Conference League Southern Round 13 Review

But more so, the results have created a real quagmire at the top of ladder.
The new leaders are Hakoah, who avenged their first round defeat at by White City at E.S.Marks Field by beating them at Calabria Sports Ground 2-1.
Joseph opened the scoring for Hakoah on 20 minutes, and Mundell made it two with a goal in the 58^th..
Alavanja?s penalty in the 75^th minute gave White City some hope, but Hakoah held on to take the points, and are now top of the ladder on goal difference.
Camden Tigers were knocked off their perch by the resurgent Lilli Pilli, who beat the previous leaders 1-0 with a goal by Beare on 63 minutes, consolidating their position in the top four, although they have played all their quota of games.
The final game saw Colo Colo Wanderers score ten goals for the second week running, hammering Fairfield Bulls 10-1 at Ninevah Club Soccer Field.
League top scorer Navarrete was at it again, grabbing four goals on the day and taking his total for the season to a remarkable 20 goals in 10 games.
Other scorers for Wanderers were Peti, who nabbed a hatrick, and Olivares, Troncoso and Hidalgo, who all scored singles.
Sevastian scored a consolation goal for the Bulls on 62 minutes.
Sydney Cedars had the weekend off via the bye.
So the congested ladder now reads ?.
–          Hakoah and Camden Tigers, both equal first on 22 points from 11 games
–          White City are on 21 points from 10 games
–          Lilli Pilli are on 18 points from 12 games
–          Gazy Lansvale are on 17 points from 9 games
–          Colo Colo 15 points from 10 games, and
–          Sydney Cedars are on 13 points from 9 matches
? so strap yourselves in for what promises to be a hectic run-in to the end of the season and a spot in the finals.
Match of the Round
?GAZY GO CRAZY WITH LATE WINNER?
Unlike recent weekends, Sunday produced an afternoon of sparkling sunshine and beautiful weather, with no rain or thunderstorms anywhere to be seen for the first time in weeks. Unfortunately, the football at Knight Park was anything but beautiful, with Gazy Lansvale grabbing a late winner to beat bottom placed Greenisland in a drab affair.
Gazy did have the better of play early on, keeping possession and trying to open up a stubborn Greenisland side, intent on keeping the visitors at bay for as long as possible.
Despite having most of the ball, Gazy?s first chance didn?t arrive until the 15^th minute, when Thenewill?s corner was cleared straight to Reda on the edge of the box, but his volley sailed high and wide of the mark.
A minute later, and Gazy?s domination paid dividends when Aslan slipped a through ball to Burnic, and the burly striker took a touch, before drilling a low shot into the far bottom corner of the net past Uzunlar in the Greenisland goal.
In the 23^rd minute and totally against the run of play, Greenisland equalized with a clinical strike. Elegant midfielder Licanin beat two players near the halfway line with a swift spin and swivel, and released Bulli with a beautifully weighted through pass.
The big striker raced onto it and and hit a shot first time from fully 25 yards, the ball rocketing into the top corner of Kurtovic?s goal to restore parity for the home side.
Gazy replied minutes later when Burnic beat a defender to whip in a cross for Aslan, who?s close range volley was superbly parried by Uzunlar for a corner.
The resultant corner was headed firmly downwards by Burnic towards goal, only for Uzunlar to once again parry and keep his side in the match.
On 33 minutes, Grennisland?s Elevren broke through a couple of challenges before shooting straight at Kurtovic from 25 yards, when he should?ve probably brought the ball closer before letting fly.
Greenisland then had two good opportunities just before half time to take the lead, both falling to quick striker Ozkin. On 40 minutes, Elevren sent Ozkin away down the left with a high ball played over the top of the defence, and he steadied as he entered the area before hitting a cross shot from an acute angle that went well over the bar.
A minute before half time, nippy little midfielder Kim beat two Gazy opponents in a run down the right wing before crossing to Ozkin. The unmarked striker took a touch to control the ball and disappointingly sliced his volley well wide of the posts from right in front of goal.
So it was one-all at the break, and both teams went into the sheds hoping to rejuvenate themselves, possibly with some refreshments, definitely with some words of encouragement from the two coaches,  both wanting to pull out all stops to win this football match.
Greenisland had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead as early as the 2^nd minute of the second half. Kim beat the offside trap with a great pass to Bulli, and the striker steadied himself as he raced in on goal, before hitting his shot straight at Gazy?s keeper Kurtovic, spreading himself well in making the point blank save.
In the 53^rd minute, Gazy striker Burnic, having scored his 10^th goal of the season in the first half, almost made it 11 with a great effort. Receiving the ball direct from a throw in near the edge of the side of the box, Burnic turned Greenisland defender Barnett before unleashing a missile from an acute angle that cannoned to safety off the outside of the post.
Down the other end of the pitch we went and within a minute, Bulli almost had his second for Greenisland, his close range volley tipped over the bar by Gazy keeper Kurtovic after the keeper himself had skied an attempted clearance.
Bulli was proving a menace for Gazy, and in the 63^rd minute, he picked up a long clearance from his own keeper, Uzunlar, to hold off a defender before hitting a snapshot just past the left upright.
Burnic set up a great chance for Gazy only a minute later, when he weaved in and out of a couple of defenders down the flank, his firm low cross evading all and sundry as it raced across the face of the goal.
The second half was a lot more even than the first, with both teams eager to take the initiative by scoring the next goal, and both sets of players going toe to toe as they made one last ditch effort to earn the points.
The winner came in the 80^th minute, and it was a swift team effort with a composed finish that finished proceedings. Substitute Merbegovic played a ball over the top to Burnic, who raced down the left wing, before cutting inside and crossing low into the centre of the box. Thenewill was unmarked as he got on the end of the cross, steadying himself, before placing a low crisp shot past Uzunlar and into the bottom corner of the net. 
Best for the visitors, Gazy Lansvale, in their 2-1 win, were ; midfielder Reda, who often set up attacking plays for Gazy with his deft touches ; striker Burnic, who was quick, strong and a real threat every time he had the ball near the Greenisland goal, scoring a great goal in the process ; and midfielder Thenewill, who worked very hard in midfeld, winning possession many a time with his effective tackles and determination, also scoring a great goal as reward for his efforts.
Best for the home side, Greenisland, were ; defender Ayasli, who had a strong game at right back, often clearing the danger as Gazy threatened ; defensive midfielder Mansaray, strong and tough in the tackle ; and midfielder Kim, who was swift and effective in his distribution.
Match Stats
GREENISLAND SFC 1 (Bulli 23?)
GAZY LANSVALE FC 2 (Burnic 16?, Thenewill 80?)
GREENISLAND ; 40. Uzunlar, 23. Barnett ?, 7. Salih, 17. Ayasli, 30. Mansaray, 9. Elevren, 14. Ozkin, 24. Jones (33. Ince 75?), 6. Licanin (16. Tower 70?),
31. Kim(22. Karmakoah 82?), 15. Bulli.
Subs not used : RGK. Yalim.
GAZY LANSVALE ; 1. Kurtovic, 7. Odisho (14. Rusev 30?), 12. Helal, 5. Mikhil, 17. Vargas, 15. Manirakuza, 13. Derbass, 6. Aslan (10. Merbegovic 73?), 16. Burnic ?, 11. Thenewill, 9. Reda (4. Harbas 76?).
Subs not used : RGK. Smazic.
-By Frank Speranza