State League One Round 1 Review
Match of the Round
Stanmore Hawks v Camden Tigers
The wait is finally over for football fans across NSW, with the 2011 State League Division One campaign kicking off on Saturday evening with a number of games across Sydney.
At Arlington Oval it was Stanmore Hawks against the Camden Tigers, with the home side quietly confident of starting the season on a bright note, and the traveling Tigers eager to take something home from their venture to the Inner West.
Even though Arlington Oval was in lush condition, Mother Nature decided to drop some millimeters of rain prior to proceedings which made for a slippery surface, resulting in some cautious play by both sets of players in the early stages of the match.
Dean Morgan had an opportunity after only two minutes for Camden, sending his shot over the goal after skipper Ben Green played the ball back into his path following a corner.
Stanmore responded within sixty seconds, Costa Fiakos hitting a sweet volley from the edge of the box straight down the throat of Camden?s keeper, Rutherford.
The first half hour was a rather tense affair, with both defences standing tall and neither team able to break down the shackles of their opposition in the wet conditions.
To show they are looking to improve on last season?s efforts, Stanmore added two of the competition?s most prolific marksmen of recent years, with Nick Paradisis and Neil Philippou adding some much needed bite to their attack.
Paradisis was at it after 24 minutes with an angled shot straight at Rutherford after a neat one-two near the side of the penalty area.
It was Philippou?s turn on 29 minutes, curling a free kick around the wall and just past the post as Stanmore looked to up the ante.
Dean Morgan was making some space for himself on the right flank, and it seemed a tactic of Camden?s to get the ball to him quick smart for some early crosses.
Burly striker, Matthew Cross, got on the end of one of these crosses in the 34th minute, his flick header brilliantly saved by Stanmore?s custodian, Robert Fleming.
Stanmore had two more half opportunities before the break, with Philippou?s angled shot and a snapshot from Hadjisocratous both comfortably saved by Rutherford in the Camden goal.
The game took a turn on 51 minutes when Camden?s robust defender, Wesley Horne, was sent from the field for a dangerous tackle by referee, Mr Michael Weiner, who didn?t miss a beat during the match in an accomplished performance.
Unlike what usually happens when 10 outplay 11, it was Stanmore who lifted the intensity and had a number of opportunities as they looked to take advantage of the extra man.
On 58 minutes, Stanmore skipper, David James, played a great ball into Neil Philippou into the box, and the striker turned his defender and cracked a low shot that took a deflection and spun across the face of the goal. Nick Paradisis did ever so well to reach the ball, swiveling 180 degrees, only to see his snapshot come back into play off the upright.
Within sixty seconds Neil Philippou received the ball inside the penalty area, holding it up well before laying it back for Stuart Bromley some 25 yards from goal.
The hard working midfielder took a touch before letting fly with a scorcher that had goal written all over it ? but Camden?s keeper, Rutherford flung out an arm and deflected the ball for a corner.
On 77 minutes and seemingly against the run of play, Camden had a great opportunity to break the deadlock.
Matthew Cross was rewarded for his work rate, winning a penalty for the visitors when Yorgi Mavrou was adjudged to have fouled him in the box as both players contested a crossed ball.
Dean MacKechnie confidently grabbed a hold of the leather, and placed his spot kick to the keeper?s left along the turf, but Stanmore?s Fleming was alert to the shot, smothering the ball amongst the roar of the Stanmore fans.
Fleming was at it again a minute later, racing out of his goal to face Camden?s lively striker, Adam Smutek, in a1-on-1, saving at the feet of Smutek at the second attempt.
It was then the turn of Stanmore to try and grab a late winner.
Substitute Omar Obeid had created a real nuisance of himself since entering the field of play just before the hour mark, and in the 83rd minute, Obeid did ever so well to beat his man on the edge of the box with a great step over, his curling shot well saved by the diving Rutherford.
The save of the match arrived on 85 minutes, when Camden?s Rutherford somehow flung himself to his left to parry an acrobatic left footed half scissors kick from Philippou following a deep cross by Pieris.
Mr Weiner then brought proceedings to a halt, with a point apiece arguably a fair result of an evenly contested battle on the opening day of the season.
Camden would be reasonably satisfied to have grabbed a point on their travels, especially after playing most of the second half with a man short. The Tigers could be excused for feeling a little disappointed not to pick up all three, however, following Fleming?s save of MacKechnie?s penalty.
Best for the Tigers were ; central pairing Jeffrey Forrest and Ben Fuller were towering in the backline, strong in the air, and equally intense on the ground, often eliminating any danger in the defensive third with timely tackles ; Matthew Cross played the part of a bustling striker who chased down absolutely everything, his high workrate keeping the Stanmore defence on their toes ; Rutherford in goal didn?t have much to do in the first half, but was brilliant in the second stanza as he kept his Tigers in the match with some fantastic saves.
Stanmore had enough chances to win the game, and would be feeling a little flat not to take all three points. But they did show enough to suggest they will be a tough side to overcome, especially at home.
Their best on the night were ; centre backs George Skoulos and Yorgi Mavrou protected their goal like it was their home, with a fierce application to the task at hand, tough in the tackle and always focused on the job ; Robert Fleming had an outstanding second half, with a penalty save amongst his triumphs as he helped his Hawks team to avoid defeat ; skipper David James orchestrated the match from the centre of the park, supporting the defence, starting the attacks with some telling early balls, and stern in his role as captain ; striker Neil Philippou did everything but score, his strength on the ball, his presence in the box, and his nose for goal a constant threat for Camden throughout the match.
Match Stats
STANMORE HAWKS 0
CAMDEN TIGERS 0
Saturday, March 19, at Arlington Oval, Dulwich Hill
Referee ? Mr Michael Weiner
Assistant Referees ? Mr Cameron Bruce & Mr Jerry Bitas
STANMORE HAWKS: 1.R.Fleming, 4.C.Skoulos, 17.Y.Mavrou 20.A.Harvey,6.A.Skoulos, 18.C.Fiakos (10.O.Obeid 54?), 14.D.James (capt), 12.S.Bromley, 19.N.Paradisis (7.J.Pieris 63?), 9.N.Philippou, 22.P.Hadjisocratous (16.S.Spears 75?).
Subs not used- 2. D.Papazafiropoulos, RGK.G.Murphy.
Yellow Cards- 19.N.Paradisis 60?.
Red Cards- NIL.
CAMDEN TIGERS ; 1.M.Rutherford, 18.W.Horne, 12.B.Green(capt), 5.J.Forrest, 6.B.Fuller, 7.D.Semaan (3.D.Mugrige 76?), 15.J.Norton, 17.D.Morgan, 10.D.MacKechnie, 9.A.Smutek (8.G.King 80?), 13.M.Cross.
Subs not used ? 20.M.Johnston, 4.M.Milne, 16.B.Bertocissio.
Yellow Cards- 17.D.Morgan.
Red Cards-18.W.Horne 51?.
Division One Review ? Round Twenty One
Schofields Scorpions ? Hurstville ZSC WASHED OUT
7-00pm, Saturday, March 19 @ CSI Sport Ground
Mounties Wanderers ? UNSW 6-0
7-00pm, Saturday, March19 @ Cook Park
Competition heavyweights Mounties Wanderers showed they?ll be a real force in 2011 with a 6-0 thumping of UNSW on Saturday night at Cook Park.
Mark Symington, of Futsal fame, made it a night to remember on debut with the Mounties opening goal on 14 minutes.
Daniel Willoughby doubled their advantage before the break, and then the floodgates really opened in the second half.
Veteran Gregory Baldock seems to get better with age, grabbing a brace of goals at either end of the half, with another debutante, Friday Jeremiah, signed from Fairfield City Lions, and Joshua Ciabatti, also getting onto the scoresheet.
Balmain SC ? Fairfield City Lions 0-2
7-00pm, Saturday, March 19 @ Hensley Athletic Field
Balmain found the going tough at their new headquarters, Hensley Athletic Field, coming unstuck at the hands of last year?s Grand Final winners, Fairfield City Lions.
Following a scoreless first stanza, the Lions grabbed all three points courtesy of goals by Chris Sultan (65th) and Farhad Madadghar (84th), getting their new campaign off to the best possible start.
Inter Lions ? Mt Druitt Town Rangers WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, March 20 @ Crest Complex
Fairfield Bulls ? Gladesville Ryde Magic WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, March 20 @ Hajduk Stadium
Division One
Top Goalscorers
Week One
2 ; Greg Baldock (Mounties)
1 ; Mark Symington, Daniel Willoughby, Friday Jeremiah, Joshua Ciabatti (all Mounties), Chris Sultan (Fairfield City Lions), Farhad Madadghar (Fairfield City Lions)
Round Two Preview
Only the solitary Saturday match next week in Round Two, kicking off at 7-00pm at CSI Sport Ground.
Schofields will hope the rain stays away this time, and they get the chance to kick start their season when they entertain Balmain, hoping to recover from their opening day loss.
The Fairfield derby highlights the Sunday fixtures, all kicking off at 3-00pm by the way, with the Lions welcoming the Bulls to Norford Park.
Both Stanmore and UNSW will be hoping to break their goalscoring duck when they clash at Arlington Oval, whilst Inter Lions meet Camden Tigers at the Crest Complex.
At Magdala Oval, Gladesville Ryde Magic will try to stem the might of the Mounties,whilst Mt Druitt tackle Hurstville ZFC at Popondetta Park.
-By Frank Speranza
