NSW Super League Wrap Round 5
Despite the loss, St George retain third spot, courtesy of superior goal difference but there is a host of clubs right on their heels. Seven clubs are separated by just the one point, an indication of how close this competition will be.
Hills Brumbies are finding the going tough and remain bottom with Dulwich Hill on one point each.
Feature Match of the Week
Northern Tigers v Fraser Park
There was certainly a sense of relief emanating from the Northern Tigers camp after coming away from Fraser Park with a valuable 3-2 victory.
Leading into this match, the Tigers had drawn their three games, conceding late goals in the process while Fraser Park had started the season well, with two wins already under their belt. It was always likely to be a close one, and it certainly started that way.
Both sides were understrength, Northern Tigers being without captain Paul Davies (injured), Max Glanville (overseas) and Steven Baveas (unavailable). Fraser Park were even harder hit, with Fred Umlil, David Wilson, Shivan Swany, Carlos Villazon and keeper Alex Augusto all out. It could be excusable then if Fraser Park were to have started somewhat tentatively, however, that was not to be the case.
They looked a side who fancied their chances even if the Northern Tigers made the early running. Daniel Clifford tried from distance for the Tigers in the first half-chance of the evening while a header from Carlo Musumeci was the response from Fraser Park.
Plenty of hopeful balls tended to be the main source of attack from both sides with neither team really looking like they would gain anything from that approach.
Stuart Page denied Musumeci after a good buildup begun by Paulo Oliviera but it was minutes later that Musumeci would gain his revenge. The Fraser Park striker was bundled over by Page just inside the area and the referee had no hesitation in awarding the spotkick. Oliviera sent Page the wrong way to give Fraser a 1-0 lead.
It looked a little gruesome for the Tigers at this stage, their play not at the style normally seen from the champions and a confident Fraser Park looking the goods. But a defensive error by Fraser Park proved to be their undoing. A free kick was lobbed deep into the area by Tom Geekie, and Travis Cooper was probably as surprised as any to be given a free header which looped over Ivan Kovacevic.
It was perhaps the goal that the Tigers needed. They came out for the second half a seemingly different side, spraying the ball around with virtual ease. Page did save some blushes after almost coming a cropper when the ball slid beneath him and almost over the line. That escape proved vital as the Tigers took the lead two minutes later.
Excellent work by Clifford down the right saw him delay his cross until just the right moment, a delicate chip into the path of Thomas Mackay sealing number two.
Five minutes later and it was 3-1 to the Tigers. Kovacevic did well in saving initially, but the rebound fell to the feet of Cooper, who kept his composure to score his fourth of the season.
Fraser Park started to crumble a little, the forced departure of Oliviera to injury at half time not having helped their cause. A switch of players appeared to unsettle the side, losing a little cohesion. It was perhaps understandable, the large injury list taking its toll.
But that is not to take anything away from Northern Tigers. They did dominate the second period and could have had more but for some desperate Fraser defending.
Fraser Park did pull a goal back right at the end, causing some palpitations on the Tigers bench, who must be getting used to this type of thing. A corner saw Ryuta Nambu head firmly into the net to give Fraser a slight glimmer of hope. But time was never on their side, and it was the Tigers who grabbed the grateful three points.
?It is great to get the monkey of our back? said Jason Eagar. ?But we have now conceded in the 90th, 92nd and 94th minute?.
?I am not sure what it is. We have conceded at set pieces each time, something which was not happening last year. But I have faith in how we play, when we start pushing the ball around. It didn?t happen for us in the first half, we were lulled into putting in balls behind the defence, but in the second half, we were a lot better?.
Alex Augusto accepted the loss.
?We deserved to lose?, said the Fraser Park boss. ?We had seven players out and some even played with injuries. Paulo [Oliviera] played with an injury but we had to take him off at half time. It shows his belief that the club can do well, even starting when injured?.
?Our first half was Ok, but we weren?t there today, there were just too many changes?.
With Fraser Park up against St George in their rearranged round two fixture on Wednesday night, it could be a difficult week.
Fraser Park 2 (Paulo Oliviera 32? pen, Ryuta Nambu 94?) v Northern Tigers 3 (Travis Cooper 41?, 60?, Thomas Mackay 55?)
9 April 2011
Fraser Park
Referee: Chris Young
Assts: C Peck and C Foster
Fraser Park: 1. Ivan Kovacevic 2. Ryuta Nambu 5. Clive Delaney 6. Anthony Barletta 9. Leigh Gunn 10. Paulo Oliviera (19. Morten Vik Tvedte 46?) 11. Carlo Musumeci 17. Wassim Hijazi (4. Mirza Sehic) 18. Masamari Omura 23. Robert di Meglio 25. Desril Koroma (Alexander Crane)
Subs not used: 3. Andrea Russo 27. Tomas Patrovski
Yellow Cards: Clive Delaney, Leigh Gunn
Coach: Alex Augusto
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 2. Travis Oughtred 3. Luke Reading 4. Michael Rolston 7. Tom Geekie 9. Thomas Mackay (8. Robert Walton) 11. Daniel Vukovic 12. Rhys Williams 14. Brendan Salameh 17. Travis Cooper (15. Lucas Dawson) 23. Daniel Clifford.
Subs not used: 5. Scott Briggs 13. Christopher Semaan Rgk Marc Messina.
Yellow Cards: Stuart Page, Travis Oughtred, Daniel Vukovic
Coach: Jason Eagar
Spirit FC v St George
The winner of this match knew they would go top following the loss of Central Coast the night before. It promised plenty pre-match and it didn?t fail to deliver despite the atrocious conditions as the game wore on.
The rain began just after kick off and the floodlights were on by 3.30pm, but both sides still put up an absorbing contest in the somewhat gloomy light.
St George started the brighter, and dominated the opening half. They kept a close watch on Juan Chavez who was limited to just the one chance in the first half. Reuben Lagos and Ivo de Jesus looked to unlock the Spirit defence and ran the centre of the park. But despite plenty of possession, the Saints could not break down the Spirit backline.
There were not a lot of chances in this one, James Kovas being denied by Murray Nelson being one of the standouts. But just as the conditions worsened, the opportunity arose for Spirit to take the lead. In a race for the ball, St George keeper Daniel Nash, slid in bringing down Adam Peatey in the area. Juan Chavez didn?t need a greater invitation than that and made sure of the spotkick.
St George rallied looking for the equaliser, de Jesus trying from distance on a couple of occasions but Nelson was rarely troubled to any great extent.
With just a few minutes to go, Spirit made the points safe. Kwabena Appiah-Kubi crossed from the right and substitute Daniel Findlay, who had only just come on, scored at the second attempt.
?The conditions were not conducive to good football?, stated John McLafferty after the game. ?But even so, both sides tried to play. We knew we had to show character today and we certainly showed it?.
?I thought our defence was marshalled superbly, today we were very strong?.
Spirit FC 2 (Juan Chavez pen 57?, Daniel Findlay 87?) v St George 0
Blacktown Spartans v Central Coast
Blacktown Spartans will be the talk of Super League after picking off table toppers Central Coast 2-0 at Francis Park to inflict the first defeat of the season on the Gosford side.
Mario Ghobrial, now back from injury and playing his first game, got on the scoresheet after fifteen minutes, after excellent work down the right by Daniel King. A cross into the box saw Ghobrial connect to put the Spartans one up.
It was King again, who set up the second. Combining with Greg Kondek, who had an outstanding game, King then put in another cross which eventually fell to the feet of James Young. Young made no mistake.
It was a fine game by Young, who hit the bar twice during the game in a dominant display. It earned him the Man of the Match award from the Spartans.
?We played a bit more direct this week?, said Ben de Haan. ?And I thought we opened them up quite a bit. Our statistics showed we had twenty eight shots to their eleven?.
It could have been a higher score too, had three missed one-on-ones been taken.
But it was still a very satisfied de Haan, whose team is right in the mix.
?We needed the win to give ourselves a chance. And with Mario Ghobrial now available, we can move Tom Spencer back to midfield, where he will help us a great deal?.
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Mario Ghobrial 15?, James Young 55?) v Central Coast 0
West Sydney Berries v Hills Brumbies
West Sydney Berries claimed their first win of the season defeating Hills Brumbies 2-1 at Lidcombe Oval, a victory which lifts the Berries just the one spot, but back into the pack while condemning the Brumbies to their fourth loss in a row.
It was all square at the break but three goals in a quarter of an hour immediately after half time got the pulses racing. John Tsironis scored the first in the 47th minute and then Dimitri Zakilas doubled the score six minutes later.
But Lord Darkoh, for the Brumbies reduced the arrears just four minutes after that, keeping Hills in the match.
However, the Berries maintained their lead, although Steve Karavatakis was not overly impressed with the performance.
?We didn?t play well at all?, he said. ?We got the result which is great but we really should?ve punished them. We gave away a cheap goal, and that kept them in it?.
?We played badly but got the result. In the past, we have played well and not got the result?.
West Sydney Berries 2 (James Tsironis 47?, Dimitri Zakilas 53?) v Hills Brumbies 1 (Lord Darkoh 57?)
Sydney University v Macarthur Rams
A second win in a row came the way of John Calleja?s Sydney University when they twice came from behind to take all three points in a dramatic finish against Macarthur Rams.
Sloppy defending by Uni saw the Rams take a first minute lead, Shannon Hankin poaching an early goal before Liam McConaghy drew Uni level inside four minutes, with a fine header. It was McConaghy?s fourth goal of the season, an impressive start.
Then the Rams went 2-1 up just before the break, Matt Sadler scoring in the 43rd.
Kendo Takushima equalised in the 72nd minute after great build up down the left but as time ticked down, it looked increasingly like the points would be shared. But in the dying seconds, the Rams conceded a penalty after a challenge in the box.
James O?Rourke put away the spot kick to give Uni the result, a win which lifts them to fourth spot on the ladder.
?We struggled at the start?, admitted John Calleja. ?We gave away possession early and to concede from a set piece so close to half time was very disappointing?.
?But we started to knock the ball around and the second half was much better?.
Sydney University 3 (Liam McConaghy 4?, Kendo Takushima 72?, James O?Rourke pen 94?) v Macarthur Rams 2 (Shannon Hankin 1?, Matt Sadler 43?)
Dulwich Hill v Granville Rage
Granville Rage recovered from their home loss last week to defeat Dulwich Hill 2-1 at Arlington Oval, the win lifting them to fifth spot on the table.
But they had to do it the hard way, going a goal down to a Norman Tome effort after just nine minutes. It looked like Dulwich Hill may hold out for their first win of the season but a penalty by Phil Pyliotis changed that idea. Kris Holbrook scored within a further two minutes to give the Rage the lead, which they held onto until the end.
Dulwich Hill 1 (Norman Tome 9?) v Granville Rage 2 (Phil Pyliotis pen 76, Kris Holbrook 78?).
Top Goalscorers
6 – Grant Maundrell (Central Coast)
4 – Travis Cooper (Northern Tigers)
Kris Holbrook (Granville Rage)
3 – Juan Chavez (Spirit FC)
Ivo de Jesus (St George)
Kodgo Etonum (West Sydney Berries)
Shannon Hankin (Macarthur Rams)
Liam McConaghy (Sydney University)
Paulo Oliviera (Fraser Park)
Dragan Savic (Hills Brumbies)
-By Peter Rowney
