State League Two Round 11 Review
Match of the Round
BATHURST 75 V MOUNTAINS UNITED
It was a game of two halves with some nifty patches of play over 90? minutes by both sides in difficult playing conditions: United dominated the first stanza while Bathurst gained confidence from a James Christie second-half goal, but struggled to find an equaliser to ultimately go down 2-1 to their nearest League Two rivals.
It was a wet and cold night at Alec Lamberton Field on Saturday night, where heavy rainfall in the days prior to kick-off made for a muddy middle of the park, forcing both sides to use the grassy flanks more than usual.
The difficult conditions made for a reasonably slow start as both sides eased their way into the game, passing cautiously and avoiding the mudded centre circle area.
The first real chance of the game fell to United veteran midfielder Rob Haberman, who neatly collected the ball on the edge of the box, letting fly a shot that glided over the cross bar after 12? minutes.
Just a few moments later saw Mountains United striker Peter Henderson dart into the area, blasting a shot from an acute angle just wide of the target after Bathurst 75 failed to clear their lines.
Bathurst were struggling to threaten United?s goal in the early stages of the match but lively midfielder Nathan Riggs did his best down the left flank in the 16? minute, using speed to beat his marker before crossing into the area ? but no one was on the same wave length as the chance went begging.
Mountains United were pressuring Bathurst early on, and got their due reward after 22? minutes as Bryan Campbell calmly slotted the ball past Bathurst?s custodian Deaton to put his side in front.
United continued to dictate the play and it was towering defender Kaan Davies who added his sides? second less than 10? minutes later. Mountains United won a free kick on the edge of the 18? yard box, and Davies calmly and brilliantly blasted his shot into the top left hand corner to make it 2-0, with the wall and Bathurst?s shot?stopper forced to watch on in awe. A goal that certainly wouldn?t be out of place in a Premier League highlights show!
Moments before the half-time whistled sounded; James Christie made a tantalising run, beating three players before being tackled inside the area to round off the first-half with United in control and leading 2-0 into the break.
Following the break, Mountains United midfielder Justin Cavanagh went agonisingly close to putting his side further in front, as the travelling supporters watched Cavanagh snap his shot from 20 yards out on the fly sail just inches wide of the post.
After struggling to threaten United?s goal in the first stanza, Bathurst were starting to play their way into the game as the ever dangerous James Christie threaded a neat ball for player-coach Mark Rooke to win 75?s a corner.
Mountains United were next to attack though as they went in search for their third goal. Hard working midfielder Andre Waring threaded a clever ball for Bryan Campbell but he was pulled back by the referee?s assistant for a tight off-side decision that would have put Campbell 1-1 with Deaton.
Bathurst?s Joseph Martin picked out Nathan Riggs from distance in the 60? minute, but the ball carried through to Geoff Abrahams.
Bathurst?s due diligence paid dividends in the 67? minute though, as James Christie received a high ball out from the back, ran inwards on goal, faking past Abrahams to calmly slot the ball into the empty net to make it 2-1.
The goal sparked Bathurst into action and it was James Christie again in the 75? minute, winning the race to the ball inside the area before trying a spectacular bicycle kick which bobbled just inches wide of the goal.
With five minutes left on the clock, Mark Rooke tweaked his side?s tactics to push three strikers up front in search of an equaliser. The home side were almost immediately rewarded as Bathurst Captain Brett Osborne found himself with the ball at his feet inside the area, rushing a shot that lacked power and untroubled Mountains Shot-stopper Abrahams.
The last half an hour certainly belonged to Bathurst, but as has been their luck over previous rounds ? the score finished in United?s favour 2-1.
Best for Mountains United were; Andre Waring was impressive in the middle of the park, making great runs into space and doing his best to keep possession on a difficult surface; Kaan Davies scored an absolute plum of a goal, and the towering defender made things difficult all night for Bathurst?s front men; Bryan Campbell looked most threatening for United in the front third, chipping in with an opener and worked hard for the full 90?.
Best for Bathurst 75 were; James Christie is starting to resurrect his early season form, managing to get on the score sheet in a game that lacked few real cut chances; Bathurst 75? captain Brett Osborne played a starring role in his sides defeat, helping Bathurst fight back after going 2-0 down and often won the ball back deep in his own half.
Match Stats
BATHURST 75 1 (J Christie 67m)
MOUNTAINS UNITED 2 (B Campbell 22m K Davies 30m)
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Alec Lamberton Field, Kelso
Match Stats
Bathurst 75 1 (J Christie 67?)
Mountains United 2 (B Campbell 22? K Davies 30?)
Saturday June 2nd, 2012
Alec Lamberton Field, Kelso
Referee: L.Murton
Assistant Referees: D.Riuirrors and G.Ogg
Bathurst 75: 23.B.Deaton; 9.T.Hope, 5.D.Luther, 14.J.Hotham, 2.N.Spice, 3.L.Sullivan, 12.N.Riggs, 7.B.Osborne, 10.J.Martin (16.R.Guihot 66?), 11.M.Rooke, 9.J.Christie
Substitutes Not Used: 1.D.Russell, 6.J.Gray, 15.O.Thatcher, 8.D.Booth
Yellow Cards: 7.B.Osborne 43?, 11.M.Rooke 45?, 14.J.Hotham 69?, 16.R.Guihot 84?, 9.J.Christie 87?
Red Cards: Nil
Mountains United: 13.G.Abrahams; 4.K.Davies, 3.N.King (21.M.Densley 54?), 14.M.Kelly, 9.S.Lane, 8.C.Small, 2.J.Cavanagh (25.T.Elliott-Oar 64?), 16.A.Waring, 11.R.Haberman (29.J.Doyle 77?), 10.P.Henderson, 18.B.Campbell
Substitutes Not Used: 23.N.Pinch, 1.T.Kelly
Yellow Cards: 2.J.Cavanagh 37?, 21.M.Densley 78?
Red Cards: Nil
Division Two Review ? Round 11
Prospect United 1 (G Orcajo 84m) Hawkesbury City 3 (Z Watters 20/26/94m)
Saturday, 2 June 2012 @ 5-00pm at William Lawson Reserve
Hawkesbury City put an end to Prospect United?s winning streak as Zac Watters scored his second hat-trick of the season on Saturday night.
The Hawks took an early lead via Watters, with two goals inside the first half an hour to ensure Hawkesbury lead 2-0 at the break.
With both sides looking to keep pace with Hakoah at the top of the ladder, United?s Gus Orcajo scored in the 84? minutes to ensure a nervy finish to the game for both sides. However with extended injury time played, Watters finished off his hat-trick, bagging a 94? minute goal to seal with the win for the travelling Hawks – their first win in three games to ensure they retain 2nd spot.
Nepean FC 5 (D Brooker 60m G Opacic 66m S Pintabona 69m A Majok 86m S Camacho 87m) Hurstville City Minotaurs 0
Saturday, 2 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park (St Marys)
Nepean FC secured their second win of the campaign in style, brushing aside Hurstville City Minotaurs 5-0 in a second-half ruthless display on Saturday night.
As both sides were missing several players out to injury heading into this fixture, as expected it was a tight tussle in the first stanza with the score 0-0 with either side able to break the deadlock.
The second-half was a completely different story though as Nepean striker Daniel Brooker opening the scoring in the 60? minute to put the home side up 1-0.
Gordan Opacic added Nepean?s second just 6? minutes later before Sam Pintabona added a third in the 69? minute.
Nepean all but secured the win with 15 year old old Australian school boy representative Abbraham Majok scoring in the 86? minute to make it 4-0, before Sebastian Camacho added his sides fifth just a minute later to wrap up proceedings with a comprehensive 5-0 win.
Luddenham United 2 (R Shiels 42m H Merdanovic 91m) Western Condors FC 3 (M Navarrete 6m C Enwiya 9m A Lajin 21m)
Sunday, 3 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Luddenham United came unstuck at home as they were unable to recover from three early Western Condors goals on Sunday afternoon.
Mauricio Navarrete edged Western Condors in front after just 6? minutes before Condors Carlos Enwiya added a second just a few minutes later to put the away side up 2-0 inside the opening 10? minutes of play.
Things got worse for Luddenham after 21? minutes, as marksman Alen Lajin added his side?s third after just 21? minutes.
After a slow start, Luddenham did start to play their way back into the game and Reece Shiels scored in the 42? minute to reduce the deficit to two goals as both sides entered the break.
Luddenham kept the Western Condors scoreless in the second stanza but could only manage a last gasp goal via Huso Merdanovic in the 91? minute, reducing Luddenham to defeat and ensuring Western Condors picked up their third consecutive win.
West City FC 2 (K Moulds 71m B Mitrovich 82m) Gazy Lansvale 0
Sunday, 3 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Chopin Park
West City continued their push up the ladder with a solid 2-0 win over FC Gazy on Sunday afternoon.
West City hadn?t lost in their last three matches and ensured that record increased to four games as youngster Kieran Moulds put his side in the lead in the 71? minute after a scoreless first-half.
Established state league goal-scorer Brendan Mitrovich made sure of the result for West City just 10? minutes later, putting his side 2-0 up in the 82? minute to all but secure the 3 points for the home side.
Hakoah vs Belmore United (See Football NSW for result)
Sunday, 3 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 11 Overview
At the close of round 11 (half-way point), Hawkesbury remain on to despite being held to a 3-3 draw by 11th placed Prospect United.
Bathurst 75? secured 3 valuable points as they defeated Mountains United 2-1 to jump 2 places into third while Hurstville made ground with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Nepean.
Luddenham drew 3-3 with Western Condors and hang on to a top 5 place while FC Gazy secured their first win of the season, beating West City 3-2.
Bathurst 75 ? Mountains United ? 2-1
Prospect United ? Hawkesbury City ? 3-3
Nepean FC ? Hurstville City Minotaurs ? 0-3
Luddenham United ? Western Condors FC ? 3-3
West City FC ? FC Gazy ? 2-3
Hakoah ? Belmore United ? See Football NSW for result
-By Dean Southern
