NSW Super League Round 12 Review

West Sydney Berries, after a strong win at St George, move into third spot ahead of Granville Rage, also on goal difference.
The season hasn?t got any easier for Hills Brumbies, the 0-4 reverse at Northern Tigers keeping them entrenched at the bottom but still within striking distance of both Fraser Park and Dulwich Hill.
Feature Match of the Week
Granville Rage v Macarthur Rams
It was an absorbing game at Garside Park when Granville Rage and Macarthur Rams went head to head. The Rams were league leaders going into the weekend but were usurped by Spirit FC who took top spot following Saturday?s matches. This meant that Macarthur needed at least a point to remain first and they had to battle all the way to gain just that.
Things certainly started off on the wrong foot though.
They were a goal down inside three minutes when the Rage scored with their first real attack. A somewhat hesitant defence allowed George Kallimanis all the time and space in the world to strike home, with Josh Barrett hugely exposed. 
Granville had the better of the play and dominated the initial proceedings but Macarthur gradually worked their way into the match. Chris Gomez threatened first for the Rams, though Jason Holmes held that one without too much trouble. But it was almost a bizarre own goal which could have seen the Rams draw level. A cruel deflection between Holmes and his defender almost saw the ball rebound direct into goal before being cleared at the last moment. 
But it wasn?t too long before the Rams did get the goal that they needed. And it was a goal well worth waiting for. A trademark Craig Cooley run down the right saw his cross swept home by Steve Lloyd first time, the shot careering into the net before Holmes had time to move.
The game lifted further in intensity, both sides definitely wanting the win. With this resultant rise, it was perhaps fortunate for Granville that they left for half time still with a full complement of players. Ante Bakmaz, after receiving his first yellow card only moments before, could arguably have had a second after a clumsy tackle. But leniency was shown, as it was to Daniel Carozza after he brought down Alvaro Malmierca very late.
But even it was at half time and the second half was as entertaining as the first. The chances fell to both sides in a match which went from end to end. Carrozza thought he had put the Rage ahead when he claimed his header went over the line, while Cooley got past Holmes at the other end before Carrozza cleared that one off the line.
A long throw into the Rams penalty area was somehow cleared by Barrett, with a goal beckoning while the Rage came even closer when a low cross by Pat Cappuccio flew across the face of goal, but no Rage player was there to take advantage.
It was an exciting finish to an excellent game, the last throw of the dice going to the Rams who had Malmierca strike from range but wide. It was the last kick of an enthralling match.
Granville Rage 1 (George Kallimanis 3?) v Macarthur Rams 1 (Steve Lloyd 25?)
5 June 2011
Garside Park
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assistants: Darrin Richards and Cameron Bruce
Granville Rage: 1. Jason Holmes 18. Pat Cappuccio 3. David Comito (20. Andy Matloub) 13. Daniel Carrozza (c) 6. Joseph Cartisano 8. Phil Pyliotis 2. Ante Bakmaz 7. David Harding 19. George Kallimanis (4. Manut Yel 75?) 9. Kris Holbrook 15. Luke Speranza (16. Callum Hedge 70?).
Subs not used: 22. Craig Morley 12. Josh Mesiti
Yellow cards: Ante Balmaz 30?, Daniel Carrozza 42?, Phil Pyliotis 74?, Kris Holbrook 87?
Coaches: Mauricio Islas/Jason Holmes
Macarthur Rams: 20. Josh Barrett 2. Craig Cooley (c) 18. Peter Halstead 6. Josh Ford 21. Callum Fleming 14. Ryan Marchant (17. Chris Godoy Boscur 80?) 8. Alvaro Malmierca 11. Daniel Duarte (7. Alan de la Cuadra 60?) 15. Lisandro Berbis 10. Chris Gomez 13. Steve Lloyd (22. Matt Sadler 88?).
Subs not used: Rgk Ben Needham, 3. Emmanuel Elali
Yellow cards: Nil
Coach: Claudio Canosa
Dulwich Hill v Spirit FC
There were plenty of goals at Arlington Oval but the majority went the way of Spirit FC, the win lifting them back to the top of the table, if only temporarily.
But they had to do it the hard way, coming from a goal down. Dulwich Hill had started brightly and held possession well in the opening stages. They got their reward when Steve Donevski gave Dulwich Hill the lead eighteen minutes into the game. But his goal was cancelled out by Josh de Kelly just before half time. De Kelly scored direct from a freekick, the strike hitting the underside of the bar before going in.
Juan Chavez then returned to the scoring form he is renowned for, hitting the back of the net in first half stoppage time, giving Spirit the half time lead. A further goal to Chavez, fifteen minutes into the second half duly extended the lead. Chavez showed great skill on both occasions, his jinking style back to the fore.
A fourth to Spirit, another free kick, but this time by Brendan Griffin made the game safe with twenty minutes to go. Despite a late second to Donevski, the points were not in doubt.
The goals by Chavez were his first since round six, and a timely return to the goalscoring list.
?That was the most pleasing thing about the match?, stated John McLafferty. ?Juan looked as sharp as he has been since he joined the club. Both goals were opportunistic too, from open play in the area. They were the type of goals that Juan scores?.
The game saw the return of Tim Simpson too, on for the final ten minutes.
?It was good for Tim to get a run. We were up 4-1 and thought we would give him a go. He worked well and had sweat on his brow at the end. He will be in contention for next week?.
For Paul Carter, it was another frustrating night.
?I really thought we controlled the first half but there were just a couple of schoolboy errors. A bit of loose marking and then we panicked a little bit?.
?We certainly show all the promise, it?s all there but we just have to get it right. A few weeks ago we had trouble scoring, now that?s not a problem. But Spirit punished us [for the errors], and that?s why they?re up the top?.
St George v West Sydney Berries
West Sydney Berries overpowered St George, showing more spark and energy to run away with an impressive 3-0 win.
With the drizzle starting right on kick off, it made for slippery conditions but that didn?t stop the Berries from harassing St George, putting pressure on the Saints early.
The first goal came after twenty six minutes, a defence splitting pass sitting up nicely for Stefan de Jesus, who got away from the St George back line, before shooting under Daniel Nash.
Seven minutes after that, it was 2-0 when Dimitri Zakilas couldn?t have asked for an easier header, knocking in from right on the goal line.
It just wasn?t St George?s night. A simple turnover in midfield gave possession away, Stefan de Jesus being the ultimate beneficiary, who flighted a shot from out wide, over Nash and into the net.
At 0-3 down, St George rallied but all too late. Peter Vassilis had a shot parried by George Bouropoulos while in the final minutes, Reuben Lagos had his shirt tugged in the area, giving St George a chance to reduce the arrears. But Bouropoulos chose the right way, and denied Ivo de Jesus? spot kick.
The Berries had a couple of chances cleared off the line, and Simon Verrender had a booming header tipped over by the Berries keeper. Bouropoulos was in fine form, meeting everything in his path.
It was a vital three points for West Sydney Berries.
?That was an important win?, agreed Steve Karavatakis. ?After our loss last week, had we lost again tonight it would have been all over. But the team were ready to go and they really stepped up tonight?.
?And we played some good football too. Jack [Sobcyzk] was very solid at the back, Ryan [Emerton] was great and Stefan is on fire. And I think Dimitri will get the Golden Boot?, said Karavatakis.
Similar to many clubs, the number of games in a short period of time has proven difficult for Karavatakis
?I was going to play the Under 20s last Wednesday, had it been on?, he said, of the Berries? Waratah Cup game against Mounties.
?I am still not sure what to do next Wednesday. I might even give myself a run?, he declared.
St George 0 v West Sydney Berries 3 (Stefan de Jesus 26?, 49?, Dimitri Zakilas 33?)
Northern Tigers v Hills Brumbies
The goals at last arrived for Northern Tigers and they came with a flourish at Mills Park.
The opening goal arrived after twelve minutes, Matt Collins scoring the Tigers? first goal in six games. It remained at just the one till half time but after the break, the floodgates opened.
Three goals in seven minutes did the damage with Adam Hett, Travis Cooper, with his fifth of the year, and then Gavin Forbes stretching out the Tigers to a 4-0 win.
?Our delivery and quality in the final third made a big difference today?, stated Jason Eagar.
?It has been something we have been working on for a few weeks now and hopefully, we have now turned the corner. To try and keep playing like that will be the challenge?.  
Northern Tigers 4 (Matt Collins 12? Adam Hett 61? Travis Cooper 63?, Gavin Forbes 68?) Hills Brumbies 0
Blacktown Spartans v Fraser Park and Central Coast v Sydney University postponed
Top Scorers
10 –       Kris Holbrook                (Granville Rage)
8 –        Chris Gomez                 (Macarthur Rams)
            Grant Maundrell (Central Coast)
7 –        Dimitri Zakilas               (West  Sydney Berries)
            Shannon Hankin            (Macarthur Rams)
6 –        Juan Chavez                 (Spirit FC)
            Ante Deur                     (West Sydney Berries)
            Dragan Savic                (Hills Brumbies)
5 –        Travis Cooper               (Northern Tigers)
            Stefan de Jesus            (West Sydney Berries)
            Liam McConaghy          (Sydney University)
Midweek Fixtures
Tuesday 7 June
Waratah Cup 
Blacktown Spartans v Northbridge 7.30pm
Wednesday 8 June
Super League
Spirit FC v Central Coast 8.30pm
Waratah Cup
Hills Brumbies v Sydney Utd 7.30pm
Manly v Fraser Park 7.30pm
Mounties Wanderers v West Sydney Berries 7.30pm
-By Peter Rowney