(Game at Symour Shaw - BOTN Photo Mark Taylor)

In recent weeks Sutherland have been off to their usual slow start to the season and with South Coast also winless after two rounds, this was a must-win game for both sides. Some tipsters would have predicted a draw but Sutherland’s pedigree going into the game was always going to be troubling for the Wolves.

Sutherland have a very strong combination up front with new recruit Huseyin Lasli co-ordinating well with Blake Powell and the polished playmaker Chris Price. Their attacks from the left and right sides always looked dangerous.

This was evident as early as the 5th minute when Blake Powell did some good work on the left and crossed to Chris Price whose shot was deflected for a corner by South Coast 'keeper Brody Crane.

Six minutes later, Lasli had a golden chance when he pounced on a bouncing clearance booted "Wimbledonesquely" upfield from the Sharks defence, lobbed the ball over the Wolves defence and found himself with only Crane to beat. Unfortunately for him he miskicked his shot tamely after doing all the hard work.

South Coast looked dangerous at times and had a number of half chances as well as two shots from Tayfun Buyukkopru in the 15th minute and especially from Andrew Paine in the 17th minute which required good saves from Nathan Denham.

Finally the the deadlock was broken in the 27th minute when Yianni Fragogiannis played a lovely long pin-point cross from the right side to an unmarked Blake Powell on the left, who headed home Sutherland’s first goal just inside the right post and past the diving keeper.

Both sides continued to press home attacks and the South Coast defence, playing the off-side trap well, broke down some dangerous Sutherland raids.

After the break, the Wolves came out sniffing for blood and Lisanndro Berbis struck a thunderbolt that was parried by Denham just 3 minutes into the second term.

But such are the cruel fortunes of football and instead of being on level terms, the Wolves suddenly found themselves two nil down in the 51st minute. Some woeful marking in the South Coast defence allowed the elusive Lasli enough space to pounce on a loose ball in the box and unselfishly pass it to unmarked Chris Price who struck the ball past the hapless keeper, Crane, into the back of the net!

2-0 it was and despite a number of South Coast tactical changes, the Sutherland defence stood firm to keep a clean sheet and win the game that they had to win.

In Grade-20 division - Sutherland Sharks and South Coast Wolves played out a 2-2 draw.