NSW Super League Round 18 Review
Macarthur Rams, Spirit FC and St George all won, completing the five but Sydney University lurk close by, just one point behind.
The main news of the weekend though came off the park with the decision by the Central Coast Football Association not to enter a team in the FNSW competition next year. This sees an end to the Coast?s long reign in such competitions over the past quarter century.
Sydney University v West Sydney Berries
It was a 0-0 draw at Hensley Field as leaders West Sydney Berries shared the points with a resurgent Sydney University, their margin at the top now reduced to two. But there was plenty of excitement and intensity despite the lack of goals.
This was always going to be a tight affair, the return to form of Sydney Uni likely to prove a difficult task for the Berries to overcome and it was just that. After two wins in a week, Uni had leapt to fifth and were not about concede that gain in a hurry.
They were the more impressive on the night, particularly in a first half in which they dominated play but without really placing Phil Zabaks under any clear danger. Perhaps their best efforts came from James O?Rourke, who was wide with a header, and Andre Carle, who skipped past three defenders but was just closed down at the last moment. David McMurray did have the ball in the net, earlier in the night, but that was ruled out for offside. It was a blow for Uni when McMurray went off with an ankle injury after just twenty five minutes, the captain being unable to continue after receiving the knock a few minutes earlier.
That offside chance was in fact, one of three times the ball found the back of the net without any of them counting on the scoreboard. Dimitri Zakilas put one away for the Berries midway through the first half but that was disallowed after Zakilas firstly controlled the ball with his hand. And the Berries also bundled the ball into the goal during the second half, but not before bundling over Trinity Allen first.
The league leaders came more into the game once the second half commenced and caused some real concern to Uni. Stefan de Jesus almost caught Allen off his line, the keeper having to backtrack rapidly only for the ball to land on the top netting. But it was John Tsironis who had the clearest opportunity. A quick throw in found Tsironis in space, and time to measure his shot, but the tall striker hurried his effort, skewing his chance across the face of goal.
Uni pressed late for the winner and came very close. They brought on Liam McConaghy with just over ten minutes to go, the leading striker having started on the bench after picking up a strain against the Coast midweek. He looked dangerous as did Kendo Takushima, who almost got the lead after hammering a freekick on target, before Zabaks parried. The Berries also had their chance late, hitting the crossbar from wide, the ball almost dropping in at the far post.
The Berries cleared off the line in the dying moments, the ball very close to going over but they did have the final say. A long throw by Liam McKenna, the ball was cleared to Jack Sobczyk, whose strike flew over. It was the last kick of the game.
?I have to admit I am a little disappointed,? stated John Calleja. ?I thought we played the better football, our passing was better. And I think we deserved to win that one?.
The omission of Liam McConaghy at the start was a blow as was the early injury to David McMurray.
?I thought McMurray was playing well before he went off. And with Liam, we thought that with about twenty to go, we could bring him on to make a difference. He played well too. As did young Nick Nesbitt when he came on. But as it is, we will take the point?, he finished.
Steve Karavatakis agreed that his side were second best on the night.
?I am disappointed, we had too many passengers, ?he said. ? I feel that we took it a bit lightly and the fact is that you cannot take any game lightly. Uni played really well and deserved to take all the points, really?.
?It is just going to make it harder for us now, it will really be a tight finish?.
Sydney University 0 v West Sydney Berries 0
16 July 2011
at Hensley Field
Referee: Chris Young
Assts: Terry Goodhew and Patricia Villagomez
Sydney University: 1. Trinity Allen 17. Callum McCrouther 4. Nills Justine 6. Oliver Skelding 10. Matt Demetriou 7. Leon Pirello (9. Liam McConaghy 78?) 2. James O?Rourke 5. David McMurray (12. Shaun van Rooyen 25?) 16. Mitchell Lensink 8. Kendo Takushima 15. Andre Carle (11. Nick Nesbit 87?)
Subs not used: Rgk Jesse Shewan 3. Simon Turner
Yellow Cards: Andre Carle
Coach: John Calleja
West Sydney Berries: 99. Phil Zabaks 6. Nick Tantalos 7. Damon Collina 4. Jack Sobczyk 16. Phil Reilly 13. Ryan Emerton (11. Aram Tayebi 80?) 8. Ante Deur (c) 12. Stefan de Jesus 9. Kodjo Adjassou (5. Liam McKenna 46?) 10. John Tsironis (3. Louis Duchesne 85?) 19. Dimitri Zakilas.
Subs not used: Rgk George Bouropoulos 17. Michael Zezovski
Yellow Cards: Nick Tantalos
Coach: Steve Karavatakis
Central Coast v Spirit FC
There was plenty of drama on the Central Coast and not all of it was on the park. In a decision which has shocked the players, coaching staff and fans of the Central Coast FC, it was announced by the local association that they will not be fielding senior teams in the FNSW competition next season.
With the announcement only being made to the team on match day, there was little surprise that the Central Coast, still in with a chance of the finals, succumbed to Spirit FC by 5-2.
Notwithstanding the shock of the news, the Coast still had the wherewithal to take the lead twice, the first coming in the opening minute. An own goal was accredited although a Michael Simmonds header was the belief amongst the crowd.
Spirit got back on level terms after Kwabena Appiah-Kubi took advantage of a poor back pass to intercept ahead of Jonathan Faerber to sweep into the empty net.
But the Coast took the lead again on the half hour. Nathan Byrn curled in a freekick which again, resulted in Spirit turning the ball into their own net. As if that wasn?t enough, the Coast returned the favour five minutes later with another own goal, to bring it back to 2-2 with just over thirty minutes gone on the clock.
Spirit gained the lead for the first time on the night after ex-Coastie, Brady Smith, caught Faerber unawares, crossing from the right but sailing straight into goal.
Tim Simpson then made it 4-2 before the break with a smashing drive into the bottom left.
A penalty by Simpson, four minutes after half time, Faerber bringing down Appiah-Kubi, simply sealed the result.
The result ended the Coast?s finals hopes but it was the news from off the park which was the main topic of conversation on the night.
?It was heartbreaking news?, explained Peter Preston, himself a former Coast player of long standing. ?Some of the guys have been playing here since they were 11 years old. And from a personal point of view, I have been a part of this for fifteen years so it is a huge shock?.
?But we have to accept the decision of the board. I don?t know what the future holds but maybe, as one door closes, another door opens. Some of the players have said they will try and make it in Sydney, some others will go to the Newcastle comp and others may just go back to the local competition?.
As for the game, there was no doubt the news affected the team.
?We were flat and cold?, Preston continued. ?We started Ok but our spirits weren?t high enough to keep pushing. We did upset them a little bit with our play but they upset us as well. Spirit played well and they punished a side that was down?.
?But still, Jamie Lobb was excellent today as was Darren Cooper and Louis Bozanic. And young John Whelpdale was absolutely magnificent?.
As for the next month, the final month in over twenty five years of state football, Preston acknowledged it will be tough.
?We have a full week of training so we can talk to the players a bit more then. We can?t make the semis now, but we will battle for the next month. We have Granville next week for our last home game then three away, with Macarthur our last game. We will put a team out and will certainly play for our pride?.
We don?t doubt that.
For John McLafferty, the win was very welcome.
?I think previously we lacked a little bit of confidence which played its part in our losses. But tonight, the shackles were off. We played some good football and it was open and attacking in style. That is how we will play for the rest of the season too. The semis are still there and I?d like to say we are back on track?.
Central Coast FC 2 (Own goals 1?/28?) Spirit FC 5 (Kwabena Appiah-Kubi 16? Own goal 33? Brady Smith 35? Tim Simpson 39?/49 pen?)
Fraser Park v Macarthur Rams
In a somewhat surprising result, Macarthur Rams hammered four past Fraser Park without reply to keep up the pressure on the Berries and the Spartans.
Peter Halstead got the Rams off to a perfect start, scoring following a set piece and then Steve Lloyd, after good interchange with Shannon Hankin, made it 2-0 after thirty eight minutes. It was virtually all over by half time following Craig Cooley?s effort two minutes before the break.
Hankin then added a fourth in the second half to complete a very comfortable win.
?It was a good win but a little bit surprising?? said Claudio Canosa. ?Fraser Park have been doing very well lately and I was expecting a very tough game.?
?It was probably 60/40 in our favour but we were able to score the goals at the right time. So we are still there fighting all the way.?
Fraser Park FC 0 Macarthur Rams 4 (Peter Halstead 18? Steve Lloyd 38? Craig Cooley 43? Shannon Hankin 58?)
Granville Rage v St George
St George left Garside Park with three valuable points tucked away but had to work every step of the way against a determined Granville Rage.
The Saints started off the more dominant and took a deserved lead when Simon Verrender connected with a left footer, low into the bottom left, after a quarter of an hour. But from that moment, the Rage stormed back.
A corner from the right was not cleared and Andy Matloub took advantage, scrambling home the loose ball on the half hour. 1-1 at the break but within ten minutes of the restart, the Rage were down to ten. A second yellow to Joseph Cartisano saw the Rage a man short and St George were on the up.
After good work between Brad Gibson and Jordan Figon, it was Gibson, who lifted the ball over Jason Holmes to put St George in the lead. Holmes got a touch on the ball but couldn?t quite tip it over.
Granville Rage had a shot headed off the line at the other end, a certain equaliser for sure, while Holmes was to the Rage?s rescue diving at the feet of Figon.
Fred Umlil came on for the final ten minutes and made his presence felt. None more so than when he was brought down by Holmes inside the area, with the referee in no doubt of the infringement. With five minutes left, it was Ivo de Jesus from the spot who sealed victory.
This was a tough game with no quarter asked or given. Both teams gave their all, Granville determined to battle to the end, St George digging up all their reserves to hold on to the points.
Granville Rage 1 (Andy Matloub 29?) v St George 3 (Simon Verrender 15?, Brad Gibson 70?, Ivo de Jesus pen 85?)
Northern Tigers v Blacktown Spartans
This fixture, originally set down for Mills Park, was switched late to Francis Park and it was a second half penalty by Simon Zahra which ended up giving the Spartans all three points.
Todd Macrae was brought down by the Tigers keeper giving Zahra a golden opportunity and he made no mistake scoring from the spot.
The Spartans move to within two points of leaders West Sydney Berries as a result.
Northern Tigers 0 v Blacktown Spartans 1 (Simon Zahra pen)
Hills Brumbies v Dulwich Hill
In another late kickoff, an equaliser from Robbie Shields well into stoppage time gave Dulwich Hill a share of the points in a 2-2 draw at Lily Homes Stadium against Hills Brumbies.
The Brumbies fell behind to a Mark Pinto goal just before half time but drew level with a quarter of an hour left through Keunike Maralit. Things seemed to be going the Brumbies way when Greg Giovenali put the Brumbies ahead in the 79th, but Shields? late equaliser soured the Brumbies evening.
Hills Brumbies 2 (Keunike Maralit 75?, Greg Giovenali 79?) v Dulwich Hill 2 (Mark Pinto 40?, Robbie Shields 93?)
Top Goalscorers
10 – Kris Holbrook (Granville Rage)
9 – Chris Gomez (Macarthur Rams)
Dragan Savic (Hills Brumbies)
Dimitri Zakilas (West Sydney Berries)
8 – Stefan de Jesus (West Sydney Berries)
Shannon Hankin (Macarthur Rams)
Grant Maundrell (Central Coast)
Liam McConaghy (Sydney University)
7 – Juan Chavez (Spirit FC)
Steve Donevski (Dulwich Hill)
Matt Mitchell (Central Coast)
-By Peter Rowney
