NSW Super League Round 4 Review
Bankstown Berries strengthened their lead at the top, moving two clear after defeating Dulwich Hill 2-0. Two goals to Dimitri Zakilas places him back at the top of the goalscorers charts with five.
Feature Game of the Week
Granville Rage v Northern Tigers
It was a very impressive display from Northern Tigers as they dispensed of Granville Rage 5-1 at Garside Park, to move into outright second position on the ladder.
The Tigers showed a lot of skill and pace as they set about the Rage and they almost took a lead within seconds of the kickoff, after Paul Davies swept in a cross from the right.
But after an early settling in period, the Rage gathered their composure and a good afternoon?s football was in prospect. The spectators weren?t disappointed either and with a cracker of an opening goal from Max Glanville, the stage was set.
Glanville had, only moments earlier, earned a yellow for charging into Daniel Carrozza in a challenge for the ball, and coming off second best, left the field for a short recovery. But within moments of re-entering the play, the speedy midfielder had put the Tigers one up. A cross field ball found Glanville in space on the left, and well inside his own half, he set off. A charge upfield, past a couple, a turn inside and Glanville slammed the ball into the roof of the net. There was no answer to that strike, keeper Adriano Varnier helpless to prevent the opener.
The lead was almost doubled not long after when Rhys Williams had a good chance but his unchallenged header cleared the bar.
An injury to Will Thom after just twenty two minutes saw the introduction of Adam Biddle and he was to prove a handful to the Rage all afternoon. But it was Glanville again, who came closest to doubling the lead, though his half volley was well held by Varnier.
Granville Rage almost drew level when David Harding smashed a header against the bar, and Pat Cappuccio?s second attempt also went over.
The misses proved costly, as Tigers, again down the right through Davies, crossed low into the area, and Spencer was set up for a low strike into the bottom right.
2-0 to the Tigers and it looked uphill for the Rage. But they brought themselves well back into the game when Amir Dizdaric was bundled over in the area and Phil Pyliotis converted from the spot.
A one goal deficient at half time kept Granville within reach but it took only a minute after the restart before they were down to ten and their task was made that much harder. Andrew Vitucci received a second yellow after a challenge and Granville now had the job ahead of them. Scorer Pyliotis made way for defender Manu Yel, but it was Max Glanville again who did the damage to the Rage and ultimately secured the points. After just failing to score after skirting Varnier, Glanville became provider and his speed down the right again caught out the Rage defence, and his cross was neatly poked home by Biddle.
3-1 after the hour and it looked safe for the Tigers. Space began to be found for the visitors and the chances came with some regularity. Spencer should have had a second after being put clear by Jamie Lobb, but he underhit his shot straight to Varnier.
Then, on sixty seven minutes, Glanville sped clear and pouncing on a loose ball, evaded the keeper before slotting into an empty net.
A second to Biddle, with twenty minutes to go, made it 5-1 after a delicate dink by Lucas Dawson and the Tigers were home and hosed.
Granville Rage 1 (Phil Pyliotis 34? pen) v Northern Tigers 5 (Max Glanville 16?, 67?, Adam Biddle 58?, 72?, Thomas Spencer 26?)
Sunday 15 April 2012
at Garside Park
Referee: Steven Lucas
Assts: Steven Nguyen and Louis Cummings
Granville Rage: 1. Adriano Varnier 2. Andrew Vitucci 13. Daniel Carrozza (c) 18. Pat Cappuccio 17. Joseph Sahni (16. Danny Vuckovic) 8. Phil Pyliotis (12. Manu Yel 49?) 7. David Harding 6. Suad Ameti 10. Jeffrey Issa 9. Kris Holbrook (19. Michael Dowling 73?) 20. Amir Dizdaric.
Subs not used: 4. Joe Cartisano 22. Ben Calderan.
Yellow cards: Andrew Vitucci, Suad Ameti, Kris Holbrook, Joseph Sahni, Amir Dizdaric, Manu Yel.
Red Card: Andrew Vitucci
Coach: Mauricio Islas
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page 12. Rhys Williams 2. Travis Oughtred 5. Daniel Cunningham 3. Jamie Lobb 6. Paul Davies (c) 14. Brendan Salameh 16. Steven Baveas 8. Max Glanville (10. Liam McCreesh 78?) 17. Will Thom (11. Adam Biddle 22?) 24. Thomas Spencer (15. Luke Dawson 68?).
Subs not used: 4. Michael Rolston 18. Marc Messina.
Yellow cards: Daniel Cunningham, Max Glanville, Rhys Williams, Brendan Salameh.
Coach: Jason Eagar.
St George v Macarthur Rams
There was nothing in this game as the Saints and the Rams fought out a close 0-0 draw, a result which didn?t really suit either side.
Both teams were understrength with the Saints being without Juan Chavez and Daniel Fallico (both unavailable) and David Smith (injured) while Adam Wither (unavailable) and Emmanuel Elali (suspended) were missing for the Rams.
Both teams now are still without a win and for the Rams, it was their fourth draw in a row. They perhaps had the more chances, though limited they were in a game of few opportunities. The defences were very strong, doing well to muzzle the respective attacks.
George Lagoudakis for St George was close with some fine crosses, a couple of which almost snuck in at the far post while Shannon Hankin had a late first half header go over in a good chance for the visitors.
Michael Brown spurned a chance early in the second period for Macarthur but overall, it was both backlines which shone in this one.
St George 0 v Macarthur Rams 0
Dulwich Hill v Bankstown Berries
A double to Dimitri Zakilas earned Bankstown Berries all the points, a result which has moved them two points clear at the top of Super League.
It was a strike in each half which did the damage, a send off to the Berries? Liam McKenna with ten to go failing to provide Dully with any respite.
Zakilas? first came in the first half, a good run into the box connecting well before a similar second half effort doubled the lead.
Despite now being a couple of points clear, coach Nass Martino is not getting carried away.
?It is still very early. We are only in round four and there is still eighteen to go. I don?t really look at the table at this stage of the season?.
?But I am very happy with the game last night. We have come out of the pre season very nicely and both goals came from some really good football. Dulwich Hill threw everything they had at us but we dug deep, and we showed good character?.
Dulwich Hill 0 Bankstown Berries FC 2 (Dimitri Zakilas 38?, 70?)
Mounties Wanderers v Bankstown Lions
Mounties Wanderers dealt Bankstown Lions their second defeat of the season, scoring twice in the last ten minutes to claim the victory at Cook Park.
It was a massive victory for the Mounties who have now won two of the first three and have adapted well to Super League, even in these early days.
Pressure from Matt Viera on keeper Zlatko Joseski resulted in Viera putting away the first, and a penalty by Cole Peverley with seven minutes left, after a handball, put the Mounties in the box seat.
Bankstown worked hard to recover and only some fine saves from Ali Akbal kept them scoreless.
As would be expected, coach Glenn Lockhart was very pleased with the result.
?That was a very important win for the club?, he said. ?In many ways, we regarded it as Premier League v First Division and it could have been a make or break for the side. It is as pleasing as our win against Sydney Olympic last year in the Cup?.
?It was 0-0 at half time which is where we wanted to be. Bankstown are a really tough opposition and are very mobile. And Damian Brosque was dangerous all night. But we stuck to our game plan and in the end, got the better of them. I feel it was a justified result?.
Mounties Wanderers FC 2 (Matt Viera 80? Cole Peverley 83? pen) Bankstown City Lions 0
Sydney University v Fraser Park
Sydney University recorded their second victory in three games with a strong 3-0 win over the previously undefeated Fraser Park at Hensley Field to move into fifth spot on the ladder.
Two goals in two minutes put Uni into an unassailable lead. After Jason Garrido had given University the lead just after half time, he doubled the lead midway through the second half, a long range strike from outside the box eluding Michael Frost.
Matt Demetriou, just a minute later, added a third with an excellent left foot shot to remove any threat of a Fraser Park comeback.
Fraser had been reduced to ten men at 1-0, Nicola Pozder being straight red carded, giving Uni the upper hand for the second half.
?It was a pretty good performance, ?stated Uni?s John Calleja. ?We started off reasonably well and peppered them in the first half although there weren?t any close chances, really. Most of them were set pieces. But we had a good attitude going into it and overall it was a decent performance?.
?That is the second time this year we have played against ten in the second half, and we played better this time, compared to the Spirit game?.
Sydney University 3 (Jason Garrido 49?, 65? Matt Demetriou 66?) Fraser Park FC 0
Hills Brumbies v Spirit FC
It was a horror night for Hills Brumbies who suffered a phenomenal 8-1 home loss to Spirit FC.
Spirit ran riot with a hatrick to Akwasi Agyei being the highlight for the visitors in a result which was never in doubt.
Paul Downs was sent off for the Brumbies in the second half but by that stage, the game was already lost.
Hills Brumbies 1 v Spirit FC 8 (Agyei Akwasi 3, Henry Wells, Tom Lovell, Michael Candy, Grant Cornwell, Dean Caletti)
Leading Scorers
5 – Dimitri Zakilas (Bankstown Berries)
4 – Akwasi Agyei (Spirit FC)
Wassim Hijazi (Fraser Park)
3 – Jason Garrido (Sydney University)
Robbie Shields (Dulwich Hill)
Henry Wells (Spirit FC)
Under 20s Wrap
Spirit FC kept the pressure on leaders Northern Tigers with a 2-1 win at Hills Brumbies but only pinched the win with an 89th minute winner, after the Brumbies finished the game with nine players. Spirit took the lead in the first half through Michael Gaitatzis but Hills equalised via Jordan Mbakwe. Two send offs in the second half, to Marjan Novotni in the 62nd, and then A Shepnay in the 78th, saw the Brumbies reduced to nine and looked likely to hold out until Jake Harris? late winner.
Northern Tigers needed an 85th minute penalty by Grant Lynch to sneak home against Granville Rage 1-0.
Bankstown Berries are also in the frame after they defeated Dulwich Hill 3-1 to be third on goal difference.
But it was St George who were the weekend?s biggest victors, overcoming Macarthur Rams 4-0 at home. A first half goal to Zac Sampson put the Saints in front before three second half goals to Andrew Katsoukis, Steven Liu and substitute Ayden Trivor secured the points.
Full results: Dulwich Hill 1 Bankstown Berries FC 3, Mounties Wanderers FC 0 Bankstown City Lions 2, Sydney University 1 Fraser Park FC 2, St George FC 4 Macarthur Rams 0, Hills Brumbies 1 Spirit FC 2, Granville Rage 0 Northern Tigers 1.
Midweek Fixtures
Waratah Cup
Tuesday 17 April
St George v Gladesville Ryde Magic
Wednesday 18 April
Bankstown Berries v Rydalmere FC
Fraser Park v Schofields
Hills Brumbies v Bondi FC
Macarthur Rams v Northern Tigers
Mounties Wanderers v Canberra FC
Sans Souci v Dulwich Hill
Sydney Uni v Uni NSW
Thursday 19 April
Spirit FC v Stanmore Hawks
-By Peter Rowney
