State League One Round 20 Review
Match of the Round
Fairfield City Lions 5 v Hurstville ZFC 1
Fairfield City Lions took Hurstville ZFC apart at Norford Park on Sunday afternoon, thrashing the last placed visitors to the tune of 5-1.
The half time score may as well have read – ?Ekinci 4, Hurstville 1? ? as the experienced playmaker scored all of his side?s goals in what was a dominating first half display.
The Issa brothers, Robbie and George, were typically at the centre of the attacking forays, especially with the opening two goals, scored by Ekinci on 13 and 23 minutes.
Ekinci?s hat trick came in the 26th minute, and what a goal it was, as he weaved past a few hapless Hurstville challenges before scoring from a tight angle.
Goal number four for Fairfield, and Ekinci, came in the 33rd minute via the penalty spot, following a foul inside the box on Ben Cronk, and the veteran sent the keeper the wrong way to boot.
Just as half time loomed, Hurstville were awarded a penalty of their own, Vlado Zoric doing the honours with a well taken spot kick.
The second half brought more of the same, with goalmouth action a plenty as Fairfield looked to continue the pain for the visitors, but the Lions were wasteful, as many chances went begging, with Cronk the culprit a couple of times when he was clean through with only the keeper to beat.
Cronk made amends on 72 minutes, racing down the left flank before crossing, and Robbie Issa got his head to the ball to grab his team?s fifth goal of a resounding afternoon?s work.
The loss has doomed Hurstville to last place, as they have just six points with two games remaining, and a highly inferior goal difference compared to that of second-last UNSW.
On the other hand, Fairfield?s win takes them into second spot on 39 points, as they continue to strive to keep up their momentum leading up to finals football in a few weeks time.
Fairfield City Lions ? Hurstville ZFC 5-1
3-00pm, Sunday, August 1@ Norford Park No.2
Gladesville Ryde Magic ? Inter Lions 0-1
3-00pm, Sunday, August 1 @ Magdala Reserve
Inter Lions sneaked back into the top five with a narrow one goal victory over a dogged Gladesville Ryde Magic at Magdala Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
The Magic have proven to be a tough obstacle to overcome in front of their home fans, and this Round 20 clash proved no different.
But Inter were persistent, and kept at it, and were rewarded when Chiandotto grabbed the all important winner in the 89th minute.
The win and subsequent three points have put Inter on 31 points in fifth spot on the ladder, although they do have Mounties (29 points) and Stanmore Hawks (26 points) both within striking distance, and both with a match in hand on Nick Tarquinio?s Lions.
Camden Tigers ? UNSW 0-0
3-00pm, Sunday, August 1@ Ron Dine Reserve
A predictable 0-0 was the outcome of a fairly even contest at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon, with Camden Tigers and UNSW sharing the spoils.
A stubborn midfield battle created some chances for both sides, but neither were able to take advantage as both keepers ruled supreme.
The season of UNSW coach, Luke Andrews, just gets seems to deteriorate as the weeks go by, with Dave Hardwick (groin) and Lachlan Fogerty (osteo pubis) being added to the injury list, the latter a two goal hero last week in a midweek rescheduled victory over Balmain.
The positive to come out of the afternoon for the ?students? is that the point they earned puts them on 12, six clear of Hurstville, who have two games to play, and given UNSW have a 26 goal superior goal difference, they have all but assured themselves of their spot in Division One for season 2011.
All three of Saturday?s matches in Division One fell foul of the wet weather, and were postponed, to a date and venue yet to be decided by Football NSW.
Balmain SC ? Stanmore Hawks postponed
5-00pm, Saturday, July 31 @ Lambert Park
Schofields Scorpions ? Hills Brumbies postponed
7-00pm, Saturday, July 31 @ CSI Sport Ground
Mounties Wanderers ? Blacktown Spartans postponed
7-00pm, Saturday, July 31 @ Cook Park
-By Frank Speranza