State League One Round 5 Review

?SUPER SUB SNATCHES THREE POINTS FOR HILLS?
Super-sub, Lord Darkoh, indeed played the part of the ruler at Second Ponds Oval on Saturday night, coming on to score both goals for Hills Brumbies in their 2-1 victory over Gladesville Ryde Magic. 
After Hills suffered their first defeat of the season last week, they were looking to return to winning ways immediately, but the visit of Gladesville Ryde Magic provided a banana skin which Hills were fully prepared for.
But they didn?t have it their own way early on, and Hills were given no time to settle into the game.Gladesville came out of the blocks firing, and a through ball in the 3^rd minute allowed Magic striker, Kabarra, in for a one-on-one duel with Brumbies keeper, Rizzo, who saved splendidly.
The resultant corner kick was poorly cleared by Hills, allowing Gladesville?s VanWijk to shoot from just outside the penalty box ? again Rizzo came to the rescue of the home side.
Rizzo was in fact in the middle of things again on 8 minutes, once again saving in a one-on-one, keeping the very focussed visitors scoreless and frustrated.
Hills then came into the match more and more and started to take control. They pressed harder and further up field, and had their first real opportunity in the 13^th minute when Farrel headed on to the bar following a corner kick.
On 22 minutes Hills thought they had taken the lead. Pannowitz?s free kick from the corner of the left hand side of the penalty box was well saved by Jambazian, but  Miladinovic was on hand to tap the ball in. Unfortunately for the home fans, the referee?s assistant had his flag up for offside.
Kabbara and Andrew McKie were causing all sorts of threats to the Brumbies? defence, with the former facing Rizzo once more minutes later in yet another head to head battle.  Hills? keeper, Rizzo, was at it again, pulling off another good save. For all of their possession, Gladesville were the ones in fact who had had the best opportunities in the opening half hour or so.
But Hills kept at it, and an inside ball from defender, Ryan, played in Mitrovich, who managed to shoot diagonally from the edge of the penalty box. Magic keeper, Jambazian, was alert to the danger, and made a good save to push the ball around his left post for a corner kick.
The fans were kept on the edge of their seats, and despite the amount of opportunities, the score remained nil all at half time.
In the 50^th  minute, Hills created a chance following a long throw by Down which was headed on into the box. Farrel unleashed a left footed half volley from 10 metres out, which in turn produced a top class save from Gladesville?s goalkeeper, Jambazian.
Hills were determined to crack the Magic defence, and almost did so on 57 minutes, Savic?s swivel and shot with his back to goal going inches wide of the mark.
Gladesville were not about to lie down, and again had the ball in the net in the 59^th minute, but again the referee?s assistant waved offside. A couple of minutes later and  Kabbara?s free kick curled around the Hills? wall, but the ball dropped safely into the hands of Rizzo.
Following a foul on Hills striker, Savic, on 68 minutes, Down almost broke the deadlock, with his free kick crashing against the cross bar.
It was time for the tiring Gladesville defensive line to be stretched, with Hills injecting youth and speed into the game with the introduction of 18 year old, Lord Darkoh.
A minute after his entrance, an excellent team passing movement resulted in Farrel playing in his young strike partner, and Darkoh lost his marker to produce a clinical finish with his left foot and put Hills in front.
Hills kept pressing and doubled their advantage in the 75^th minute, a one-two between Darkoh and Savic again put the youngster in on the left hand side, and he didn?t disappoint, blasting the ball into the roof of the net for his and his team?s second goal.
It was almost curtains for the visitors just moments later, with Darkoh laying off a quick free kick to Miladinovic, who?s shot hit the cross bar.
The threat of Kabbara and McKie was still evident for Hills, and although they managed to stop most of the supply to these strikers, the Brumbies were cracked open in the 83^rd minute. Kabarra was through yet again for a one-on-one with Rizzo, but this time he elected not to shoot, rather he dribbled around the advancing goalkeeper, placing the ball into the net to reduce the deficit.
The final minutes were a frenzied period for both teams, with chances at both ends, including Awad hitting the post following Darkoh?s low cross, but time elapsed, and Hills were back on top of the ladder with their 2-1 victory.
Both keepers produced a string of saves to keep the scores down, with Rizzo effective in one-on-ones, whilst Jambazian keeping his Gladesville side in the match when they were being dominated territorially.
But the hero of the night was undoubtedly super sub, Lord Darkoh, his speed and skill producing two goals for himself, as well as a number of opportunities for his team mates.
Match Stats
HILLS BRUMBIES 2 (Darkoh 69?/75?)
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 1 (Kabbara 83?)
Saturday, April 17, at Second Ponds Oval
HILLS BRUMBIES: 20.C.Rizzo, 12.L.Ryan, 3.M.Gane, 2.D.Ramirez, 15.N.Cholerton, 7.P.Down, 6.T.Pannowitz (14.MAwad), 5.R.Farrell (16.J.Pineda), 10.B.Mitrovich (11.L.Darkoh), 9.D.Savic, 4.J.Miladinovic.
Subs not used ? 1. B.Needham, 8.A.Mancia.
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC: 1.S.Jambazian, 4.K.Baker, 3.B.Van Wijk, 2.C.Castelliano (14.C.Moss), 5.A.Khan, 6.A.Morris, 7.T.Naltoulis (10.Al McKie), 8.J.Martinez, 9.A.Kabbara, 12.Andrew McKie, 11.B.Townley-Jones.
Subs not used ? 13.L.McCormack, 20.M.Steeler.
Division One Review ? Round Five
STANMORE HAWKS ? INTER LIONS 0-2
The form book went out the window at Arlington Oval on Saturday night, as Inter Lions returned to winning ways with a solid 2-0 victory against Stanmore Hawks.
Tricky winger Peter Polistina put Inter ahead on 35 minutes, and the match hung in the balance until the 86^th, when Domenic Dimento wrapped up proceedings with the second goal for the Lions.
The three points sees Inter join the Hawks on 7 points each, both teams just outside the top five in a real bottleneck with two other clubs.
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS ? FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS 2-3
As predicted, a real thriller unraveled at CSI Sport Ground on Saturday night as the hosts, Schofields Scorpions, came unstuck at the hands of Fairfield City Lions.
Fairfield?s experienced midfield general, Ekinci, opened the scoring for the visitors as early as the 7^th minute, and Bouzanis doubled their advantage just after the half hour mark.
Schuman gave Schofields hope by pulling a goal back a minute before the break, but Costantini restored the two goal advantage for Fairfeld by striking on 52 minutes.
Despite Watters reducing the deficit in the 70^th minute, the Scorpions slumped to their first loss of the season, with Fairfield?s victory catapulting them into fourth position near the top of a congested ladder.
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS ? CAMDEN TIGERS 2-1
Blacktown Spartans came from a goal down at halftime to snare the three points at Francis Park on Saturday night against the visiting Camden Tigers.
Smutek scored his third goal of the campaign on 23 minutes to give the Tigers a 1-0 half time lead.
But Michael Todd and Reece Iredale were not to be outdone, they themselves scoring their third goals of 2010 on 58 and 69 minutes respectively, to hand the Spartans the three points.
Camden?s loss sees them stranded just outside the top five on 7 points, whilst Blacktown remain the only undefeated side in Division One, occupying second spot on 11 points.
MOUNTIES WANDERERS ? BALMAIN SC 3-1
Mounties Wanderers are starting to gain momentum, based on their second consecutive victory on Saturday night at Balmain?s expense.
The home fans at Cook Park didn?t have to wait long to be on their feet, with Mounties scoring all three of their goals in a five minute spell just after the half hour mark.
And guess who?s back amongst the goals? Steve Biviano returned to the Mounties line up and grabbed a brace of goals on 31 and 34 minutes, whilst skipper Daniel McCann made it three in the 36^th to effectively wrap up the match.
Balmain?s diminutive Johhny Buonavoglia pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 60^th minute, but Mounties weren?t prepared to let this one slip, and saw out the match to pick up a valuable three points.
UNSW ? HURSTVILLE ZSC 3-1
In the day?s solitary match on Sunday, UNSW managed to produce their maiden victory of 2010 with a 3-1 win over Hurstville ZFC.
But it took an hour for the gates to open, with all four goals coming in a 20 minute period after this point.
Barrett was rewarded for his efforts of late by opening the scoring for the ?students? in the 61^st minute, with Anastasopoulos making it 2-0 in the 69^th.
Midfielder Hardwick finished off the scoring for UNSW on 78 minutes, and despite Gbusseh pulling one back a minute later, UNSW held on for a confidence boosting three points.
-By Frank Speranza