State League Two Round 14 Review
Match of the Round
MOUNTAINS UNITED V FC GAZY
An 84? minute Peter Henderson winner was enough to separate Mountains United and FC Gazy on Saturday night, as both sides battled solidly for the full 90? minutes.
With rain hitting the Blue Mountains for most of Friday, Summerhayes Park was left a little moist which made play more difficult on a very slippery surface.
Both sides started cautiously and with limited movement going forward in the early stages of the match.
It was FC Gazy?s Sahligh Jappie who got a look on goal first inside 10? minutes. The midfielder was afforded space on the edge of the area, and cleverly turned and snapped a shot on his weaker foot out for a goal kick.
The home side came to life not long after, as Robert Haberman knocked a ball that hugged the sideline for Michael Haberman, who used his sheer pace to run past his marker ? hitting the by-line and masterfully cutting back to set up Peter Henderson whose shot was blocked by the boat of bodies inside the 18 yard box.
Less than a minute later, Mountains United threatened FC Gazy again with Matthew Kelly delivering a tantalising back post cross for Henderson, who in turn looped a ball back into the area that was cleared out for a corner.
Peter Henderson showed great composure and was in the thick of things just moments later. The striker neatly controlled a difficult ball with his chest and unleashed a half volley effort from 25 yards out that forced FC Gazy custodian Brandalise into a tremendous far right stretching save.
FC Gazy were next on the attack, with central striker Huso Merdanovic crossing far post for Ibrahim Hameed with the striker lashing his shot just wide of the target in what was a good chance for the visitors.
Peter Henderson bombed forward down the left flank after 22? minutes and cleverly picked out an unmarked Robert Haberman on the edge of the box, but the midfielders first time shot skewed off goal.
Both sides were trading blows in the early stages of the match, and FC Gazy defender Mohamad Al-Rekabi let fly a shot from a tight angle from 25 yards out that Sahligh Jappie almost got on the end of.
Geoff Abrahams was called into action for the first time after 26? minutes, with Ibrahim Hameed laying off for Huso Merdanovic to drive towards goal, only for Abrahams to acrobatically thwart the danger with a wonderful save.
The end to end action continued as the speedy Michael Haberman found space out wide and hit a great cross for Peter Henderson, but his headed effort lacked power and landed into the arms of Brandalise.
Michael Haberman turned provider once again in the 30? minute, and this time played a brilliant pass finding Bryan Campbell with acres of space out wide, who delivered a near post ball only for Gazy to clear under Peter Henderson pressure.
Less than a minute later the ball was down the other end, this time Huso Merdanovic showed class to thread a high ball over the Mountains defensive line for Ibrahim Hameed, but his first touch was poor and carried through to Abrahams.
Mountains United had one last chance before the break. Peter Henderson teed up Bryan Campbell who sprayed his shot from 25 yards out for a goal kick before the referee called time.
Following the break, Huso Merdanovic looked to get things underway as he attempted to curl the ball from some distance only for the ball to brush past the post in what looked like a sure goal from the stands.
Peter Henderson wasted a good opportunity to put his side in the lead just a few minutes later, after Mountains United found themselves three on three on the counter-attack after Michael Haberman put the striker in space with a decisive header won deep in FC Gazy?s defending quarters.
Robert Haberman was proving a handful and in the 58? minute he found Bryan Campbell on the sideline, and the winger hit a deep cross into the box that FC Gazy failed to deal with. Roaming midfielder Andre Waring was first to the ball but scuffed his shot out for a goal kick.
Mountains United were mystified in the 65? minute and should have taken the lead as young midfielder Jye Doyle blasted a shot from point blank range over the bar after unexpectedly finding himself in a great position after a deflection.
Mountains United continued to mount pressure on FC Gazy in the second stanza. Michael Haberman collected a short pass from Robert Haberman and unleashed a powerful shot, but Brandalise had all angles covered.
Kaan Davies lumped a ball finding Peter Henderson in the 80? minute, and the striker hit the by line with speed before expertly cutting back for Justin Cavanagh whose powerful header scraped just over the cross bar.
As the game looked headed for a draw, Mountains United finally found their way through FC Gazy?s tough defensive line after 84? minutes with a superb team effort. Andre Waring sent Campbell on his way out wide with space to burn, and the winger went one-on-one with Brandalise before unselfishly passing to Peter Henderson who kept his composure to slot the ball into the net.
Andrew Montgomery bombed players forward in search for an equaliser with what time remained on the clock but Mountains United held firm to secure their sixth win of the campaign
In a game that offered lots of half chances and very few clear cut chances, it was the home side that took their chance to keep pace with the League Two leading pack.
Match Stats
Mountains United 1 (P Henderson 84?)
FC Gazy 0
Saturday June 23rd, 2012
Summerhayes Park, Winmalee
Mountains United: 1.G.Abrahams; 14.M.Kelly, 4.K.Davies, 8.C.Small (5.A.Allen 71?), 9.S.Lane, 11.R.Haberman (2.J.Cavanagh 77?), 29.J.Doyle, 16.A.Waring, 10.P.Henderson (23.N.Pinch 89?), 18.B.Campbell, 6.M.Haberman
Substitutes Not Used: 25.T.Elliott-Orr, 3.N.King
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
FC Gazy: 1.M.Brandalise; 10.A.Shorees, 21.F.Mansary, 7.S.Jappie (3.J.Wundit 71?), 15.B.Davies, 6.A.Aravena (5.E.Uzel 69?), 23.M. Al-Rekabi, 8.H.Merdanovic, 9.I.Hameed, 16.D.Brooker, 18.J.Brancati (17.A.Djuradi 83?)
Substitutes Not Used: 4.A.Khammo
Yellow Cards: 21.F.Mansary 18?, 16.D.Brooker 43?
Red Cards: Nil
Division Two Review ? Round 14
Prospect United 4 (L Freitas 3/12/63m T Sullivan 39m) Luddenham United 2 (C Vella 22m M Wood 47m)
Saturday, 23 June 2012 @ 5-00pm at William Lawson Reserve
Prospect United proved too strong as they swept past Luddenham United 4-2 in a highly entertaining clash on Saturday night.
Luis Freitas wasted no time to get the proceedings underway and as early as the 12? minute, he already had his side 2-0 up.
Chris Vella pulled a goal back for the visitors but Troy Sullivan restored Prospect?s two goal lead just before the break.
Michael Wood made things interesting with a goal to make it 3-2 following the break but Luis Freitas made sure of the win as he sealed his hat-trick in the 63? minute, with the home side good enough to fend off Luddenham in the remaining stages of the game to record a 4-2 win.
Bathurst 75 0 Western Condors FC 0
Saturday, 23 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field
Bathurst 75 and Western Condors shared the spoils on Saturday night as neither side was able to break the deadlock.
The draw sees Bathurst pick up their first point in over two months of football while Western Condors failed to secure victory at Alec Lamberton Field after two attempts this season to sit just outside the top five.
Hurstville City 1 (H Morhi 22m) Hawkesbury City 0
Sunday, 24 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Hawkesbury City came unstuck as they went down 1-0 to a strong Hurstville City outfit on Sunday.
The home side took the lead via Haisam Morhi in the 22? minute and shut out the Hawks to claim an important victory to put them within arm?s reach of the top five with games still in hand.
The win sees Hurstville secure victory the first time in over a month while the Hawks will be disappointed as they lose further sight of league leaders Hakoah.
West City FC 2 (B Mitrovich 55m J Browne 57m) Belmore United 2 (E Bangura 73m A Sillah 78m)
Sunday, 24 June 2012 @ 3-00pm at Chopin Park
Belmore scored two late goals to grab a valuable away point at Chopin Park on Sunday afternoon.
After a scoreless first half, experienced state league campaigners Brendan Mitrovich and Jason Browne put their side in a commanding position with two goals just 2? minutes apart.
With less than 20? minutes on the clock, Belmore United mounted a strong comeback with two late goals of their own via Bangura and Sillah to snatch a point against their higher placed opponents.
The draw does neither side any favours, as both West City and Belmore retain their respective positions on the ladder.
Hakoah vs Nepean FC (see Football NSW for result)
Sunday, 24 June 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 14 Overview
FC Gazy secured their third win of the season as they defeated Mountains United 1-0 while Luddenham United defeated Prospect United 3-0 at home.
Western Condors 3-1 win over Bathurst sees them make a late charge for finals football while Hawkesbury City retain top spot as they won a hard fought 1-0 win over Hurstville.
West City and Belmore played out a 1-1 draw on Sunday to retain their mid-table status.
Mountains United vs FC Gazy ? 0-1
Prospect United vs Luddenham United ? 0-3
Bathurst 75 vs Western Condors ? 1-3
Hurstville City vs Hawkesbury City ? 0-1
West City vs Belmore United ? 1-1
Hakoah vs Nepean FC (see Football NSW for result)
-By Dean Southern
