Super League Round 2 Review

After two rounds of Super League, only two teams have managed to win both their games with PCYC Parramatta Eagles and FC Bossy Liverpool sitting atop the table.
Parramatta overcame St George 3-0 while FC Bossy turned the tables on Spirit FC at Christie Park to take the points in a 3-1 win.
It has not been a good start for Central Coast, Fraser Park or Mount Druitt who are yet to gain their first point.

Match of the Week
Central Coast Lightning v Granville Rage
Granville Rage were too good for Central Coast on Saturday night easily accounting for the Lightning in a dominant 3-1 win.
The Rage always looked comfortable and could have gone ahead as early as the twelfth minute after a brilliant through ball split the Coast defence leaving Kris Holbrook with a perfect opportunity. But the marksman blasted the ball over with only Josh Barrett to beat.
It was a sign of things to come though as the Rage mounted a string of attacks causing some degree of difficulty in the Coast backline, the speed of the Granville frontmen a huge cause for concern.
Fred Graham hit the bar with a reflex shot as the Rage continued to ply on the pressure although the Coast weren?t without chances of their own. One of the best being a good turn and strike by Adam Woodbine which wasn?t far away.
Central Coast strongly appealed for a penalty not long after when Woodbine tumbled down in the area under close attention but play was allowed to continue. It was a decision which was not to sit easily with the Coast coach Peter Preston particularly when Granville proceeded to score shortly afterwards right on the half time whistle.
Similar to last week?s fixture against Bossy when the Coast conceded a late goal at the end of each half, they did it again this week when Nenos Bobo skipped clear of the backline and neatly rounded Barrett to give the visitors the lead. 
It was in truth though a lead they deserved as the Rage had clearly dominated proceedings.
As if to show they meant business, the Rage continued where they left off after the break with Bobo doubling the lead after a cross by Graham left him well set up. Graham almost made it three a few minutes later but, despite beating Barrett, he couldn?t beat the post.
Kris Holbrook redeemed himself after his first half miss and had all the time in the world when unmarked. Receiving a cross from David Harding, Holbrook made it three.
It was game over although the Coast, to their credit, did not give up. They did receive a small consolation when the tall Aemon Akermarmoi rose to head in with a few minutes to go but it was too little too late.
Rage coach, Nick Porrecca, was clearly happy with the result.
??We changed things a bit after last weekend and we held our positions well. We also held the ball well.?
?We did our homework on the Coast and the tactics we put in place worked?.
When quizzed on how he sees his team performing this season, he was non-committal, if not wary of making too bold a statement.
?I think it will be a very close competition. Each team will be capable of beating each other and the table will change?.
Peter Preston acknowledged that the Rage were dominant.
?I would say they dominated 60%, maybe even 70% of the play. They controlled possession and their strikers were outstanding tonight. They have an experienced defence and full credit to them?.
?Our own decision making was a bit poor tonight so there will have to be changes for next week

Match Stats
Central Coast Lightning 1 (Aemon Akermarmoi 86?) v Granville Rage 3 (Nenos Bobo 45?, 53?, Kris Holbrook 71?)
Saturday 27 March 2010
Pluim Park, Lisarow
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assts: Chris Peck and Robert Klein
Central Coast: 1. Josh Barrett, 2. Paul McGinley (10. Aemon Akermamoi 64?) 3. Jamie Lobb 4. Darren Cooper (15. Daniel Bird 78?) 5. Nathan Moseley 6. Matt Mitchell 8. Alex Burrell 9. Nathan Byrn 11. Neil Woodcock 14. Chris Fleming 18. Adam Woodbine (13. Graham Toope 57?).

Subs not used: 17. Jake Purches 7. Scott McGinley
Yellow cards: Chris Fleming, Adam Woodbine, Matt Mitchell.
Red cards: Nil
Granville Rage: 1. Jason Holmes 5. Mauricio Islas 7. David Harding 9. Kris Holbrook 10. Fred Graham (3. David Comito 75?) 11. Nenos Bobo (Jonathan Ekehov 79?) 13. Daniel Carrozza 14. Christian Bottalico 17. Nathan Rivera 18. Pasqualino Carpuccio (8. Phillip Pyliotis 66?) 23. Devrim Huseyin.
Subs not used: 16. Calum Hedge 22. Craig Morley
Yellow cards: Pasqualino Carpuccio.
Red cards: Nil
Fraser Park v Macarthur Rams
Fraser Park came undone for the second week in a row at St George Stadium, going down to Macarthur Rams 2-1 in a fixture switched from their own ground at Sydenham.
The game?s three goals all came in an eight minute spell in the first half with Ante Juric giving Fraser Park the lead just after the half hour.
But a penalty by Alan de la Cuadra three minutes later levelled the scores before Chris Gomez put the Rams in front just two minutes further on.
Fraser Park 1 (Ante Juric 33?) v Macarthur Rams 2 (Alan de la Cuadra pen 36?, Chris Gomez 38?).
PCYC Parramatta Eagles v St George
Two goals in a matter of minutes just before half time effectively won the game for PCYC Parramatta against St George on Sunday.
Kutaiba Elrich notched the first, after Saints keeper Daniel Nash was just beaten in a race for the ball and then an unfortunate own goal by Saints captain Simon Verrender gave Parramatta a two goal cushion at the break.
Parramatta though had been dominant for most of the half with Daniel Fogarty having two good chances but failing to convert. Shayne Ardle also had an excellent chance and really should have done better with his clear shot on goal.
But the Saints backline, led by Verrender, had held firm in the face of the Eagles pressure and it looked like the defences of both teams would continue to hold sway.
But the two quick goals meant a change of plan for Saints coach Nick Orlic, who brought on Diego Celini just after the break to further add to the attack.
Indeed, the Saints took command of the game for the opening twenty minutes of the second half as they sought to get themselves back in the match, but despite plenty of possession, and at times, some panic in the Eagles backs, they were unable to breach the goal.
It was against the run of play that Parramatta sealed it with their third. Daniel Borg doing well to hammer the ball home.
After that, the game was Parramatta?s although Ryo Maekawa severely tested Anthony Costa, who pulled off a superb reflex save from Maekawa?s header.
PCYC Parramatta Eagles 3 (Kutaiba Elrich 38?, Simon Verrender o.g. 42?, Daniel Borg 62?) v St George 0.

Spirit FC v FC Bossy Liverpool 
FC Bossy surprised some, but perhaps not themselves, with a well-deserved 3-1 victory over Spirit FC at Christie Park.
And they had to come from behind to do it too after Leo Papanicolaou had given Spirit the lead. With keeper Angelo Kosmatos off his line, Papanicoloau hit a fine strike from distance hitting the underside of the bar. The assistant referee had no doubt in ruling that the ball crossed the line.
But Bossy remained unperturbed and equalised five minutes later when Daniel Wilson angled his shot across goal to bring the scores level at 1-1.
While it had been an even first half, Bossy became dominant as the second half unfolded with Alex Asanovic scoring for the second week on the trot, drawing Murray Nelson and slotting away.
Former Bonnyrigg White Eagles player Domenic Cutri sealed the points for the visitors with an 86th minute effort, being able to beat the stranded Nelson.
The win gives Bossy two from two in a fine start to their season.
Spirit FC 1 (Leo Papanicoloau 32?) v FC Bossy 3 (Daniel Wilson 42?, Alex Asanovic 50? Domenic Cutri 86?)
Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Northern Tigers
It was a second home defeat in a row for Mount Druitt Town Rangers as they succumbed 1-3 to Northern Tigers at Popondetta Park.
The Rangers are struggling to get their season underway but must have thought things had turned for the good when they took the lead through M Noro on 17 minutes.
But a double to Michael Simmonds, a recruit this season from Brookvale in the Manly Association, and a goal from Paul Davies, ensured that the Rangers remain bottom of the table. The win will be a relief for the Tigers after they had come away empty handed last weekend.
Mount Druitt Town 1 (M Noro 17?) v Northern Tigers 3 (Michael Simmonds 30?, 51?, Paul Davies 34?)
Dulwich Hill v Sydney University
In the late game at Arlington Oval, Sydney University overcame new boys Dulwich Hill by 2-0 to stamp their claim on the new season.
Uni took a first half lead after they were awarded a penalty. While Christian Soares? spotkick was initially saved by Michael Frost, unfortunately for Dully the rebound fell back at the feet of Soares who made no mistake with the second attempt.
The score remained 0-1 until deep into injury time when Michael Dowling notched the game?s second to secure the points.
Despite the loss, Dully coach Mark Strachan was not unduly disappointed.
?We played reasonably well in the first half without creating a lot of chances. We were pushing for the equaliser when they got their second but we lacked a bit of cutting edge tonight?.
Uni coach John Caruana was unable to be at the game, but was kept well informed as the game progressed.
?We were determined to get the three points tonight. We didn?t want to be on two points from six and we were a little disappointed after last weekend [draw against Granville Rage].?
?We believe in ourselves but it is only week two so there is plenty of time yet?.
Dulwich Hill 0 v Sydney University 2 (Christian Soares 38, Michael Dowling 92?).
-By Peter Rowney