NSW Super League Round 12 Review
It is always welcome to get a full round in, with wet weather staying away until late Sunday in Sydney.
With Northern Tigers and Bankstown City FC drawing, a solid 5-1 win by Macarthur Rams puts them well back in the frame, despite having played one more game. The big mover however might be Hills Brumbies whose good win over Dulwich Hill places them above St George and level with Spirit FC except for goal difference.
Sydney University 0 – Mounties Wanderers 1 (Greg Baldock 72′)
Mounties Wanderers grabbed a vital three points on their visit east right across the city to a chilly Hensley Field on Saturday evening; with a delighted substitute Greg Baldock netting his first goal of the season for the visitors and the only one of the night.
The teams came into the game sitting 7th and 8th respectively and both needed full points to try to stay in touch with the leading pack.
A worry for Wanderers might have been whether their washed out game last weekend left them underdone, and of course Sydney University?s coach John Calleja wanted to build on his last round win.
Mounties started strongly, with the better of the play for the first 25 minutes, with Mark Symington looking a danger down the right. Two early corners put pressure on the Sydney University defence, but in the end goalkeeper Jonathan Faeber was not tested.
For their part the striker ?students? Liam McConaghy was quick to assess a chance with the Mounties Wanderers goalkeeper coming well out to his run, and he lobbed him on the right – alas the ball only shook the side-netting.
In the 25th minute McConaghy hit a rasping shot from just outside the area on the right, forcing a fingertip deflection over his crossbar by the visitors custodian.
Both teams were using the synthetic surface to move the ball quickly and their vocal cries show the intensity of the combat. Uni looked the more likely with McConaghy always looking dangerous, prompted by Alvaro Malmierca.
Just before half-time the imposing figure of Wanderers? Eli Squillacioti received a ball on the left flank, and hit an angled shot that grazed the top of the crossbar, though Faeber didn?t look too concerned.
The Wanderers returned after the break with refreshed vigour. In the 59th minute Mark Symington a leaping parry out of Jonathan Faeber.
One minute later Squillacioti beat two defenders, one-two, to get into the area but he dragged his attempt just wide of the left post.
The Sydney University goal was under increased pressure now, and Faeber was again forced to parry the ball in the 68th minute.
The single goal of the game came in the 72nd minute when Wanderers Daniel McCann swung the ball into the penalty area and up popped substitute Greg Baldock to nod it on, and into the net out of the grasp of the ?keeper, Jonathan Faeber.
Eli Squillacioti had a late half-chance for the visitors in the 85th minute but couldn?t connect cleanly with the long early cross. As the impressive referee Michael Weiner?s watch neared time both sides had opportunities to get shots on target but they were squandered.
Mounties Wanderers, despite an unsettled lineup, but with a game in hand, now have an opportunity to put pressure on the teams at the tail of the pack, while Sydney University now just need a run of results.
Saturday 9 June 2012 7pm
At: Hensley Athletic Field, Hillsdale
Referee: Michael Wiener
Assts: Dean Ward, Chris Bosevski
Sydney University: 1. Jonathan Faeber (gk), 2. Adrian Porcu, 3. K. Kurihara (8. Adem Taskak +87?), 4. Aaron Morley, 5. David Talone, 6. David McMurray (c), 7. Shaun van Rooyen, 9. Liam McConaghy, 10. Matt Demtriou, 12. Alvaro Malmierca (14. Jason Garrido +79?), 15. Ihsan Savran (16. Jack Nisbet +79?)
Subs not used: 20. Costa D?Addona (rgk)
Yellow Cards: Liam McConaghy 34?, Aaron Morley 66?
Coach: John Calleja
Mounties Wanderers: 1. Ali Akbal (gk), 6. Troy McColl (J Ingle 75′), 7. D. Mitwali, 8. Reece Iredale (4. Greg Baldock 65?), 9. Matt Viera, 14. Mark Symington, 16. Scott Goodwin, 17. Daniel McCann, 22. Adam Huseyin, 23. Eli Squillacioti
Subs not used:
Yellow Cards: D. Mitwali 65?
Coach: Aiden Desmond / Glen Lockhart
Saturday 9th June
Bankstown City FC vs Northern Tigers
It was all to play for at Jensen Park in this top of the table clash on Saturday evening, after these two pacesetters missed their last scheduled league and cup games respectively.
Following on from their first round win Northern Tigers Adam Biddle netted his third goal of the season in the 38th minute to take the game to the home side, and they were able to hold that precious lead to the half-time break.
In this battle of the ?big cats? the ?Lions? coach George Nohra would have been cock-o-hoop with Richard Luksic?s contribution of a goal several minutes after resumption.
That lead only lasted 10 minutes as livewire midfielder Max Glanville for the Asquith based side, and it looked like the visitors could grab all three points and Jason Eager?s men could leave Sefton with a handy lead on the table.
Bankstown City were having none of that, and Nicolo Sama doubled his tally for the year with a goal in the 69th minute. The Tigers are strong finishers, even away, but the stalemate couldn?t be broken, and it ended 2-2.
Bankstown City FC 2 (Richard Luksic 52?, Nicolo Sama 69?) v Northern Tigers FC 2 (Adam Biddle 38?, Max Glanville 62?)
Macarthur Rams vs Fraser Park FC
It was goals, goals, goals at Lynwood Park on Saturday evening as these two title hopefuls went head to head.
Alas it was Fraser Park?s goal difference that got a denting as the Rams tore them apart.
Shannon Hankin took the home side to a 1-0 lead prior to the break, but before Fraser Park could trouble the scorekeeper after resuming, Michael Brown added to the lead.
At 64 minutes gone in the game there was at last hope for the visitors as Wassim Hijazi netted his 5th of the season to give hope of more.
Alas for Fraser Park they couldn?t have expected Stefan Donevski?s whirlwind 12 minute hat-trick, that boosted the Rams into second spot (albeit with an extra game played over their close rivals).
Macarthur Rams 5 (Shannon Hankin 44?, Michael Brown 47?, Stefan Donevski 77, 81, 89?) defeated Fraser Park FC 1 (Wassim Hijazi 64?)
St George vs Bankstown Berries
This was another scoring draw for the evening, this time at St George Stadium, with the Saints earning a vital point with a 2-2 against visitors Bankstown Berries.
With the Berries brimming with confidence after their win over NSW Premier League leaders Bonnyrigg in the Waratah Cup midweek Steve Wright scored just before half-time.
Instead of going on with it after the break the Saints put the ball in the net through Matt Sadler.
It didn?t last long with Dimitri Zakilas moving to outright leading goalscorer with his contribution in the 56th minute.
The Saints are a resilient lot and the experienced Sam Messam drew the home side level 12 minutes before time and the score stayed that way. The Berries lost a prime opportunity for full points to keep touch with the leaders.
St George 2 (Matt Sadler 46?, Sam Messam 78?) drew with
Bankstown Berries 2 (Steve Wright 45?, Dimitri Zakilas 56?)
Sunday 10th
Dulwich Hill vs Hills Brumbies
In the battle of the ?Hills? at Arlington Reserve on Sunday afternoon it was the men from the north west who took the spoils, with a clear 5-2 win.
A third minute goal by Russell Farrell followed by a contribution from Eros Bergamin at 10 minutes and Brad Robertson 2 minutes later to race the visitors to a 3-0 lead and set the scene for a solid Brumbies win.
Sunamoto scored for the home side in the first half, and after the break to keep them in it, but it was all over when Michael Noro made it four then the final ?nail? from Farrell gave a 2-5 final scoreline.
Dulwich Hill is now drifting with the wooden spoon, while the Brumbies climbed away.
Dulwich Hill SC 2 (T Sunamoto 26, 52) lost to
Hills Brumbies 5 (R Farrell 3?, 83?, B Bergamin 10?, B Robertson 15?, M Noro 78?)
Granville Rage vs Spirit FC
Historic F.S. Garside Park at Granville was the venue for a clash of 5th and 9th on the league table with Dean Savetta?s Spirit wanting to get their season back on track.
To the joy of home fans Granville Rage had other ideas and ran out 2-0 winners through an early goal by Jeffrey Issa, followed later in the second half by team-man Kris Holbrook.
Granville Rage 2 (Jeffrey Issa 18?, Kris Holbrook 71?) defeated
Spirit FC 0
Top Scorers:
10 – Dimitri Zakilas (Bankstown Berries)
9 – Gosue Sama (Bankstown City FC)
8 – Almir Dizdaric (Granville Rage)
7 – Tom Spencer (Northern Tigers)
6 – Max Glanville (Northern Tigers)
Shannon Hankin (Macarthur Rams)
Stefan Donevski (Macarthur Rams)
5 – Fabio Ferreira (Dulwich Hill)
Wassim Hijazi (Fraser Park)
Under 20s
Spirit FC won again over Granville Rage and continues to dominate the table despite call-ups to their senior squad. Northern Tigers and Macarthur Rams both won and stay in hot pursuit.
Full results: Sydney University 2 – Mounties Wanderers 2, Bankstown City Lions 0 – Northern Tigers 6, Macarthur Rams 3 – Fraser Park FC 2, St George FC 3 – Bankstown Berries FC 3, Dulwich Hill 1 – Hills Brumbies 1, Granville Rage 0 ? Spirit FC 3.
– by Chris Dunkerley
(Filling in for your regular roving reporter Peter Rowney, who will return next round)
