State League One Round 6 Review

Match of the Round
MOUNTIES WANDERERS 2 (Lloyd 65?, Foti 91?)
UNSW 0  
MOUNTIES MAKE IT THREE ON THE TROT
Mounties Wanderers continued their resurgence up the ladder on Saturday night at Cook Park, beating a depleted UNSW side 2-0 with both goals coming in the second half.
Earlier drizzle had left the playing surface a little slippery, and local fans braved the unpredictable weather to see the home side win their third match on the trot.
UNSW came into the match missing quite a few of their first teamers through injury, with defenders Janov and Harb, and midfielder Di Natale, all out for this match and probably another couple, whilst pint-sized striker, Luca, is still missing with a longer term injury.
Making matters worse was that UNSW coach, Luke Andrews, was also absent for family reasons, leaving the ?students? with a massive task to take anything away from this match.
Early exchanges in the match were restricted to the centre of the park, ?box to box?, as both defences stood firm, and neither keeper really tested.
Pat Lloyd started like a house on fire, absolutely resolute in the centre of the UNSW defence, refusing any right of way for the Mounties attackers with some real bone-crunching tackles.
On 15 minutes, Mounties suffered a setback when the prolific Steve Biviano strained his hamstring chasing down a loose ball, the pain on his face there for all to see as he slumped to the ground in agony.
His replacement, the burly Petrovic, was amongst the action immediately, shrugging off a challenge in the 23^rd minute before hitting a grass cutter that whizzed past the goal post.
A few minutes earlier and UNSW had the first real opportunity of the match, with Lee Davelaar?s angled free kick expertly tipped over by Mounties keeper, McMahon.
Referee, Mr Chris Young, stamped his authority early in the piece with a couple of cautions, one for either side, both for shirt pulling, and from there set the standard, allowing the game to flow without unnecessary interruptions.
Shortly after, a Mounties corner from the left was cleared to the waiting Daniel McCann a few metres outside the penalty area, and the skipper let fly with a rocket that was diverted by the sprawling Lev Lewis in the UNSW six yard box.
A few minutes later and it was another corner, this time from the right side, that almost produced a goal, with UNSW keeper, Dave Poorley, reacting instinctively to parry a powerful Goodwin header.
Mr Young blew his half time whistle, with both teams scoreless, and UNSW probably the slightly happier given their depleted side had matched their highly rated opponents.
Joe Bruni had consistently been teasing the UNSW defence every time he had possession, dragging in one and two defenders, and beating them with ease with some wizardry on the ball – a real old-fashioned left winger in the traditional sense.
UNSW, however, came out in the second stanza determined to take the ascendancy, and after some increased intensity on their part, Rod Weeks almost scored when his low angled shot was tipped around the post by Mounties custodian, McMahon.
UNSW had their ends up, and a minute later a counter attack ended with Tom Quilty taking a touch on the edge of the penalty area before smacking a 20 yard volley straight down the throat of McMahon.
It looked more and more like whoever could muster the initial goal would go on to take the points, and it was the home side that broke the deadlock on 65 minutes.
Troy McColl, an off-season signing from Schofields Scorpions, picked up a stray ball metres outside the box before unleashing a thunderbolt that beat UNSW, keeper, Poorley, all ends up as it crashed against the cross bar.
Mounties tall striker, Lloyd, was quickest to the rebound, calmly prodding the ball into the unguarded net with his head to give his team the lead they so much desired.
Rod Weeks almost equalized for the ?students? on 77 minutes, turning near the corner of the box before curling a shot that went inches past the far post.
Mounties were almost handed a second goal in the 81^st minute, when McCann?s thumping chest-high free kick from near the goal line deflected off Lee Davelaar ? who had given away the initial foul ? with Dave Poorley producing a reactive save to keep the ball out.
In the 84^th minute, UNSW?s young winger, Rod Weeks beat his man on the right before sending over a cross that spun and eluded everyone until it reached Aidann Barrett at the far side of the penalty area. Barrett did well to control the leather instinctively, before cracking an angled shot on goal that was brilliantly saved by Mounties keeper, McMahon.
Mounties were determined to put the game to bed, and almost did that on 88 minutes when the speedy substitute, Frank Romeo, ran at the UNSW defence, before slipping a through ball to Petrovic. His cross shot beat Poorley, but was cleared by the retreating Davelaar.
A couple of minutes later and they did put the game out of UNSW?s reach, just as the clock ticked over the 90 minute mark.
Petrovic used all of his strength to control and hold up an ?up-and-under? just inside the UNSW half, eventually switching the ball brilliantly to the right flank for Greg Baldock to run onto.
Baldock used all of his experience to run the ball to the goal line, before cutting it back for Foti to hit first time, low, and past Poorley in the UNSW goal, wrapping up the match.
UNSW skipper Pat Lloyd was a dejected figure after the match.
?We had a few boys from our 20?s playing up, and they did really well, we matched them for the first 70 minutes or so,? said Lloyd.
He added, ?It was unfortunate we copped the first goal, and by going at them we then conceded the inevitable second goal, but I am really proud of the boys.?
Actually Pat Lloyd was the best on the night for UNSW, effective in the tackle, read the play well to anticipate plenty of through balls from Mounties, and a real presence in the centre of defence. All three attackers, Aidann Barrett and Rod Weeks on the flanks, and Tom Quilty down the middle, all provided plenty of running, giving Mounties defenders no peace as they chased down everything collectively, but, disappointingly for them, had nothing to show for their efforts on the night.
Mounties coach, Anthony Crea, was pleased to have toiled away before picking up the three points.
?It was a pretty even first half, but we did lose Steve Biviano early on to the hamstring strain, and that was a big loss in attack,? said Crea.
?We did have a little bit of luck when they missed a chance or two, but we recovered in the 2^nd half, defended well, and our desire for the win and good finishing got us the three points,? added Crea.
Best on the night for Mounties were ; skipper Daniel McCann and Matty Viera were their usual solid selves in the centre of the park, fierce in the tackle and anchoring the midfield; Scott Goodwin was strong in the centre of defence, dominating aerially ; Troy McColl and Joe Bruni were an effective left flank partnership, combining well on numerous occasions to send over many teasing crosses, as well as reduce any forays forward from UNSW.
Match Stats
MOUNTIES WANDERERS 2 (Lloyd 65?, Foti 91?)
UNSW 0  
Saturday, April 24, at Cook Park, Mounties
Referee ? Mr. Chris Young
Assistant Referees ? Mr. Les Foster, Mr. Phil Archer
MOUNTIES WANDERERS: 1.C.McMahon, 3. T.Salvaggio, 16.S.Goodwin, 13.G.Foti, 6.T.McColl (19.J.Ciampa 75?), 9.M.Viera, 17.D.McCann (capt), 8.S.Biviano (42.D.Petrovic 15?), 4.G.Baldock, 11.J.Bruni, 43.S.Lloyd (2.F.Romeo 70?).
Subs not used ? 7.P.Crisp, RGK.G.Jamieson.
UNSW: 1.D.Poorley, 39.P.Lloyd (capt), 6.L.Lewis, 3.L.Davelaar, 30.M.Bryan, 16.T.Pavlou (10.G.Cassidy), 22.N.Tyral, 8.A.Barrett, 11.T.Quilty (7.M.Kambos 87?), 12.R.Weeks, 2.D.Hardwick.
Subs not used ? 4.S.Anastasopoulos, 33.K.Baverstock,14.L.Puljk.
Division One Review ? Round Six
BALMAIN SC ? SCHOFIELD SCORPIONS 0-3
Schofields Scorpions returned to the summit of Division One on Saturday afternoon, albeit overnight,  with a comprehensive 3-0 away victory over Balmain SC at Lambert Park.
After a scoreless stalemate in the opening 45 minutes, the Scorpions sprung to life in the second stanza, Davis making it 1-0 on 57 minutes.
Schuman doubled their advantage just seven minutes later, before Aitken wrapped up proceedings for Schofields with the third goal in the 84^th minute, sending the away fans home in jubilant mood.
INTER LIONS ? HURSTVILLE ZSC 3-1
Inter Lions made it back to back wins on Sunday with a 3-1 triumph over Hurstville ZSC at Crest Complex.
Hurstville actually took the lead on 32 minutes through Andrade, but Inter was in front within just six minutes, from strikes by Dom Arcella (34?) and Pasquale Polistina (38?).
Polistina wrapped up proceedings with his second, and Inter?s third goal, in the 85^th minute, the win lifting Inter to fifth spot on the ladder on 10 points.
FAIRFELD CITY LIONS ? HILLS BRUMBIES 1-3
Hills Brumbies came through a tricky test at Norford Park on Sunday afternoon with flying colours, earning a satisfying 3-1 away victory over Fairfield City Lions.
Following a scoreless first half, Brumbies opened the scoring twice within three minutes , with Down (54?) and Pannowitz (57?) doing the honours, the latter via the penalty spot.
Savic put the match beyond reach for the home side, grabbing Hill?s third goal on 87 minutes.
Maxwell pulled back a consolation goal for Fairfield, merely a minute later, but it was too little, too late.
The win sees Hills retain their position at the summit of the ladder, pushing Fairfield out of the top five on goal difference.
CAMDEN TIGERS ? STANMORE HAWKS 0-2
Camden Tigers came unstuck at home on Sunday when Stanmore Hawks stole the points with two late goals at Ron Dine Reserve.
Skipper David James broke the deadlock in the 78^th minute, and the Hawks put the game beyond doubt in injury time with a goal to the competition?s leading scorer, Wassim Hijazi.
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC ? BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 3-3
Gladesville Ryde Magic threw away 2-0 and 3-2 leads to eventually draw 3-3 with Blacktown Spartans on Sunday at Magdala Park.
Nastoulis (26?) and McKie (30?) gave Magic a dream first half lead against the high flying Spartans, and they went in at the break confident of their first victory of the season.
One of coach, Ben de-Haan?s, shrewd signings in the off season, was bringing the brilliant Lachlan Wright to Francis Park from Inter Lions, and Wright has endured a patient time of late as he recovered from injury. Wright turned it on after the break, and had Blacktown on level terms with two goals in the second half coming on 48 and 69 minutes.
Kabbara gave Gladesville the lead in the 77^th minute, only for Falanga to restore parity for the Spartans once more three minutes later, and that?s the way it stayed until full time.
-By Frank Speranza