State League One Round 5 Review

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Feature Match
Mt Druitt Town Rangers v USNW
Unlike most football grounds in Sydney over the weekend, Popondetta Park at Emerton looked in pristine condition as Mt Druitt Town Rangers welcomed the visit of UNSW on Sunday afternoon.
Mt Druitt were smarting from a 4-2 victory last week over Balmain, and were looking for back to back wins to keep them moving steadily up the ladder.
The ?students? were backing up after a great 2-0 away triumph over Camden Tigers last week, and were quietly confident of taking something home from this match also.
But it was the home side who took an early ascendancy when Daniel Borg got around the back of the UNSW defence in the 10th minute before sending the ball across the face of the goal without any of his team mates in sight.
The home side kept at it, the Rangers slicing the UNSW defence open in the 18th minute in what was to be one of the best opportunities of the match.
Mt Druitt striker, Hosyar Cakal, did ever so well to turn a UNSW defender and play Nathan Ralph into space in the box, with the midfielder?s shot parried and then gathered at the second attempt by the UNSW keeper, Jonathon Duggan. 
UNSW weathered that early storm, and then began to lift the intensity across the middle of the park from this point on. The ?students? managed to create a number of openings before the break, but failed to put any of them into the net.
The first came after 24 minutes, when Rocky Luca?s weighted cross was volleyed over the goal by Sebastian Bendall at the far post, albeit under pressure from Mt Druitt?s Domenic Mercuri.
Then just after the half hour mark, UNSW striker Henry Kamleitner found Rocky Luca in space, and he let fly from 25 yards with a shot that flew over the bar after taking a slight bobble.
UNSW had their best chance to break the deadlock in the 34th minute, when a well worked move found flank-man, Michael Karagiannis, in space inside the box, but Mt Druitt keeper, Pablo Meza, flung himself low to his right to parry the shot before it was cleared by a Ranger?s defender.
The visitors kept their foot on the pedal, and on 41 minutes should have taken the lead as Patrick Lloyd?s unchallenged header from a Luca corner agonizingly shaved the upright.
Mt Druitt didn?t just ride their luck during this period before the break ? they managed to score against the run of play and break the deadlock a minute before half time.
Nathan Ralph rode past a couple of would-be, desperate challenges down the centre of the park before slipping a pass to Hosyar Cakal, and the nippy striker directed a shot past the advancing UNSW keeper, Duggan, and into the net, to give the home side a half time lead.
Referee, Mr David Finlay, one of the Division?s most effective whistle blowers, was showing all his experience by allowing the game to flow with the advantage rule, and was equally quick to address any over zealous challenges and nip them in the bud.
UNSW came out vigorously after the break, and Sebastian Bendall had a couple of half opportunities he created himself by cutting in from he left before shooting, one of which seemingly struck a Ranger?s arm before being cleared amidst protests from the visitors.
Mt Druitt were keen to double their advantage and put the game to bed, and Nathan Ralph slalomed past a couple of UNSW defenders in the 56th minute following good work on the left by Slaven Ljuboja, sending his low shot went straight at UNSW custodian, Duggan.
UNSW went three in attack as they upped the ante to search for the equalizer, with the introduction in the 65th minute, and return of their prodigal son, Stuart Meney, scorer of many goals in their successful 2009 season.
Nathan Ralph then had a wonderful opportunity to close up proceedings for Mt Druitt in the 71st minute after a great far post cross by Cakal, taking a touch before cracking a close range volley that Duggan parried brilliantly over the cross bar.
Jonathon Duggan, the UNSW keeper, and an ex- Irish youth international, was at his very best to deny the Rangers time and again and keep his team in the hunt for a point.
Meney?s return came unstuck in the 82nd minute, the ginger haired striker?s screams heard by all and sundry as he was stretchered off with suspected knee ligament damage. All at Football NSW wish Stuart all the best and a speedy recovery.
Team mate Henry Kamleitner had the final opportunity for the visitors, cracking a shot into the side netting in the 89th minute after some great work by Sebastian Bendall had created some space for the big man.
After some agonizing injury time, Mr Finlay blew a halt to proceedings, and the home side had another three valuable points to add to the kitty.
The students will believe they were desperately unlucky not to take anything home, given the opportunities they spurned just before the break.
Skipper, Andrew Harb, was disappointed not to take something out of the match. 
?Even though we didn?t play as well as last week, we still played okay today, and I think a fair result would have been a draw,? stated Harb.
?After a strong pre-season, we started the competition with two bad results, but they?re gone now, so we?ve been working harder to get back on track. With the strength of both our squad, and our coach (Anton Ivancic), I am confident we will at least make the semi finals,? added Harb.
Best for UNSW were ; skipper Andrew Harb was again strong in defence, and equally as effective adding support down the flank, leading by example with his intensity in general ; central defenders Patrick Lloyd and Michael Janov were fierce in the tackle, often snuffing out any Mt Druitt attacks both aerially and on the deck ; flanker Sebastian Bendall was a menace all day, quick to pounce on any loose ball or alternatively, any Mt Druitt defender, as he continually searched to create opportunities for the visitors ; Rocky Luca was instrumental in all of the Uni?s attacking forays, showing great technique whenever in possession of the ball.
To the victors go the spoils, and Mt Druitt were happy to snatch the three points with a laborious effort.
Central defender, Domenic Mercuri, acknowledged the Rangers have quite a bit of improvement in them yet to come.
?We were scrappy at times today, but got the result, so we are happy, but know we have to do a lot of improving,? said Mercuri.
He added, ?Individual errors cost us games and points earlier in the season, so it was good for a bit of luck to fall our way today. It will help when we get a full squad of players to choose from, and if we work hard on our execution, there is no reason why we can?t realize our ambition of returning to the Super League.?
Best for the Rangers were ; Ryan O?Shea had a real captain?s knock, tough and uncompromising in the centre of the park, and directing traffic in attack ; Nathan Ralph and Michael Cromar were effective in the midfield, sharp on the ball and quick to support Mt Druitt?s strikers as they ventured forward ; central defender, Domenic Mercuri, was calmness personified, braking up UNSW attacks by reading the play well, and then distributing quickly once he had possession.
Match Stats
MT DRUITT TOWN RANGERS               (1) 1   (Cakal 44?)
UNSW                                                  (0) 0
Sunday, April 17, at Popondetta Park, Emerton
Referee ? Mr David Finlay
Assistant Referees ? Mr David Goldsmith & Mr Joon Park
MT DRUITT TOWN RANGERS:1.P.Meza, 2.S.Bowman, 7.M.Cromar, 10.H.Cakal, 3.J.Thurtell, 8.N.Ralph, 18.S.Ljuboja (13. G.Godoy 72?), 4.D.Mercuri, 5.R.O?Shea (capt) , 12.L.Brown, 14.D.Borg (6.D.Penfold 65?).
Subs not used- 1.J.Marsh,15.M.Aragone,16.L.Ollerton.
Yellow Cards ? NIL.
Red Cards ? NIL.
UNSW: 1.J.Duggan, 2.A.Harb (capt) (14.L.Davelaar 72?), 38.P.Lloyd, 16.M.Janov, 19.H.O?Kelly, 5.T.Pavlou, 13.M.Karagiannis (25.S.Meney 65?), 24.H.Kamleitner, 17.R.Luca, 8.A.Woodridge (14.M.Bryan 77?), 12.S.Bendall.
Subs not used ? 21.J.Bracewell, 1.G.Diakos.
Yellow Cards ? NIL.
Red Cards ? NIL.
Division One Review ? Round Five
Camden Tigers ? Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-3
6-00pm, Saturday, April 16 @ Ron Dine Reserve
Camden Tigers suffered back to back home losses on Saturday night at Ron Dine Reserve by coming unstuck at the hands of Gladesville Ryde Magic.
The Magic in turn made it successive wins over the past two weeks, coming from one down early on to win 3-2 in a five goal thriller.
The match started in an absolute whirlwind of goals, the net bulging no less than three times in the opening four minutes.
Camden striker Matthew Cross continued his good form of late by putting the home side in front after two minutes, only for Thomas Nastoulis to equalize for the Magic within 60 seconds.
Remarkably Gladesville went ahead barely a minute later when Andrew McKie netted in the 4th, only for Cross to secure his brace by scoring Camden?s second in the 19th minute.
The match settled down thereafter, and the teams went toe-to-toe until Ryan grabbed the winning goal for Gladesville Ryde Magic by scoring in the 50th minute, sending the visiting fans home in raptures.
NOTE : The following Division One Round Five matches all fell foul of Mother Nature?s downpour over the weekend, and have all been postponed to a date and venue yet to be advised by Football NSW.
Mounties Wanderers ? Hurstville ZFC               WASHED OUT
7-00pm, Saturday, April 16 @ Cook Park
Stanmore Hawks ? Schofields Scorpions         WASHED OUT
7-00pm, Saturday, April 16 @ Arlington Oval
Inter Lions ? Fairfield City Lions                      WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, April 17 @ The Crest Complex
Fairfield Bulls ? Balmain SC                            WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, April 17 @ Hajduk Stadium
-By Frank Speranza