Most would've predicted this fixture to be a straight-forward venture for Wollongong Olympic, with Tarrawanna falling to defeats in the previous four meetings. Olympic were still undefeated in the League, however off-season recruits Jared Fish and Sangyu Park have revitalised the Blueys and sees them battling for a finals berth at this early stage. Tarrawanna were also riddled with injuries after a tough draw last week against Corrimal ended the season for Bryce Dolinscak with an ACL injury, adding to those on the treatment table already.

The game as a whole was a rather scrappy affair - neither side hanging on to possession very well nor able to hit many passes to their own team. Both frontlines were struggling to find teammates in good areas and midfield turnovers were aplenty.

Injuries to the Blueys squad forced goal-scoring winger Darren Stone to play in central defence, however he spent the afternoon keeping Olympic talisman Yuseke Ueda quiet. The fifth minute provided the striker with his first chance; Jake Duczynski glanced a long ball into the path of Ueda who neatly finished across goal from 10 yards, however the offside flag saved face for the hosts in what would've been a catastrophic start.

Shortly after, Ueda rose highest for a John Martinoski free kick, but a solid save from Adam Rodriguez at ground level kept the clean sheet alive after a shaky first ten minutes.

On the quarter hour, Tarra had a goal of their own waved away - Jacob Fryday deemed offside as he crossed to the far post for Fish to head in uncontested, but after consulting his assistant, referee Wooton gave the free kick to Olympic.

Play continued in a similar fashion as both sides were sloppy in their passes, a pass to the feet of an attacker of either side a rare commodity. Olympic grew into the game though, and began utilising the switch to gain ground in the Tarrawanna half.

Stone barrelled through the back of Ueda as he lined up a shot from 12 yards, however penalty shouts were waved away.

Shortly after, Brendan Fordham was denied from close range by Rodriguez, and the rebound blocked by Nagaishi off Fordham again.

The defence of Tarra continued to cause problems for Olympic - rushing Ueda into awkward shots and causing passes to wrong-foot many attackers as passing avenues were shut down hastily.

The second period saw Tarrawanna provide some threat going forward - a training ground free kick routine saw Rick Goodchild wrap around the 'taker Nagaishi, crossing low at the face of goal, but Fryday at the far post was unable to clear the upright and his shot went just wide.

Olympic almost game the game away with 10 minutes to go - a mandatory long ball from Tarrawanna should've been easily dealt with, but a lack of communication between Jack Keating and Hayden Durose in goal saw the defender head a backpass over the gloveman. Luckily for the visitors, it was not on target and substitute Sangyu Park wasn't able to get his foot around the shot after a lung-busting chase, instead only able to find the side-netting from the narrow angle.

Action returned to the other end as Olympic won a free kick - Ueda rising above the approach of Rodriguez, however Stone was on hand to clear off the line and maintain the stalemate.

Tarrawanna once again threatened off a set-piece routine, Samuel Chapple creating an overlap on the left wing and crossing to find Fish, heading back across goal and in at the near post for 1-0 to the hosts.

Now Olympic were rushed and panicking on the ball - giving it away to Fryday from defence, passing square to Fish, and from 25 yards his swerving shot was palmed over by Durose as the hosts saw a chance for a second goal.

But it was back to business as usual thereafter, with Olympic parked in the Blueys half, peppering the box with passes and crosses, valiantly defended by Tarra, often with 10 men behind the ball. However it was to no avail, as the hosts clung on desperately to their lead and rejoicing at the final whistle.

Tarrawanna would see this as a huge win in the perspective of their season, able to take three points from an undefeated Olympic side whilst crippled with injuries themselves. In a huge defensive effort with regulars injured, youngsters starting and players out of position filling gaps, this would give Tarrawanna huge confidence going forward. They created their chances, and Fish finished to get the only goal today.

Olympic would be annoyed at letting three points slip here, and whilst they had huge percentages of possession and field position, the failure to create many meaningful chances let them down.

 

Saturday April 29th - Tarrawanna Oval

Referee - N. Wotton

Assistants - P. Hutton, D. Moriera

 

Tarrawanna Blueys 1 - Fish 84'

Wollongong Olympic 0

 

Tarrawanna Blueys - Rodriguez, Carrigan, Naylor, Stone, Morlando, Fryday, Oh, S. Chapple, Goodchild, Fish, Nagaishi

Subs - Park, Rose, Mazevski, J. Chapple, Richards

Wollongong Olympic - Durose, Lloyd, Tokuno, Keating, Brown, Stergioy, Ueda, Martinoski, Duczynski, Pires, Fordham

Subs - Belsito, Wakeling, Perlowski, Balmforth

 

Report by David Atherton - @daveatho5

Photo by Noel Wynn