State League One Round 8 Review
Mounties Wanderers v Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Mounties Wanderers did enough on Saturday night in front of their home fans at Cook Park to comfortably dispose of Mt Druitt Town Rangers in their Round 8 clash.
The Wanderers went about their 3-1 victory with a minimum of fuss, dominating early to lead 2-0 at the break, before riding out the match with barely a whimper of a fightback by Mt Druitt.
The league?s second highest goalscorer, Greg Baldock, had to be content with a spot on the substitutes bench ? along with Troy McColl, returning to full fitness ? as Mounties fielded an attacking lineup, including a front four of Friday Jeremiah and Daniel Willoughby in the centre, flanked by Eli Squillacioti on the left and Mark Symington on the right.
The visiting Rangers side had come to Cook Park eager to bridge the huge gap between Mounties and themselves in equal second spot, hoping the strength in their midfield ? Nathan Ralph, Ryan O?Shea and Slaven Ljuboja ? would be able to provide them with something out the match.
The Mounties controlled the leather in the early exchanges, spreading the ball around the park and stretching the Rangers, but were unable to make a clean breakthrough with the final pass or cross going wayward.
Given the possession stats heavily favoured the home side, you felt it was a matter of time that the goal would come, and it did on 14 minutes.
A half cleared corner was cracked back at goal by Mark D?Alessandro, and his half hit shot was headed onto the bar by the lurking Mark Symington.
The ball rebounded into play and was duly dispatched by Scott Goodwin, his header going in via the roof of the net.
Disappointingly for Mt Druitt, they had many players back ?defending? the corner, but all and sundry stood and watched as the Wanderers had three unchallenged attempts at goal before finally hitting the net.
The home side had their end up and only a couple of minutes opened up the Mt Druitt defence, Daniel Willoughby blazing over from 25 yards and right in front, when he may have been better served playing in either of his supporting flankmen.
There is nothing wrong with reverting to the long-ball game now and then ? as long as the pass is executed effectively.
The Mounties were excellent at switching the play with some swift passing across the park, but every now and again, centre back, Mark D?Alessandro, would think nothing of dropping superb 30 and 40 yard passes on the toes of his flankmen, Symington and Squillacioti, putting the Rangers instantly on the backfoot.
Mt Druitt mustered their first real attempt on goal in the 22nd minute, Nathan Ralph miscuing his volley wide from the edge of the box after striker Hosyar Cakal had set him up by winning a header.
Five minutes later and Mounties doubled their advantage, following a needless free kick given away near the left touchline after a foul on Daniel McCann.
Daniel Willoughby swung in a great set piece, and Paul Crisp pounded a header past Pablo Meza in the Mt Druitt goal to make it 2-0 to the home side.
The physical presence provided by the Mounties down the middle of the park is a difficult wall to break down for any opposition, but the Rangers? skipper Ryan O?Shea did just that on 39 minutes, slipping through two challenges before his angled shot was comfortably tipped over by Wanderers? keeper, Ali Akbal.
Referee Mr Steve Lucas ? who showed why he has officiated at Premier League level this season ? blew the half time whistle right on cue to send the teams in for a well deserved break.
Mounties may have had an eye on their Wednesday night Round Three Waratah Cup match as they dropped their intensity somewhat, albeit they lead by 2-0 and it was upto Mt Druitt to try and squeeze something out of the match.
Opportunities at the beginning of the second stanza were scarce from either side, and it took a Daniel Willoughby free kick once again, just after the hour mark, to undo the Mt Druitt defensive barrier.
Willoughby?s lofted set piece from out on the right was met by a cluster of players, but it was the figure of Eli Squillacioti that stood tall ? rising like an AFL player taking a mark ? and the striker easily headed over a stranded Jarrod Marsh, the substitute Mt Druitt goalkeeper, and into an unguarded net to give the home side an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Just when you would?ve been excused for thinking the game was all but over, Mt Druitt pulled a goal back from a direct free kick, the game?s fourth goal, and all four coming from set pieces.
Mt Druitt were awarded a free kick in the 69th minute, right in front, about 25 yards out, and substitute Daniel Penfold hit a sweet shot that flew past the Mounties wall and ended up adjacent to the right upright, beating keeper Mounties keeper, Ali Akbal, all ends up.
Mounties almost added to the scoreline just three minutes later, but Mt Druitt?s Jarrod Marsh saved brilliantly from point blank range, gathering Mark Symington?s shot at the second attempt after the Mounties winger had raced in behind the Rangers? defence.
The match then played out it?s course without any addition to the scoreboard, with both teams defences nullifying the other?s attacking forays.
For the visitors, Mt Druitt Town Rangers, they fell behind midway through the first half and just didn?t seem to have the tools in their repertoire to prize open the Mounties defence, let alone dominate any area of the park.
Skipper Ryan O?Shea kept at it in the middle of the park, trying to get his team going, whilst left back Michael Cromer applied himself well in the tackle, and made covered some yards down the left flank, supporting the attack as well as doing a job in defence.
Mounties flexed their muscles in the first half, and weathered everything Mt Druitt threw at them in the second, never looking in danger of losing the points.
For the Wanderers, the entire backline did ever so well, with Goodwin and D?Alessandro holding the fort in the centre, winning balls effortlessly in the air, biting tackles on the ground, and even having a hand in attack with Goodwin?s opening goal.
Squillacioti and Symington were very effective out wide, stretching Mt Druitt by always providing available options for the ball carrier, and always effective in their own distribution once they had possession of the ball.
Match Stats
MOUNTIES WANDERERS (2) 3 (Goodwin 14?, Crisp 27?, Squillacioti 65?)
MT DRUITT TOWN RANGERS (0) 1 (Penfold 69?)
Saturday, May 14, at Cook Park.
Referee ? Mr S Lucas
Assistant Referees ? Mr M Kimber & Mr A Imielski
MOUNTIES WANDERERS: 1.A.Akbal, 11.P.Day (6.T.McColl 65?), 16.S.Goodwin, 18.M.D?Alessandro, 7.P.Crisp, 19.I.McAndrew, 10.D.Willoughby, 17.D.McCann (capt), 14..M.Symington, 2.E.Squillacioti, 8.F.Jeremiah (4.G.Baldock 65?).
Subs not used- 20.C.Rogers, 3.T.Salvaggio, RGK.G.Jamieson.
Yellow Cards ? NIL.
Red Cards ? NIL.
MT DRUITT TOWN RANGERS: 99.P.Meza (1.J.Marsh 46?), 2.S.Bowman, 7.M.Cromar, 10.H.Cakal(13. G.Godoy 76?), 3.J.Thurtell, 8.N.Ralph, 18.S.Ljuboja (6.D.Penfold 60?),4.D.Mercuri, 5.R.O?Shea (capt) , 12.L.Brown, 14.D.Borg.
Subs not used- 15.M.Aragone,11.T.Hyet.
Yellow Cards ? 14.D.Borg 48?.
Red Cards ? NIL.
Division One Review ? Round Eight
Balmain SC ? Inter Lions 2-0
5-00pm, Saturday, May 14 @ Lambert Park
Balmain scored a goal in each half to surprise Inter Lions at Lambert Park on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-0 to grab a valuable three points.
In a real ?six pointer? at the base of the ladder, Balmain were desperate to overcome some poor form in recent weeks, and it showed in the team?s increase in intensity.
Uri Kaye took advantage of a square Inter Lions defence in the 13th minute, racing onto a long ball before scoring the opening goal of the match.
Another goal by Kaye on 80 minutes wrapped up the match for the home side, the three points taking Balmain off the bottom of the ladder as a result.
Schofields Scorpions ? UNSW 0-1
7-00pm, Saturday, May 14 @ CSI Sport Ground
Following the team?s maiden win of 2011 in a midweek rescheduled match – a 3-0 victory over Stanmore Hawks – Schofields Scorpions were expected to continue the momentum at home to UNSW on Saturday night.
But the ?students? had other ideas, and they continued their rise up the Division One ladder with a 1-0 victory at CSI Sport Ground.
Sebastian Bendall was the hero once again for the visitors, grabbing the all important winner on 39 minutes, and in the process elevating his team to fourth spot on 11 points.
Fairfield Bulls ? Stanmore Hawks 3-2
3-00pm, Sunday, May 15 @ Hajduk Stadium
Fairfield Bulls staged the mother of all comebacks on Sunday afternoon at Hajduk Stadium, coming back from 0-2 down at the break to overcome Stanmore Hawks 3-2 in a stirring display.
Goals by sharpshooters Neil Philippou (11?) and Nick Paradisis (45?) out the visiting Stanmore side in a commanding half time position.
El Kerhani pulled a goal back for the Bulls on 56 minutes, before E Georgees equalized 12 minutes before the end.
Not satisfied with a point, Sargon Georges grabbed a third and winning goal for Fairfield City in the 85th minute, sending the home fans in a frenzy of celebration.
Hurstville ZFC ? Camden Tigers 0-3
3-00pm, Sunday, May 15 @ Hurstville Oval
Camden Tigers sit proudly in second position in the Division One competition ladder following the completion of Round 8, courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Hurstville ZFC on Sunday afternoon.
After a tight and scoreless first half, Dean Morgan broke the deadlock after 74 minutes, before Adam Smutek completed the scoring with a brace of his own, the goals coming in the 82nd and 90th minutes.
Fairfield Lions ? Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-1
3-00pm, Sunday, May 15 @ Norford Park
Fairfield City Lions returned to the winner?s circle on Sunday afternoon at Norford Park accounting for Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-1 in a closely fought encounter.
The Lions started like a house on fire, taking the lead after just three minutes through Mirwiss Amiri, and Ben Cronk doubled their advantage just before the break.
Andrew McKie reduced the deficit for Gladesville two minutes into the second half, but the Magic could not find the equalizer.
The victory sees Fairfield City Lions leapfrog their beaten opponents, going into third spot on 12 points, looking ominous with one and two games in hand on the teams around them.
-By Frank Speranza
