While the visitors had their opportunities, it was the reigning NSW NPL champions who were clinical in attack at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

In the end, two quick bursts of two goals proved the difference between the two teams.

Alec Urosevski and Kyle Cimenti mustered first half goals in the space of seven minutes to give Rockdale a 2-0 lead. The pair then both completed their braces late in the game to put the icing on the cake.

Goalkeeper David Bradasevic was superb at the other end, making numerous big saves during both halves.

"I think we made it hard for ourselves in the first half. We conceded two poor goals from our own mistakes, which then made it tough for us," he said. "And I'll take (responsibility for) the last two goals when we tried to chase things, I tried to go for it. But we need to be better when we've got the ball in the front third and we need to be defensively a lot more sound.

"We know it's going to the case where teams make it difficult for us, and play on the counter. It's nothing new for us, but it makes it little bit more challenging for us when we're playing a decent team. They're well structured, they defend well. You need to be clinical when the chances come, which we weren't and they were."

For the Wolves, teenager Jake Lavalle showed promise in the first half, while captain Lachlan Scott and Hamish Lamberton looked lively in attack. However, the visitors sorely missed star striker Thomas James, who remains on the sidelines due to suspension.

After the game, Wilkshire was full of praise for Lavalle.

"Young 'Jakey' did well, that's why he's starting. He's a good young talent," the coach said

"I thought we controlled the game, and it's no different to probably the last couple of years up there, but without getting the result. At the end of the day, we need results and we need to win. Sometimes we're a bit too naive, a little bit too nice. And we'll definitely look to improve on that."

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Rockdale showed plenty of intent from the first whistle and were rewarded after just minutes, with Cimenti receiving a free kick after being dragged down by Wolves defender Darcy Madden inside the box.

Urosevski calmly slotted from the spot, despite gloveman Aidan Munford diving the right way, to give Rockdale a 1-0 lead.

The visitors, however, didn't dwell too long on the goal. At the other end, Brendan Griffin almost curled home a beautiful shot which was pushed away by a lunging Bradasevic.

But it was Rockdale who again scored in the 19^th minute, with Cimenti heading home from short range following a nice cross.

At the other end, Scott found himself one-on-one with Bradasevic, with the goalkeeper making a great save.

Rockdale continued to press hard and nearly had their third goal when Tomoki Wada wound up from long range. However, Munford denied the former Corrimal Illawarra Premier League striker with a high save.

With about 10 minutes left in the half, Scott got into a dangerous position inside the box, but Bradasevic again scrambled to stop the chance.

The Wolves finished the first 45 minutes full of running, but Bradasevic made more saves as Rockdale held a 2-0 lead at the break.

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Whatever Wilkshire said at the break seemed to spark his Wolves, who lifted their intensity in the second half. The visitors had their chances but couldn't find the back of the net, leading the coach to inject new striker Leroy Jennings from the bench.

While all eyes were on Jennings, it was another recruit - Lamberton - who came close to scoring their first goal, only to be denied by some scrambling Rockdale defence.

At the other end, the hosts continued to press hard, with Brayden Sorge's strike denied by a great Munford save with about 15 minutes left.

Soon after, Lamberton had a chance for Wollongong, but Bradasevic was again up to the challenge.

And then came the second goal burst of the game.

Urosevski put the dagger into the Wolves' heart with less than 10 minutes left, curling the ball past a diving Munford to give his team a 3-0 lead. Cimenti then mustered his own double minutes later, as Rockdale rounded out a 4-0 win.