State League One Round 3 Review

State League One Review ? Round Three
Stanmore Hawks vs Balmain SC 1-1
Saturday, March 31 @ 7-00pm at Arlington Oval
An Inner West derby of sorts finished all square at Arlington Oval on Saturday night, with Stanmore Hawks and Balmain SC sharing the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.
Stanmore Hawks came into the clash on the back of two opening season losses, and with one of the best teams on paper, coach George Paradisis would?ve been keen to set things right in front of their home fans.
Balmain SC had a win from their solitary match this season, beating Schofields 2-1 last week, and the confidence they gained from coming from behind would hold them in good stead against the Hawks.
The match was a somewhat scrappy affair, with the ball often played in the air rather than on the ground, a frustrating aspect when you consider the ball playing midfielders in both camps.
Both defensive units handled the aerial challenges quite comfortably, with both keepers in solid form whenever they were called upon.
Balmain were forced into making two changes prior to and at half time, due to injury, and both substitutions made an impact upon their entry.
Henry Bello came on just before the break, and found himself in the sheds approximately 15 minutes before the completion of the match, courtesy of two cautions, an advantage which the Hawks simply could not effect.
The other substitute, young Vincent Leto, set up the opening goal of the match on 56 minutes, his right wing cross expertly headed across the face of the goal and into the net by the diminutive Johhny Buonavoglia.
The irony of the situation was there for all to muse at, with the deadlock in a match that at times reflected aerial ping pong being broken by a header from the shortest man on the park.
The Hawks were on level terms just nine minutes later, and the goal came via the boot of Cormac McArdle.
Daniel Conway, Balmain?s goalkeeper and skipper, had been in inspiring mood on the night, but let McArdle?s near post grass cutter ricochet off his body and into the net to give the Hawks the equaliser they craved.
That was that as far as the scoreboard was concerned, both clubs happy enough with the point given the state of play. The Hawks would be content to finally break their duck after three rounds of football, whilst Balmain?s four points from two matches have given them a great start to the 2012 season.
Camden Tigers vs UNSW 1-0
Saturday, March 31 @ 7-00pm at Ron Dine Reserve
Even though it is still very much early on, two sides with little to show on the leaderboard thus far in 2012 met at Ron Dine Reserve on Saturday night, as home team, Camden Tigers, welcomed the visit of UNSW.
Camden had suffered two losses from their opening two matches of the season, and were keen to break their duck in front of their vociferous home fans.
The Tigers would?ve in fact taken some confidence out of last week?s narrow 0-1 loss to Gladesville Ryde Magic, as they toiled away with nine men for the best part of the second half and almost salvaged something in a determined display.
UNSW came into the match without inspirational centre back, Patty Lloyd, sent off against Inter Lions the week before, and found themselves in familiar territory again versus Camden, being made to play with ten men for three quarters of this match after yet another red card midway through the first period.
The ?students? nevertheless dug deep, and fought hard, with Dennis Cutura almost grabbing a debut goal for his new club on a number of ocassions.
In the end the match was decided by a single goal, and it fell the way of Camden, with Ahmad Thafer credited with the 75^th strike that looped over the keeper, and proving the difference in a tight battle.
It was sweet for Thafer, having made the switch from UNSW to Camden in the off season, and the three points moved his new side away from the base of the ladder, whilst leaving his old club propping up the league at this early stage of the season.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Schofields Scorpions FC 0-3
Sunday, April 1 @ 3-00pm at Popondetta Park
Schofields Scorpions caused an upset at Popondetta Park on Sunday afternoon with a resounding 3-0 away triumph against Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Having lost out at Balmain last week, the Scorpions were better for the hitout having had their first match postponed, and managed to close off the game against the Rangers before the hour was out.
Youngster James Howard gave the visitors the lead after 26 minutes, and Yarza doubled their advantage on 38 minutes, sending a silence across local fans at Popondetta.
When Dean Stivala scored goal number three after 53 minutes, the match was as good as over, and Mt Druitt couldn?t even muster a consolation goal as they slumped to a disappointing home defeat.
Even though both clubs are now on three points, four spots separate them on the ladder due to goal difference favouring the Scorpions.
Fairfield City Lions vs Inter Lions 2-2
Sunday, April 1 @ 3-00pm at Norford Park No.2
The battle at the lion?s den at Norford Park No.2 on Sunday afternoon finished in parity, with Fairfield City and Inter playing out an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Both sides came into the match on the back of respective maulings last week, and as I predicted in my Preview, there were plenty of goals in this action packed encounter.
Youngster Anthony Foti gave Inter the lead after 17 minutes, his first of 2012 after breaking onto the scene late in 2011, but Ardahan Kumrulu equalized for Fairfield City on 25 minutes, continuing his rich vein of form of late with goal number four of this campaign.
The match then went hammer and tong for the best part of half and hour, with no goals until the 64^th minute, when Friday Jeremiah ? the prodigal son returning from a stint at Mounties in 2011 ? edged Fairfield in front to the thrill of the home fans.
Fairfield knew the match was there for the taking, but couldn?t extend their lead, and were made to pay when Jason Gonzalez equalized for Inter in the 85^th minute to grab a share of the points.
The point moves both clubs onto four points near the summit of this early season ladder, and they?ll both be keen to build on that and sustain the position in the top four.
Southern Bulls vs Hurstville ZFC 4-1
Sunday, April 1 @ 3-00pm at Ernie Smith Reserve
Southern Bulls bounced back from last week?s reverse to trounce Hurstville ZFC by 4-1 at Ernie Smith Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Kyle Romero was the sole scorer in the first stanza, opening the scoring for the Bulls with a strike on 28 minutes.
Within eleven minutes of the break, the match was as good as over as Southern Bulls grabbed two goals within sixty seconds.
Rafid Hermiz made it 2-0 on 55 minutes, and Luis Carneiro hit the net almost immediately after to make it three.
Hurstville?s Tomislav Dejanovic pulled a goal back on 78 minutes, but Hermiz grabbed his brace a couple of minutes before the end to complete a 4-1 thrashing.
The loss leaves Hurstville in 9^th spot on three points, but the victory moves the Bulls to outright second position on the ladder on six points, boasting being the highest scorers at this stage in State League One on 7 goals.
Northbridge FC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic 1-2
Saturday, March 31 @ 3-00pm at Macquarie University Sports Fields
Gladesville Ryde Magic made it three wins from as many matches with a 2-1 away victory over Northbridge FC on Sunday afternoon.
An even first half finished scoreless, but the home side broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, piercing Gladesville?s defence for the first time in 2012.
Jun Arima got on the end of a far post cross to convert for Northbridge, giving them hope of second successive win after last week?s victory over Mt Druitt.
But the Magic are made of sterner stuff, and equalized just four minutes later on 67, with Scott Tonkin playing through to burly striker Andrew McKie, who beat a defender before slotting home to restore parity.
Just when the match seemed headed for a draw, a long throw by Alex Morris found it?s way to Tommy Nastoulis, and the veteran tapped home to give the Magic the spoils.
The result leaves Northbridge in 7^th spot on three points, but Gladesville Ryde Magic have moved to 9 points with a perfect 3-win record, and have opened up a 3 point lead over the Bulls and a 5 point lead ahead of the rest of the pack.
 -By Frank Speranza