Goals from Matt Floro and Moto Kinjo sealed victory for Wollongong United in a hard-fought tie at Wetherall Park on Sunday. Port Kembla’s miserable run continues, with this result leaving the team winless since Round 4 in mid-April.

The home side started the brighter, with early efforts on goal from Carlo Stella who fired over in the second minute, Matthew Werakso whose long-range shot was easily taken by Zlatko Josevski in the Wollongong goal and the best early chance falling to striker Nuno Pires who shot just wide of the upright in the fifth minute.

The visitors scored with their first attempt in the 14^th minute. Floro picked the ball up on the edge of the area, turned and switched making space for his right foot shot which he placed perfectly beyond the reach of David Poiera in the Port Kembla goal.

And United came close to doubling their lead minutes later when a free kick dipped late and was tipped onto the bar by Poiera.

But once Port had settled, they began to build pressure themselves and the next 20 minutes were their strongest period of the game. Wollongong’s defence held firm until the half hour mark when Stella launched a long free kick from the right touchline. It was cleared only as far as Pires whose volley flew through a crowded area into the back of the net for the equaliser.

With the momentum behind them, the home side pushed for a second goal, but there was always a defender’s boot in the way when shots flew goalbound from Mark Picciolini and Pires just before the break.

Port again started the brighter in the second half. Matt Tesoriero set up Pires in the 50^th minute and although the Kembla striker found the net, the flag had gone up for offside.

Wollongong responded well, though, with right back Daisuke Yuzawa starting some of his penetrating runs down the flank putting pressure on the Port defence. In the 56^th minute the pressure paid off. Johnny Martinoski’s ball across the edge of the area found Kinjo unmarked just inside the box. His left foot drive gave Poiera little chance and proved to be the winner.

Once again, the goal shifted the momentum and United could have gone further ahead minutes later when Floro and Martinoski linked up well, with just the woodwork keeping the ball out.

Kembla captain Peter Richardson almost scored a dramatic own goal with a clearance blasted just over his own crossbar, but then ran half the length of the pitch and could have scored a brilliant solo goal if the Wollongong defence had not back-pedalled in time to steer him towards the touchline.

In the dying minutes, Port continued to press for another equaliser. Substitute Zac Mazevski won a free-kick just outside the area, but the set-piece came to nothing. And right at the death Tesoriero pulled the ball back for Pires to try another volley, but this time his effort flew over the bar. And United had held on for victory.

Coach Oliver Vrtkovski was pleased with his team’s efforts: “Credit to the lads today. It was a tough game. I thought we kept possession well and at the end of the day defended well when they were pushing forward in numbers. We kept our shape and although both teams had chances, we took ours and they didn’t.”

Commenting after his team’s third successive defeat Port Kembla coach Stuart Beedie insisted his side would turn the corner. Whether bad luck or decisions, “things are just going against us at the moment. But I’m happier with the overall performance over 90 minutes today. We’ll get our heads down in training on Tuesday and move forward.”

In other games, Albion Park beat South Coast United 5-1, Wollongong Olympic continued their winning streak with a 4-0 win over Bellambi whilst Shell Cove held Bulli to a 2-2 draw. Tarrawanna was too good for Woonona winning 4-0 whilst Dapto Dandaloo Fury whacked 6 past Cringila Lions on Friday night and South Coast United on Sunday.

- Simon Duffin -