Bankstown leave it late at the Den
The first five minutes of the game looked tied up in the middle of the park, with both sides trying to make an early breakthrough.
However it was Bankstown City midfielder Robert Mileski with the first chance of the match after his strike from inside the 18 yard box was well pushed away by Macarthur?s Brody Crane.
Bankstown City looked sharp and was in control of the game in the 7? minute as James Monie provided a great cross from the right side, only for Paul Harries? shot to just miss the right side of goal.
In the 8?? minute Bankstown City had the best chance of the game to open the scoring, Paul Harries in the thick of it again, this time providing a through ball to James Monie who was one-on-one with the keeper only for his finish to let him down with the shot rolling straight into the hands of Brody Crane.
Macarthur was struggling to hold possession however the stand outs were Jason Lewis and Michael Brown who showed some dominant link-up play along with some strong defensive work.
In the 21? minute? Macarthur formed a counter-attack off a Bankstown corner, Macarthur?s Hugo Coronel sprinted into the 18-yard box in a great position to strike from 10-meters out, however he hesitated at the final moment and his shot was blocked by the Bankstown defence.
Macarthur were again on the counterattack in the 22? minute, Daniel McCann played a great ball down the left side to Hugo Coronel for his inside ball to link-up with former Bankstown City player Sam Mort, who slotted the ball passed Bankstown keeper Zlatko Josevski to open the scoring.
Bankstown City looked keen to hit back right away when Shane Webb struck a great shot outside the 18 yard box only for Macarthur?s Brody Crane to make another spectacular save.
Bankstown City looked dangerous and was playing some great football through Mileski and Soleski, and they were rewarded when Mileski was brought down in the box in the 27? minute.
Despite the opportunity to level proceedings Paul Harries penalty attempt was well saved by the inform Brody Crane.
Moments before half-time the home side again came close this time it was from a corner only for Mileski?s shot to be cleared off the line by the Macarthur defence.
The second-half was a one-sided game with Bankstown City providing some great link-up play, again Soleski and Mileski in the thick of the action, however it was a 30-metre wonder-strike from Tayfun Devrimol in the 46? minute which left Macarthur?s keeper Brody Crane stunned.
The game was becoming more intense with the home side gaining the confidence to take the game away from the Rams, they nearly produced a second shortly after, only for Shane Webb?s attempted volley from 20 metres out to be well saved by Brody Crane.
Macarthur were looking fragile in the middle of the park however Michael Brown was the stand-out with his defensive work and attacking attitude trying to salvage a point for the side.
Bankstown City kept piling on the pressure, Paul Harries came close with a great strike in the 61? minute however once again Brody Crane was equal to the task pushing away the shot.
Macarthur could have sneaked a goal in the 74? minute Sam Mort made a great run down the left side of the field beating the defender only for his shot to sail wide of the post.
Bankstown?s Stefce Soleski nearly set-up the winner when his cross from the left side dropped nicely for James Monie only for his volley from five meters out to be blasted over the bar.
The pressure from the Lions proved costly as frustration kicked in at the 87t? minute when Bankstown City was awarded a free-kick just outside the 18 yard box. Robert Mileski?s free-kick curled wickedly beating Brody Crane to give the home side a 2-1 win and a well deserved three points.
Bankstown City?s assistant manager Peter Papoythis was pleased with the result, however he said that the side needed to improve on finishing the games off completely.
?I thought we dominated most of the game however I felt that we needed to put away a lot of our chances. It?s all good to create the plays but at the end of the day it?s about scoring the goals and we need to improve in-front of goal so that we can gain confidence in the next game.?
Match Stats
Bankstown City Lions 2 (Tayfun Devrimol 46?, Robert Mileski 87?)
Macarthur Rams 1 (Sam Mort 22?)
Venue: Jensen Park, Bankstown
Referee: Nathan Rice
Bankstown City: 1. Zlatko Josevski, 2. Ibrahim Haydar, 3. Shane Webb, 4. Brett Studman, 5. Richard Luksic, 8. George Nohra, 9. James Monie, 10. Robert Mileski, 12. Stefce Soleski, 16. Tayfun Devrimol, 19. Paul Harries. (Matthew Borg 63?), (C. Cody 81?) (Omar Saadi 90?)
Substitutes Not Used: (20. A. Bazi)
Yellow Cards: Brett Studman, Paul Harries, George Nohra.
Red Cards: Nil
Macarthur Rams: 1. Brody Crane, 3. Adel El Jamal, 4. Jason Lewis, 5. Michael Brown, 6. David Gardiner, 7. Matt Toogood, 11. Sam Mort, 14. Daniel McCann, 16. Steven Baveas, 18. Hugo Coronel, 19. Paul Crisp. (15. Andrew Keady 69? ), (21. Renato Jelen 81?)
Substitutes Not Used: 20. Matthew Kasbarian, 39. Shannon Hankin, 37. Craig Cooley
Yellow Cards: Michael Brown, Sam Mort
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings:
3 ? Michael Brown (MR)
2 ? Robert Mileski (BC)
1 ? Brody Crane (MR)
-By Johnny Casni
