South Coast Wolves settle for draw

South Coast travelled to Melita Park with the hope of kick starting their campaign but couldn’t find a way past the league’s newest team.

‘‘It was a very scrappy affair,’’ Arrarte said.

‘‘It was windy conditions but it was a game there for us to win and we didn’t capitalise. We didn’t keep the ball well enough and it started to become very scrappy. It become more like a wrestling match then a football game at times. 

‘‘We gave the ball away too easy.’’

A strong defence display meant the bulk of Parramatta’s chances came from long range or from free-kicks throughout the first half.

The back four of Dhari Alsaad, Chris Price, Darcy Madden and James O’Rourke continued to stand tall and gave the Wolves every chance of stealing the points.

Parramatta would eventually hit the crossbar midway through the second half but that was as close as either team came to finding the net during the 90-minutes.

‘‘The positive thing for us is that we didn’t concede which is the first time all year that we kept a cleansheet,’’ Arrarte said.

‘‘It is a little step in the right direction. They never really troubled us except when the hit the bar but from our perspective the cleansheet was good.’’

The point is the Wolves third so far this campaign and second in succession after they drew 1-1 with Blacktown Spartans last weekend.

It sees them sit 10th on the ladder, level with Marconi Stallions and two clear of Rockdale City Suns, who have two games in hand.

They will have another chance to get their first win when Bonnyrigg White Eagles come to Wollongong on Thursday night.

Arrarte said he would monitor his squad before the clash given the short turnaround. 

‘‘We have got Bonnyrigg in four days so in the space of 10 days the boys will have played four games. It is a big ask for semi-professional players to back up,’’ he said.

‘‘The boys are working hard and hopefully we can get three points at home against Bonnyrigg.’’