Division 1 Round 18 Review

A frenetic first half started with a goal for Spirit defender, Cunningham, after just 8 minutes. But the Brumbies came roaring back, Miller putting the visitors level when he scored just three minutes later.
Simpson made it 2-1 to Spirit on 22 minutes, and Cunningham grabbed his second when he converted a 40^th minute penalty.
Peatey?s last minute goal rounded off the scoring on the day, extending Spirit four points ahead of second placed Inter Lions.
The Lions had the late kick off on Sunday, 7pm at Arlington Oval, against third placed Stanmore Hawks. Despite going 0-1 down in the first half, goals by Cklamouski and Storey sent the Lions in at the break 2-1 up. Wright grabbed two goals himself in the second half to put the match beyond doubt, even though Stanmore did sneak a late goal to bring the scoreline some respectability. Inter?s 4-2 victory was a welcome return to the winner?s circle after the midweek hiccup against Mounties FC, losing 0-2 at Cook Park on Thursday.
Schofield Scorpions good run of late came unstuck when they were beaten by lowly UNSW 2-3. Mijas put the Scorpions in front on 9 minutes, before Christodoulou equalized for UNSW just five minutes later. Macrae put Schofields in front on 57 minutes, before Groth restored parity in the 64^th minute. The very welcome winner for UNSW came just two minutes later, Christodoulou grabbing his second of the match to give his side the points.
Blacktown Spartans and Mounties FC drew 2-2 at Francis Park, Baldock grabbing an 87^th equalizer for the Mounties FC to continue their recent good form. Earlier, Lloyd had equalized a 23^rd minute Infanti goal for Blacktown by scoring in the 34^th minute. McPherson had put the Spartans back in front just before the break, and that?s the way it stayed until Baldock?s late strike, to give each side a share of the spoils.
The Hurstville derby provided a rare win for the Minotaurs over ZFC, Mertzanakis (50?)and Di Mento (89?) grabbing the second half goals for the visitors.
Match of the Round

 ?BIVIANO HATRICK INSPIRES  DULLY COMEBACK VICTORY ?

Arlington Oval played host on Saturday evening to an interesting clash between Dulwich Hill and Sydney Wanderers, with the home side eager to pick up a valuable three points to keep them in the hunt for a semi final spot.
In their way stood a formidable opponent in Sydney Wanderers, a team that came to play, and a team capable of upsetting their more fancied opponents.
Arlington Oval is really not conducive to free flowing football, with the pitch covered in many tufts of grass all over, making a simple square pass a lottery for both the passer and receiver. But despite this, both sides did adapt quite well, and put on a good night?s entertainment with plenty of goals and goalmouth action.
We didn?t have to wait long for the first goal, and it came as early as the 2^nd minute for the home side. Young Paradisis skipped down the right wing, and played a delightful cross into the middle of the penalty area. Dulwich Hill striker Biviano was the first to react, beating a defender to the ball to divert it past the onrushing Wanderers keeper, Rizzo, and put Dully one up.
Biviano actually could?ve made it two just a couple of minutes later, brilliantly dribbling past two defenders in a run into the box, before hitting a low snapshot that was well saved by Rizzo in the Wanderers goal.
On 8 minutes Dully captain James made a weaving run down the left side, eventually cutting the ball back from the by line for Paradisis to stab over the bar, under pressure from Wanderers defender Dwyer.
Despite Dulwich Hill?s early dominance, Sydney Wanderers pulled a goal back on 15 minutes against the run of play to restore parity. Miranda split open the Dully defence with a low through pass to Ciampa, and he promptly cut the ball back across the goal mouth where Booke tapped in from a couple of yards for the equalizer.
The Wanderers then took the ascendancy and started to really go at the home side, veteran Bourke instrumental in dominating the midfield battle, and Soane and Booke making a real nuisance of themselves up front. Dulwich Hill had probably scored too early, and Sydney Wanderers sensed a little complacency as they dominated proceedings until half time.
It was no surprise then that the Wanderers  took the lead on 31 minutes with a clinical piece of opportunism. A long throw-in into the box was flicked on by Booke, and Soane swooped on the loose ball to crack a shot past Dulwich Hill goal keeper Frost.
Referee Mr Soliman was having a great game in the middle, keeping the discipline in an intense half, and he duly brought proceedings to a halt with the away side deservedly 1-2 up, and looking the goods to go on with it in the second period.
Soane almost extended the Wanderers lead in the 56^th minute when he raced away down the right wing, cut inside and hit a low grass cutter that Dully keeper, Frost, did well to parry into the side netting.
Slowly but surely, Dulwich Hill started to pick up the ante, increasing their workload, especially in their opponents half, and their running off the ball gave the ball carrier options, which in turn started to create opportunities.
On 60 minutes, Biviano picked up a great lofted through pass near the left corner. He turned inside a defender before whipping over a cross, and Paradisis header was sharp and downwards as it bounced past the post to safety.
A minute later and Dully were back on level terms. Paradisis fed James down the right wing and he played an early cross into the penalty area. Wanderers defender Vella scuffed his clearance, and Biviano was the ever alert opportunist, picking up the loose ball, before swiveling in the box and smashing his shot into the roof of the net for the equalizer.
On 65 minutes, Paradisis played a one-two with James, opening up the Wanderers defence, before blasting over from 20 yards, when a short square pass to the screaming and unmarked Biviano may have been a better option.
Dulwich Hill took the lead in the 76^th minute with yet another clinical finish by Biviano. Left back Gabey, of Fox Sports ?Football Superstar? fame, played a one-two with Bove down the left wing before releasing James. The Dulwich Hill skipper, as he had done all night, again played an early intelligent ball low and hard across the face of the goal, and the lurking Biviano was on hand to expertly finish at the far post and put the home side in front, grabbing his well deserved hatrick in the process.
Just seven minutes later, veteran substitute, Tome, who had only just come on, scored a goal reminiscent of years gone by from the ex-NSL forward. Dulwich Hill were awarded a free kick, some 25 yards out to the left of the goalposts. Wanderers keeper Rizzo, unaware he was facing one of the best strikers of the ball going around, veered towards his left of the goal expecting a cross or lob into the penalty area. His positioning was merely an invitation to shoot for Tome, and he hit an absolute piledriver into the unguarded corner of the net for a wonderful goal, putting the result beyond doubt.
The game then fizzled out in the final few minutes, Dulwich Hill playing out time with a couple of late substitutions, thoroughly deserving the three points courtesy of a more focused team performance in the second period.
Anchor midfielder and ex-Socceroo, Raphael Bove, was satisfied with their second half recovery and the subsequent three points ? ?We were flat in the first half, but came out more hungry after the break and our quality shone through,? said Bove.
?Injuries have hampered us all year, as we always seem to have 2/3 players missing and have never fielded our strongest side. If we have everyone back, we can give this competition a shake,? promised Bove.
Best for the winners, Dulwich Hill, were ; striker and man-of-the-match, Biviano ? a real striker in the true sense? strong, quick and smart, making all the right runs in and around the box, and rewarded for his opportunism with a well-executed hatrick ; striker and skipper, James ? again, a very smart player, very sharp both with his athleticism and in his effective distribution of the ball, and often the architect behind many of Dully?s attacking raids ; defender Burrows, who was strong and assertive in defence, often putting a stop to many of the Wanderers raids down the flanks.
For the visitors, Sydney Wanderers, best on the day were ; strikers Soane and Booke, who both scored a goal each, working well as a partnership up front as they constantly pressured the Dully defence with their running and aggressiveness ; veteran midfielder, Bourke, who was strong in the centre of the park, anchoring and controlling the midfield as he provided the ideal link between defence and attack.
Match Stats
Division One
Round Eighteen
Saturday, July 27, 2008
Arlington Oval
1^st Grade
Referee : Mr. A. Soliman
Referee?s Assistants : Mr. J. Blackwood and Mr. S. Robertson.
DULWICH HILL  SC       4 (Biviano 2?/61?/76?, Tome 83?)
SYDNEY WANDERERS 2 (Booke 13?, Soane 31?)
DULWICH HILL SC ; 1. Frost, 2. Corte, 5. Bove (29. Callagno 88?), 15. Burrows, 16. Gabey, 24. Hamond (7. Tome 75?), 25. Cahine, 17. Spresian, 11. James ?, 19. Paradisis (14. Celini 83?), 8. Biviano.
Subs not used; 6.Giraldo, 21. Perestrelo.
SYDNEY WANDERERS ;
1. Rizzo, 3. Vella ?, 4. Soane, 5. Miranda (19. Hurtado 84?), 6. Pannowicz (16. Elrich 62?), 8. Ongle, 11. Dwyer, 13. Booke, 14, Miranda (9. Ramirez 73?), 15. Bourke, 2. Ciampa.
Subs not used; RGK.Kardun.
By Frank Speranza