NSW Super League Round 17 Review

More terrific action in the NSW Super League with 5 rounds remaining.

Match report for the round:  

Lightning strikes twice at lucky Popondetta

Central Coast Lightning may wish their games were transferred to Popondetta Park for the next few rounds after picking up their second set of full points there in the 3-1 win over Mount Druitt Town Rangers today.

This ‘wooden spoon avoidance’ game was moved from Saturday evening at Lisarow due to heavy localised rain on the Central Coast to the Sunday afternoon at the Rangers home ground – so when I say home side I actually mean Lightning the side really playing away.

Central Coast edged this tie 2-1 in the round 6 clash at the same ground, but although Coast have juggled their options the Rangers squad has changed a little, including a new ‘keeper Chad Taylor (ex Rockdale and Nepean)- so that may not have been a guide to this encounter. This time though they won again and grabbed an extra goal, in a somewhat stop-start game.

The game kicked off in dry conditions but with dark threatening skies.

In the 2nd minute Coast’s Scott McGinley’s cross from the right was nodded on by Neil Woodcock to Matt Mitchell whose shot was hit well over the crossbar.

Four minutes later the always dangerous Rangers winger Michael Noro got up on the left but shot across the face of goal.

As light rain fell briefly Rangers livewire Eddie Georges cut inside on the right as he was faced with a massed defence, and Shannon Hankin in support hit it well over the bar, in the 17th minute.

Eight minutes later Rangers got a cross in from the right which was headed past the far post by a defender and over the line for a corner. The corner then was swung in from the left and found Shannon Hankin who blasted his shot past a hapless Lightning custodian Josh Barrett and into the net to give Mount Druitt the lead. 0-1

The joy for the few Mt Druitt fans was short lived however as in the 32nd minute a shot from range over a massed penalty box from the ‘home side’ rebounded off the underside of the crossbar, down and then up, with a very quick thinking and moving Matt Mitchell heading it in. 1-1

Rangers sought to regain the lead, with Shannon Hankin hitting a speculator in the 33rd minute that had Coast ‘keeper Barrett forced to parry. Eddie Georges, always lurking, alas hit it wide.

Two minutes later disaster for Mt Druitt when in what seemed a straight tackle by Omar Valderrama on Mitchell just inside the penalty are, the referee adjudged a foul, perhaps the angle was from behind.

Brady Smith stepped up to take it to take the spot kick and slotted it home to the right of Chad Taylor. 2-1

Before the break little penetration was achieved by either side, and it wasn’t until the last minute that a quick free kick by Rangers found Michael Noro on the right, but he scuffed his shot across goal.

Coast came out with intent but rearguard defending by Rangers kept them at bay.

What seemed like a handball by Coast’s Alex Burrell, moments after he’d been carded, was either not seen or not judged deliberate by the referee, who had to quiet the Rangers bench.

Rangers goalscorer Shannon Hankin tried a long range shot in the 60th minute, and to add injury to insult, at the other end a ball played in to the Rangers penalty area hit the arm of Omar Valderrama as he fell in a mass of players.

The referee ran to show a red card, to Valderrama’s shock and upset as he trudged disbelievingly from the field.

Again Brady Smith took the spot kick, this time edging it past Taylor. 3-1

With ten men Mount Druitt struggled to get enough numbers forward but as is their manner, they kept on at it – however the game was disrupted by stoppages including a few minutes for the attempted substitution on of Nathan Byrn for Coast. His shirt said 10, but the team sheet said 9 (already worn by Smith).

In the 82nd minute Greg Kondek hit a sneeky ball just inside the left upright and Barrett couldn’t hold, nevertheless it was cleared. Brady Smith also tested the ‘keeper with a shot on target soon after.

In stoppage time a cross from the right for Rangers found Eddie Georges but he hit it over the bar.

A good win to Coast, though they rode their luck and Rangers misfortune. Winning coach, the usually chirpy, Peter Preston oddly looked like he’d won Lotto but misplaced his ticket.

This win was vital to Central Coast in it’s battle to avoid the wooden spoon, moving them onto 20 – equal points with Dulwich Hill though with a much poorer goal difference. Mount Druitt must eye Fraser Park with worry; though today’s perhaps inevitable loss to Parramatta has ended their recent surge.

Match Stats:

Central Coast Lightning 3 (Matt Mitchell  32′,  Brady Smith 37′ pen, 60′ pen) –
Mount Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Shannon Hankin 26′)

Date: Sunday 11 July 2010
At: Popondetta Park, Emerton (3pm)- moved from Pluim Park to the field closed
Crowd:50 approx

Central Coast Lightning:  1. Josh Barrett (gk), 3. Jamie Lobb (c), 4. Darren Cooper , 7. Keenan Crum , 12. Graham Troope, 11. Neil Woodcock (14. Pat Dalton +80′), 5. Nathan Moseley, 6. Matt Mitchell, 8. Alex Burrell, 13. Scott McGinley (15. Ben Glachan +86′),
14. Pat Dalton , 9. Brady Smith

Subs not used: 17. Jake Purches (rgk), 9. Nathan Byrn (*)
Yellow Cards: Neil Woodcock 16′, Alex Burrell 39′, 90’+2

* This was to cause problems later as Brady Smith had already taken the park with that number – Byrn wasn’t allowed to take the field.

Coach: Peter Preston

Mount Druitt Town Rangers: 1. Chad Taylor (gk), 2. Chris Lima (13. Daniel Borg +62′), 3. Scott Bowman, 5, Ryan O’Shea (c), 6. James Thurtell, 7. Michael Noro, 9. Shannon Hankin (20. Caetano Lima +69′), 11. Eddie Georges, 8. Omar Valderrama (RC), 17. Greg Kondek, 10. Luciano Berbis

Subs not used: 21. Andrew Giuguis (rgk), 4. Rafid Hirmiz
Yellow Cards: Luciano Berbis 5′, Scott Bowman 54′,
Red Card: Omar Valderrama 56′

Coach: Gilbert Yalda

Grade 20: Central Coast Lightning 2 – Mount Druitt Town Rangers 2

Round 17 Wrap:

Sunday

As Round 17 of the Super League had no scheduled break for the final of the McDonalds Cup the 1st grade game between finalist Spirit FC and Northern Tigers was moved from this day to 8:30pm on Tuesday 3rd August at Christie Park.  

FC Bossy Liverpool     2 (Alex Asanovic 42′,  Matt Toogood 85)
– Sydney University 2 (Christian Soares 20′, 25′)

After four wins in a row Bossy were brought short by Sydney University who took an early two goal lead. The students’ ace goal scoer Christian Soares netted in the 20th minute and extended their lead with his 25th minute goal.

Bossy are noted for adjusting their game and just before the break the wily Alex Asanovic pulled one back. Matt Toogood with his first goal of the season saved a point for Liverpool with his 85th minute goal.

Fraser Park FC  1 (Luis Carneiro 10′)
– Parramatta Eagles 4 (Ben Delicata 12′, Shayne Ardle 17′, 38′, 52′)

There is always hope, and Fraser park have of late been working hope into points, but this time it was forlorn as the league leaders Parramatta Eagles re-asserted their dominance and moved 7 points clear at the top.

Luis Carneiro’s 10th minute goal must have seemed like a beacon to Fraser Park’s hard-working side but two minutes later Ben Delicata extinguished it with his own goal contribution.

Shayne Ardle then proceeded to stamp on the embers with two goals before half time. He backed that up with a 52nd minute goal that underlined Fraser Park’s task to avoid the wooden spoon despite other results.

Macarthur Rams  4 (Sam Messam 29′, 55′, 88′, Alvaro Malmierca 35′ )
– Granville Rage  0

While the Rams re-asserted themselves with this win and look likely finalists, their opponents continue to run hot and cold despite sitting in 4th spot.

That man, Sam Messam, as foretold, had to get among the goals again and he did so emphatically with a hat-trick.

After Messam took the lead for Macarthur in the 29th minute Alvaro Malmierca chipped in with his 35th minute contribution to seal that lead. After the break Rage had no answer to Messam’s threat, with the league’s leading scorer scoring again in the 55th and 88th minutes.

St George Saints 1 (Peter Crevani 70′)
– Dulwich Hill  0  

With Dulwich Hill expected to extend St George it was no surprise that this was a low scoring game. The Saints took a late lead after going into the break all square. Dully could not get one back in the short time remaining.

In the 70th minute Saints recent goalscorer Denis Cutura had turned provider when he sent a cross to the right post where a lurking Peter Crevani smashed a left foot shot past Dulwich Hill ‘keeper Michael Frost.

The Saints have started a later surge with recent games and still have a R10 game to play next Wednesday at home against FC Bossy Liverpool.

Rescheduled game played(last Thursday night)
Round 12: Sydney University 0 – Granville Rage 0

Top Scorers: (provisional)

Messam, Sam (Macarthur Rams) 16
Soares, Christian (Sydney University) 12
Ardel, Shayne (Parramatta Eagles) 10
Gough, Ben (Spirit FC) 10
Cappuccio, Pat (Granville Rage) 9
Bobo, Nenos (Granville Rage) 8
Faria, Tony (Dulwich Hill) 8
Spencer, Tom (Northern Tigers) 8
Holbrook, Kris (Granville Rage) 7

– by Chris Dunkerley