State League One Round 22 Review
Stanmore Hawks vs Inter Lions 0-1
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ 7-00pm at Arlington Oval
Inter Lions finished their 2011 season on a bright note with a 1-0 away victory over neighbours, Stanmore Hawks, at Arlington Oval on Saturday.
But alas, a draw for Schofields at Mt Druitt means that Inter end the year on the bottom of the league with 19 points.
A tight encounter was decided in the penultimate minute when Inter?s hard working midfielder,Jacob Dimento, found the net to give the visitors a narrow victory.
Stanmore finished the season on 24 points in 10th position, a disappointing outcome given they were up amongst the pacesetters early on in 2011. On a bright note the Hawks did claw themselves away from the base of the ladder to safety given they were in dangerous territory during mid year, so there are some positives to take away.
Inter Lions earned a reputation during 2011 for playing some attractive football, but the proof is in the result, and too many reverses gave coach Nick Tarquinio and his charges a tough mountain to climb during the back end of the season.
Mounties Wanderers vs Camden Tigers 5-1
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Cook Park
Premiers, Mounties Wanderers, flexed their muscles before the finals series with a 5-1 thumping of an inconsistent Camden Tigers outfit at Cook Park on Sunday.
For the majority of the first half, it was even on the scoreboard, with an own goal after just four minutes putting the Wanderers in front, before Ben Green equalised for Camden just after the half hour mark.
Speedy flanker Greg Baldock restored Mounties advantage right on the break, before it opened right up in the second half.
Eli Squillacioti edged Mounties further ahead in the 58th minute, before Mark Symington (81st) and Matty Viera (90th) completed the rout for the home side.
The loss didn?t do too much damage to the Camden camp, except for denting their pride, and they finished up in fourth spot on the ladder on 33 points, and will now participate in the Elimination Semi Final next weekend.
As for Mounties, it was the end of a remarkable campaign, finishing up as Premiers by at least 15 points ? the result of the rescheduled match vs Fairfield Bulls is TBA ? and boasting the competition?s best attack (62 goals scored) and best defence (13 goals conceded).
As a result, the Mounties will have the pleasure of a week?s rest, and will await the winner of the Major Semi Final to contest a spot in the Grand Final in a few week?s time.
Balmain SC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic 3-1
Sunday, August 21, 2011@ 3-00pm at Lambert Park
The end of the season has definitely come at the wrong time for one team in Division One, with Balmain SC hitting a real purple patch at the back end of competition.
Balmain SC have been winning, and winning handsomely, against some formidable opposition in recent weeks as they steadily climbed away from the foot of the ladder to safety.
On Sunday they completed their campaign with another victory, this time a 3-1 triumph at Lambert Park over high flying Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Ex-Apia junior, youngster Vincent Leto, surely relived some memories when he returned to his old stamping ground, Lambert Park, and put Balmain into the lead after just five minutes.
Leto has benefited from an extended run in the Balmain midfield during the second half of the season, complementing the veterans that surround him in the centre of the park with some string performances.
Even though the Magic restored parity via an own goal after 20 minutes, Balmain were not to be denied and grabbed two second half goals to take home the points.
Uri Kaye edged them in front on the hour mark with his 11th goal of the season, before midfielder Robbie Bruno completed the scoring in the 73rd minute.
Balmain finished the season in 9th position on 24 points, just 2 points from 7th, a far cry from where they were a month ago, and they will start to plan to have a better season next year.
Gladesville Ryde Magic should be proud of their campaign, ending up in third position on 37 points, and as a result will contest the major semi final next weekend against Fairfield City Lions.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Schofields Scorpions 3-3
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Popondetta Park
Schofields Scorpions managed to escape bottom position in Division One by a solitary point, obtaining that point by holding Mt Druitt Town Rangers to an enthralling 3-3 draw at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Scorpions took a 2-0 lead into the break courtesy of a brace of goals to their nippy striker, Justin Kirby ? the first after 17 minutes and the second three minutes before half time.
Typical of their season, however, Schofields allowed their opponents back into the match within 15 minutes of the second half.
Hosyar Cakal pulled one back on 54 minutes, before Slaven Ljuboja equalized five minutes later.
When Howard edged the Scorpions back in front on 80 minutes, all looked done and dusted for a solid away win, but Cakal had other ideas and restored parity once more for the Ranger,s grabbing his brace in the 87th minute.
The point lifts Schofields to 20 on the competition ladder, one in front of last placed Inter Lions, and puts an end to a disappointing season for the Scorpions, a season where they spent most of their time at the back end instead of the top where they are usually accustomed to.
After dropping from the Super League in 2010, Mt Druitt had aspirations of an immediate return, but had trouble adjusting initially, and had to be content with a mid table finish, being 7th spot on 26 points.
A bright note for Mt Druitt in 2011 was the form of young striker Hosyar Cakal, who remarkably ended up with the Golden Boot for the Division One competition after being behind at the start of the last day.
Going into the final match on Sunday, Cakal sat one goal behind Stanmore sharpshooter, Nick Paradisis, but his second half brace put him on 19 goals and gave him the top goalscorer accolade.
Fairfield City Lions vs Hurstville ZFC 2-1
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Norford Park No 2
Fairfield City Lions did what they had to do on Sunday at Norford Park, accounting for Hurstville ZFC 2-1 to claim the runner up spot on the competition ladder behind Mounties Wanderers.
Following a scoreless first 45 minutes, evergreen veteran, Yavuz Ekinci, took matters into his own hands, and put the Lions in front three minutes after the break. Ekinci is always a danger for opposition teams when on the ball, and even contributed 8 goals this season to go with the numerous assists to his name.
Striker Ben Cronk grabbed his 13th goal in 2011 on 58 minutes, converting a penalty to put his side in the driver?s seat.
Dejanovic pulled a goal back for Hurstville when he converted a penalty of their own on 74 minutes, but it was too little, too late and the Lions held on for the three points.
Hurstville was amongst the top five come the middle of the season, but faded disappointingly and finished the year in 8th spot on 25 points. Nevertheless it was a drastic improvement on 2010 where they occupied last position, so they will no doubt regroup and plan for better things in 2012.
In the wash up of the final few frenzied rounds of regulation and rescheduled football, it was Fairfield City Lions that held on to grab that coveted second spot.
After finishing second and winning last years?s grand final, many doubted the Lions could repeat their feat given so many quality players moved on.
But coach, Aydin Cetinay, regrouped his troops and has once again delivered a strong season showing. Can Fairfield City win the Grand Final? A few more weeks of Division One football will tell whether lightning can in fact strike twice.
Fairfield Bulls vs UNSW 0-2
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Hajduk Stadium
Drama at Hajduk Stadium on Sunday afternoon as UNSW came away with the spoils after defeating Fairfield Bulls by 2-0.
With both sides equal on 30 points going into the match, and with the Bulls holding a better goal differential, there was plenty riding on the outcome, and only a win would suffice if the ?students? were to keep their season alive.
There were no goals during a tense opening 45 minutes, but UNSW flanker, Julian Bracewell, put the cat amongst the pigeons when he opened the scoring for the visitors on 53 minutes.
It took a Seb Bendall goal to wrap up the match for UNSW when he doubled their advantage in the 72nd minute, giving UNSW a valuable three points and a season lifeline.
As it stands, UNSW hold that coveted 5th and final semi final spot, having climbed to 33 points, and with a much inferior goal difference to 4th placed Camden Tigers.
Fairfield Bulls are in 6th spot on 30 points, and their season hangs on the outcome of the result of a rescheduled match against the Mounties from a fortnight ago which is yet to be advised.
Division One
Top Goalscorers 2011
Congratulations to Mt Druitt Town Rangers sharpshooter, Hosyar Cakal, who has taken out the 2011 Division One Golden Boot after finishing with 19 goals for the campaign.
Special mention to Nick Paradisis, who has proven he is one of the most consistent goalscorers in this Division, scoring 18 goals in 2011, and actually held top spot with 45 minutes left in the season.
Both strikers must be commended for their efforts given neither of their sides finished in the top half of the ladder.
Also a brief mention to the players of Mounties Wanderers ? seven in total ? who managed to score six or more goals each which assisted their club in winning the title. Eli Squillacioti lead the group with 10 goals, but three of his team mates finished on 8 goals each and another three on 6 goals.
Here is a full list of the Division One goalscorers for 2011
19 : Hosyar CAKAL (Mt Druitt)
18 : Nick PARADISIS (Stanmore Hawks)
15 : Adam SMUTEK (Camden Tigers)
13 : Ben CRONK (Fairfield City Lions)
12 : Niriam KANOUN (Fairfield Bulls)
11 : Sebastian BENDALL (UNSW), Uri KAYE (Balmain SC)
10 : Eli SQUILLACIOTI (Mounties)
-By Frank Speranza
