State League One Round 6 Review
Balmain SC ? Mounties Wanderers 0-2
Saturday, April 30 @ Hensley Athletic Field
The artificial surface at Hensley Athletic Field allowed the match between Balmain SC and Mounties Wanderers to go ahead on Saturday night, with the competition?s leaders recording another victory with a 2-0 away triumph.
In my Preview earlier this week I mentioned that, like most teams, Mounties were ?short of a gallop?, given the wet weather and the Easter break.
Well the Mounties got their ?leg stretch? midweek in Round 2 of the Waratah Cup, thumping Sutherland Association?s Como West Janali by 7-0 to move ominously into Round Three of NSW?s version of the English style FA Cup.
Familiar names Troy McColl, Friday Jeremiah and Eli Squillacioti were back in the fray and amongst the scorers, putting the Wanderers in good stead for the weekend ?bread-and-butter? clash against Balmain SC.
The goals in Saturday?s 2-0 win were scored in either half, and both scorers are familiar names in this season?s scorer?s charts, with robust striker, Daniel Willoughby, grabbing the opener after just 10 minutes, his fourth goal of the campaign.
Greg Baldock got his sixth goal of 2011 on 66 minutes, wrapping up a 2-0 scoreline for the visitors in what has been a great return to the paddock this week for the Mounties.
The win and three points gives Mounties a perfect 15 points from 5 matches, six points ahead of second placed Mt Druitt Town, and with a healthy goal difference of +17.
Balmain?s loss is their fourth of a disappointing start to the season, and they?ll be looking to get themselves away from the lower rungs of the ladder when they visit Arlington Oval next Saturday night to tackle Stanmore Hawks.
Gladesville Ryde Magic ? UNSW 1-1
Sunday, May 1 @ Magdala Reserve
Magdala Reserve held out against Mother Nature on Sunday, and was in reasonably good condition given the recent downpour, allowing the match between Gladesville Ryde Magic and UNSW to go ahead.
The ?students? kept up their recent improvement in form, and arguably had the better of play in a tight clash against a home side who were clearly not going to surrender too easily.
After some fierce tackling and a scoreless first half, the match came alive late in the game when big UNSW striker, Henry Kamleitner, was brought down inside the box, the referee pointing to the spot without hesitation.
The responsibility of who was to face Gladesville?s much traveled custodian, Kiriakos Tohouroglou, fell to UNSW?s lively striker, Sebastian Bendall, and he sent the Magic goalkeeper the wrong way to put the visitors 1-0 up with just eleven minutes remaining.
The match seemed all but over, however, five minutes into injury time, Gladesville rode their luck and grabbed a last grasp equalizer.
A cross was sent into the UNSW box, and in the ensuing panic to clear the ball, the leather ricocheted off a UNSW defender to give both sides a share of the points after a 1-1 draw.
The point for UNSW is good and sees them climb to 8th position on 5 points, but what is more pleasing is the performance of late which has put a stop to their early season concern of leaking goals.
The draw for Gladesville means they now sit in equal 5th position on the ladder with Stanmore Hawks and Camden Tigers on 7 points, and within striking distance of Mt Druitt Town Rangers in second position, a team they play against next week.
NOTE : The following Division One Round Six matches all fell foul of Mother Nature?s downpour last last week and over the weekend, and have all been postponed to a date and venue yet to be advised by Football NSW.
Schofields Scorpions ? Inter Lions WASHED OUT
7-00pm, Saturday, April 30 @ CSI Sport Ground
Fairfield City Lions ? Camden Tigers WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, May 1 @ Norford Park No.2
Fairfield Bulls ? Mt Druitt Town Rangers WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, May 1 @ Hajduk Stadium
Hurstville ZFC ? Stanmore Hawks WASHED OUT
3-00pm, Sunday, May 1 @ Hurstville Oval
-By Frank Speranza
