With the chance to move seven points clear of the bottom rung on offer, the Wolves couldn’t hit the target against a battling Spartans outfit who produced an impressive display at Blacktown Football Park.

The hosts were dominant in the first half and were unlucky not to go into the sheds a goal to the good before the Wolves fought back in the second stanza to earn a share of the spoils.

Wollongong coach Jacob Timpano felt it was a fair result despite being outplayed in the first half.

“For the first 45 minutes they were outstanding,” he said.

“It was probably the best 45 minutes I have seen a team put together since I have been coaching.

“We were fortunate to go in at 0-0, but we weathered the storm and it was probably a game of two halves.

“We changed some things around at half time and second half we dominated.

“We had some chances to take the three points but on the balance of it is was a fair result.”

Chances fell thick and fast to Blacktown in the first half.

The first fell to Futa Nakamura inside the opening five minutes, but his effort went wide of the mark.

Shu Sasaki and Yianni Perkatis both had opportunities later in the half, but were denied either by great keeping by Justin Pasfield or lacklustre marksmanship.

Wollongong emerged from the sheds after the break far an improved force.

They traded chances with the Spartans during a tight second stanza.

Pasfield produced some more stunning work between the sticks in the 64^th minute to deny Sasaki.

He would eventually be rewarded with a well-earned cleansheet at full time when scores finished scoreless.

The draw is Wollongong’s fourth in succession away from home and the club’s third from their past four matches in the top flight.

“I think the boys can take a bit from that,” Timpano said of the club’s recent form. “It isn’t all doom and gloom. I think the biggest thing is to find the back of the net.”