Bankstown ends Berries ‘Hoodoo’ with win at Lidcombe
With both sides coming off impressive showings in recent weeks, it was the fine possessional play ? and impressive finishing ? that saw the Lions secure maximum points and draw a step closer to League leader Sydney United as Daniel Severino and Robbie Mileski ensured their goals would outweigh John Tsironis late header.
Player/coach Peter Tsekenis was without Steve Liavas and utilised George Nohra only in the closing stages, in anticipation of this weekend?s epic against Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Meanwhile, counterpart John Calleja too gave in-form Chris Gaitatzis a substitute?s role for this match.
Ryan Jones was first to unleash an effort goalwards in the opening seconds of the match, though his ambitious long-range effort failed to hit the target.
The super-consistent left boot of Severino failed to ignite early as the free-kick specialist sky-rocketed a set-piece from a promising position.
The visitors speedy striker Hussein Salameh was immense throughout the evening, moving well alongside the forward forays of Hussein Akil. Both players combined on 7? minutes outside the penalty-area, with the latter shooting wide from an acute angle.
The Berries replied with a quick counter-attack down the other end though Peter Peralta failed to force goalkeeper Zlatko Joseski with an imprecise effort on goal.
Salameh nearly latched onto a Severino corner on 10? minutes though the speedster saw the ball late, and failed to get any power behind his header.
Shane Webb was a constant menace for the visitors down the left-flank and it was his invention that carved out another opening for Akil. The Lions? number 3 played a ?square pass? across the edge of the penalty-area and into the path of Akil, though the midfielder?s diagonal shot-turn-cross failed to pick out a touch of a teammate inside the penalty-area.
A rather stale period ensued as both midfields attempted to gain the ascendancy though the Lions seemed to be a step quicker than their opponent, despite failing to carve out any clear-cut chances.
Berries captain Aheleas Kotsopoulos should have scored late in the half for the home-side as he received a low Liam Austin cross from the left-flank, inside the penalty-area. Kotsopoulos took a touch and slipped as he was ready to unleash from close-range; the Lions defenders quick to retreat and impede the Berries player.
Following the break, the Lions entered the field of play with more zest in their approach. Severino ensured Berries? goalkeeper Hamish McLean was alert when he struck a venomous long-range ?bomb?; the shot-stopper perfectly parrying the effort behind for a corner.
Severino was again involved moments later from a wide left position as he received a tantalising ?flick pass? from Salameh before his fierce diagonal effort across goal; the Berries again able to clear the danger.
Moments prior to the hour, Austin had the ball in the back of the net though was called back for a ?touch and go? offside decision, much to the discontent of the Berries players.
On 60? minutes, Bankstown City had the lead with another free-kick specialty delivered by Severino. From a slightly decentralised position ? to the left of goal ? Severino curled a wicked effort over the Berries wall and inside the goalkeeper?s near post, much to the content of the travelling supporters.
Hussein Akil was almost rewarded with a goal for his fine performance when he slalomed his way into the penalty-area before hitting his effort against the up-right. Salameh was next to go close to what would have been a deserved goal when his spectacular bicycle-kick from a Severino cross finished over the crossbar.
The home-side replied with a set-piece involving Austin and Kosta Lagoudakis, though the latter failed to get his header on target and the chance went begging.
Bankstown City doubled the lead on 78? minutes courtesy of some Mileski brilliance. The attacking midfielder picked up a loose ball on the edge of the penalty-area ? following some exceptional ball movement by Salameh and Severino. The Lions number 10 picked his spot and coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner for a two-goal lead.
To the Berries credit, the side kept pushing until the end and were denied on 86? minutes only by some fantastic goalkeeping by Joseski. The Lions? shot-stopper was quick off his line to hinder Stefan Donevski?s goal-bound effort.
Substitute John Tsironis managed to find the break through for West Sydney in the first-minute of injury time with a fine glancing header off a floated Kotsopoulos cross from the left-flank; the goal too little too late for the Berries.
After the referee?s final whistle, Bankstown City boss Peter Tsekenis expressed his content with his side?s consistent run:
?We finally got one over them (West Sydney Berries),? Tsekenis commented.
?We always knew what we were capable of and we have had so many players out through injury. Now that we have these boys back, we?ve been able to find the consistency and our results are reflecting this at the moment.
?To win tonight was really important for us as it consolidates second-spot, though we?ll have a tough match with Bonnyrigg (White Eagles) on Saturday night,? ended the Lions player/coach.
Berries boss John Calleja was less impressed with the result, though still managed to draw some positives from his side?s recent run:
?I am disappointed that we dropped the points, though in the end I think Bankstown deserved the win tonight,? said Calleja.
?We?ve played some good football recently, and I am pleased with this, though we need to find consistency over 90? minutes; and not 45? minutes here and there.
?Tonight we didn?t penetrate enough in the first-half and were quite slow early in the second.
?In-terms of the remainder of the season, it will be tough to reach the finals with the loss tonight, though we will take one-match at a time and look to finish as high up the ladder as we possibly can,? Calleja concluded.
In the Grade 20 division, West Sydney Berries collected maximum points with a fiercely contested 2-1 win against the Lions.
Match Stats
West Sydney Berries 1 (John Tsironis 90?+1?)
Bankstown City 2 (Daniel Severino 60?, Robbie Mileski 78?)
Wednesday, 1st of July, 2009
Lidcombe Oval, Lidcombe
Referee: Peter Vrtkovski
Assistant Referees: Steven Ngyuen and Sarah Ho
Fourth Official: L. Pignam
Crowd: 150 Approx.
West Sydney Berries: 1.Hamish McClean; 2.Daniel Clifford, 3.Omar Saadi, 6. Jack Sobczyk, 8.Johnny Fotiadis, 7.Peter Peralta, 11.Aheleas Kotsopoulos (C), 16.Kosta Lagoudakis, 19.Dimitri Zakilas (12.Stefan Donevski 75?), 14.Liam Austin (10.John Tsironis 82?), 15.Ryan Jones (17.Chris Gaitatzis 72?)
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Trinity Allen, 4.Adam Wither
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Bankstown City: 1.Zlatko Joseski; 3.Shane Webb, 4.Brett Studman, 5.Richard Luksic (C), 6.Peter Tsekenis, 14.Suad Ameti, 15.Hussein Salameh (19.H. Hamko 79?), 29.Hussein Akil, 10.Robbie Mileski (23.Tallan Martin 88?), 11.Philip Makrys, 82.Daniel Severino (8.George Nohra 82?)
Substitutes Not Used: 18.Greg Owens, 13.Matthew Pressello
Yellow Cards: Philip Makrys 64?
Red Cards: Nil
-By Joseph Carlucci
