State League Division 1 Round 12 Review
DIVISION ONE
Round Twelve
Match of the Round
UNSW v MOUNTIES FC
Mounties FC came to David Phillips Field on Sunday afternoon looking for what would be a valuable three points, with third position on the ladder there for the taking.
But they didn?t allow for a determined UNSW side, who hustled and bustled and just would not let the visitors into the game, eventually succeeding in a 4-2 victory.
The playing surface had had some recent ?renovations?, allowing the game to go ahead (unlike last weekend), but not really being conducive to free flowing football.
The ball had an uneven bounce to it, as both teams struggled to take the initiative in an ugly opening half hour or so.
Mounties spent most of the first 20 minutes on the front foot, but didn?t have any real opportunities to show for it. Orcajo had the best chance early in the piece, heading across goal and wide on nine minutes following a teasing free kick from Care from out on the left.
Five minutes later and Tresoglavic made an incisive run down the left flank, his low cross eluding everyone as it reached the inside edge of the penalty area.
Biviano got on the end of it for Mounties, but his crisp shot was hit too well and UNSW goalkeeper Mulroney gobbled up the ball.
UNSW didn?t threaten the visitors goal until the 25th minute, when a long ball played towards the box was controlled and hooked over his head by Luca, across the edge of the penalty area. Claridge got on the end of it, but his snapshot lacked any venom and was easily gathered by Mounties goalkeeper, Lovell.
The game desperately needed a goal to spark up proceedings, and it came on 29 minutes in unlikely circumstances. Mounties had possession, and were forced to play the ball back wards, eventually finding keeper Lovell who had ample time to review his options.
However, the unfortunate custodian miss-kicked, with the ball strolling into the path of the lurking UNSW striker, Meney, and he couldn?t believe his luck as he duly dispatched it into the unguarded net.
Remarkably Meney could?ve doubled his and his team?s tally just four minutes later.
Griffin played a long pass from forty yards over the Mounties defence, and Meney raced onto it, beating keeper Lovell to the ball before sliding his shot just wide of the upright.
UNSW had their tails up and on 38 minutes it was Meney at it again, this time nut-megging a defender and dribbling past a second before his low shot from the edge of the box was desperately saved by Lovell.
Mounties spurned a great chance to equalize in the 40th minute when Care curled in yet another free kick towards the far post, the unmarked Viera hitting the side netting from a few yards.
Set pieces were producing the best opportunities for the visitors, this time an Orcajo corner creating havoc in the UNSW defence. Skipper Provan made a great run into the box, his downward header goal bound before being cleared on the line by Yu.
Just as the referee, Mr.Chris Young, was ready to call a halt for half time, UNSW produced the move of the match to almost score again.
Cassidy and Claridge completed a swift interchange of passes down the left flank, with the latter producing a tantalizing early cross into the box. Meney let the ball bounce before unleashing a fierce volley on goal, but Mounties keeper Lovell redeemed himself with a brilliant parry over the cross bar.
The half time whistle shrieked, and both teams retreated to the sheds for some rejuvenation via their respective coaches. UNSW held the upper hand due to the solitary goal, and looked likely to double their advantage on a number of occasions. But Mounties did look dangerous in the attacking third, with their set pieces almost producing the desired result several times.
Within five minutes of the restart UNSW had seemingly put the game out of reach with two quick fire goals, stunning the traveling Mounties contingent.
A free kick was awarded wide on the left, between the edge of the box and the sideline.
Dovelaar whipped in a low shot that eluded everyone, defenders and attackers alike, as it nestled into the bottom far corner of the net to put UNSW 2-0 up.
Unbelievably, within a minute it was 3-0, with a long Dovelaar free kick put ?into the mixer? and dropping for Meney inside the penalty area.
Most no doubt would?ve snapped at the ball, but Meney remained composed, skillfully weaving past two desperate defenders before sliding the ball past Lovell and into the net.
Mounties responded with an immediate substitution and tactical change, bringing on attacker Cao to throw men forward.
Their renewed approach brought immediate dividends when they pulled a goal back on 58 minutes. An enticing free kick from out on the right hand side by that man again, Care, was expertly nodded in at the far post by Biviano, and Mounties were back in it.
It was Mounties who all of a sudden had a renewed belief, and five minutes later UNSW keeper Mulroney saved well from a solid 25 yard free kick by Biviano.
A couple of more substitutions brought fresh legs to the Mounties cause, and on 80 minutes it almost brought goal number two. A corner was cleared to Lloyd on the edge of the penalty area, and his drive was blocked by a despairing defender. The ball only rebounded to team mate Care, and his ferocious drive from 15 yards was deflected to safety by Mulroney in the UNSW goal.
UNSW then did put the game to bed with a fourth goal in the 82nd minute. A corner taken by Meney was swung over, and Claridge jumped high above friend and foe to head into the net, running away in delight with team mates in tow.
The action wasn?t over just yet, as referee Mr Young did well to spot an infringement in the UNSW box on 89 minutes. The experienced Biviano dispatched the penalty expertly, low into the bottom left hand corner, sending Mulroney the wrong way.
The home fans were delighted with the full time whistle seconds later, giving UNSW a welcome three points in an entertaining match.
Mounties were solid in patches throughout the match, but lacked the technical creativity in opening the UNSW defence, reverting to a more physical approach at times. Ex-national league and experienced midfielder, Care, was the best player for the visitors, showing composure on the ball, and accuracy with his distribution, especially from his free kicks. Biviano was an eager accomplice, scoring a late brace with his usual clinical expertise, and may have been more effective with better service, especially during a barren first half. Viera also deserves a mention, a physical presence who worked tirelessly across the park to win possession for his team.
UNSW showed enough to defy their lowly position on the ladder, with a steely determination once they hit the lead, and a real eye for goal in the attacking half.
UNSW coach, Luke Andrews, was upbeat about his team?s result on the day.
?We showed some real perseverance today, executing the game plan for ninety minutes, instead of 50 or 60 minutes like we have done in other games. We are a young side, with our average age being under 23, and some of our close results this season have probably shown our inexperience.?
?We are hoping to show more consistency, and aim for a mid table position this year. But long term, we have a three year plan at the club, hoping to grow and build by giving our youngsters a go,? added Andrews.
There were a number of solid performers for UNSW on a successful afternoon. Striker Meney was a dangerous threat whenever he had possession, holding the ball up well, linking effectively in his team?s attacking moves, scoring twice, and almost scoring numerous times more ; his co striker, Luca, got through a mountain of work as he battled away against the bigger Mounties defenders, supplementing Meney in a useful partnership ; Asamoah had a whale of a game in the heart of the midfield, fiercely winning possession, and showing off his skills with the ball as he often waltzed around an opponent before releasing to a team mate.
Match Stats
UNSW 4 (Meney 29?/49?, Doveloar 48?, Claridge 82?)
MOUNTIES FC 2 (Biviano 82?/ 86? pen)
Sunday, June 7, at David Phillips Field, Daceyville
Referee ? Mr.Chris Young
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.Marc Nemorin & Mr.Owen Ferguson
UNSW FC ; 1.M.Mulroney, 33.B.Yu, 26.L.Doveloar, 4.P.Lloyd (capt), 23.T.Griffin, 5.P.Asamoah, 12.G.Cassidy, 11.C.Claridge, 6.L.Fogarty (8.D.Horriton 67?), 22.R.Luca (2.J.Byrne 80?), 32.S.Meney (21.B.Smort 89?).
Subs not used ?18. P.Dinatale, RGK.W.Aboolloh.
MOUNTIES FC ; 0. O.Lovell, 16.D.Provan (capt) (19. S.Lloyd 70?), 17.F.Pellegrino, 3.J.Savage, 10.G.Orcajo, 20.C.Care, 18.D.McCann, 9.M.Viera, 6.S.Biviano, 11.M.Noro (2.D.Morgan 67?), 14. S.Tresoglavic (15.T.Cao 51?).
Subs not used ? 21.A.Costa, 7.P.Down.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Twelve
Hurstville ZSC ? Schofields Scorpions 2-0
Hurstville Oval was deemed unplayable late on Friday, and only some swift rescheduling allowed this match to go ahead at Fairfax Community Stadium in Seven Hills.
I?m sure the Scorpions now wished it hadn?t as Hurstville ZSC pulled off the surprise of the season thus far with a 2-0 upset victory.
The Scorpions hadn?t played for a while, and the break, brought upon by rain, no doubt had affected their momentum coming into this match.
But full credit to Hurstville ZSC, who had showed glimpses of their capabilities of late with some sound performances, but had yet to take home the bacon.
Hurstville ZSC scored on the half hour with a goal by Kostanic, and then relied on a renewed focus and determination to resist any chance of a Schofields comeback.
Young Chronopoulos was one of a number of good performers on the day, keeping a clean sheet on debut and denying Schofields the opportunity to equalise. Kostanic put the game to bed in injury time, scoring his and his team?s second goal in the 93rd minute, sending his team mates wild in jubilation
Hurstville?s maiden win puts them on six points, and their confidence will be sky high going into Monday?s catch up game against Hills Brumbies.
For Schofields, the loss may be the reality check they need, and with games in hand on teams around them near the top, their destiny is still very much in their hands.
Stanmore Hawks ? Dulwich Hill 0-1
Dulwich Hill retained top spot in Division One on Saturday with a 1-0 success over neighbours Stanmore Hawks at Arlington Oval.
In what was a tense affair, Dully left it very late indeed to snatch the three points, with Paradisis scoring the all important winner two minutes into injury time.
Another clean sheet for Dulwich Hill helps move them to 24 points, whilst Stanmore?s second successive loss sees them drop to sixth spot.
Hills Brumbies ? Blacktown Spartans 1-2
Blacktown Spartans grabbed another valuable three points at Second Ponds Oval on Saturday with a 2-1 away victory over Hills Brumbies.
Cornett continued his good form of recent weeks by opening the scoring for the Spartans on 23 minutes.
Hubbard doubled Blacktown?s lead on the hour, but Shrimpton scored his fifth goal of the season to pull a goal back for Hills in the 76th minute.
Blacktown held on for the win, which sees them move to a very healthy 23 points, just the solitary point off the competition lead.
Hills drop to eleventh position with the loss, and will need to regroup very quickly if they are to take anything from their catch up game against Hurstville on Monday.
Balmain SC ? Sydney Wanderers 1-2
Sydney Wanderers returned to the winner?s list at last with a 2-1 away win at Lambert Park against Balmain SC.
But they had to do it the hard way, falling behind to a 7th minute goal by Balmain?s big centre forward, Merlino.
Borg equalized within six minutes, before Froio grabbed the all important second and winning goal on 74 minutes.
The three points sees the Wanderers join Balmain on 12 points, both teams separated only by goal difference.
Inter Lions ? Fairfield City Lions 3-0
Inter Lions moved emphatically into the top four on Sunday with a 3-0 victory over Fairfield City at Concord Oval.
Pint sized striker Iliopoulos made it two goals in as many weeks by putting the home side in front on 62 minutes.
Tachi made the game safe with two late goals, scoring on 83 and 90 minutes to put Inter back in the winner?s circle.
-By Frank Speranza
