State League Two Round 9 Review

The only game played saw Hawkesbury defeat Gazy Lansvale 3-1.
Hawkesbury down Gazy
Hawkesbury City snuck into the division two top-five with a 3-1 come-from-behind win against a luckless Gazy Lansvale side at Cherrybrook Park on Sunday afternoon. While all other State League 2 teams weren?t allowed to get their toes wet Gazy and Hawkesbury got stuck into it in a topsy-turvy event.
Chances were rare in the first half and it was the home side to break the shackles first after a City defender brought down a Gazy striker inside the box to earn a penalty. Mohamad Al Rekabi stepped up to convert and give Lansvale a much-needed 1-0 lead at halftime.
Hawkesbury coach Gary Lewis told his players to switch on at the break and the suggestion had the desired effect with wingers Paul Cooper and John McCrae upping the ante in the second half. On one run, Cooper rounded the Gazy keeper, got the ball to Rhys Alchin who chipped to John McCrae for a nice header into goal.
Midway through the term a Cooper cracker hit the crossbar and the quick-thinking goal-poacher managed to scramble the ball over the line while he was still on the ground to make it 2-0. Minutes later and a quick Tony Judge freekick found Cooper in space and he made no mistake in rounding out a fine 3-1 win, Lewis? first at Cherrybrook since taking over the reins at Hawkesbury.
?I really don?t like going to that ground but it was in remarkably good condition considering the rain over the weekend,? Lewis said. ?We didn?t play well first half and I just pointed out to them [at halftime] that they needed to get the basics right; it seemed like they were just going through the motions. Once we got going we started to create a few problems and the goals started coming.?
?I do feel for Gazy as it is a tough position to be in [six consecutive losses]. They do have some good players but they just seem to be lacking in confidence.?
Hawkesbury?s first win over Gazy in two years comes at a good time with Wednesday night?s Waratah Cup knockout game against Collaroy Cromer at Bensons Lane Field likely to give even more players some competitive experience.
Gazy Lansvale 1 (Mohamad Al Rekabi 29m) Hawkesbury City 3 (John McCrea 48m Paul Cooper 76/84m)
Reserve grade: Gazy Lansvale 3 Hawkesbury City 1
Round 9 scores
Gazy Lansvale 1 (Mohamad Al Rekabi 29m) Hawkesbury City  3 (John McCrea 48m Paul Cooper 76/84m)
Nepean FC vs Northbridge FC washed out
Prospect United vs Fairfield Wanderers washed out
Springwood United vs Luddenham United washed out
Chopin Park Rams vs Roosters FC washed out
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Bathurst ?75 washed out
Reserve grade:
Gazy Lansvale 3 Hawkesbury City 1
Nepean FC vs Northbridge FC washed out
Prospect United vs Fairfield Wanderers washed out
Springwood United vs Luddenham United washed out
Chopin Park Rams vs Roosters FC washed out
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Bathurst ?75 washed out
Next week?s games
Round 10 of NSW division two starts with Northbridge versus Hurstville at Northbridge Oval on Saturday afternoon (3pm), while Hawkesbury and Chopin Park follow at Benson Lane Field on Saturday evening (5pm), then Bathurst and Belmore under lights at Alec Lamberton Field on Saturday night (7pm).
On Sunday afternoon, Roosters play Prospect at Hills Sports High, Gazy Lansvale meet Hakoah at Cherrybrook Park, Wanderers face Springwood at Knight Park, while Luddenham and Nepean square up at Luddenham Oval (all first grade games from 3pm).
Round 2 of the Waratah Cup knockout also begins this week with a record seven division two clubs still in the running. On Wednesday night (May 4), Hawkesbury City hosts Northern Beaches association team Collaroy Cromer at Bensons Lane Field (6.30pm kickoff), Bathurst ?75 faces State League 1 strugglers Schofields Scorpions at Penrith?s CSI Sports Ground (7.15pm), Gazy Lansvale meets tough Illawarra Premier League side Picton Rangers at Cherrybrook Park (7.15pm), and Chopin Park Rams tackle Gladesville-Hornsby association representatives Eastwood-St Andrews at Bensons Lane Field (8.15pm).
Hakoah welcomes Illawarra Premier League heavyweight Dandaloo FC to Hensley Athletic Field on Thursday night, May 5 (7.15pm kickoff), and two more round-two games featuring State League 2 outfits are scheduled for next Wednesday, May 11, Northbridge FC battling fellow northern districts club, Super League leaders Spirit FC in a Christie Park blockbuster (7.15pm), while Fairfield Wanderers also meet a northern traveller in unbeaten Super League outfit Northern Tigers at Knight Park (7.15pm).
-By Daniel De Nardi