Fairfield prevail in goal fest + Round Eighteen Review
Both sides came into the match with breathing space ahead of fourth placed Schofields, and were intent on throwing caution to the wind in an attempt to provide the spectators with something to cheer about.
And it was Fairfeld?s supporters that were off their seats first up, with their side opening the afternoon?s proceedings with a goal as early as the second minute.
Skipper Robbie Issa, who was influential in most of his sides attacking forays, received the ball in the middle of the Blacktown half, and swiveled before chipping a great diagonal through ball into the path of winger, Chris Theodosiou.
Unmarked and presented with a tight angle, Theodosiou fooled everyone, not least Spartans goalkeeper, Carlos Saliadarre, by firing inside the near post to put the Lions on their way.
Both sides then traded early blows, with Blacktown striker, McPherson, turning on a sixpence but having his shot blocked by Forrest, whilst Spartans defender, Vizzari, did likewise to divert a snapshot by Fairfield?s Ekinci inside the six yard box.
Fairfield were throwing numbers forward in the opening passages, and were duly rewarded when they doubled their advantage on 19 minutes.
Robbie Issa once again was the instigator, splitting the Blacktown defence with a superb pass to the unmarked Ozcan Cetinay, and the midfielder took a touch before slipping the shot past the advancing Salidarre to make it 2-0.
The Lions were effervescent in attack, looking dangerous every time they ventured forward, and in the 26th minute, youngster, Ben Cronk, almost made it three when his shot from an acute angle trickled agonizingly across the face of the goal to safety.
Cronk was at it again on the half hour, snapping a low left foot shot straight at Saliadarre after a majestic 40 yard pass from Ekinci.
Despite being under the hammer since the opening whistle, Blacktown had a great opportunity to reduce the deficit when they were awarded a spot kick after some over zealous tackling by Sozer on Spartans skipper, Luke Infanti.
Adrian Vizzari stepped up and placed his penalty to the keeper?s left, but Fairfeld custodian, Biernat, parried brilliantly, much to the delight of his team mates.
Blacktown kept gnawing before the break, and did in fact pull a goal back in the 40th minute, Todd showing composure to control the ball inside the box before steering his shot into the net, despite he valiant attempts of Biernat, who managed to get a hand to the ball on its way into goal.
Referee, Mr Barreca, wasn?t in the mood to take any nonsense, and issued two cautions to the home side, both for dissent, in the moments just before he brought the first stanza to an end.
Fairfield at this point had been putting on a show, with a multitude of attacking weaponry at their exposal – Ekinci and Cetinay pulling the strings in midfield, Robbie Issa had had a hand in just about everything, and Ben Cronk was providing the youthful spark up front.
If Blacktown thought they may have been seeing double, pairing up with his brother in the Lions? midfield was George Issa, recently acquired from Bankstown City Lions of the Premier League, and the family understanding was there for all to see.
But the Spartans have made a reputation of coming back from the seemingly dead, often pulling rabbits out of hats in a frantic search to secure late ditch goals, and today would be no exception.
But before the late show, they fell further behind in the 48th minute, when a punched clearance from Saliadarre rebounded off Ekinci, the looping ball hooked over his head by the ever alert Cronk and into an unguarded net.
Five minutes later, and remarkably it became 4-1, when Cetinay weaved Blacktown defender, Propilio, inside out, down the left, before his cross was dispatched by a jubilant Robbie Issa, his low shot finding its way into the net through a sea of legs.
The expectation that the Spartans would venture back into the game started to show some signs in the 70th minute, with Canessa volleying over from a tight angle after Todd had flicked on a Bugallo cross.
Five minutes later and Blacktown did pull a goal back, with substitute Fitzgerald, stabbing a high shot into the roof of the net after a Todd header had rebounded off the Fairfield cross bar.
Bugallo, also a second half substitution, himself got on the scoresheet in the 88th minute after great work by Infanti, to make it an interesting final few minutes.
But this time Blacktown had left it too late, with the final opportunity falling to Fairfeld?s Cetinay in injury time, his attempted chip failing to clear the outstretched arm of Carlos Saliadarre.
The match was over, and the players must be congratulated on providing the spectators real value for money.
Both teams have now scored 47 goals each in 2010, a credit to both sides for persevering with trying to win games by attacking rather than defending, although Fairfield?s continuance to allow opposition teams back into matches must be giving all of their fans heart palpitations!
Credit to Blacktown Spartans, when on a day when they were out enthused and outplayed for long periods, they still managed to make a game of it, through hard work and determination more than anything else, as well as a couple of inspired substitutions by coach, Ben De Haan.
Captain, Luke Infanti, lead by example, strong defensively, and often joining the attack as he tried valiantly to push his team forward. McCaffery worked tirelessly all day as he chased the ball playing wizards of Fairfield, and Canessa made some effective in roads down the left flank, getting in some telling crosses. Todd?s high workrate in attack was rewarded by a goal and an assist.
Fairfield are fast becoming the entertainers of Division One, almost with an attitude of ?it doesn?t matter how many goals you score, we?ll score more?, which makes great viewing for the neutral spectator.
The Issa brothers were effective in midfield, captain Robbie influential in a man-of-the-match performance with a goal and two assists, whilst George directed traffic moreso late in the match as his opponents started to tire.
Division One top goalscorer, Yavos Ekinci, didn?t score on the day, but he is yet another conductor who seemingly creates opportunities for his team mates every time he receives the ball. Cronk and Cetinay give the side a sprinkling of energetic youth, both grabbing a goal as reward for their enthusiasm and running.
FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS (2) 4 (Theodosiou 2?, Cetinay 19?, Cronk 48?, Issa 54?)
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS (1) 3 (Todd 40?, Fitzgerald 75?, Bugallo 88?)
Sunday, July 18, at Norford Park, Sefton
Referee ? Mr.A.Barreca
Assistant Referee ? Mr.A.Denzel
Assistant Referee ? Mr.D.Ward
FAIRFIELD CITY LIONS ;
1.A.Biernat, 15.T.Gabriel, 5.J.Forrest, 6.R.Issa (capt), 4.E.Ongel, 13.A.Sesay, 10.Y.Ekinci (14.F.Madadghar 78?), 11.G.Issa, 18.B.Cronk (7.A.Akbari 69?), 19.C.Theodosiou (2.S.Sozer 28?), 20.O.Cetinay.
Subs not used ? NIL
Yellow Cards ? 18.B.Cronk 45?, 13.A.Sesay 45?, 2.S.Sozer 80?.
Red Cards ? NIL
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS ;
1.C.Saliadarre, 9.J.Canessa, 6.M.Hubbard (4.B.Fitzgerald 70?), 7.M.Todd, 16.L.Infanti(capt), 13.T.Johnson, 10.M.McCaffery, 11.G.McPherson, 8.R.Wilson (18.J.Bugallo 46?), 5.A.Vizzari (17.S.Falangra 54?), 14.V.Propilio.
Subs not used ? NIL
Yellow Cards ? NIL
Red Cards ? NIL
Division One Review ? Round Eighteen
BALMAIN SC ? HILLS BRUMBIES 1-1
Hills Brumbies dropped two points at Lambert Park on Saturday afternoon when Balmain scored a late equalizer to grab a share of the spoils.
The league leaders were held at bay for well over an hour, but broke the deadlock in the 65th minute when captain, Terry Pannowitz, converted a penalty to put the visitors in front.
Balmain rallied immediately, and restored parity in the 75th minute, with a goal to Con Paradisis, the veteran back in action after serving a two match suspension for a recent red card offence.
The solitary point has put the Brumbies on 41, and reduced their lead at the top to just five points with four matches remaining, with Fairfield now occupying second position following their thrilling 4-3 win over Blacktown
MOUNTIES WANDERERS ? SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS 2-2
Mounties and Schofields played out an exciting 2-2 draw at Cook Park, as a result neither side losing too much ground in their respective chase towards the semi finals.
The Scorpions raced out of their boxes early, taking an early 6th minute lead via their fleet footed striker, Lam.
But the lead didn?t last long, the tall Lloyd equalizing just ten minutes later, the score remaining that way until the second half.
Aitken then put Schofields in front once again just before the hour mark, but Mounties were not to be denied, and Crisp restored parity once more in the 67th minute to send both teams home with a point apiece.
INTER LIONS ? UNSW 1-0
Inter Lions have returned to the top five following a narrow 1-0 victory over the plucky UNSW.
Gonzalez got the all important winner for Inter on 68 minutes, catapulting them to fifth position on 27 points, and still with two games in hand on the sides above them.
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC ? STANMORE HAWKS 1-0
Stanmore?s final aspirations derailed somewhat at Magdala Park on Sunday when they came unstuck at the hands of Gladesville Ryde Magic.
An early 16th minute striker by Robertson proved the only goal of the game, sending the Hawks tumbling out of the top five.
CAMDEN TIGERS ? HURSTVILLE ZSC 3-3
There were thrills and spills at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday as Camden and Hurstville shared six goals amongst themselves.
Despite their position, bottom placed Hurstville have been proving a much more difficult team to overcome during the second round, and started this game well by taking a 15th minute lead through Stiven Kostanic.
Mackechnie equalized for the Tigers in the 22nd minute, and that?s the way the score stayed until a four goal frenzy in 18 minutes late in the second period.
Mugridge put Camden in front in the 63rd minute, but two goals in eight minutes shortky after by Dejanovic meant that Hurstville were back in the driving seat.
Cook had other ideas, and had Camden back on level terms on 81 minutes, giving both clubs a share of the spoils.
– Frank Speranza
