NSW Super League Round 1 Review
Fraser Park and Central Coast were the ones to grab all three points and sit proudly atop the table.
St George couldn?t quite hold out the Berries in the feature match while promoted Hills Brumbies did extremely well in gaining a point off Northern Tigers, despite playing the last twenty five minutes with ten men.
Goalscoring honours head up the Coast to Grant Maundrell, who scored a hatrick in Central Coast?s win over Sydney Uni.
If round one is anything to go by, it will be another competitive Super League season.
Feature Match of the Week
West Sydney Berries v St George FC
West Sydney Berries may find that Super League is tougher than expected after coming from a goal down to share the spoils in an entertaining 1-1 draw with St George on Saturday evening.
With the undoubted aim of the club being to gain promotion back to the Premier League this season, the Berries were certainly slow off the mark in this opening fixture.
As early as the third minute, St George had hit the bar after an excellent free kick from Ivo de Jesus cannoned off the woodwork. With the Saints applying early pressure from the kickoff, Simon Verrender, too, also hit the post in what was another escape for the home side.
But the pressure eventually told when St George gained a penalty in the twenty fourth minute following a handball in the area by James Stubbs-Mills. De Jesus coolly, and cleverly, beat Nestor Tsioutas, to give the visitors a deserved lead.
It seemed like St George may have gained a second penalty five minutes later, when Brad Gibson beat the offside trap to cross for Denis Cutura. But Cutura was ultimately carded for diving.
De Jesus and Reuben Lagos were dominant in midfield for the Saints, while the tall Berries striker, James Tsironis was well marked by the Saints defence, particularly Mark Bariamis. It seemed that St George would win this in a canter, such was the dominance in the opening half.
But the second half was to prove differently. Berries coach, Steve Karavatakis clearly had words during the half time break, and the tempo from his side lifted immeasurably.
Stubbs-Mills was just wide, bringing Saints keeper Daniel Nash to life, his first serious activity of the game. Ivan Dariz then hit the bar and the Berries started to get a sniff.
But three chances to St George should have sealed them the game. Cutura forced his way past Louis Duchesne but his shot was saved by Tsioutas, while the Berries keeper also excelled in denying a first time Gibson shot. But perhaps the best chance to double the score fell to Blake Ricciuto, who sent his shot just wide of the post, with only the keeper to beat.
The misses let the Berries off the hook but following the introduction of Kodgo Etonum and Stefan de Jesus, round the hour mark, things started to happen for the home side.
The pace of Etonum caused some worries for the Saints defence, while Maran Amin, wide on the right, also proved a concern for St George.
But it was through the good work of captain, Ante Deur, which set up the Berries? equaliser. After a tricky run down the left, Deur cut back to the feet of Etonum, who hammered home from right in front.
The Berries? tails were up and they almost pinched a late winner, but for a fine double save by Nash.
Despite the late point, Berries coach Steve Karavatakis, was far from content.
?I am not satisfied at all with our performance. We started very slowly and St George opened us up. The Saints did play well, and knocked the ball around. They could have finished the game off in the first half. So we certainly have room for improvement?.
Karavatakis agreed that the introduction of the two subs after the hour made a difference.
?Stefan de Jesus and Kodgo Etonum did make a difference. They gave us an option, especially Stefan?.
But the honest coach paid tribute to his opponents.
?They are a tough team and a very good ball playing side. They really deserved the result, although we could have pinched it in the end?.
?We got out of goal?, he finished.
Kory Babington, coach for St George, was also disappointed, though perhaps less so.
?I am happy but disappointed. We could have been a bit more ruthless in the first half, we had plenty of opportunities but the final execution was missing.?
?I feel like it was two points lost but also one point gained, as they could have got the winner late on, especially with their pressure in the last ten minutes.?
Like the Berries, and Steve Karavatakis, Babington is aiming for the top spot.
?Our definate aim is to top the league. Certainly, the talent we have is good enough to win it. The young kids are very perceptive and the older players are very experienced. The balance of age and experience is there, and they all want to play for the club. All I have to do is put my own flavour to the team?.
Match Stats
West Sydney Berries 1 (Kodgo Etonum 76?)
St George 1 (Ivo de Jesus 24? pen)
12 March 2011
Lidcombe Oval
Referee: Khodr Yagi
Assistants: James Barnes and Adam Coombes
West Sydney Berries: 40. Nestor Tsioutas 3. Louis Duchesne 5. Liam McKenny 6. Nick Tantalos 7. Ivan Dariz 8. Ante Deur (c) 10. James Tsironis 13. Ryan Emerton 15. James Stubbs-Mills (9. Kodgo Etonum 60?) 16. Phil Reilly (12. Stefan de Jesus 65?) 18. Maran Amin (14. Marjan Novotni 89?).
Subs not used: 4. Joe Bruni 22. George Bouropoulos
Yellow cards: James Stubbs-Mills
Coach: Steve Karavatakis
St George: 1. Daniel Nash 2. Michael Smith 4. Daniel Fallico 5. Simon Verrender (c), 6. Reuben Lagos 8. Jason Gonzalez (11. James Kovas 66?) 9. Denis Cutura (7. George Lagoudakis 79?) 14. Mark Bariamis 20. Blake Ricciuto 22. Brad Gibson (40. Jordan Figon) 25. Ivo de Jesus.
Subs not used: 16. Luke Turnbull 21. Diego Arroyo
Yellow cards: Denis Cutura
Coach: Kory Babington
Hills Brumbies v Northern Tigers
Hills Brumbies scored at the death to deny champions Northern Tigers a winning start to their campaign in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Lily Homes Stadium.
The Tigers didn?t waste any time in taking the lead, with last season?s Grand Final hero Max Glanville getting on the scoresheet after nine minutes. But two goals to Dragan Savic, just after the half hour and then just before the break, gave the Brumbies a 2-1 half time lead.
A rally by the Tigers saw them regain the lead, with two goals in three minutes doing the damage. First, Travis Cooper drew the Tigers level in the 62nd minute and then disaster struck for the Brumbies. Nemanja Tomic conceded a penalty as the last man, and was sent off for his troubles. Michael Rolston scored from the spot to put the Tigers in front.
It seemed like they would take all the points but a dramatic equaliser by Greg Giovenali saw the final result finish 3-3.
The point gained was enough for Hills coach, Mark Abi-Arrage.
?I believe it was a fair result in the end. I am not happy but I am pleased. It looked gloomy at 2-3 and before the game, I would have taken a point. But we hit the post twice before half time and really, half time came at the wrong time for us?.
The increase in standard between the first division and Super League was also clear to see for Abi-Arrage.
?The speed is a lot quicker and the technical ability a lot higher. But we recruited well with that in mind. The ones we signed have all got speed and experience at premier league, even if Under 20s?.
A good result then for the Brumbies, against the reigning champions.
Hills Brumbies 3 (Dragan Savic 32?, 43?, Greg Giovenali 90?) v Northern Tigers 3 (Max Glanville 9?, Travis Cooper 62, Michael Rolston 64? pen)
Sydney University v Central Coast
Central Coast led four times in a tight clash over Sydney University but the Students managed to draw level on three occasions before finally succumbing to an 88th minute winner.
Grant Maundrell, signed in the off season from Spirit FC, certainly got off on the right foot, notching a hatrick in his first competitive game for the Coast. Matt Mitchell also got on the scoresheet to earn the Central Coast a well earned 4-3 victory.
But goals to Mitchell Lenfink, Troy Ruthven and a penalty by Liam McConachie made sure the Coast had to work for the win. The sending off of Uni?s James O?Rourke, though, didn?t help the home side.
Sydney University 3 (Mitchell Lenfink, Troy Ruthven, Liam McConachie pen) v Central Coast 4 (Grant Maundrell 3, Matt Mitchell)
Fraser Park v Blacktown Spartans
Fraser Park continued where they left off last season, sealing a win after defeating new boys Blacktown Spartans 2-1.
It took only thirteen minutes before Clive Delaney opened the scoring to give the home side the lead, but Greg Kondek, recruited by the Spartans from Mount Druitt Town, equalised just before half time.
But ten minutes after the break, former Rockdale City Suns midfielder Robert Di Meglio put Fraser Park?s noses in front again, a position they did not relinquish.
Fraser Park 2 (Clive Delaney 13?, Robert Di Meglio 54?) v Blacktown Spartans 1 (Greg Kondek 44?).
Macarthur Rams v Granville Rage
A goal by Shannon Hankin, fifteen minutes from time, ensured a share of the points for Macarthur Rams in their opening day fixture against Granville Rage.
A penalty by Phil Pyliotis, right on half time, had given the Rage the lead, but Hankin?s goal was enough to make sure of a point.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Shannon Hankin 75?) v Granville Rage 1 (Phil Pyliotis 45? pen)
Spirit FC v Dulwich Hill
There were no goals at Christie Park, the draw seemingly a good result for Dulwich Hill, against one of the teams expected to be at the forefront this season.
Christie Park has not been a venue where visiting teams have gained too much over recent years and so Dully, with a brand new team this year, would no doubt be satisfied to come away with the point.
Spirit FC 0 v Dulwich Hill 0
-By Peter Rowney
