In a catch-up game for the washed-out Round 1 of the Illawarra Mercury Premier League, Wollongong United hosted Albion Park White Eagles at Macedonia Park for an Anzac Day afternoon fixture. It was to be a battle between the 2016 Champions and the 2017 Fraternity Club Cup winners as two of the division heavyweights fought it out.

Early proceedings made it seem like it would be a cruisey afternoon for the White Eagles, with Wollongong midfielder Mikal Awad substituted off after only four minutes with an injury, and all the chances of opening proceedings going the way of the visitors.

As per usual, it was the Japanese trio for the White Eagles doing the damage up front, as the combinations begin to strengthen this season between Yosuke Tashiro, Hikaru Kawasakiya and 2016 Player of the Year Shohei Okuno.

It was Kawasakiya who could've troubled the scorers first - just after the 20 minute mark - Peter Prandalos making a strong run down the left flank and putting in an inviting cross between defence and goalkeeper Sam Nastic, however Kawasakiya was also unable to reach the ball as it flew across the box untouched.

Minutes later, it was Okuno who could've had his goal, beating his marker and shrugging off the challenge of Billy Tvosolas to poke a shot on goal, however it was unable to slide under the on-rushing Nastic and he was able to save the effort between his legs.

But Wollongong appeared to channel their inner Bulli - perhaps learning from last week's fixture - and grabbed two quickfire goals to turn the match on its head.

Firstly, Maty Brennan down the right wing crossed deep to Taka Noji on the far side of the box, and the second ball in found Bradley Acev square and tapped a shot past Eagles keeper Bryce Daenell and off the right upright, across goal, and in off the left upright to open the scoring.

Immediately, McLaren won the ball from the resulting kick-off and passed to Noji who made a darting run down the left wing before cutting into the box and shooting across Daenell into the far side netting for a second goal before the applause for the first had even finished, let alone the poor stadium announcer rushing to finish announcing Acev's goal as the net bulged once more.

United took charge of the game from there, possibly having a third on the stroke of half-time had Daenell not plucked a cross off the head of Noji from close range.

The second period proved to be more stale than the first, with Albion Park only able to produce fleeting moments to trouble the United defence - as Tashiro netted with a shot on the turn from the edge of the area - however he was ruled to have tracked back from an offside position and scores remained at 2-0.

Once more, it took a piece of fortune for the visitors not to have a goal, with a free kick floated in by Okuno, and a glancing header from amidst the pack requiring a clearance off the line from Tsovolas.

Down the other end, the high press of the United midfield was forcing Albion Park to play out from the back a lot, and with the energy of Acev hurrying passes from defence, it was only a matter of time.

As the half grew older, Albion Park began clutching at straws and trying to thread the needle with passes and dribbles, with Acev dispossessing defenders on two separate occasions, setting up Daisuke Yuzawa for shots on target both times.

It was from a long kick-out by Nastic that United got their third, as Noji won possession in the corner and beat two to pass to Yuzawa on the corner of the box, and a sumptuous right footed curling shot found the far side netting past Daenell's dive.

From there, both sides seemed to accept the result and few notable chances were created in the last 20 minutes.

A straight red card for Wollongong United substitute Dylain Chaplin for Serious Foul Play brought the game back to life with just under 10 minutes to play, however Vaughan Paterson's goal with 5 to go ruled out as he was adjudged to handle the ball in the goal mouth scramble as the champions left Macedonia Park without even as much as a consolation goal.

The three points for the hosts seemed a fair result, with the Lions creating a majority share of quality chances and putting in a more complete team display. Albion Park will be left to consider how their defence allowed goals from being dispossessed at the back twice and an unmarked striker in the penalty area was allowed to happen, resulting in the three goals.

 

Tuesday 25th April - Macedonia Park

Referee - B. Mazevski

Assistants - E. Crawley, L. Cabassi-Power

 

Wollongong United 3 - Acev 31', Noji 32', Yuzawa 78'

Albion Park 0

 

Wollongong United - Nastic, Brennan, Zoric, Brooks, Miyakawa, Tsovolas, Awad (McLaren 4'), Swamy (Chaplin 60'), Yuzawa, Noji, Acev (Sekutkoski 82')

Subs - Ristevski, McLaren, Chaplin, Zucco, Sekutkoski

Albion Park - Daenell, Gilroy (Djukic 69'), Nathaniel, Allport, Prandalos, Jones (Lopez 70'), Del Banco, Paterson, Tashiro, Okuno, Kawasakiya

Subs - Djukic, Lopez, Waples, Hufton, Wray

 

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5

Photos by Kiah Hufton