State League Two Round 11 Review
Match of the Round
White City 3
Hawkesbury City 2
White City has picked up a crucial 3-2 home win against Hawkesbury City on Sunday afternoon at the Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
The home-side was the strongest out of the two in the first-half with the likes of N. Markovic and M. Drca creating headaches for the Hawkesbury defence inside the opening 10? minutes. The opening goal came in the 6? minute when a brilliant effort from Z. Alavanja put the home-side ahead. His effort involved turning the Hawkesbury defender and slotting away a sensational shot beating Hawkesbury Goalkeeper D. Alvarez to his left.
The home-side dominated and the three playmakers in Drca, Alavanja and Markovic were causing havoc for the Hawkesbury defence. White city had the chance to make it two in the 14? minute when a shot was unleashed by J. Zrinjanin only for the Hawkesbury goalkeeper to push it away safely for a corner. Hawkesbury?s defence was on the back foot in the first-half and it got worse in the 23? minute when a one a one situation with D. Alvarez allowed White City?s A. Miljkovic to nicely slot his side?s second goal of the game for a 2-0 lead.
However, despite the lead, the Hawkesbury faithful never backed down from the challenge as a cross from the right side allowed A. Jones to get one back in the 37? minute to bring back the lead to 2-1. However the home-side refused to buckle to the pressure and they went in at the break 3-1 up when J. Zrinjanin scored a sensational individual goal chipping it over D.Alvarez from a good ten-metres out.
The second period was a whole different ball game with Hawkesbury taking full advantage in what looked like the home-side tiring from their thrilling effort in the opening half. In the 56? minute a sensational low driven effort from M. McCrory from 30-metres out brought the score back to 3-2 – it was a sensational goal with White City goalkeeper T. Sanalaga left with no chance. Hawkesbury gained momentum from this point and should have capitalised on their many chances.
In the 60? minute McCrory again struck a brilliant shot this time from 20-metres out, however his effort just sailed to the right. M Cotter had many chances in the air to at least plant the equaliser for his side. In the 63? minute a great cross from the right, was latched onto the head of Cotter however it sailed over the crossbar. On 70? minutes, again from the right side, a brilliant cross found Cotter however, despite the great effort with his head, the ball just drifted over the bar.
P. Couper got involved for the away side and in the 77? minute he struck a brilliant shot to try and put his team level, however T. Sanalaga made a sensational stop to keep his side ahead. Hawkesbury tried everything in attack and in the 80? minute a one-on-one involving Hawkesbury player R. Carle with White City goalkeeper Sanalaga ended in a great stop by the keeper?s legs to leave his side with the lead. In the 89? minute White City were awarded a penalty to seal all three-points however Hawkesbury shot-stopper D. Alvarez made a great save to his right to give his side a slim chance of maybe collecting a point. Despite the away side?s efforts in the second-half, the home team went on to take a 3-2 win along with three valuable points.
Hawkesbury coach Gary Lewis said that there were no excuses for his side?s loss on Sunday, stating that they needed to simply just take their chances:
?It is clear that we haven?t got the confidence in front of goal, with our side back to full strength we had the opportunity to come away with a result today but we lacked the finishing quality.
?Our side needs to regain that confidence in front of goal, I mean we can create the chances and I am delighted with the way we moved the ball around today but at the end of the day how many more chances do you need, if we can improve on our finishing then results will come.?
Match Stats
White City 3 (Alavanja 6?, Miljkovic 23?, Zrinjanin 44?)
Hawkesbury City 2 (Jones 37?, McCrory 56?)
Sunday 14th June 3.00pm
Bonnyrigg Sports Club
White City: 20.T.Sanalaga; 2.S.Modic, 5.Z.Bengun, 6.S.Ljubisavljevic, 7.N.Markovic, 8.J.Zrinjanin (15.A.Zivadinovic 77?), 9.Z.Alavanja, 10.M.Inic (16.C.Zungl 66?), 11.M.Drca (3.N.Voiuodic 80?), 12.A.Miljkovic, 17. N.Dragovic
Substitutes Not Used: 1.D. Alavanja, 18.D. Lahnor
Yellow Cards: S. Ljubisavljevic 64?
Red Cards: Nil
Hawkesbury City: 1.D. Alvarez; 2.S.Knight (3.D.Smith 90?), 5.R.Larnach, 9.K.George (8.C.Hartge 70?), 11.M.Cotter, 13.P. Couper, 17.M. McCrory, 19.J.Vasiliou, 24.E.George, 37.R.Carle, 10.A.Jones
Substitutes Not Used: 26. C.Ryman, 30. R.O?Connor, 25. S.Cockerell
Yellow Cards: E. George 36?
Red Cards: Nil
Round 11 review
Hurstville picked up all three-points against Hakoah on Sunday afternoon with T. Sidiratos striking in the 26? minute. The home-side continued to dominate and added a second in the 42? minute through H. Morhi. The second-half didn?t display any goals with the home-side collecting three crucial points.
Gladesville returned to winning ways defeating Prospect United 2-0 at Magdala Park on Sunday afternoon. J. Martinez struck in the 21? minute and then again in the 69? minute to give side three-points against first placed Prospect united. This was an exciting clash, one which will bring more entertainment when the two sides meet again.
Roosters FC have taken a stance in the State League this Sunday afternoon handing Penang FC a 13-2 thrashing at Mona Park. Fifteen goals were scored in this match with E. Topal scoring a five-goals along with a hat-trick by B.Elverem and A. Taslak, and a goal by M. Serdal. Penang FC goalscorers included E. Divila and M. Aldrick in what was the sides most horrid loss of the season. Despite the thrashing Tony Gallagher will be confident this will be a learning curve for the young squad.
Gazy Lansvale returned to the winner?s list against an in-form Colo Colo at Cherrybrook Park on Sunday. E. Yokhanna scoring in the 67? minute to give his side that all important crucial three points. Lansvale will regain confidence going into next week?s clash against Hawkesbury City.
Camden Tigers continue to impress in recent weeks with a 4-2 win against Luddenham United on Sunday. D. Iria opened in the scoring in the 3? minute to give Luddenham the upper edge, however the home side responded through J. Cook in the 28? minute. Goalscoring freak G. Mackechnie again added to his impressive tally for the year scoring the 35? minute to give his side a 2-1 edge. Another was added before the break when A. Judge slotted a goal in the 36? minute. The 3-1 lead didn?t faze the away side S. Andrews renewing hope when he struck in the 54? minute to bring back the game to 3-2. But all hope was lost when T. Spain netted a penalty in the 87? minute to give the home side a 4-2 win on the day.
Saturday night saw another loss for struggling Springwood going down to Bathurst at Summerhayes Park. It was an own goal in the 70? minute that allowed Bathurst to take the all important three points in this clash. Springwood is showing a lot of courage week in and week out and will be hoping they can give Prospect a good test next Saturday.
-By Johnny Casni
