NSW Super League Round 11 Review
With Northern Tigers? match washed out, the Lions are now just two points off the pace.
Macarthur?s second draw in a row, 1-1 against Bankstown Berries, sees the Rams slip to third.
It was a truncated round with only three matches being held, Sydney University overcoming Hills Brumbies 2-1 in the only other fixture played.
Bankstown Lions v Dulwich Hill
Bankstown Lions won their sixth game in a row in Super League to draw within two points of leaders Northern Tigers, but it was a close run thing with Dulwich Hill terribly unfortunate not to take something from this game.
With Robbie Shields back from overseas, and Fabio Ferreira showing good skills, Dully were definitely in with a chance throughout this match, belying their lowly position.
It was Dulwich Hill who had the clearest chance early on too, when Ferreira neatly passed to Shields who looked ready to let fly. But the forward became a little entangled and some late defending saw the shot deflected for a corner.
Robbie Mileski, who looked dangerous all night, hit the post with a free kick from outside the area as the Lions retaliated with a chance of their own before Shields set up Ferreira, whose overhead kick was saved by Zlatko Joseski.
The strong strike force of both sides was a clear indication that there would be goals in this game, and the first came just a minute after Ferreira?s audacious attempt. Nathan Ristevksi, on his own, picked up a cross from the right and had the time to settle the ball into the net to give the Lions the advantage.
Bankstown almost doubled the lead three minutes later when Gosue Sama showed great touch to lift the ball over Trinity Allen, but the tight angle proved too much, the ball just going past the upright.
Ferreira though, then showed what an asset he is to Dully. He jinked and shimmied his way forward, metre by metre, before gaining enough space to shoot low past Joseski. A goal of fine control and skill.
Dulwich Hill coach Paul Carter was confident pregame that his side would score and that confidence proved true, none more so than when his side took the lead within three minutes of the restart.
Half time substitute Matt Ferreira, struck home with power and accuracy, picking up a loose ball just outside the area to put Dulwich Hill 2-1 up.
It was a shock lead for sure, and a scoreline that clearly stung the Lions. They came back at Dully quickly and gained their reward when Matt Toogood brought down Mileski in the box. Just five minutes after going down, Bankstown were back at 2-2 after Sama?s confident penalty.
But amazingly, if not for a miss by Shields almost immediately, Dully could have gone back to 3-2. Ferreira again caused trouble to the Lions, and Shields, perhaps caught by surprise at the speed of the ball coming back at him, shot wide. Sunamoto then had a chance, again created by Ferreira, but shot too high, Joseski only needing to make a comfortable catch.
Shannon Burgin, who had come on midway through the second half, almost put the Lions in front, but Allen saved brilliantly, his reflex save denying a certain goal. Allen produced another excellent save moments later, this time from Mileski as the pressure continued to mount.
With fifteen to go, it began to look more ominous. Dulwich Hill captain Mirza Sehic, right on the edge of the box, brought down Adem Kir, and received a straight red card for the offence. Not what Dully needed and perhaps a harsh decision but it meant a final desperate quarter of an hour for the visitors as they tried to hang on to their point.
They almost did so too, Allen producing more saves, from Mileski and Gosue Sama, as the Lions surged for a winner. One thing that Bankstown have shown this season is the ability to go right to the wire, confident that goals will come. They did so here too, never letting up despite time looking like it would get away from them.
George Nohra brought himself on with eight minutes to go, prompting his side forward, looking for the break. And cruelly for Dulwich Hill it came in the 90th minute. A corner was snapped up by Nicolo Sama, in a mass of players, and poked home.
Bankstown were jubilant, the three points gained, and the scene is now set for the visit of Northern Tigers next weekend.
Bankstown City Lions 3 (Nathan Ristevski 31? Gosue Sama 53? pen, Nicolo Sama 90?) Dulwich Hill 2 (Fabio Ferreira 36? Matt Ferreira 48?)
Saturday 2 June 2012
at Jensen Park
Referee: Adam Weir
Assts: Luke Burley and Bjoern Kure
Bankstown Lions: 1. Zlatko Joseski 6. Reuben Lagos 2. Matthew Presello 5. Richard Luksic (c), 4. Peter Vassilis (41. Adem Kir 58?) 18. Nicolo Sama 24. Dominic Hudap 22. Zac Vallorani (8. George Nohra 82?) 14. Nathan Ristevski (9. Shannon Burgin 65?) 10. Robbie Mileski 11. Gosue Sama.
Subs not used: 40. Angelo Petratos 17. Jordan Nikolovski
Yellow Cards: Zac Vallorani, Reuben Lagos, Gosue Sama.
Coach: George Nohra
Dulwich Hill: 22. Trinity Allen 18. James O?Rourke 5. Mirza Sehic (c) 7. Matt Toogood 15. Ko Kimura 11. Callum McGrouther 35. M Hudson (14. Matt Ferreira 46?) 9. Steve Kinnear (23. Zac Chapman 82?) 2. Fabio Ferreira 9. T Sunamoto (17. Mark Pinto 91?) 10. Robbie Shields.
Subs not used: 1. C Leonitas 29. C Shelston.
Yellow Cards: James O?Rourke 9. Steve Kinnear 7. Matt Toogood.
Red Card: Mirza Sehic
Coach: Paul Carter
Sydney University v Hills Brumbies
Sydney University after a run of outs, finally got back into the winner?s circle, overcoming Hills Brumbies 2-1 in a vital result which lifts Uni to eighth on the table.
Kurihara put Uni ahead just before the half hour but an equaliser by Anthony Musumeci ensured that the two sides went into the break even.
But just after they returned, Alvaro Malmierca put Uni ahead for the second time, and it was a lead they weren?t to relinquish.
Sydney University 2 (K Kurihara 28?, Alvaro Malmierca 47?) Hills Brumbies 1 (Anthony Musumeci 37?)
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown Berries
It was points shared at Lynwood Park with Macarthur Rams and Bankstown Berries battling out a 1-1 draw, with both goals coming in the opening half.
Callum Fleming got the Rams the start they needed, netting after ten minutes but just prior to the break, Ben Delicata, with his first of the season, drew the Berries level.
Macarthur?s unbeaten record remains intact but after a string of victories, it is now two draws in two weeks for the Rams, while the Berries have now gone four games without victory.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Callum Fleming 10?) Bankstown Berries FC 1 (Ben Delicata 45?)
Granville Rage v Mounties Wanderers
Washed Out
Spirit FC v St George
Washed Out
Northern Tigers v Fraser Park
Washed Out
Leading Goalscorers
9 – Gosue Sama (Bankstown Lions)
Dimitri Zakilas (Bankstown Berries)
8 – Almir Dizdaric (Granville Rage)
7 – Tom Spencer (Northern Tigers)
5 – Fabio Ferreira (Dulwich Hill)
Max Glanville (Northern Tigers)
Shannon Hankin (Macarthur Rams)
Under 20s
Spirit FC remain in control at the top of the Under 20s, even without playing, leading by five points from Sydney University, 3-0 winners over Hills Brumbies, and Macarthur Rams, who defeated Bankstown Berries 4-1.
GRADE 20: Sydney University 3 Hills Brumbies 0, Bankstown City Lions 3 Dulwich Hill 0, Macarthur Rams 4 Bankstown Berries FC 1.
-By Peter Rowney
