Wollongong haven’t beaten City since 2010 and have struggled at Lily Holmes Stadium in the past, but came within a whisker of breaking that drought in a well-earned 1-1 draw.

Timpano was content with a point despite nearly taking all of the spoils late in the piece. 

"I think it was a fantastic start to the second half of the season,"  he said.

"We've only lost one of our last four now in the league and can build some real momentum into this second round of games now.

"The boys can take some confidence from it."

The draw keeps the seventh placed Wolves on level points with Sutherland (fifth), who they only trail on goal difference. Socceroos great Luke Wilkshire scored his first goal for Wollongong in the match with a superb half volley early in the second half.

It helped the visitors to get back on level terms. 

Blacktown striker Joey Gibbs had put City in front when he put his well-placed shot out of Wollongong keeper Justin Pasfield’s reach five minutes before half time. 

Wollongong overran City in the final 20 minutes, but had to be content with a share of the points. 

"It was almost the perfect day but if you'd have said we would come here and get a draw against a quality side like Blacktown then I would have taken it any day of the week," Timpano said.

"The plan was to come here and contain which we did for the most part and we dominated parts of the game as well. We finished strong as well and we did it in good fashion."