Port Kembla came from behind to take the three points against an injury-hit Wollongong United.

Karouna Michael gave United the lead in the first half, but Port Captain Peter Richardson equalised before the break and substitute Doug Woodiwiss clinched the win in the last ten minutes.

The victory takes Port Kembla eight points clear of bottom side Shell Cove and surely means the Zebras are safe from relegation this season. For United, the defeat ended an excellent run of form which had seen them snapping at the heels of the IPL’s top two. They are still in fourth spot on the ladder after Round 17.

Port coach Stuart Beedie praised the character of his players for coming back from a goal down to beat a team with United’s defensive quality: “Credit to Doug Woodiwiss today. I left him out of the starting eleven but he had a point to prove and showed his attitude coming on to score the winner like that. And I was pleased with Joe Lavalle’e return, too. His passing made a difference today on a pitch where you could pass the ball about a bit.”

United’s assistant coach Steve Dimitrievski was philosophical in defeat: “I thought a draw would have been a fair result today, but I’m not disappointed at all. It’s always hard when you have youth players coming up to play at first grade. But we’re a squad at the end of the day and it’s good these players got a chance to play. There’s a long way to go in the season yet, with lots to play for, including a (Bampton) Cup final ahead of us.”

There were a few unfamiliar names in the visitors’ starting line-up, with a whole raft of regulars out. Jin Ya An, Jonny Martinoski and Matt Floro have fifteen goals between them, but none was available to start this weekend. In defence, United were missing Angelo Hajittofi, while captain Brendan Reilly started on the bench as he made a gradual return from injury.

And the game was barely 15 minutes old when Klime Sekutkoski went off to add to United’s worries.

Still, the opening exchanges were evenly-balanced, with Jarryd Vinton and Takao Teramoto looking lively for the home side, while Michael looked creative from the centre of the park for the visitors.

Neither keeper had much to do early on, with both sides looking solid in defence.

It was United that broke through in the 26^th minute and it was from a set-piece that their opening goal came. Ben Brooks is United’s top scorer in 2016, but Port Kembla had their biggest defender Justin Potter to man-mark him for the United set-pieces.

When Daisuke Yuzawa sent in a free kick from the right side, it was Ben’s brother Jackson who rose highest to send a header back to Michael at the far post. United’s acting captain took one touch and then fired a fine right foot shot into the back of the net from a very tight angle to give his side the lead.

Moments later, United almost doubled the lead when Tim Wylie’s header flew just wide of the upright from Nathan Scicchitano’s corner.

Once Port had settled from the goal and survived the speedy follow-up, they began to create chances of their own. Blake Coates sent a free kick round the United wall to test Sam Nastic in the United goal. Then it was Adrian Nikolovski who sent in a long ball from the left which was met by Richardson who headed into the path of Teramoto, but Nastic again was quick enough to react.

It was another aerial attack that led to the Port equaliser, though. Vinton sent a back header over the defensive line into the path of Richardson who prodded home from close range with a United defender only able to help the ball on its way into the net for the Port equaliser in the 38^th minute.

And the home side almost scored again before the break. Richardson’s header was picked up by Coates on the edge of the area. He laid the ball off to Teramoto who turned and shot, but Nastic did well to save and keep the scores level at half time.

Reilly came on for the second half and immediately took up his usual commanding position at the centre of the United defence.

The early action in the second stanza was up at the other end, though. Michael pounced on a mis-timed clearance and fired a shot goalwards, the ball flying off the back of Potter’s legs for a corner.

For the next twenty minutes, the game was played out in the centre of the park, with both sides’ defences working hard to block any advance on goal.

With 70 minutes gone, Port pushed men forward but were almost caught on the counter when Zac Mazevski raced clear and into the area, but this time Potter got back to make a brave tackle and ward off the threat.

Beedie brought on the fresh legs of Woodiwiss, Nick Hardy and Sandy Lowcock. Woodiwiss saw a long-range effort go wide of the upright, before Lowcock set him up for the winner.

It was the 82^nd minute when Lowcock used his strength to take the ball to the byline inside the United box and pulled it back for a waiting Woodiwiss. The Port substitute unleashed a right foot shot that gave Nastic no chance to give the home side the lead for the first time.

Matt Werakso almost increased the lead minutes later when his left foot drive from 35 yards out was tipped over the bar by Nastic. And Richardson almost nabbed his second, sending a header inches over as the clock ticked on towards full-time.

United have a habit of scoring late on when they need to, but this time their last chance was safely kept out by Daniel Farina in the Port goal when Jackson Brooks rose highest again to meet a Mazevski ball in, but his header landed safely in Farina’s hands.

Next up for both teams are tough away fixtures, Port at Tarrawanna and United at Bulli.

 

Port Kembla – 2 (Richardson 38’, Woodiwiss 82’)

Wollongong United – 1 (Michael 26’)

Saturday 16 July 2016

Wetherall Park

Referee: Steve Bozic

Assistant Referees: Ryan O’Sullivan, Dean Moreira

Port Kembla: Daniel Farina, Peter Richardson, Adrian Nikolovski (Sandy Lowcock 76’), Brooklan Frkovic, Carlo Stella, Justin Potter, Joe Lavalle, Jarryd Vinton (Doug Woodiwiss 71’), Takao Teramoto (Nick Hardy 71’), Matthew Werakso, Blake Coates (sub not used: Ryan Franks)

Wollongong United: Sam Nastic, Josh Hurt (Brendan Reilly 45’), Shannon Burgin (Bradley Acev 65’), Ben Brooks, Nathan Scicchitano, Moto Kinjo, Karouna Michael, Tim Wylie, Zac Mazevski, Klime Sekutkoski (Jackson Brooks 17’), Daisuke Yuzawa (subs not used: Nikola Ristevski, Steven Dimitrievski)

 

Report by Simon Duffin

Photo by Pedro Garcia