NSW Super League Round 9 Review

Hills Brumbies, with their win over St George, opened up a little gap on Dulwich Hill. 
Granville Rage v Dulwich Hill
A controversial penalty award was Dulwich Hill?s undoing at Garside Park as Granville Rage secured all three points with Almir Dizdaric?s late spotkick.
While the award itself, for handball, may not have been in dispute, the events leading up to it certainly were. With the linesman?s flag initially raised as Kris Holbrook collected the ball out wide, play continued with the flag then being lowered. Holbrook?s cross caused some panic and desperate defending in the Dulwich Hill penalty area and despite some fine goalkeeping from new signing Trinity Allen, the ball was eventually handled in a mass of players, and the penalty was given.
It was a cruel blow for Dulwich Hill who had worked tirelessly throughout the game, trying to gain some points to help lift themselves from the bottom of the table. Fabio Ferriera showed good skills, of course, but the chances to threaten Adriano Varnier were few. An early injury to Clive Delaney didn?t help matters for Dulwich Hill, who were already missing the still unavailable Robbie Shields.  
But the midweek signing of Allen was a plus and the experienced keeper produced a string of fine saves, denying Jeffrey Issa on two occasions, firstly with a flying save and then with a great reflex action.
The Rage?s Jake Bradshaw also had some good chances, striking the bar in the first half and then, with a golden opportunity just after half time, hitting wide with the goal at his mercy.
Not long after that, Dully had their own great chance. A freekick by Matt Toogood was floated into the area, finding James O?Rourke in space, but the resultant header flew wide. It was probably Dulwich Hill?s best chance of the game, although Sunamoto, after a run down the left, just failed to find Ferreira in the box.
But it was the penalty by Dizdaric which won the game for Granville Rage, the three points bringing them within one point of fifth placed Fraser Park.
For the hardworking Dulwich Hill coach Paul Carter, whose side deserved something from this game, the penalty outcome was certainly unjust.
?That is the second time in a week that we have suffered like this, and it is not good enough. Someone should really be accountable for these decisions?, was the succinct view.
Granville Rage 1 (Almir Dizdaric 75? pen) v Dulwich Hill 0
Sunday 20 May 2012
at Garside Park
Referee: Jamie Gavin
Assts: Jim Manos and Matt Gregory
Granville Rage: 1. Adriano Varnier 16. Johnathan Ekehov 13. Daniel Carrozza (c) 25. Manut Yel 4. Joe Cartisano 2. Andrew Vitucci 7. David Harding 10. Jeffrey Issa (17. Daniel Vuckovic 68?) 12. Jake Bradshaw (19. Michael Dowling 72?) 8. Phil Pyliotis (9. Kris Holbrook 65?) 20. Almir Dizdaric.
Subs not used: 6. Suad Ameti 22. Ben Calderan
Yellow Cards: Joe Cartisano, Daniel Vuckovic.
Coaches: Mauricio Islas/Jason Holmes.
Dulwich Hill: 22. Trinity Allen 11. Callum McGrouther 4. Clive Delaney (8. D Kargbo 7?) 16. Mirza Sehic (c) 15. K Kimura 14. Matt Ferreira (3. Ryo Kono 85?) 7. Matt Toogood 18. James O?Rourke 2. Fabio Ferreira 17. Mark Pinto (29. C Shelston 65?) 19. T Sunamoto.
Subs not used; 1. Carl McMahon 27. S Kinnear.
Yellow Cards: Trinity Allen, Matt Toogood, Matt Ferreira.
Coach: Paul Carter 
Fraser Park v Bankstown Berries
Two goals in the first ten minutes looked to set Fraser Park up for a welcome victory over fellow final contenders Bankstown Berries, but a second half resurgence by the visitors made sure of a share of the points in a 2-2 draw.
A Danny Wilson header gave Fraser Park the lead after just five minutes and when Bardia Freiherr Von Beust doubled the score by ten minutes, the Berries knew they had a game on their hands. 
They pulled one back from the spot, when Michael Frost was controversially adjudged to have committed a foul, with Dimitri Zakilas scoring from the spot, and then continued to dominate the second half, eventually drawing level through Jordan Figon. The Berries almost pinched the win in the final moments, when hitting the bar.
?It was a disappointing end to the night?, said David Perkovic. ?We really wanted to stamp our authority in the top five and we were there to win the game?.
?But after scoring two good goals, we disappointed in the second half, and to be honest, the Berries were much better than us [after half time]. We probably could have controlled the environment a bit better as they were more physical than us. But I am proud of the team, they took the game to them, which may have surprised them a little?.
Fraser Park 2 (Danny Wilson 5? Bardia Freiherr Von Beust 10?) Bankstown Berries 2 (Dimitri Zakilas 53? pen Jordan Figon 75?)
Macarthur Rams v Mounties Wanderers
There was plenty of action at Lynwood Park, with two send offs, two penalties, with one missed, as Macarthur Rams held off Mounties Wanderers for a 1-0 win.
After a scoreless first half, the first penalty awarded came when Shannon Hankin was brought down in the box, with Craig Cooley putting the Rams in the lead, after fifty five minutes.
But the drama unfolded when Mark D?Alessandro was soon red carded for an off the ball incident, though this time, Cooley?s penalty was saved. Adam Huseyin then followed to the sheds, after receiving a second yellow card, and the Mounties were down to nine.
With over half an hour to play, the Mounties looked likely to struggle, but a determined effort kept the Rams at bay.
?It was a tense affair?, stated Claudio Canosa. ?A second goal would have let us relax a little, but even though we made openings, that second chance just wouldn?t come. We knew that one goal would be enough for them to draw the game, so they were always in it?.
It is now fifteen points from their last fifteen for the Rams, and Canosa is certainly satisfied so far.
?It is a nice run of results. The players have been good in training and good in games. We have the quality in attack to do well, and the defence is working. But as you know, football is a week to week proposition. Look at the Brumbies, last week, we took the lead and then, perhaps their heads dropped a little, and we scored a couple of quick ones. And this weekend, they beat St George. You certainly can?t relax in this league?.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Craig Cooley 55? pen) Mounties Wanderers 0
Bankstown Lions v Sydney University
It was more of the same for Uni?s John Calleja as he saw his side go two goals down early, meaning yet another come from behind effort, this time against Bankstown Lions.
Two goals within the first six minutes, by Gosue Sama, gave the Lions a strong lead but University did proceed to recover and provide some stern opposition, without perhaps creating too many clear cut chances.
When Sama scored the third for his hatrick, it seemed the win was safe, but the usual late challenge saw, firstly, Mojtada Mohebbee bring it back to 3-1, from a direct free kick, and then substitute Alex Crane, in time added on, draw it back to 3-2.
But time was not on Uni?s side this time, and that third goal just didn?t arrive.
?There was a little bit of confusion at the start?, said Calleja. ?We changed our system a little bit, and we were left a bit exposed in the middle, and Sama had too much space?.
?But we played well after that and probably had the better chances, without really looking like scoring.  We dominated in the second period, but they took their chance, and made it three?.
?We have to play well like that from the start though, it?s no good playing well, but then not getting the points?.
Bankstown City 3 (Gosue Sama 4?, 6?, 71?) Sydney University 2 (Mojtada Mohebbee 88? A Crane 91?)
Northern Tigers v Spirit FC
Northern Tigers stay put at the top of the table after three second half goals did the damage against the visiting Spirit FC.
Travis Cooper got the first, five minutes after half time, to settle the Tigers? nerves and then Tom Spencer, with goals number six and seven of the season, made sure of the three points.
The Tigers are now set up nicely for the trip to The Crest next Saturday night, in what promises to be a mouth watering encounter, against Bankstown Berries.
Northern Tigers 3 (Travis Cooper 50? Tom Spencer 71?, 90?) Spirit FC 0
St George v Hills Brumbies
A late, late goal by Anthony Abi-Arrage earned Hills Brumbies their second win of the season, defeating St George 1-0, in a result which draws the Brumbies level on points with the Saints.
In a game of limited chances, both keepers were rarely called upon, although Daniel Nash again proved his worth, pulling off a couple of important saves, in one-on-ones. Harrick Sinpraseuth also performed well, when needed, tipping away a shot by Pablo Cardozo.
While Cardozo also hit the bar, St George struggled to create clear cut chances, and the Brumbies were always in this game. Abi-Arrage?s shot, with just a couple of minutes remaining, brought plenty of delight to the Brumbies dugout.
St George 0 v Hills Brumbies 1 (Anthony Abi-Arrage 89?)
Leading Scorers
9 –        Dimitri Zakilas               (Bankstown Berries)
7 –        Gosue Sama                 (Bankstown Lions)
            Tom Spencer                (Northern Tigers)
6 –        Almir Dizdaric                (Granville Rage)
5 –        Shannon Hankin            (Macarthur Rams)
4 –        Akwasi Agyei                (Spirit FC)
            Juan Chavez                 (St George)
            Craig Cooley                 (Macarthur Rams)
            Max Glanville                (Northern Tigers)
            Wassim Hijazi                (Fraser Park)
Under 20s
The two Under 20s heavyweights met at Mills Park with Spirit FC proving victorious with a 3-2 win to go top of the table. Macarthur Rams stay third after a 2-0 victory over Mounties.
Dulwich Hill, with two goals to Z Chapman, overcame Granville, whose lone goal was scored by Ryan Faulkner, to move to equal points with the Rage.
Full results: Fraser Park FC 1 Bankstown Berries 1, Bankstown Lions 0 Sydney University 4, Macarthur Rams 2 Mounties Wanderers 0, St George FC 0 Hills Brumbies 0, Granville Rage 1 Dulwich Hill 2, Northern Tigers 2 Spirit FC 3.
-By Peter Rowney