State League Two Round 5 Review

Match of the Round
LUDDENHAM UNITED V WEST CITY FC
An injury time Amri Singh penalty saw West City snatch three valuable away points against a gallant Luddenham side who continued to press despite being forced to face the dying stages of the match with only nine men.
Huso Merdanovic carved out the first chance of the game as he picked up a nice pass from Michael Wood. The Luddenham leading marksman used his body well to unleash a powerful left foot drive from an acute angle directly at Peter Akers.
Just a few moments later almost saw West City go ahead. Brendan Mitrovich received a neat pass on the 18 yard box but Owen Rogers was equal to his shot.
Jason Browne came to life in the 5? minute of play with a nifty turn to beat his marker, but his shot had too much power and sailed over the goal.
Luddenham were next to attack as Andrew Lazarou found space down the left flank on 7? minutes and managed to slide in a tidy cross into the box. West City was unable to clear and the loose ball fell to Chris Camilleri, but his on target volley was brilliantly tipped over the bar by the ever alert Akers.
West City?s inability to clear their lines cost them a minute later as Chris Vella slammed the ball into the back of the net from 6 yards out for the opening goal of the match.
Luddenham?s Bojan Radmilo showed good vision as he threaded a through ball for flank runner Andrew Lazarou who whipped in a nice cross, but none of his team mates were on the same page as the ball trickled out for a goal kick.
Luddenham continued to attack with intent and in the 15? minute, Michael Wood after some nice build up play with Huso Merdanovic, played a dangerous ball into the box but Akers with good anticipation,  was first to it.
Dane Middleton hit a nice ball for Jason Ferraro on 20? minutes, and after collecting the pass he skipped past a defender before unleashing a powerful shot that missed the target.
A minute later saw Luddenham threaten again, this time Michael Wood played Huso Merdanovic, who ran to the by line before cutting back for Andrew Lazarou, but his shot was blocked by a West City defender.
In the 24? minute, Amri Singh hit a beautiful 40 yard diagonal ball into the danger area and with still much work to do, Jason Browne leaped above two Luddenham defenders to slot his powerful header past Rogers for the equaliser.
Luddenham bounced back with immediate effect as Michael Wood showed some individual brilliance in the 28? minute. Wood neatly controlled the ball from a cross in the box and shimmied past his marker before somehow looping an off-balance shot which grazed the cross-bar.
Some moments later, West City threatened Luddenhan?s goal with some build up play. Singh managed to set up Yannick Misfud and his scuffed shot from some distance fell to Jason Ferraro but his effort was also off target and sailed past the post.
West City gave away a free kick on 38? minutes just 30 yards out from goal. Chris Camilleri stepped up to the plate as he did against Bathurst but this time he was unable to clone his goal from last week as his shot had too much power.
Brendan Mitrovich just a minute later showed some class with a nice lay off for his strike partner Browne, but his shot skewed off target for the last real chance of the first half.
Luddenham had a great chance to take the lead in the 51? minute as Andrew Lazarou hit a low drive that ricocheted off the post. The rebound fell to Huso Merdanovic, but as Akers scrambled to re-position himself, Merdanovic from a tight angle sent his shot across the goal.
Luddenham were looking to put the game to rest and had the lion?s share of possession in the early stages of the second half. It was that man again, Huso Merdanovic just 2? minutes later who shimmied twice to beat Amri Singh before neatly chipping his shot in an ambitious attempt ? but the ball landed on top of the goal instead of in it.
Luddenham?s persistent attacks continued as only moments later Dujon Wesbter wasted a good opportunity as he found himself one on one with Peter Akers after a nice Michael Wood pass, but his rushed shot curled away from goal.
Dujon Webster had another great chance to put his side in front in the 62? minute. Reece Shiels hit a great ball for the attacking Andrew Lazarou, whose low near post cross found Webster, but his toe-poke stab was off target.
Luddenham were reduced to ten-men in the 63? minute as JP Vella picked up a straight red card after an off the ball incident ensued after a rough challenge.
Luddenham continued to press West City, despite being down a man but the final ball was letting them down.
In the 81? minute, West City?s Browne collected an oblique pass from Yannick Misfud but he was unable to control his shot as it flew over the cross-bar.
Just a minute later, Huso Merdanovic staved off his defender and let fly a rocket, but Peter Akers made a tremendous point-blank save to deny the Luddenham striker.
Dino Imamovic played a beautiful ball to Huso Merdanovic in the 84? minute but Dane Middleton timed his tackle perfectly to disposes the rampant Merdanovic.
Luddenham substitute Ahmed Chandab beat his marker 2?minutes later, playing Merdanovic onto goal but Akers pulled off another outstanding save to keep West City in the game.
With 1? minute of normal time left, Luddenham should have went ahead as Ahmed Chandab brilliantly crossed the ball from out wide finding an unmarked Ben Mau, but his first touch let him down as he tried to control the ball before Akers smothered it up.
United were reduced to just nine men moments later as Dino Imamovic collected his second yellow card of the afternoon which killed off any hopes of a home win for United.
In the 91? minute, West City?s Jason Browne headed a Conor Montford cross toward goal but Rogers pulled off a good save to thwart the danger.
West City were pressing United in the dying stages of the game and got their reward in the 93? minute as West City substitute Mathew Fitzpatrick won his side a penalty after being fouled in the box. Amri Singh made no mistake as his calmly slotted his spot kick into the bottom right hand corner, sending Rogers the wrong way to secure three points for his side with the last kick of the game.
Best for West City were; Peter Akers was heroic and unstoppable in a man of the match performance. Akers made countless saves to keep West City in the game; Jason Browne did well to score a wonderful equaliser and looked dangerous in his Viduka type role; Dane Middleton had a solid game defensively and played a vital role in his side?s triumph.
Best for Luddenham were; Huso Merdanovic was involved in the majority of Luddenham?s attacks and was unlucky to not get on the score sheet; Angelo Martino was busy all game and showed great vision and composure on the ball; Andrew Lazarou played his part and proved to be a menace out wide, hitting nice crosses into the danger area all game.
Match Stats
LUDDENHAM UNITED               1 (C Vella 8m)
WEST CITY FC                         2 (J Browne 24m A Singh 93m)
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Luddenham Oval, Luddenham
Referee ? Darren Richards
Assistant Referees ? Wayne Crabb & Rob Nieuwenhuis
Kick-off: 3pm
LUDDENHAM UNITED: 1. O.Rogers, 5. D.Imamovic, 36. J P Vella, 27. B.Radmilo, 45. A.Martino, 18. C.Vella (4. R.Shiels 50?), 21. D.Webster, 10. C.Camilleri (13. B.Mau 76?), 33. A.Lazrou (17. A.Chandab 67?), 7. H.Merdanovic, 9. M.Wood.
Subs not used ? 23. R.Connors, 24. C.Farrugia
Yellow Cards ? 21. D.Webster 32?, 45. A.Martino 49?, 27. B.Radmilo 90?.
Red Cards ?  36. J P Vella 63?, 5. D.Imamovic 89?.
WEST CITY FC: 1. P.Akers, 3. A.Davey, 24. A.Singh, 19. B.Mitrovich (23. M.Fitzpatrick 76?), 17. C.Montford, 6. D.Middleton,  9. J.Browne, 30. J.Ferraro (12. B.Dickinson 92?), 16. K.Carter, 32. R.Nakwaski, 10. Y.Mifsud (21. J.Creais 88?).
Subs not used ? 28. A.Frio,
Yellow Cards ? 10. Y.Mifsud 16?, 16. K.Carter 38?, 12. B.Dickinson 88?.
Red Cards ?  NIL.
Division Two Review ? Round 5
Hakoah FC 7 (M Katz 15m J Watt 16m D Blumberg 22m N Jablonski 28m J Kosmina 59/86m N Kosmina 78m) Bathurst ?75 0
Saturday, 21 April 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah sent out a warning to all other League Two sides on Saturday night as they demolished Bathurst 75? 7-0 at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday night.
Michael Katz got the opener on 15? minutes before Jamie Watt doubled their lead just a minute later. Dylan Blumberg put the home side up 3-0 after just 22? minutes before Neil Jablonski scored to send Hakoah 4-0 up into the sheds.
It was the Kosmina show in the second-half as Justin Kosmina scored in the 59? minute,  before his brother Nathan Kosmina got one of his own in the 78? minute. Justin Kosmina rounded off the proceedings with an 86? minute goal for Hakoah to run riot with a 7-0 win.
Hawkesbury City SC vs Mountains United (WASHED OUT)
Saturday, 21 April 2012 @ 7-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Nepean FC vs Prospect United (WASHED OUT)
Saturday, 21 April 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Western Condors FC (WASHED OUT)
Sunday, 22 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Belmore United vs FC Gazy (WASHED OUT)
Sunday, 22 April 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 5 Overview
Luddenham continued their winning form with a solid 4-1 win against local rival West City while Hakoah overcame Bathurst 75 2-1 at home.
Luddenham United vs West City FC ? 4-1
Hakoah vs Bathurst 75 ? 2-1
Mountains United vs Nepean FC ? (WASHED OUT)
Hurstville City vs Belmore United ? (WASHED OUT)
West City FC vs Western Condors FC ? (WASHED OUT)
FC Gazy vs Hawkesbury City ? (WASHED OUT)
-By Dean Southern