State League One Round 7 Review
Arlington Oval had a much needed rest from the rigours of football matches and training, and was in as good condition as it?s ever been, hosting the clash between Stanmore Hawks and Balmain SC.
Neil Philippou was AWOL from the Stanmore lineup, so Nick Paradisis took it upon himself to lead the Stanmore attack, giving his team the lead after less than three minutes following some great opportunism.
A long ball in the middle of the Balmain half was allowed to bounce, and as Chris Grayson tried to bring it under control, Paradisis pounced like a thief in the night.
The fleet footed striker snatched the leather like a cat on a mouse, took a couple of touches as he raced into the penalty area, and coolly slotted the ball past a helpless Balmain goalkeeper, Daniel Conway, to put the Hawks into the lead.
The goal was all the more sweeter because Paradisis joined Stanmore in the off season from Balmain ? along with defender, Ashley Harvey ? so it was almost inevitable he would make his old team pay.
Balmain responded just five minutes later, when the Stanmore goalkeeper, Robert Fleming, gave away a corner ? and almost a goal ? after mis-cuing his clearance following a back pass, the ball bouncing just past the upright.
From the ensuing corner, the diminutive Johhny Buonavoglia took a short pass, and unleashed a swerving shot into Fleming?s arms after cutting inside the corner of the box.
The ex-NSL star was at it again on 15 minutes, weaving in and out of a couple of challenges inside the box, before cutting the ball back from the by line, but alas, none of his Balmain team mates were reading from the same page and the chance went begging.
Stanmore should?ve doubled their advantage just on the half hour mark, when John Pieris controlled a long diagonal cross played into the box, but shot meakly at Balmain?s goalkeeper, Conway, from a few yards.
The Hawks kept at it, and on 38 minutes, they did in fact double their lead, with a collector?s item from skipper, David James.
A cross near the edge of the penalty area was chested down by Chris Theodosiou into the path of James, and the captain skipped inside a challenge before slotting past Conway to send the Hawks fans into raptures.
It was all the home side at this stage, and with their ends up and Balmain on the ropes they almost made it three with two more opportunities before the break.
Theodosiou spun over a great free kick on 42 minutes, and Harvey cracked a great downward header that was well saved by Conway, getting down low and diverting the ball around the post.
Into injury time now, and Stanmore?s Pieris intercepted a square ball across the halfway line, racing to the edge of the penalty area unchallenged before cracking a shot that was well parried once more by Balmain?s custodian, Conway.
The loose ball bounced to the feet of Chris Theodosiou, who?s snap shot flew inches wide and ended up in the side netting of the Balmain goal.
Referee Mr Goodhew ? who had a handle on absolutely everything in the first half ? blew the half time whistle at this point, much to the relief of the traveling fans, with Balmain two down and desperately in need of some much needed tactical review.
The second half was a major disappointment to the fans, with both sides cancelling each other as the match fizzled out.
Balmain brought on fresh legs midway through the half, making three substitutions, including Robbie Bruno returning to the fray following a stint on the sidelines through injury, but they couldn?t drag themselves into the match.
The visitors seemed void of ideas on how to break the Hawks down, with Buonavoglia a sad figure as he toiled and worked tirelessly in attack without much support from his team mates.
Stanmore weren?t much better going forward, with Paradisis starved of service because the last pass was often wayward, or a second too late, or a touch too long.
But the Hawks didn?t need to score again, so they defended stoutly and played out the match to grab a valuable three points.
For Balmain, things are starting to look a little grim, with this loss their fifth in six games. Daniel Conway in between the sticks is a real obstacle for opposition teams, and he did well on this occasion to keep the score down during a first half where the Hawks were moving in for the kill.
Johhny Buonavoglia is still a class act, but will prove ineffective if the service is not to his feet, so his team mates will need to play off him a little more and read from the same script.
Stanmore?s win has placed them second on the ladder, above a congestion of teams, and they are on track to better their placings of recent seasons and possibly snatch a semi final spot come season end.
Nick Paradisis showed he is the ultimate predator with a great goal, and leads the competition?s sharpshooters with 8 after the first 7 rounds. David James once more proved an influential leader around the paddock, linking well with all areas by holding his shape, and even managed a goal which he finished with aplomb.
Match Stats
STANMORE HAWKS 2 (Paradisis 3?, James 38?)
BALMAIN SC 0
Saturday, May 7, at Arlington Oval, Dulwich Hill
Referee ? Mr T Goodhew
Assistant Referees ? Mr J Bitas & Mr D Ward
STANMORE HAWKS: 1.R.Fleming, 4.G.Skoulos (5.A.Heath 29?), 6..A.Skoulos (16.S.Spiers 57?), 17.Y.Mavrou, 20.A.Harvey, 18.C.Fiakos, 14.D.James (capt), 12.S.Bromley, 19.N.Paradisis, 7.J.Pieris, 11.C.Theodosiou (8.T.Atsas 70?).
Subs not used – 13.A.Sillah,12.G.Murphey.
Yellow Cards – 7.J.Pieris 62?.
Red Cards – NIL.
BALMAIN SC: 1.D.Conway (capt), 2.T.Hyde, 3.A.Cacciotti, 4.C.Grayson (14.R.Bruno 68?), 5.T.Celenk, 6.C.Andrews, 7.M.McDonnell, 8.J.Flower, 9.C.Modena (12.P.Milazzo 75?), 10.J.Buonavoglia, 11. J.Boutkabout (13.A.Petratos 57?).
Subs not used ? 15.G.Nigro,GK.M.Hanna.
Yellow Cards ? 4.C.Grayson.
Red Cards-NIL.
Division One Review ? Round Seven
Camden Tigers ? Schofields Scorpions 3-0
7-00pm, Saturday, May 7 @ Ron Dine Reserve
Camden Tigers moved into equal second spot on the ladder on 10 points following their comprehensive 3-0 victory over Schofields Scorpions on Saturday evening.
Matthew Cross got things going early for Camden by scoring his 5th goal of the campaign after just two minutes.
Things were tight until well into the second stanza when Daniel Semaan made it 2-0 after 68 minutes, before wrapping up proceedings with his second goal ten minutes before the end.
Mounties Wanderers ? Fairfield Bulls 2-1
3-00pm, Sunday, May 8 @ Cook Park
Fairfield Bulls gave league leaders Mounties Wanderers a fright at Cook Park on Sunday afternoon, losing narrowly 2-1 in a closely fought encounter.
The Mounties were backing up after their six goal mauling of Hurstville ZFC midweek in a rescheduled match, and both Friday Jeremiah and Eli Squillacioti grabbed the goals to go with their respective braces midweek.
Jeremiah gave the Mounties the lead on half an hour, but Fairfield Bulls equalized just minutes later via Niriam Kanoun.
Squllacioti?s goal on 55 minutes was enough to give the home side the three points, moving them to 21 on the ladder and a massive 11 points ahead of three teams in second place on 10.
UNSW ? Fairfield City Lions 3-1
3-00pm, Sunday, May 8 @ Wentworth Park
UNSW came from a goal down to overcome Fairfield City Lions 3-1 at Wentworth Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Lions went ahead early via Ben Cronk, before defender Michael Janov grabbed an unlikely brace before half time to put the ?students? ahead by 2-1.
UNSW kept up the ante in the second half, and Sebastian Bendall continued his good form of late with his side?s third goal of the match, the three points putting them at the base of a seven-team pack separated by two points.
Inter Lions ? Hurstville ZFC 2-1
3-00pm, Sunday, May 8 @ Crest Complex
Inter Lions had their maiden victory of 2011 on Sunday afternoon by overcoming a stubborn Hurstville ZFC at the Crest Complex.
Hurstville were rebounding from their midweek hiding at the hands of Mounties, and took the lead in the 38th minute via Paul Gagro.
But Inter Lions equalized only a couple of minutes later through Domenic Dimento, the prodigal son back at the club and registering just in time for the match, along with his brother, Jacob.
Inter kept at it and were rewarded with the winning goal just minutes before the end, Leo Carle sending the home fans into raptures with an 87th strike.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers ? Gladesville Ryde Magic 0-1
3-00pm, Sunday, May 8 @ Popondetta Park
Gladesville Ryde Magic went equal second following their 1-0 away triumph over Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Sunday afternoon.
Mt Druitt relinquished their position on the ladder and dropped to fifth on the standings following their third loss of 2011.
Ali McKie was the hero for Magic, scoring the game?s solitary goal in the 77th minute to complete a fantastic result for the visitors.
-By Frank Speranza
