In Round 3 IPL action from Macedonia Park, Wollongong United were looking to follow on from their 8-0 thumping of Picton. The Lions were hosting a Tarrawanna side who were without a point or a goal from their opening two games, and a side depleted with the injured Rick Goodchild and Darren Stone watching on from the sidelines.

Before many had taken their seats, three goals were scored in a chaotic opening five minutes. With 90 seconds on the clock, the hosts were ahead; a bouncing ball on the edge of the area fell the way of Matthew McNab who's first time half-volley curled as if on a string, down into the bottom right corner past Blueys' goalkeeper Adam Rodriguez.

Two minutes later, Tarrawanna hit back with a goal of their own - a breakaway down their right wing by Liam Unicomb, bursting into the box and shooting low across goal, netting in the bottom right corner to level scores at 1-1.

Incredibly, within three minutes of conceding, Tarrawanna led 2-1. Ex-United striker Brad Acev took advantage of a defensive miscommunication at the back for United, grabbing the ball 6 yards out on a narrow angle, with an open goal at his mercy, rolling home to suddenly have the home side, and their vocal supporters, very much rattled.

From here, the frantic pace of the game continued, both sides peppering the keepers, and going close on a number of occasions. Stephen Domenici went close after ten minutes, cutting in from the left flank and curling a right footed shot at the far top corner, but a great save by Rodriguez turned it away.

From there, Tarra again went on the offensive, comfortably controlling the midfield as Daniel Goodhew and Samuel Chapple pestered United players constantly out of time and possession. Such was their pressing game, United were struggling to maintain any possession in the Tarrawanna half as the visitors happily passed around the edge of the Lions' area waiting for the incisive moment.

Kouryo Kubota almost grabbed a Tarrawanna third on twenty minutes, wriggling past one man in the box, only for a last-second challenge by Alvin Ceccoli smothering the shot off his boot; from 12 yards you'd back the Japanese striker to have United gloveman Sam Nastic worried.

Shortly after, Acev played Unicomb into the area, the winger hooping his shot around Nastic only for it to fly inches wide of the upright, but United broke down the right flank moments later, Daisuke Yuzawa finding McNab at the far post with a deep cros. His first-time shot beating Rodriguez low to his near post as McNab's brace once again brought scores level.

Coming out of the sheds and with scores locked at 2-2, an exciting second stanza was expected, and the chances were still freely flowing. Tarrawanna appeared to be fading in energy after a monumental first half taking the game to the hosts, and United enjoyed the lion's share of possession and quality opportunities.

Minutes after the resumption of play, Nathan Elasi nearly squeezed a low drive through traffic from 20 yards, Rodriguez advancing through the pack to get a hand on the ball and stifle any pace it had, as he backtracked to dive on it. Two minutes later, Maty Brennan went marauding down the touchline and perfectly picked out Elasi on the penalty spot, but his shot was straight at Rodriguez for a simple save.

Rodriguez must have been feeling the heat as McNab wrong-footed him from a 25-yard free kick, only to see the dipping shot sail just over the crossbar.

Rodriguez was thick in teh action as he had to palm an in-swinging McNab corner away from the far post, then minutes later Elasi beat the gloveman with a twisting run, only for his shot to strike the upright and go clear of goal. McNab again reached the by-line and squared for Elasi, but again the striker managed to fluff a golden chance, skying his shot from 6 yards out, much to the relief of the Tarrawanna defence.

It seemed only a matter of time until United would score and open the floodgates, but time after time, the player on the end of the final ball managed to put the ball everywhere but in the net; Yuzawa hit wide across goal; Sam Munro looping a shot over the defence with Rodriguez scrambling in time to tap the ball over the crossbar; Domenici's dangerous cross punched clear, with Rodriguez diving at the feet of Elasi before a shot could be made.

In the only chance of the half for the visitors, a quick free kick on the counter afforded substitute Jared Fish a flashing shot from 20 yards, however with Nastic beaten, the bounce went just wide of the near post, and play resumed with United back on the offence down the other end.

Into stoppage time, United substitute Sam Matthews found the ball at his feet in the box after a scuffed clearance, but on three attempts, all shots were blocked by desperate Tarrawanna bodies being thrown in-front of the ball to smother.

As full time was called, Tarrawanna had very much earned a well-deserved point. To have caught United out early on and put goals on the board, then defend for best part of 50 minutes, was a Herculean effort. United on the other hand, would see perhaps see this game as two points lost; had it not been for a terrible day in front of goal for Elasi and co. They could have easily had half a dozen goals, but that is football.

This result sees United stay in 6th place, now on 4 points, however a win in their midweek match against Corrimal on Tuesday night, will see them maintain touching distance of the league leaders . Meanwhile Tarrawanna will be relieved to have picked up their first points of the campaign following their disappointing start to the season.

Next week, Wollongong United travel to Woonona with Tarrawanna hosting Cringila on Saturday.

 

Saturday 7th April 2018 - Macedonia Park

Wollongong United 2 - McNab 2' 30'

Tarrawanna Blueys 2 - Unicomb 4', Acev 5'

 

Wollongong United - Sam NASTIC, Maty BRENNAN, Ben BROOKS, Alvin CECCOLI, Stephen DOMENICI, Nathan ELASI, Kazuto KUSHIDA, Zac MCLAREN, Matthew MCNAB, Sam MUNRO, Daisuke YUZAWA

Subs - Ben WUNSCH, Sam MATTHEWS (on for MCNAB), Jackson BROOKS (on for Ben BROOKS), Cody WALLER (on for DOMENICI), Jake LEIGHTON

Tarrawanna Blueys - Adam RODRIGUEZ, Matthew NAYLOR, Bradley DURRANT, Corey HORNER, Jake MORLANDO, Daniel GOODHEW, Daniel CHAPMAN, Samuel CHAPPLE, Bradley ACEV, Kouryo KUBOTA, Liam UNICOMB

Subs - Jared FISH (on for KUBOTA), Jacob FRYDAY (on for AVEV), Takumi MACHIDA, Nicholas TOMASIELLO, Bradley JONES

 

Referee - Bobby MAZEVSKI

Assistants - Brodie MERCHANT, Tristan JAMES

 

Report by David ATHERTON, Twitter @daveatho5

Photo Courtesy of Dana Guthrie