State League One Round 15 Review
Gladesville Ryde Magic v Faifield Bulls
Fairfield Bulls showed a little more intensity and a little more desire to gradually overcome Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-0 in a Round 12 rescheduled match on Thursday evening.
This game was played at the ESL Hall Park venue at Marsfield, after the original match was washed out due to rain, and it kicked off a little earlier than planned at 8-00pm, following the Bulls forfeit in the U/20s match.
Both sides came into the match on either side fifth spot, with the Bulls in a slightly better position having a game in hand on the Magic.
And it was Fairfield that conjured up the first opportunity of the match after just five minutes.
Niriam Kanoun managed to flick a header over a desperate defender, before holding off the challenge of another as he entered the penalty area.
As Magic goalkeeper reduced the angles, Kanoun managed to slip a low shot past the stranded keeper and inches wide of the far post.
The Bulls went one better on 17 minutes with a clinical attacking move that caught Gladesville fat footed.
Kanoun picked up a great ball inside the box, racing to the goal line, before squaring a firm pass that left Rafid Hirmiz with the simplest of tasks ? and he duly obliged by tapping the ball into an empty net from a yard.
Gladesville tried to get back into the match, but many of their forays upfield broke down in the attacking third with careless or ill-timed passes, allowing Fairfield the opportunity to absorb any danger.
Having said that, the Magic spurned a fantastic opportunity to restore parity on 39th minutes.
Following some neat work and a short pass from Ahmed Kabbara, Andrew McKie totally mis-kicked from right in front with only Bulls keeper, James Webb, to beat, skewing the ball wide after it had taken a bobble.
Fairfield responded moments before the break, with striker Elkerhani curling a great shot towards the corner of the goal, only for Gladesville custodian, Tohouroglou, to brilliantly tip the ball around the post.
Referee, Mr David Christie, then called a halt to proceedings on 45 minutes to give all and sundry a deserved break, and the time to revisit tactics for what promised to be an interesting second 45 minutes.
Six minutes after the break, Brett Townley-Jones went close for Gladesville with a well struck free kick from just outside the box, drilling the ball just wide of Webb?s right hand upright.
Magic substitute, Scott Tonkin, added some height and enthusiasm to his team?s plight after entering the field of play just after the hour mark, but before that he almost scored with his first touch, stretching to try and get his head to a swirling cross inside the box.
The match, however, was all but over on 70 minutes when Fairfield Bulls executed effectively after thwarting an Gladesville attack.
The ball was quickly swept upfield, catching the Magic back pedaling, and Sargon Georges played a delightful lobbed pass into the path of Niriam Kanoun.
The Bulls striker has been in great form of late, and Kanoun didn?t need any invitation to snap a volley past Magic keeper, Tohouroglou, from the edge of the box to put the Bulls 2-0 up.
With their tails up, the Bulls almost made it three on 73 minutes when skipper, Daniel Georges, let fly from fully 35 yards with a scorching shot hat was headed towards the top corner.
Gladesville?s keeper, Tohouroglou, lept to his left to make a great one hand save and deny Georges a goal.
The Magic had one last roll of the dice in the 85th minute, and it was Tonkin, who, despite the challenge of a Bulls defender, chased a bouncing through ball and chipped the advancing Webb in the Bulls goal.
Alas, to the despair of the young striker, the ball also cleared the cross bar.
A disappointing result for Gladesville, given what was at stake, and if it wasn?t for Kiriakos Torhouroglou, who made a couple of superb saves, the Magic would?ve suffered a bigger defeat.
Fairfield Bulls would have been happy enough with the win, doing what was required to get the three points without really needing to lift their game too much. Niriam Kanoun looked dangerous in attack every time he had the ball at his feet, darting in and out of holes searching for opportunities, whilst captain, Daniel Georges, won the midfield battle with some timely interventions.
Match Stats
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC (0) 0
FAIRFIELD BULLS (1) 2 (Hirmiz 17? , Kanoun 70?)
Thursday, June 30, at ESL Hall Park, Marsfield
Referee ? Mr David Christie
Assistant Referees ? Mr Blayne Whiteman & Mr Stephen Ellsmore
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC: 1.K.Tohouroglou, 2.A.Morris, 14.B.Kerr, 5.A.Khan, 4.L.Harte, 11.B.Townley-Jones (13.S.Kianou 55?), 7.T.Nastoulis (capt) (12.M.Kunnen 70?), 6.A.Ryan, 16.Andrew McKie, 10.Alistair McKie, 15.A.Kabbara(9.S.Tonkin 63?).
Subs not used ? 1.P.Ferrara,8.A.Drinkwater.
Yellow Cards-NIL.
Red Cards-NIL.
FAIRFIELD BULLS: 26.J.Webb, 4.R.Sharma, 21.A.Matloub, 5.H.Hussein, 16.A.Zia (17.J.Youkhana 63?), 8.D.Georges (capt), 14.F.Potnus, 11.R.Hirmiz, 19.S.Georges (6.P.Oudicho 81?), 10.N.Kanoun, 20.K.Elkerhani (13.E.Adam 70?).
Subs not used- 40.L.Hormis,12.N.Filips.
Yellow Cards ? NIL.
Red Cards ? NIL.
Division One Review ? Round Fifteen
UNSW ? Camden Tigers 0-3
6-00pm, Saturday, July 2 @ Ron Dine Reserve
Camden Tigers pulled UNSW back to the rest of the field on Saturday evening at Ron Dine Reserve, following a 3-0 triumph in front of their home fans.
UNSW had a three point lead over their rivals going into the clash, knowing a win would stretch and consolidate their second position on the ladder.
But Camden had other ideas, and resurrected their home form to record a solid victory.
Adam Smutek was at it again for the Tigers, and it was his first half brace on 19 and 41 minutes that put Camden in a commanding position leading into the break.
Smutek?s strikes were his 11th and 12th of a stellar season for the little striker, and make up 50% of his side?s total goals in 2011.
An own goal conceded by UNSW a couple of minutes into the second half put paid to the contest, and saw Camden join the ?students? on 25 points, but go in front due to a much more superior goal differential.
Inter Lions ? Gladesville Ryde Magic 1-2
7-00pm, Saturday, July 2 @ Crest Complex
Gladesville Ryde Magic bounced back from their disappointing loss to Fairfield Bulls on Thursday night to snatch a welcome three points against Inter Lions at the Crest Complex on Saturday.
Not only did Magic come from behind to record the win, but showed great endurance by scoring the goals in the final moments of their 180 minutes of football spread over 48 hours.
Following a scoreless first half, Inter Lions pulled themselves in front when Jacob Dimento scored in the 80th minute, giving the home fans hope of a much needed victory.
But Gladesville dug deep and found another level, with Johnny Martinez restoring parity in the 85th minute.
With the match seemingly headed for a draw, up popped the lurking figure of Scott Tonkin ? who had made an impact off the bench on Thursday ? to grab a dramatic 93rd minute winner, earning his side all three points.
The result leaves Inter second from bottom on 11 points, whilst Gladesville sit just outside the top five in sixth position on 21 points.
Balmain SC ? Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4-4
7-00pm, Saturday, July 2 @ Hensley Athletic Field
The pendulum swung both ways at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday night, before finally coming to a stop down the middle as Balmain and Mt Druitt shared the spoils in an eight-goal thriller.
Barrett put the home side in front just on the half hour mark, only for Hosyar Cakal to equalize for Mt Druitt in the 41st minute with his 13th goal of the season.
But Johnny Buonavoglia edged Balmain ahead with a goal right on half time, much to the pleasure of the home fans.
When Jamal Boutkabout made it 3-1 for the Tigers in the 67th minute, it all looked like it was heading for a rare Balmain victory.
But Mt Druitt?s hard working midfielder, Nathan Ralph, pulled his level by scoring a brace of goals in the 70th and 74th minutes, giving the visitors renewed hope.
Balmain were determined not to let this one slip, and showed remarkable resolve to take the lead once again with a couple of minutes remaining, Jamal Boutkabout once again doing the damage with his second goal of the match.
However in a final twist to the saga, Mt Druitt just would not lie down, and Scott Bowman equalized for the Rangers for the third time in the match on 89 minutes, sending both teams home with a point.
Despite Balmain?s efforts, the point was not enough to get them off the bottom, but they are within a win of two other sides just above them.
Mt Druiit?s point takes them to 17 points, but they remain in 8th position on the ladder, and are one of only two sides to have played their full quota of matches.
Stanmore Hawks ? Fairfield City Lions 2-2
3-00pm, Sunday, July 3 @ Arlington Oval
Stanmore Hawks and Fairfield City Lions shared the points at Arlington Oval on Sunday when they drew 2-2 in a see-sawing match.
The Lions went ahead after just three minutes, courtesy of an own goal, and that?s the way the score remained until well into the second period.
Nick Paradisis equalized for Stanmore in the 58th minute with his 13th goal of the season, before Neil Philippou put the Hawks in front with 18 minutes remaining.
Fairfield City rallied and pulled the match level on 84 minutes, Ongel doing the honours to give his team a valuable point.
The draw keeps Stanmore in the bottom three on 12 points, whilst Fairfield City are in 7th spot on 20 points. The Lions, however, have two games in hand on most sides, and are only five points from second position, so you expect them to make a rally towards a semi final spot in coming weeks.
Mounties Wanderers ? Schofields Scorpions 1-2
3-00pm, Sunday, July 3 @ Cook Park
Schofield Scorpions became the first side in 2011 ? from any Division, in either League or Cup ? to overcome the mighty Mounties Wanderers, beating them 2-1 in a closely fought encounter at Cook Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Wanderers have had a hectic schedule of late, no doubt, including midweek games in their historic Waratah Cup run that sees them take on Premier League side, Manly United, in the final this coming Sunday at Bonnyrigg.
On Sunday they tackled old foes, Schofield Scorpions, who themselves have picked up their form in recent weeks and came to Cook Park with nothing to lose.
Tom Simpson kept up his goalscoring form of late by opening proceedings for the Scorpions after just three minutes, and the cat was really set amongst the pigeons when Hayton doubled the visitors? advantage in the 20th.
Wanderers? big defensive unit, Mark D?Alessandro, pulled a goal back in the 68th minute for the home side, but on this occasion, that was all they could muster, tasting defeat for the first time this season.
Camden?s victory over UNSW means that Mounties retain their massive 15 point lead at the top, whilst Schofields remain 9th, but move to 15 points, a long way away from where they were sitting just a month ago.
Fairfield Bulls ? Hurstville ZFC 0-1
3-00pm, Sunday, July 3 @ Hajduk Stadium
Hurstville ZFC climbed above Fairfield Bulls on Sunday afternoon courtesy of a 1-0 victory at Hajduk Stadium.
Fairfield felt the pinch a little given it was their second match in 48 hours, coming off the back of their 2-0 triumph over Gladesville Ryde Magic on Thursday night.
Following a scoreless first half, Chris Terkes did the damage for Hurstville when he hit the net on 70 minutes, and the solitary goal was enough to give the visitors the spoils.
Both sides occupy a spot in the top five, with Hurstville 4th on 24 points, whilst Fairfield Bulls are 5th on 23.
-By Frank Speranza
