NSW Super League Round 8 Review

There is no doubt who is the leading light in the goalscoring stakes. Dimitri Zakilas moved to eight with his goal on the weekend, and has now scored in every round bar the loss to the Brumbies, a game for which he only played forty five minutes.
Sydney University v Granville Rage Feature 1
Sydney University?s ?Homecoming Game? at University Oval saw a large contingent of ex players and officials attend but unfortunately for the home fans, the result didn?t go the way it was hoped with Granville Rage spoiling the party, taking out a 2-0 win.
An early goal conceded proved to be Uni?s undoing again, as it was last Tuesday, with Jeffrey Issa being able to prod home the ball from a corner. Only seven minutes had elapsed and again, for the fifth game in a row, Uni would have to try and come from behind. None of those games, it must be said, ended up being won.
They made a go of it though, Matt Demetriou trying from distance but his shot was well held by Adriano Varnier, and then Jason Garrido connected well from a Davide Talone cross, only for the shot to be charged down. Alvaro Malmierca also had a chance but that went begging.
But in truth, most opportunities were half chances, with the bumpy pitch not helping. And when Granville Rage doubled the lead, after Kurihara committed a foul in the area, it was an even greater climb. Almir Dizdaric, with his fifth of the season, easily converted the spotkick.
Uni almost got one back before halftime, a Malmierca drive being tipped onto the post by Varnier but the greatest chance for Uni came immediately after the break. Garrido somehow failed to hit the target, when a goal seemed certain, his shot going wide from right in front.
Uni dominated the second half, both possession and territory but the Rage defence held firm. Mojtada Mohebbee and Adem Taslak were introduced with fifteen to go, while Kris Holbrook came on for the Rage, but the real chances were limited. Holbrook almost bundled his way through but in the end, the two goals were sufficient.
It was an important win for the Rage, readily acknowledged by Mauricio Islas.
?The win puts us back up there, whereas a loss would have kept us down near the bottom. So it was very important for that. And it was a good win as it is always hard playing against John?s sides?.
The disappointment was clear for John Calleja.
?To win, we simply have to score first. And again, we didn?t defend well against set pieces, even though we have trained for that during the week?.
?We have to be careful now that we are not going to be fighting against relegation?.
A bright spot for Uni on the day was the half time celebrity penalty competition, taken out with some aplomb by ABC702?s Adam Spencer, from club stalwart Simon Turner.
Sydney University 0 v Granville Rage 2 (Jeffrey Issa 7, Almir Dizdaric pen 37?)
Saturday 12 May 2012
at University Oval No 1
Referee: Michael Weiner
Assts: Wayne Crabb and Ben Aberdeen
Sydney University: 1. Jonathan Faerber 3. K Kurimara 4. Aaron Morley 6. Davide McMurray (c) 5. David Talone 7. Shaun van Rooyen 17. Alex Crane (13. Yaw Billy 46?) 10. Matt Demetriou (c) 12. Alvaro Malmierca 16. Nick Nisbet (8. Adem Taslek 75?) 14. Jason Garrido (11. Mojtada Mohebbee 75?).
Subs not used: 15. Ihsan Savran 21. Costa D?Addona.
Yellow Cards: David Talone, Matt Demetriou
Coach: John Calleja.
Granville Rage: 1. Adriano Varnier 2. Andrew Vitucci 13. Daniel Carrozza (c) 25. Manut Yel 4. Joe Cartisano 7. David Harding 12. Jake Bradshaw 16. Johnathan Ekehov 8. Phil Pyliotis (9. Kris Holbrook 72?) 10. Jeffrey Issa 20. Almir Dizdaric (17. Daniel Vuckovic).
Subs not used: 6. Suad Ameti 14. Christian Botallico 22. Ben Calderan.
Yellow Cards: Johnathan Ekehov, David Harding, Jeffrey Issa, Daniel Vuckovic.
Coaches: Mauricio Islas/Jason Holmes
Spirit FC v Fraser Park Feature 2
In wintry conditions which made life difficult for players and spectators alike, Fraser Park pulled off their third win of the season, defeating Spirit FC 1-0.
Paulo Oliviera scored the only goal early in the first half and despite much Spirit effort, they were not able to undo that early damage.
There was little goalmouth action in the first period but the game opened up in the second with some good chances for both sides, but poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept the score to the bare minimum.
Danny Wilson had a golden opportunity to put Fraser two goals to the good, but after beating the offside, and with defenders in hot pursuit, he struck his shot just wide of the mark.
The visitors then almost scrambled home a goal, but some frantic defending and the sheer volume of players in the way ensured that the ball stayed out, somehow.
Spirit?s Hayden Pronin entered the fray on the hour and almost had an immediate effect, just failing after a great cross from Slaven Ljuboja. Ljuboja was dangerous all afternoon but especially as the game wore on, his accurate crosses from the left invariably causing danger to the Fraser backline.
Pronin again almost equalised, the sub evading Michael Frost but stumbling at the vital moment allowing Leigh Gunn to clear off the line.
There was certainly another goal in this game, at which end was the question.
Masaki Nomoto should have doubled the lead, blasting over with only the keeper to beat, with twenty minutes to go, and then Spirit started to come home with a wet sail.
Carlo Musumeci cleared away a Pronin chance again, Dean Zammitt drove hard, Sergio Arroyo heading away without knowing too much about it, before Nomoko for Fraser Park, clear after a Wilson quick throw, failed with a snapshot.
As time ticked down, Fraser looked to hold on to what they had. Wassim Hijazi was subbed for defender Rocci Gabey, while Spirit?s Grant Cornwell was then thrown on for defender Nick Trimble. And Cornwell almost finished off a great team move, his header only denied by the acrobatic Frost, with Akwasi Agyei?s collect from the rebound being charged away.
Fraser were digging in, the win almost in the sights. A last gasp Pronin shot, which sailed over, was the last goalmouth action of an entertaining game.
Dean Savetta was honest in his assessment after the game.
?We were a bit na?ve today, especially in the first twenty minutes. We sat too far back and allowed them room, and it was only in the second half that we started to play our game. It is no good coming from behind, any club can show courage when they are a goal down, we have to be able to score first?.
?But we have nine points, and at the start of the season, we knew it would be a difficult year. Nine points is not bad, and we are still playing good football?.
Spirit FC 0 v Fraser Park 1 (Paulo Oliviera 11?)
Sunday 13 May 2012
at Christie Park
Referee: Matthew Cropper
Assts: Luke Burley and Steve Nguyen
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson 2. Tom Lovell (5. Grant Cornwell 81?) 3. Nick Trimble 6. Greg Giovenali 7. Akwasi Agyei 8. Lennox Tweneboa 10. Adam Savetta 12. Slaven Ljuboja 13. Brima Kamara (15. Hayden Pronin 59?) 14. Michael Candy (16. Dean Zammitt 52?) 25. Andrew Robertson.
Subs not used: 41. Hayden Browne 4. Paul Nicolaou
Yellow Cards: Nil
Coach: Dean Savetta
Fraser Park: 1. Michael Frost 23. Sergio Arroyo 4. Maurice Aliberti 5. Ante Bakmaz 7. Danny Wilson 9. Leigh Gunn 10. Paulo Oliviera (c) (20. Shivan Swamy 68?) 11. Carlo Musumeci 15. David Dinklage 16. Bardia van Beust (3. Masaki Nomoto 60?) 18. Wassim Hijazi (2. Rocci Gabey 79?).
Subs not used: 21. Anthony Villazon 40. Wayne Estavao.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Coach: David Perkovic
Dulwich Hill v St George
St George finally gained their first win of the season, but they did it the hard way, finishing the match with just ten men after Michael Yarnold had been red carded for dangerous play. 
With the scores 1-1 at the time, it seemed that any win would have to wait another day but a penalty by Juan Chavez with twenty minutes to go, after Sam Messam was brought down, put St George on the path to the three points.
Clive Delaney had given Dulwich Hill the lead after twelve minutes, rising high in the area to head home a free kick before George Lagoudakis won out over keeper Carl McMahon, slamming home the equaliser midway through the first half.
From the time of taking the lead, it was a strong rearguard action by St George, who conceded territory to Dully, as they held on to the narrow margin. Daniel Nash again excelled between the sticks for the visitors, while McMahon also did extremely well in denying Chavez late as well as Brendan McLean. Despite some intense pressure from Dulwich Hill in the final fifteen minutes, St George defended stoutly to claim a vital victory.  
Dulwich Hill 1 (Clive Delaney 12?) v St George 2 (George Lagoudakis 25?, Juan Chavez pen 69?)
Mounties Wanderers v Northern Tigers
There were no goals at Cook Park when the leaders came to town, the first time this season that the Tigers have been kept scoreless in Super League. After four straight wins, the Tigers were held 0-0 by a Mounties side which have now drawn their past three.
Despite the dropped points, results elsewhere meant that Northern Tigers extended their lead at the top to two points, while the Mounties remain mid table amongst a clutch of clubs.
Mounties Wanderers 0 Northern Tigers 0
Bankstown Berries v Bankstown Lions
A ten minute burst straight after the break by Bankstown Lions overturned a half time deficit to soundly defeat Bankstown Berries 4-1 at The Crest.
Who else but Dimitri Zakilas put the Berries in front, the striker now having hit the target eight times this season, but four goals in ten minutes by the Lions completely turned the tables on their hosts.
Robbie Mileski was the first to strike, just a minute after half time, before a double by Gosue Sama, his first a minute after Mileski?s, saw the scoreline blast out to 3-1.
Peter Vassilis then had a share of the action, making it 4-1 by fifty five minutes.
It was a fantastic result by the Lions, who have now won their past three and seem to be really hitting their Super League straps.  
Bankstown Berries 1 (Dimitri Zakilas 32?) Bankstown City Lions 4 (Robbie Mileski 46? Gosue Sama 47?, 53? Peter Vassilis 55?)
Hills Brumbies v Macarthur Rams
It was not too long ago that Macarthur Rams had trouble scoring, four draws in their first four games and a goal a game average. But that worry seems to have departed as they hit five against Hills Brumbies, following on from last week?s four against Dulwich Hill.
Peter Halstead got the ball rolling giving the Rams the lead after eighteen minutes before Craig Cooley got the first of his two penalties just before half time. Shannon Hankin quickly made it three before Cooley, again from the spot, made it 4-0.
Jordan Caporale, who scored his first senior goal for Hills in the Waratah Cup on Wednesday, found the net again to bring it back a little, but Joel Craig, three minutes from time, ensured that the Rams would move to second spot, now ahead of Bankstown Berries on goal difference.
Hills Brumbies 1 (Jordan Caporale 82?) Macarthur Rams 5 (Peter Halstead 18? Shannon Hankin 46? Craig Cooley 45? pen,  81? pen Joel Craig 87?)
Leading Goalscorers
8 –        Dimitri Zakilas               (Bankstown Berries)
5 –        Almir Dizdaric                (Granville Rage)
            Shannon Hankin            (Macarthur Rams)
Tom Spencer                (Northern Tigers)
4 –        Akwasi Agyei                (Spirit FC)
            Juan Chavez                 (St George)
            Max Glanville                (Northern Tigers)
            Wassim Hijazi                (Fraser Park)
Gosue Sama                 (Bankstown Lions)
Under 20s Review
There were some huge scores in Under 20s this weekend with Sydney University and St George both hitting their opponents for six while Northern Tigers managed five against Mounties. Lynch, Mapu, Blaker, Castfinuovo and Zaki got amongst the goals for the Tigers while Klime Sekutkoski scored the consolation for Mounties.
It was the second goal in five days for Sekutkoski who also scored in the 2-2 draw with Sydney University on Tuesday, along with Troy McColl. Uni?s scorers on that night were Liam McConaghy and Ian Rubasha.
Northern Tigers stay top, as they are in firsts, with Spirit FC only behind on goal difference.
Full results: Weekend: Sydney University 6 Granville Rage 0, Dulwich Hill 0 St George FC 6, Mounties Wanderers 1 Northern Tigers 5, Bankstown Berries 1 Bankstown City Lions 2. Hills Brumbies 1 Macarthur Rams 3, Spirit FC 3 Fraser Park FC 1.
Tuesday: Mounties 2 Sydney University 2
-By Peter Rowney