Wollongong Olympic extended their unbeaten run in the Illawarra Mercury Premier League to six matches with a hard-fought goalless draw at home to Port Kembla on Saturday. The point confirms Olympic’s hold on third spot in the IPL ladder, in spite of victories for nearest rivals Picton and Wollongong United.

The visitors to PCYC came closest to breaking the deadlock, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing some fine saves from Olympic keeper Hayden Durose. The point for Port moves them two points clear of bottom spot after Woonona’s loss to Tarrawanna, and up to ninth spot on goal difference.

Port started without their two leading scorers on the field, Joe Lavalle sitting this game out with a suspension and Sandy Lowcock starting on the bench, though the youngster was to come on just before the break to replace an injured Mitch Scazzariello.

The Zebras showed no sign of missing that fire power in the opening exchanges, as Scazzariello tested Durose with an early shot which Olympic’s custodian took at the second attempt with Takao Teramoto waiting for any slip up.

Down the other end, though, Daniel Farina was also called into action early as Olympic’s top scorer Yusuke Ueda forced him into a similar save, taken at the second time of asking.

It was the visitors who had the better of the first twenty minutes or so, with Peter Richardson roving down the right and constantly seeking out Teramoto in front of goal, but each time Durose was too quick for the Port centre forward.

In open play, Port looked the hungrier, leaving little time on the ball for the Olympic players and defending solidly with Brooklyn Frkovic, Carlo Stella and James Volkanovski working tirelessly to keep Olympic out.

Olympic’s best chance of the first half came from a free kick launched in by captain Brendan Fordham. Jake Duczynski, up from defence for the set piece, rose highest and sent his header just over the bar. And just before the half hour, Ueda almost set up Fordham by the near post with a clever flick but Port scrambled the ball clear for a corner.

In the 33^rd minute, Port Kembla had its best move of the game and almost caught the Olympic defence out. It was Teramoto who created the chance, taking his marker wide to the right before slotting a ball through to Scazzariello who hit it first time and forced a superb finger tip save from Durose, who flicked it over the bar for a corner.

Minutes later, the visitors hit the woodwork. This time Richardson won a free kick near the corner flag. Scazzariello drove the ball into the box, taking a deflection off a defender before it thundered against the far post and bounced directly into Durose’s grateful hands at the near post.

But that was as near as we came to a goal in the first half. Doug Woodiwiss was off the pitch for five minutes receiving treatment for a head injury, but Olympic failed to take advantage of the temporary numerical advantage.

Olympic came out looking brighter in the second half, but still there was little for Farina to do in the Port Kembla goal. Harrison Brown had a punt from long range but pushed the ball wide; Ueda had a go but also missed the target; and Isaac Lee skied a free kick well over the bar when he would have hoped to put pressure on the Port defence. A Ja Kon Wu shot just past the hour mark forced Farina into action, but he took the ball well down low to his right, and he saved easily again from Fordham minutes later.

At the other end, Port were winning free kicks in potentially dangerous positions but Durose continued to command his area and kept the visitors out.

With a minute left on the clock, it was Volkanovski who almost broke the deadlock as he pressed forward from defence and sent a right foot shot onto the crossbar from the edge of the area.

But this was the last chance of the afternoon and both sides were forced to settle for a draw.

Speaking after the game, Port Kemba coach Stuart Beedie acknowledged it was probably a fair result though he felt his side were unlucky with the woodwork, particularly in the first half. “I can’t fault the players, though,” he said, “Their work rate is exceptional and if we play like that, we’ll be taking points off a few sides in the coming weeks. It’s a bit of a scrap for us this season, but we have to just work our way up the league to a respectable position.”

Both teams are back in action on Tuesday evening. Port Kembla have a tough home tie against Kemblawarra Fury, while Olympic travel to an improved South Coast United, looking to hold onto third spot.

 

Wollongong Olympic – 0

Port Kembla – 0

Saturday 18 June 2016

PCYC, Wollongong

Referee: Bobby Mazevski

Assistant Referees: Darcy Jordan, Mitchell Thorpe

Wollongong Olympic: Hayden Durose, Haydyn Lloyd, Jack Keating, Jake Duczynski, Sam Gordon, Harvey Rodriguez, Brendan Fordham, Isaac Lee (Chris Jackson 78’), Ja Kon Yu (Lee Kizi 84’), Yusuke Ueda, Harrison Brown (subs not used: Andrej Gacesa, Maurice Aloegninou, Declan Baker)

Port Kembla: Daniel Farina, Peter Richardson, William Mobbs, Brooklyn Frkovic, Carlo Stella, James Volkanovski, Jarryd Vinton (Adrian Nikolovski 83’), Matthew Werakso, Doug Woodiwiss, Mitch Scazzariello (Sandy Lowcock 45’), Takao Teramoto (subs not used: Justin Potter, Ryan Franks)

 

Report by Simon Duffin
Photo: Pedro Garcia (library archive)