Wollongong United defeated Tarrawanna 3-2 in an exhilarating affair at Tarrawanna Oval. United came into the game in a bad run of form failing to win in their last three matches the most recent of these being a 1-1 draw with the 11th placed Picton. Knowing they needed a result they would have to put an admirable display to beat their opponents Tarrawanna who with a win could go within a point of United who were sitting in 4th place.

After a fast-paced opening to the game, the first chance went the way of Tarrawanna when Unicomb found some space in the right-hand channel getting a right-footed shot on goal which went across the keeper and onto the post.

Five minutes later Wollongong United responded as Nathan Elasi was able to turn outside the box and get a shot on goal but failed to test the keeper. With a quarter of an hour played Wollongong United came forward again when Sam Munro’s corner came out to Kenta Azechi on the edge of the box who attempted to volley a strike goalwards but got it all wrong and the ball ended but behind the goal.

A couple of minutes later Azechi was involved again when a failed attack from Tarrawanna meant United could counter through Munro who drove forward with the ball into the Blueys half eventually releasing the ball to Azechi who cut inside onto his right foot and unleashed a strike which just cleared the crossbar.

Halfway through the first half Tarrawanna opened the scoring when a ball whipped in from Jacob Fryday from the left-hand-side was brought down well by Jared Fish who was able to turn in the box and put the ball into the bottom corner and out of the reach of Sam Nastic.

Wollongong United responded ten minutes later as Daisuke Yuzawa made inroads down the right-hand-side and then delivered a teasing ball into the box which was just cut out by Bradley Durrant for Tarrawanna. Two minutes later Tarrawanna could’ve doubled their lead when Jarred Fish made his way into the box from the right-hand-side, weaving through several challenges and striking an effort goalwards which was deflected wide of the goal.

Wollongong United needed to start making their chances count if they wanted to get back into the game before halftime. This eventuated five minutes from the break when a right-footed shot from Munro on the edge of the box rolled onto the post and into the path of Nathan Elasi who tapped into the empty net. Two minutes later United were in the lead, Elasi scoring his second of the game finishing a ball into the far corner.

In the space of a couple of minutes, Wollongong United had completely flipped the game on its head meaning despite Tarrawanna’s positive start they found themselves behind at the break.

The second half began with Tarrawanna coming forward through Liam Unicomb who hit a left-footed shot which was held well by Nastic. Three minutes later Tarrawanna won a freekick on the edge of the box, Samuel Chapple stepped up and tried to curl a ball over the wall and into the top corner but missed the target.

In the 53rd minute, Elasi had an opportunity to secure his hattrick when a ball fell to him inside the box and he fired a shot goalwards but Adam Rodriguez stood tall and made a big save. Four minutes later, Elasi had another chance to score as a freekick whipped in gave him the opportunity to get a shot on target, his right-footed effort stung the palms of Rodriguez but no more. Two minutes later, Tarrawanna equalised when a cross from the left-hand-side deflected towards goal meaning Nastic could only parry the ball into the path of Darren Stone who tapped in.

On the hour mark, United came forward searching for a winner as a ball into Elasi was held up well and laying the ball off to Matthew Gordon allowed him to deliver a ball into the box for Kazuto Kushida who was running onto the ball, but his header went wide.

Into stoppage time Wollongong United came forwards one last time looking for what would be a much needed three points. Daisuke Yuzawa received the ball on the left-hand-side finding substitute Cody Waller on the overlap who squeezed a shot under Rodriguez meaning jubilant celebrations from the Wollongong United faithful. The points seemed secure for United but very late into stoppage time Tarrawanna’s Unicomb lined up a strike and ferociously thundered the ball off of the crossbar much to the relief of Wollongong United. The game finally ended moments later.

A very tight game which could’ve gone either way, in the end, United snatched the points which could secure them 4th position providing no further slip-ups between now and the end of the season. It was an important brace for Elasi as he has now scored four goals in his last five games and this could be a huge advantage for Wollongong United having a scoring striker going into the final stages of the regular season.

United face Woonona next time out who have caused a few tight games so far this season. As for Tarrawanna, they will be disappointed they came out with nothing despite being on top in parts. They travel to face Cringila who are without a win in their past eight games.

 

Saturday 23^rd June 2018 at Tarrawanna Oval

Tarrawanna – 2 (Fish 23’, Stone 68’)

Wollongong United – 3 (Elasi 39’, 41’, Waller 92’)

 

Tarrawanna Blueys: Adam RODRIGUEZ, Matthew NAYLOR, Bradley DURRANT, Samuel CHAPPLE, Jacob FRYDAY, Daniel GOODHEW, Liam UNICOMB, Darren STONE, Jared FISH, Rick GOODCHILD, Takumi MACHIDA

Substitutes: Jake MORLANDO (MACHIDA), Bradley ACEV (FISH), Benjamin LEARMONTH, Nelson REID, Bradley JONES

 

Wollongong United: Sam NASTIC, Kenta AZECHI, Benjamin BROOKS, Mark EVERY, Nathan ELASI, Matthew GORDON, Dominic HUDAP, Kazuto KUSHIDA, Hayden MORTON, Sam MUNRO, Daisuke YUZAWA

Substitutes: Cody WALLER (AZECHI), Zacharie NICHOLAS (EVERY), Jackson BROOKS, Jacob MARTIN, Ben WUNSCH

 

Referee: Bobby MAZEVSKI

Assistant Referees: Jake MARKHAM and Brodie MERCHANT

 

Report by Timothy Gibson, on Twitter @timg123_

Photo by Noel Wynn