The Wanderers NPL NSW side moved a point closer to safety after a drama-filled 3-3 draw with Rockdale Ilinden at Wanderers Football Park on Saturday.
The Wanderers twice held a two goal lead, but were pegged back by an experienced Rockdale side, with league top scorer Alec Urosevski scoring a double.
The side flew out of the traps, winning an early free kick in a dangerous position that Nicolas Milanovic thundered onto the crossbar after six minutes.
He wouldn’t be so unlucky just seconds later from a corner, when he got away from his marker and headed home powerfully into the goal.
The Wanderers were full of running and intent, and the lead was doubled in the 19th minute when the right side of the field was overloaded, leading to Younis putting a dangerous cross into the area that defender Nikola Ujdur could only bundle home into his own goal.
After half an hour the visitors began to get on the ball and create chances, and they pulled a goal back through Diego Celis in the 37th minute when he got on the end of a Bai Anoniou cross.
The Wanderers hit back straight away though as Nathaneal Blair took advantage of indecision from the Rockdale defence, stole the ball on the halfway line and ran onto goal, finishing brilliantly past Ricardo Rizzo in the Rockdale goal.
However a side like Rockdale are always a threat, and they scored a second from a set piece, with Urosevski getting the final touch at the back post just before half time.
The away side had more intent in the second half and put the Wanderers under pressure, though debutant Sunday Yona and Teng Kuol had chances to restore the two goal lead.
Those chances weren’t taken, and eventually Rockdale took one of their own as they won the ball high up the pitch, leading to Urosevski getting in on goal and pulling off a composed finish past Caruso.
Wanderers substitute Adam Bugarija almost won the game for his side when he latched onto a loose ball in the box, but his low drive cannoned off the post and away from the goal, meaning both sides had to settle for a point.
