WOLVES SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT BY BLACKTOWN

2025 NSW NPL MENS ROUND  15

WOLLONGONG WOLVES v BLACKTOWN CITY

WOLVES SUFFER NARROW DEFEAT BY BLACKTOWN

With a stalemate for seventy-eight minutes for each team, the deciding factor was a goal to Blacktown City with eleven minutes left on the clack.  The Wolves had opportunities to get onto the scorecard but alas, it was not this team’s day. In the previous round, the Wolves inflicted the first defeat on Marconi, the league leaders, and keeping the team to a nil score, with Blacktown being browbeaten by Sydney FC to the tune of five.   Both the Wolves and Blacktown had plenty to play for in this match.

The only goal was scored by Jak O’Brien in the seventy-ninth minute after Jarred McKinley and substitute Mitch Mallia were involved prior. O’Brien’s well struck right footed effort from the right of centre traversed into the goal off the far post, giving custodian Daniel Solsky, who was in goal for his second start in the Mens 1 competition, no chance of preventing.

The Wolves at the commencement of the match, ran towards the southern stand and kicked off with the spraying around several passes until Blacktown’s Seung Joo Choi intervention on the Wolves’ Nicholas Olsen. Blacktown then had some passing movements through a few players as well, before Greg Lynch sent the ball forward.  Another lofted ball in scant time was chested down by Solsky.

Three minutes in, the Wolves had a first attempt at scoring. A long throw in from Woon Sub Sim saw a couple of headed balls before Olsen snapped a shot which the Blacktown custodian, Cayden Henderson took eagerly.

Three minutes later at the opposite end, Blacktown’s Lachlan Campbell headed at the near post from close vicinity only for his effort to travel wide of the target.

As the minutes progressed it became an arm wrestle as each team vied for superiorly with no quarter given. The back three defenders of Lynch, Campbell and McKinley were immense for their team while Marcus Beattie in his new role, Harrison. Buesnell and Dylan Ryan shone for the Wolves in their endeavours. Long balls over the defensive lines were one of Blacktown’s ploys while the Wolves used diagonal passes to the wings to get behind the defence.

In the twelfth minute, Beattie played an incisive pass to Rahael Le’ai who steamed forward but before he could take aim, he was summarily dispossessed. Five minutes later, the Wolves’ Liam Ball chanced one from distance but the deaired outcome was not met. Straight away Banri Kanaizumi sent a powerful volley on target, but Henderson saved, and a corner kick emanated which was wasted.

Shots from Choi and captain Tavis Major for Blacktown occurred, but neither could breach the Wolves’ domain. Choi, who skilfully dribbled around players during proceedings, turned and shot but no joy was forthcoming. A Major effort was taken by Solsky.

The Wolves’ Alex Masciovecchio expertly burst into the penalty area on twenty-three minutes then set up Olsen. The striker tried in vain to get to it, but it was somewhat out of reach.

Afterwards, Beattie dispatched the ball to Ryan on the left. He subsequently played it into the danger zone for Olsen. He managed to get his head to the ball, but it was a difficult to project it where he wanted it to go. Le’ai made a marauding run before cutting in from the right, setting himself up for a goal attempt in the thirty-sixth minute. Henderson thwarted by palming the ball away.

It had been titanic struggle with neither team was in the ascendancy as half time eventuated

The second half saw a rise in tempo. Blacktown’s Maksim Jez tried a bending cross which caused consternation, but Solsky was equal to the task.  At the other end, Le’ai crossed to Olsen, but he was not able to take advantage. Ryan sent a special delivery to Olsen. He turned with the ball, but it was unfortunately wide of the goal frame. A minute after the hour, Masciovecchio also shot wide as two defenders descended on him.

Blacktown’s Martin Fernandez nearly scored his second 2025 goal when he eluded a few defenders with deft feet only for Solsky to take his low, tame effort.

The Wolves had their closet attempt when Le’ai made progress diagonally from the right. He sent a defence splitting pass to Olsen on his left. Masciovecchio came into the centre of the goal area as Olsen shot. An impending goal seemed likely goa, only for Campbell to arrive to somehow save the day.

Blacktown had an open goal in sight as Solsky slipped as he attempted to clear. This allowed a Blacktown shot into the empty net. However, Ben Giason appeared to scupper the gilt-edged opportunity by heading clear. It was a close shave.!

The opposition substitute Keanu Moore hit one on target from outside the penalty area only for the fingertips of Solsky being the difference between success and failure.

Jak O’Brien put his side up and the intensity ramped up. Blacktown nearly had a second through Mallia, but Solsky was there to repel the foray.

Blacktown had taken the points grinding out this victory They had restored their reputation while the Wolves would be disappointed with the narrow result at the halfway stage of this 2025 Mens 1 competition.

 

MATCH STATISTICS

WOLLONGONG WOLVES F.C………………..0

BLACKTOWN CITY…………..………,,,,……1

Jak O’Brien 79’

 

@ WIN Stadium, Wollongong.

SATURDAY 17^7h MAY 2025

7.00 p.m. kick off

 

WOLLONGONG WOLVES

Coach: Warren Grieve

13. Daniel Solsky GK 2. Harrison Buesnel 4. Dylan Ryan, 14. Banri Kanaizumi, 7.  Woon Sub Sim (6. James Anagnostopoulos 72’) ,10. Liam Ball (3. Darcy Madden 58’), 17. Marcus Beattie 21. Nicholas Olsen, 29. Ben Giason   25. Alex Masciovecchio (Dylan King 72’), 77. Raphael Le’ai.

Substitutes Not Used:  1. Oliver Yates 8. Sebastian Duarte, 15. Dax Kelly 88’)

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

 

BLACKTOWN CITY

Coach: Mark Crittenden

1. Cayden Henderson (GK), 3. Jarred McKinley 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 7. Travis Major (c) (14. Mitchell Mallia 46’), 8. Jak O’Brien, 11. Seung Joo Choi (9. Keanu Moore 83), 10. Maksim Jez, 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 19. Sebastian Hayward (17. Martin Fernandez 58’) 24. Jackson Bandiera.

Subs not used: 20. Zac Bowling, 26. Aiden Renshaw, 34. Jake Briggs

Yellow Cards: Lachlan Campbell 76’

Red Cards: nil

Referee: Rowan Fisher

Assistant Referees: Hayden Michlmayr and Hayden Kaye.

Fourth Official: Charlotte Flynn

By Malcolm Rowney