm Rowney