State League Division 1 Round 18 Review

Match of the Round
Schofield Scorpions v Stanmore Hawks
An unsavory, second half melee, involving many players from both teams, highlighted the Division One, Round 18, clash at CSI Sport Ground on Saturday evening.
Schofield Scorpions came into the match minus several first graders, with injury and suspension depleting the playing ranks.
Experienced midfielders McCaffery, McColl and Insanti were all out, but the home side were desperate to get back on the winning track following some recent reverses.
For the visiting Stanmore Hawks, they were a win away from their opponents prior to the match, and were keen to close the gap and stay in touch with the top five. But they would have to do it the hard way, with inspirational skipper, David James, absent through suspension.
Now CSI Sport Ground does not have a pitch that is conducive to good football. The ground?s floodlight and electrical problems have been well documented this season, but the playing surface itself leaves a lot to be desired. The pitch was muddy in certain areas, slippery in others, and the amount of sand in one particular corner of the ground resembled that of a beach.
The players found it extremely difficult to stay on their feet on the compact ground, but their efforts must be applauded on what was a cool and chilly evening.
Scorpions midfielder, Delaney, threatened the Stanmore goal as early as the second minute, a chipped cross shot sending the Hawks? keeper, Theouli, scrambling, as he back pedaled before squatting the ball away to safety.
A couple of minutes later and Delaney was at it again, beating two Stanmore defenders in a slalom run into the penalty area, managing to cut the ball back to Aitken, but the Schofields? captain scuffed his shot, and the ball rolled into the arms of Theouli.
McPherson almost broke the deadlock on nine minutes, controlling and volleying just over the cross bar as the home side kept their foot on the pedal in the early exchanges of the match.
Stanmore were struggling to make an impact on the match, but could?ve taken the lead against the run of play in the 14^th minute.
Papadopoulos sent Theodosiou away down the left flank, and the speedy winger reached the goal line before squaring to Pieris near the penalty spot. Alas, the stand in skipper hesitated, and the danger was cleared by the Schofields defence.
Schofields kept up the pressure, and on 22 minutes McPherson once again volleyed over the bar after some great lead up play by his captain, Aitken.
Stanmore?s sharpshooter, Hijazi, had been starved of service during the first half hour, but almost opened the scoring with his first real opportunity on 28 minutes.
Theodosiou knocked in a diagonal pass towards the edge of the penalty area, and Hijazi seized onto the ball, controlling well, before unleashing a fierce volley that was well held by Schofield?s keeper, Akers.
The match needed a goal, and given their early domination, it was fitting that it was Schofields that took the lead in the 36^th minute.
Aitken was having a busy match in the middle of the park, and he picked up a loose ball near the centre circle, racing between two Stanmore players towards the penalty area.
Reaching the edge of the box, Aitken scooped the ball over the top to McPherson, and the striker took a touch, before perfectly lobbing Stanmore keeper, Theouli, to give his team a deserved lead.
McPherson almost doubled his team?s advantage only two minutes later, this time shooting along the ground and across the face of the goal after Delaney had slipped him the ball.
Stanmore managed to muster one opportunity just before the break, Bromley finding Pieris inside the box, but his volley on the run cleared the bar by centimeters.
The fans scattered to the canteen for a warm beverage as referee, Mr Kevin Peddie, blew his half time whistle, with the home fans the happier of the two groups of supporters, and looking forward to their team going on with it in the second half towards a much needed three points.
The Scorpions had a great chance in the opening minutes of the second stanza, McMahon racing onto a great through ball by Delaney, but shot straight at grateful Stanmore keeper, Theouli.
The action went back and forth in a frenzied period of chances for both teams, with Stanmore almost equalizing in the 56^th minute.
Koroma whipped an early ball into the mixer, and it was Hijazi who got on the end of it, darting between two Schofields defenders with a quick flick of the ball and shooting as he was challenged. Akers in the Scorpion goal was quickly off his line to produce a fantastic point blank save from the Stanmore danger man.
A few minutes later and Harrington produced an exquisite set piece for the home fans, curling a brilliant free kick around the wall from 20 yards, the ball rebounding off the corner of the cross bar and the post as Stanmore keeper Theouli looked on helplessly.
Koroma then went on a mazy run before snapping a low shot with his toe straight at Akers on 68 minutes, whilst McMahon responded for Schofields with a poor shot after Delaney once again had split open the Stanmore defence.
With the scoreline remaining at 1-0, Stanmore kept pressing and almost scored when Pieris floated in a free kick into the box. Big defender Giannoulis got on the end of it, but snapped his volley well wide from a tight angle.
Then on 75 minutes came the controversial incident that held up play for well over five minutes.
In possession of the ball in the Stanmore half, the Scorpions kicked the ball out of play to allow a player to receive attention.
Upon resumption of play, a long punt towards Schofields keeper, Akers, caused confusion, as both teams disagreed as to when the ball was deemed to have been ?in play?. Stanmore striker, Hijazi, raced forward, winning a block challenge with Akers just outside his penalty area, and tapped the ball into an empty net from 10 yards to equalize for Stanmore.
Absolute mayhem ensued, with plenty of lip, accompanied by some pushing and shoving, and escalating into a melee. Mr Peddie restored order after what seemed an eternity, and Bazina of Schofields and Stanmore?s striker, Hijazi, were sent from the field for early showers, sending the Stanmore fans, especially, into a frenzy.
Schofields then made three substitutions within the final minutes to try and spark a win, and it was one of these subs that managed to grab all three points for the home side.
A diagonal through ball was played over the top of the Stanmore defence in injury time. Youngster Walters,  who usually turns out for the club?s Under 18s side, beat the offside call, controlling the leather in his stride, before cracking a low shot across Stanmore keeper, Theouli, The ball rebounded off the inside of the far post and into the net, giving the Scorpions a dramatic late winner.
The celebration reflected just what the goal meant to the home side, with Walters racing towards the Schofields bench to be engulfed by jubilant team mates.
Referee Mr Peddie finally brought an end to a tumultuous second half, which had provided the brave spectators some much needed spark on a cold evening for football.
Schofields defender, Peter Hubbard, was happy enough with the three points.
?The performance wasn?t great, and we haven?t quite got it together just yet, but we are on the turn now, and aiming at least for a top three finish,? said Hubbard.
For Schofields, best on the night were; central defender, Harrington, was strong in the tackle, commanding across the backline, and thwarted many of Stanmore?s high balls by winning his heading duals ; Hubbard showed great vision to intercept many a Stanmore attack, often breaking forward and adding support once he won possession, especially down the right flank in both halves ; McMahon?s athleticism was very effective, either getting on the end of long balls in attack, or chasing back to help defend ? a real wing back in the true sense ; Delaney was instrumental whenever the Scorpions attacked, having a great presence of mind when in possession, and showing composure as he set up many of his team?s attacking plays.
Best for Stanmore were; central defender, Giannoulis, was a rock in the heart of defence, strong on the tackle, read the game well, and was quick to release the ball once he won it; Theodosiou had another strong game on the left flank, and is always dangerous when he is in possession, often setting up opportunities for his team mates with telling crosses.
Match Stats
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS 2 (McPherson 36?, Walters 91?)
STANMORE HAWKS 1 (Hijazi 75?)
Saturday, July 18, at CSI Sport Ground, Schofields
Referee ? Mr.Kevin Peddie
Referee?s Assistants ? Mr.David Ward & Mr.Dale Fuda
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS: 1.P.Akers, 6.I.Bazina, 12.T.Harrington, 17.P.Hubbard, 2.B.Charles (5.L.Antaky 88?), 19.T.Aitken (capt) (10.Z.Walters 82?), 8.Dale Southern, 4.Dean Southern, 3.D.McMahon, 9.L.Delaney,14.G.McPherson (7.M.Steel 88?).
Subs not used ? RGK.R.Greenway, 11. T.Macrae.
STANMORE HAWKS: 1.L.Theouli, 12.D.Papazafiropoulos, 5.P.Giannoulis, 7.J.Pieris (capt) (32. J.Al-Bayati 88?), 9.A.Heath, 11.C.Theodosiou, 15.A.Papadopoulos, 16.D.Koroma, 17.W.Hijazi, 20.S.Bromley,  22.M.Karagiannis.
Subs not used ?4.C.Lagoudakis,28. S.Hadgigeorgiou, RGK.J.Frangeskou.
DIVISION ONE REVIEW ? Round Eighteen
Blacktown Spartans ? Fairfield City Lions   2-0
The Spartans broke a three week losing streak on Saturday evening with a 2-0 home victory over Fairfield City Lions.
Both goals came in the first half of play, with Todd opening the scoring on 36 minutes, before Zahra converted a penalty a couple of minutes before the break.
Blacktown remain third on the ladder, but have moved to 33 points with this win, whilst Fairfield stay in ninth position, following a game where they received an abundance of cautions.
Hills Brumbies ? UNSW   0-1
UNSW seem to be on a mission to crack a top five spot, and will not let up until they do just that, winning again on Saturday night, this time by the solitary goal at Second Ponds Oval.
Byrne grabbed the only goal of the game for the ?students? against Hills Brumbies on 34 minutes, and it puts UNSW on 28 points, still just the one point outside the top five.
The catch up match on Thursday evening between UNSW and Schofields is shaping up as a real season defining encounter as both teams are hoping to consolidate a finals position.
Balmain SC ? Inter Lions   2-3
The local derby at Lambert Park on Saturday evening produced five goals as Inter Lions took all three points in a 3-2 win against Balmain.
An own goal set Inter on their way after just 9 minutes, but Flower equalized for Balmain just seven minutes later.
Kovas put Inter in front with a goal in the 26^th minute, and Cole extended the lead just after the hour.
Flower pulled one back for Balmain with his second goal of the match in the 82^nd minute, but the Lions held on for a valuable three points.
Sydney Wanderers ? Dulwich Hill   1-4
Sydney Wanderers have got a habit of racing out of the blocks, and were at it again on Sunday when they took the lead in only the second minute with a Pannowicz penalty.
But that?s where the fun ended for the home side, as Dulwich Hill took charge and overpowered the Wanderers, scoring four goals in the process.
Mihajlovic equalized for Dully on 22 minutes, also from the penalty spot, before Philippou put them in front just before the break.
Dully went on with it in the second half, and goal by Paradisis (76?) and James (89?) rounded off proceedings for the league leaders.
Hurstville ZSC – Mounties FC   1-3
Mounties came from behind at Hurstville Oval on Sunday afternoon to account for Hurstville ZSC by three goals to one.
Koroma put the home side in front on 22 minutes, but McCann restored parity for Mounties in the 33^rd minute.
Tresoglavic helped himself to a second half brace, in the 68^th and 79^th minutes, to give his side a welcome three points, keeping them in second spot in the competition and hot on the tail of Dulwich Hill.
-By Frank Speranza