Whilst most eyes were on the Wollongong Olympic vs Bulli game this round, another fascinating matchup was played out at Tarrawanna Oval - the Blueys hosting Wollongong United as both sides looked to firm up their position in the top 5. Both sides have fared similarly this season, with 5 wins apiece, and they each enjoyed an away win in this fixture last season, so it was looking to be a tight affair. 

It was a tense start to the match with both sides playing at such a frantic pace that neither was able to hold onto possession for any meaningful amount of time.

It took 20 minutes for a quality chance to be forged - Samuel Rose breaking free down the right touchline and hitting an inch-perfect cross to the 6-yard box, the half volley from Woo Oh somehow put over the crossbar from such close range as goalkeeper Sam Nastic was left scrambling to cover.

Two minutes later, the golden chances gone begging was one each; Taka Noji breaking down the left and cutting his cross to the edge of the area, Zac McLaren side footing to the top corner but an outstretched hand from Tarrawanna goalkeeper Adam Rodriguez pushed the fine effort away for a corner.

Again it was United who tried to push the point - Daisuke Yuzawa chipping Rodriguez from 18 yards only for a flailing glove to slow the ball enough for the keeper to recover.

Noji then had his own try at breaking the deadlock - a long corner falling to him on the edge of the area, thumping in a side-volley and drawing a reflex save from Rodriguez, who had to smother the rebound off the boot of Ricky Zucco at close quarters.

Rose was pestering the United defence and perhaps deserved better when Rick Goodchild's low cross found the striker 6 yards out, and his shot was smothered off the boot with Nastic on hand to dive on the free ball.

Yuzawa had the chance to completely take the game away from Tarrawanna on the half hour - twice going one-on-one with Rodriguez behind the defence and hitting the keeper's chest with both shots.

In a cruel twist, Tarrawanna went down the other end and capitalised via Rose - Sangyu Park crossing into the area, an intelligent dummy through the legs by Joshua Chapple found Rose 6 yards out with a tap-in for 1-0 on the stroke of half-time.

The second half continued in a similar fashion - Wollongong were dominant in field position but the Blueys would counter and create better chances.
Goodchild had a volley turned away by Nastic low at his near post from 10 yards out, then Nastic again managed to reach a Park shot curled at his near post with the gloveman unsighted until late.

Yuzawa yet again couldn't hit the net despite having a full goal to aim at - instead cannoning into Rodriguez on his near post and going out for a corner.

It just wouldn't fall right for United - Zucco looped a header onto the crossbar, Yuzawa hit Rodriguez a fourth time from a one-on-one position, and Zucco glanced a header across the face of goal.

The frustration was building for the visitors but the defence of Tarrawanna held tight under the flood of chances as it has done so many times this season - the kind of performances needed for a run to the finals.

Perhaps the best chance of a United equaliser came with 5 minutes to play - well into the onslaught on Tarrawanna's defence. A corner found the head of Angelo Hajittofi, looping over Rodriguez, only for the gloveman to dive backwards, throw a hand out and miraculously palm the ball over the crossbar and out.
Having bagged a brace in Youth Grade, substitute Brad Acev could have drawn the sides level after a deflected clearance fell to his feet 12 yards out unmarked, but he rushed the shot and failed to get it on target.

Tarrawanna played out the rest of the game parked firmly in the corner and not relinquishing possession as they gained a valuable three points and solidified their fourth place by a five-point margin.

United would feel like they should have left with three points, but they only Rodriguez and their own poor finishing to blame.

Tarrawanna coach Peter Willis said after the game, "We put in a great afternoon [of football] to grind out a gritty three points against quality opposition today. We took our chance and held on from there."

"I feel like we could have had another, but Wollongong United could have had a few if the ball dropped their way. On the whole, a strong performance from the boys today and it is going a long way for the club, we are doing relatively well in all three grades."

"It's been great the way the younger boys have stepped up with our injuries at the moment, so the squad is improving which I think is fantastic."

 

Tarrawanna Blueys - 1 ( Rose 42')

Wollongong United - 0

 

Saturday 3rd June at Tarrawanna Oval, Tarrawanna

 

Tarrawanna Blueys - Rodriguez, Carrigan, Naylor, S. Chapple, Fryday, Mazevski (Fish 86'), J. Chapple, Oh, Rose (Nagaishi 68'), Goodchild, Park

Subs - Richards, Nagaishi, Fish, Grace, Learmonth

Wollongong United - Nastic, Brennan, Zoric, Miyakawa (Sterjovski 69'), Hajittofi, B. Brooks, McLaren (J. Brooks 59'), Awad, Yuzawa, Noji (Acev 81'), Zucco

Subs - J. Brooks, Acev, Sterjovski, Chaplin, Reilly

Referee - Steve Bozic

Report by David Atherton, on Twitter @daveatho5