State League One Round 11 Review
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS ? HILLS BRUMBIES 2-2
Saturday, May 29, at Francis Park,
The eagerly awaited clash between competition heavyweights, Blacktown Spartans and Hills Brumbies, went ahead at Francis Park on Saturday night, both teams trading blows before sharing the spoils in an entertaining 2-2 draw.
For the Spartans it was their third big match within a week, suffering their first loss of 2010 to Schofields last weekend, but recovering midweek to dramatically knock out Premier League club, Sydney United, in a nail biting penalty shootout in the MacDonald Cup on Wednesday.
So the rain and subsequent heavy pitch would only add to the tough schedule for Blacktown, who nevertheless, came into the match hoping to bridge the gap at the top between the two sides.
Todd Macrae gave the Spartans the lead in the 44th minute, and they went into the break brimming with confidence.
But Hills are made of sterner stuff in 2010, returning serve with two goals within nine minutes early on in the second half.
Youngster, Lord Darkoh, equalized in the 56th minute, before Brendan Mitrovich put the Brumbies in front on 65 minutes, and they worked hard to defend their lead as the strain of the past week started to show on the Spartans.
Just when the match seemed to be slipping away, up popped Glenn McPherson to score on 85 minutes for Blacktown, the equalizer splitting the points between the two clubs.
McPherson?s strike was his ninth of the season, and puts him third on the Division?s top scorer?s list behind Stanmore?s Wasim Hijazi and Fairfield?s Yavos Ekinci.
The draw sees Hills retain a five point lead at the top and move to 26 points, whilst Blacktown go to 20 points but slip to third spot, as Schofield?s leapfrog them into second.
STANMORE HAWKS – SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS 0-1
Saturday, May 29, at Arlington Oval, Dulwich Hill
Stanmore Hawks welcomed Schofields to Arlington Oval on Saturday night knowing a win would consolidate their spot near the top of the ladder.
But it was the resolute Scorpions that had the last laugh on a slippery pitch, Simpson grabbing the only goal of the game on 62 minutes to send the traveling fans home very happy indeed.
With the match between the top two ending all square, Schofield?s win puts them on 21 points and into second position, cutting the gap between them and leaders, Hills Brumbies, to just five points.
What it does mean is that Schofields have had a very fruitful period during the past three weeks, grabbing seven points out of nine from the top three sides in the Division, proving they can mix it with the best of them.
CAMDEN TIGERS ? FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS 2-4
Sunday, May 30, at Ron Dine Reserve, Camden
Camden Tigers came unstuck at home against a resurgent Fairfield City Lions to the tune of four goals to two on Sunday afternoon.
However it was Camden that got off to a flying start, top scorer Smutek opening their account after just nine minutes with his eighth goal of the season.
Fairfield equalized in the 26th minute through midfield playmaker, Ekinci, and grabbed an unlikely lead just before the break via Theodosiou, a mid season transfer from Schofields.
Ekinci extended the visitors? lead in the 55th minute, before Morgan pulled one back for Camden a quarter of an hour later.
Just when the home fans were hoping for an all out onslaught from their side, up stepped talisman, Ekinci, to grab his hat-trick, and Fairfield?s fourth goal of the afternoon, completing the proceedings for the day.
The win puts the inconsistent Lions on 19 points and into fourth place, and no doubt, their number 10, Ekinci, has had a lot to do with their success, scoring 11 goals this year so far, with also quite a few assists to boot.
UNSW ? GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC Washed Out
Sunday, May 30, at David Phillips Field, Daceyville
HURSTVILLE ZSC ? MOUNTIES WANDERERS Washed Out
Sunday, May 30, at Hurstville Oval, Hurstville
INTER LIONS ? BALMAIN SC Washed Out
Sunday, May 30, at The Crest Complex, Georges Hall
-By Frank Speranza
