A Daniel Dafkovksi header five minutes from time cancelled out Klime Sekutkoski’s first half penalty, giving Albion Park White Eagles a share of the points with Wollongong United. The result leaves both teams looking in good positions to make the end-of-season finals.

When White Eagles left back Chris Nathaniel brought down Sekutkoski in the area after 18 minutes, the referee had no option but to award a penalty, which Sekutkoski despatched cleanly, sending Bryce Daenell the wrong way.

But, other than this one lapse, defences dominated the opening exchanges, with Dafkovski and his partner in central defence for the White Eagles Peter Prandalos mopping up any pressure from United. While at the other end Brendan Reilly and Kota Kawase looked comfortable as Albion Park played too many hopeful balls into no-man’s-land in the final third.

Half an hour into this game, Albion Park had had two tame efforts on goal, United none, apart from the penalty.

The match opened up as the first half drew to a close, though.

First Albion Park’s Ricky Anane hit a half volley from 25 metres out, forcing a save out of Jordan Nikolovski in the Wollongong goal. Then David Polidoro threaded the ball through to Brian Montanari, who chose to pull it back rather than go for goal from a tight angle, but nobody was there in front of goal to make the final touch.

Wollongong began to create chances of their own, with Sangyu Park making space for his left foot shot, producing Daenell’s first save of the game after 34 minutes. Shortly after, it was goalscorer Sekutkoski who raced clear and laid the ball off to Johnny Martinoski, whose left foot shot flew just wide of the upright.

And in a final flurry just before the half time whistle, the White Eagles launched a series of attacks on the Wollongong goal. First Montanari fired over from close range and then with a packed penalty area, Chris Smith had a shot blocked and Harrison Russell was just beaten to the ball by Nikolovski as the ball flew clear.

Sangyu Park was looking hungry to add to his goal tally when the teams came out for the second half. Karouna Michael found last weekend’s Bert Bampton Cup Final scorer on the edge of the area shortly after the restart, and he looked poised to unleash a shot on his favoured left foot when Prandalos put in a timely challenge. Unfortunately, shortly after, Park picked up what looked like a nasty ankle injury, which ended his participation for the day and, according to coach Oliver Vrtkoski after the game, may see him out for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile White Eagles captain Chris Smith – himself just back from injury – was spearheading his own side’s efforts to find an equaliser. Anane whipped a corner in just on the hour mark and Smith’s header flew just wide of the post.

With fifteen minutes to play, both sides came close. First United had their best move of the game, with smooth, quick passing down the right and a flick-on across the area finding Sekutkoski unmarked in front of goal, but the striker tried to stroke the ball into the net and it drifted wide instead. Albion Park immediately responded, with a fast move down their left flank, finishing with Anane, who was unbalanced after the ball bounced awkwardly, forcing him to shoot with his unfavoured left foot and again the ball went tamely wide.

With substitutes Shaun McRae and Jack Balmforth providing fresh impetus, the White Eagles were looking the more likely to score as the game wore on. And it was no surprise when the equaliser came. Albion Park won a free kick 30 metres out. Balmforth launched the ball towards the far post but it was cleared straight back to Balmforth who pumped the ball back into the area. This time Dafkovski rose highest to fire his header beyond the reach of Nikolovski in the United goal.

Both sides came close to nicking a winner in the dying minutes of the game. Daisuke Yuzawa fired wide of the near post with two minutes remaining. And McRae blasted the ball over from inside the area in injury time when suddenly left in space.

After the game, White Eagles coach Steve Micevski said: “I thought we dominated for large periods, but we just didn’t take the opportunities we had. They probably could have snatched the win and we probably had enough chances to win the game twice over. Our back four were very strong today, though, so overall a fair result.”

Vrtkoski was also positive after the match: “Credit to our boys in the first half, I thought we played a very strong 45. We kept them at bay and created sitters of chances, but chances don‘t win matches and those misses were always going to come back to haunt us. They lifted their game for the last twenty minutes and we did well to hang on.”

“It’s good to have Floro, Karouna and Adrian (Nikolovski) back, so if it weren’t for the Park injury, we’d be back at full strength. But we can’t take the foot off the pedal and we still need some results going into the finals.”

In other games, Dapto Dandaloo have taken a stranglehold of the League Chmapionship following their 3-1 win over Bulli. Two-times George Naylor Medallist Robbie Shields bagged a brace, while Mitchell Del Turco scored just before half-time to cancel out Dylan Lewis' early opener for the hosts.

Cringila ensured Bellambi will finish with the wooden spoon following their 1-0 win courtesy of a Mathew Kocic goal meanwhile Shell Cove has made a great late run defeating Tarrawanna on Saturday 3-1 and then backing it up with a 2-1 win in a catch up game against Wollongong Olympic on Sunday. Goran Nikolovski (2) and Michael Amed scored the goals on Saturday with Ricky Goodchild scoring for Tarrawanna. On Sunday, veterans Ile Kostovski and Chris Jankulovski scored for Shell Cove with Nathan Smith scoring for Olympic.

Olympic has a bad weekend losing both their matches. Port Kembla beat Wollongong Olympic 3-1 with Justin Potter (Olympic) opening the scoring inside five minutes before Takao Teramoto put Port back in front with a brace after 60 minutes. Nuno Pires sealed the points with virtually the last kick of the game.

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo courtesy of Kiah Hufton (Soccer Shots Illawarra)