JJ Kelly Park was treated to a fast paced but at times scrappy game between two top four sides who before the match still had aspirations of a League Championship.
The game lived up to the pre-match hype with the home side hitting the lead on 31 minutes before Wollongong Olympic took clawed their way back to won 2-1.
The away side started brightly with some great chances inside the first 10 minutes. In the fifth minute, Olympic forward Tory Musumeci had a crack from range but sent it over the bar.
Two minutes later, Musemeci had another effort go curling wide.
Olympic got the ball back almost straight away and immediately went on the attack. Musemeci received the ball and cut it back for the on running Harry Callahan whose first-time shot was expertly tipped over the bar.
Coniston’s first chance came in the 16th minute when Samuel Matthews blasted the ball way over the bar from close range after a Lukas Stergiou ball was sent into the area.
Just after the half hour mark, Coniston made it 1-0. Van Elia put a beautiful ball in for Adam Voloder who finished superbly with a dink over the keeper.
With the home side scoring first, the Olympic players turned up the intensity and started to take control of the possession which frustrated the home side.
Eight minutes later Jake Trew was run into the box for Olympic but he got tripped right as he got to the ball. A penalty was awarded, and Rick Goodchild stepped up to the spot. He placed it well down the left although the keeper will be kicking himself as he guessed the correct side but just could not get a hand to it.
Just before the break, Voloder was through on goal. Olympic keeper Chris Fuentez rushed out to clear the ball but missed and the ball rolled past. Voloder almost tucked it away, but Wollongong defender Josh Alcon came in and cleared it just before it rolled in.
The half time whistle blew just as the intensity, aggression and high pace play was starting to build up. The teams went into the locker rooms all square at one a piece.
Seven minutes after the break, Olympic completed the comeback. Callahan skipped past a couple of defenders just outside the box and passed it off to Goodchild who swung at it and smashed it first time into the right-hand side to grab his second as well as putting his side up 2-1.
Very few scoring opportunities were presented in the last half an hour as play got a little messy with regular infringements form both sides. The referee had a busy afternoon trying to keep a lid on a game that featured seven yellow cards including two to the Coniston coaching staff.
Wollongong Olympic did however almost extend their lead twice in the last 10 minutes. The first chance went sailing over the bar from Goodchild’s long range half volley attempt.
In the final minute of the game Olympic midfielder, John Martinovski had his shot stopped from going into the bottom left which would’ve put the game to bed completely.
Wollongong Olympic managed to see out the game and grab all three points away from home and keep their slim hopes of a League Championship alive.
Coniston on the other saw their League title hopes disappear as they now look to consolidate a finals position over the final few weeks.
Coniston 1
Wollongong Olympic 2
Coniston: 1. HARRISON Kayden, 2. MATTHEWS Samuel, 3. KAYANO Takayuki, 4. BLACK Tyson, 5. LOE Daniel, 6. STERGIOU Lukas, 7. VOLODER Adam, 10. ELIA Van, 17. ZUFIC Jason, 19. NORRA Toby, 34. D’OLMEIDA Ekoue
Bench: 15. DUCKINOKSI Aleksandar, 35. STERN Daniel, 9. TSANENTSCHER Matthew, 14. SACCO Gian, 20. MATIAS Harrison
Wollongong Olympic: 20. FUENTEZ Chris, 6. HARTAS David, 17. O’ROUKE James, 3. ALCON Josh, 10. GOODCHILD RICK, 11. CALLAHAN Harry, 2. TRUE Jake, 9. MUSUMECI Tory, 14. WHILEY Liam, 12. LOW Brendan, 4. PRICE Chris
Bench: 25. MARTINOVSKI John, 8. LAVELLE Joe, 13. LOWCOCK Sandy, 7. JONES Harrison, 1. PARSFIELD Justin
Date: Sunday 27 August 2022
Venue: JJ Kelly Park
