State League Two Round 14 Review
Match of the Round
Prospect United v Roosters FC
Prospect United secured a 1-0 win against Roosters FC on Saturday evening at William Lawson Reserve. An superb 88? minute free-kick by Prospect forward P. Landrelli was enough to seal the three-points in what was a physical encounter packed into 90? minutes of football.
Prospect was outstanding in the opening half and could have been up a goal early in the 4? minute when a brilliant cross from the left side was put in by in-form forward J. McLeay. A ball which found P. Landrelli in the middle, playing one of the most unorthodox back heels seen, was headed towards the left of goal; his effort though struck the post, leaving Roosters goalkeeper E. Gurbaz surprised by the shot. Prospect was in control in the midfield and it was J. McLeay and P. Landrelli who were superb creating chances up front.
It was a fast paced encounter between the two sides and very much a physical one with both teams going into some brutal tackles. In the 13? minute an effort by Prospect player D. Miralles nearly found the net only for it to only just sail over the crossbar. P. Landrelli had a one-on-one in the 10? minute but the defensive pressure pushed his shot over the bar. The home-side was dominating and it was the likes of A. Maxwell in the midfield that had a great game controlling the play for his forwards up front.
In the 18? minute both sides were reduced to ten-men; at this point the game became rough and more a physical clash in the midfield. Both sides were feeling the frustration and Roosters FC needed a spark up front and it came through A. Taslak who looked most dangerous. G. Quattrome was in a midfield battle but the away side struggled for possession in the first-half.
The best chance of the first-half for the Roosters came via a set-piece in the 44? minute when E. Topal struck a sensational shot from 25-metres out, though Prospect goalkeeper S. Smith was alert with a sensational save to his left to keep the game locked at the break.
At this point the home-side was the better team but with both sides losing a player it was becoming a more open encounter.
The second period was again a physical encounter as J. Vella, for the home-side, was brilliant – as was A. Maxwell. The Roosters were struggling to keep these two players at bay. E. Topal tried to inspire the away side with a 30-metre effort, a quality low struck shot missing to the right leaving the game locked at 0-0. Substitute M. Serdal for the away side was causing problems when he came on and his shot in the 55? minute sparked a sense of danger for the home-side?s defence; a great effort beating the goalkeeper, but losing out to the crossbar with the shot sailing over.
Substitute L. Isbister was lurking around in the middle and a cross from J. McLeay put him in position for a tap-in, though in a magnificent last second defensive tackle by G. Quattrome, the score remained level. The game was still played at a fast-pace and it got worse for the away side as they went down to nine-men in the 74? minute. Quattrome still tried to push his troops even though they were down a man and his effort from 30-metres out in the 75? minute again failed to find the target, finishing over the crossbar.
Prospect held most of the possession with an extra man, and with frustration kicking in for Roosters FC they went down to eight men with only 7? minutes remaining. The game looked like heading for the draw, however Brian Vella?s men captured the points in the 88? minute with a sensational free-kick by P. Landrelli.
The win for Prospect will boost their confidence in a bid to hold that all crucial top spot.
Match Stats
Prospect United 1 (Landrelli 88?)
Roosters FC 0
Saturday, 4th July, 2009
William Lawson Reserve
Prospect United: 1.S. Smith; 2.J. Lewis, 3.M. Stead, 4.C. Senat, 5.M. Viera, 6.A. Maxwell, 7.D. Miralles (12.L. Isbister 72?), 8.K. Gabara, 9.J. Vella (11.A. Pejic 68?), 10.P. Landrelli, 16.J. McLeay
Substitutes Not Used: 13.B. Sagol, 14.A. David, 19.O. Rogers
Yellow Cards: J. Vella 30?, P. Landrelli 60?
Red Cards: J. Lewis 18?
Roosters FC: 1.E. Gurbaz; 34.O. Gogebaken, 33.E. Kirkpinar, 3.O. Semerci, 6.V. Guven (45.S. Bonsu 69?), 35.M. Akca, 9.S. Aksu (13.G. Girgin 53?), 44.E. Topal, 18.A. Taslak (40.M. Serdal 53?), 28.U. Ogmen
Substitutes Not Used: 23.O. Durmaz, 10.U. Yagci
Yellow Cards: A. Taslak 28?, E. Topal 83?, G. Quattrome 80?
Red Cards: M. Serdal 74?, M. Akca 85?, U. Ogmen 18?
Round 14 Review
Bathurst 75 smashed Penang FC 7-1 at Alec Lamberton Field on Saturday afternoon. A double from A. Clancy in the 20? and in the 72? minutes proved effective, as did J. Christie?s hat-trick (57?, 76?, and 83? minutes). M. Coates was the other scorer along with J. Boustani. Penang FC ended up slotting a goal in the 50? minute but the day belonged to Bathurst a side capable of a sensational season in 2009.
Springwood FC has picked up its first win of the season in the dying minutes of the game – a 94? minute goal by R. Haberman all but sealed what was a surprise result, one which Hurstville will be disappointed with on the day.
Hawkesbury collected a sensational home win against Fairfield Bulls on Saturday afternoon at Benson Lane Field. A double from A. Ward and A. Jones enabled the side to take control of the game along with a goal by G. Hartge. The Bulls scored their only goal through S. Dawd in the 31? minute, however it was the home-side that prevailed with maximum points.
Luddenham United suffered another home defeat, this time at the hands of Colo Colo at Luddenham Oval on Sunday afternoon. E. Navaratta opened the scoring in the second-half giving the away side the edge. However, the home-side responded in the 63? minute through A. Chronopoulos to level things up at 1-1. Colo Colo picked up the winner in the 82? minute through R. Sanchez.
Camden Tigers have continued there brilliant form as they dismantled White City 6-1 at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon. J. Cook picked up a double for the home-side, among the other scorers B. Green, G. Mackechnie, D. Mugridge and A. Smutek all contributing to the win. White City forward S. Ljubisavljevic scored a consolation in the 67? minute, however the away side was beaten by the better side on the day.
-By Johnny Casni
