NSW Super League Round 16 Review
A double strike to Dimitri Zakilas meant that the Berries striker moved equal with Bankstown City?s Gosue Sama at the top of the scorer?s charts with thirteen goals. Almir Dizdaric, who scored again this weekend, is only one behind on twelve.
Mounties Wanderers v Spirit FC
There was plenty of endeavour at Cook Park when Mounties and Spirit FC took to the field, with both clubs having an eye on the finals, the three points being badly needed if that aim was to be achieved.
Spirit, having their second game in three days, started with nine of the team who saw duty against St George two days prior, only keeper Murray Nelson (unavailable) and Cameron Jones (on the bench) being the changes. Mounties were without their duel centreback pairing of Mark D?Alessandro and Scott Goodwin, both suspended.
But despite this endeavour, there were not a lot of first half chances, although Spirit always threatened to unlock the Mounties defence, particularly via the left foot crosses of Slaven Ljuboja, whose efforts from wide all night proved a concern for Mounites. Brima Kamara too, broke free on occasions, one delivery from the right just evading Goran Ljuboja?s charge into the area.
A Reece Iredale snapshot was a response for the home side but their best chance to break the deadlock came right before the half time whistle. Mark Symington broke away but was shadowed by Paul Nicolaou, the experienced defender doing enough to prevent a strong strike from Symington, who shot was gratefully collected by Justin Biega.
It was no surprise though, that Spirit eventually took the lead, and as had been threatened in that first half, it came from a Slaven Ljuboja cross. Five minutes after the break, and the accurate sweep across goal found the head of Grant Cornwell, who powerfully knocked past Ali Akbal.
Spirit almost immediately doubled the lead, Akwasi Agyei hitting the bar from distance, with Akbal out of his area, a goal seeming certain.
Mounties countered, Greg Baldock being bundled over right on the edge of the box, and in front, but the free kick was eventually scrambled away.
The next few minutes were to prove crucial. A Kamara cross from the right found no one in the box for Spirit, much to the chagrin of the Spirit bench, a 2-0 scoreline a distinct possibility. Within a minute, it had become 1-1, good work down the right for Mounties by substitute Nathan Agbinya, his cross finding Daniel Willoughby in plenty of space, and he had time to pick his spot.
Willoughby then almost put the Mounties in front, just sixty seconds later, his shot powering against the upright. As time drew down, it was Spirit who predominantly pressured, through Slaven Ljuboja mainly, while the late introduction of Cameron Jones looked to create that final chance.
But 1-1 it finished, the result not really helpful for either side, although any relegation fears by Spirit would surely be easing by the game.
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Daniel Willoughby 73?) v Spirit FC 1 (Grant Cornwell 50?)
Saturday 7 July 2012
at Cook Park, Mt Pritchard
Referee: Adam Weir
Assts: Steven Nguyen and Luke Burley
Mounties: 1. Ali Akbal 11. Peter Day 2. Adam Huseyin 3. Daine Merrin 6. Troy McColl (18. Jake Ingle 88?) 10. Daniel Willoughby 7. D Mitwali 17. Daniel McCann 14. Mark Symington 4. Greg Baldock 8. Reece Iredale (23 Nathan Agbinya 56?)
Subs not used: Rgk Gareth Jamieson 31. Klime Sekutkoski 54. Brendan King
Yellow cards: Nil
Coaches: Glen Lockhart and Aiden Desmond
Spirit FC: 1. Justin Biega 2. Tom Lovell 4. Paul Nicolaou (c) 3. Nick Trimble 8. Lennox Tweneboa 5. Grant Cornwell 6. Greg Giovenali 7. Akwasi Agyei (10. Adam Savetta 80?) 13. Brima Kamara (15. Cameron Jones 85?) 11. Goran Ljuboja (14. Haydn Pronin 74?) 12. Slaven Ljuboja.
Subs not used: Rgk Hayden Browne
Yellow Cards: Nil
Coach: Dean Savetta
Granville Rage v Macarthur Rams
Granville Rage and Macarthur Rams went at it hammer and tongs at Garside Park but it ended up points shared after a 1-1 draw saw the Rams keep the Rage at bay, holding on to fourth spot with Granville staying sixth.
It looked good for Macarthur from the start as they took an early lead via the head of Stefan Donevski. A corner was worked back across goal to Donevski whose floating header was touched by keeper Adriano Varnier, but he was unable to prevent the ball creeping into the net.
Macarthur, who had conceded seven in the past two games, welcomed the return of Adam Wither and started with five across the back, and the quick goal provided a timely confidence boost against a fellow finals contender.
Suad Ameti though, almost returned fire for Granville within minutes, his shot just flashing wide of the upright in a crowded area. Ameti did well in controlling in such tight circumstances.
It proved a boisterous start but the quick goal chances soon gave way to a midfield battle, the opportunities being limited, the defences holding firm.
Granville came out willing for the second half, and it didn?t take long before they had equalised. A superb header at the far post by Almir Dizdaric, from a Kris Holbrook cross, nestled neatly into the bottom corner.
Both clubs searched for the winner, Jeffrey Issa having a shot well saved by Chad Taylor while Wither, moving further up the pitch as time ticked down, almost chipped Varnier, before the keeper plucked the ball from the air.
The result keeps the fight for the finals well open with Mounties Wanderers currently splitting the pair.
Granville Rage 1 (Almir Dizdaric 51?) v Macarthur Rams 1 (Stefan Donevski 6?)
Sunday 8 July 2012
at Garside Park
Granville Rage: 1. Adriano Varnier 16. Johnathon Ekehov 13. Daniel Carrozza (c) 25. Manut Yel 17. Daniel Vuckovic 2. Andrew Vitucci (8. Phil Pyliotis 75?) 7. David Harding 9. Kris Holbrook 6. Suad Ameti (12. Jake Bradshaw 65?) 10. Jeffrey Issa (19. Michael Dowling 85?) 20. Almir Dizdaric.
Subs not used: 3. Milan Atlagic 22. Carl McMahon
Yellow Cards: Suad Ameti, Jake Bradshaw
Coaches: Mauricio Islas/Jason Holmes
Macarthur Rams: 1. Chad Taylor 2. Craig Cooley (c) (15. Joel Craig 72?) 5. Callum Fleming 7. Peter Halstead 17. Adam Wither 16. Josh Karpes 11. Daniel Duarte (14. Ryan Marchant 60?) 22. Alan de la Cuadra 8. Michael Brown (3. Emmanuel Elali 80?) 6. Stefan Donevski 9. Shannon Hankin.
Subs not used: 20. Ben Needham 33. Reuben Agyei-Danso
Yellow Cards: Callum Fleming, Daniel Duarte, Alan de la Cuadra
Coach: Claudio Canosa
Sydney University v Northern Tigers
It just needed the one goal with a header by Will Thom moving Northern Tigers back to the top of Super League, condemning Sydney University to defeat, and another barren night in the goalscoring stakes.
The header by Thom, midway through the first half, gave the Tigers the all important lead, although Uni?s Shaun van Rooyen had a one on one chance prior to the goal but was denied by Stuart Page.
The Tigers have opened up a two point gap on Bankstown City FC, now with equal games played, but with eight matches still to go, there is all to be played for.
For Uni, their lack of goals continues to concern John Calleja.
?It is very much a confidence thing?, explained the Uni coach. ?With confidence low, it just seems that the goal is that much smaller and the keeper so much bigger. But we created a few more chances than usual, and to be honest, I thought we could have done something against the Tigers?.
?We set out our stall to defend, and planned to hit them on the counter, and although they had plenty of possession, we squeezed them and there was not a lot of clear cut chances.?
?Their goal was a little cheap perhaps, a free header from a set piece, but overall, I am really pleased with the performance. It will be a tight finish [to the season], and I had thought that twenty points would be required to be safe, so we are really going to have to steel ourselves up for the remaining games?.
The one goal for Tigers, and the three points, was all that was needed for Jason Eagar.
?It was a tough game, and it was another of those matches where you wonder how such a club can be down the bottom. And even though we created quite a few chances, Uni defended very well?.
?But we should have had a second goal, it was a shame that goal line technology was not there at Hensley?a goal right at the end definitely went in!?
Sydney University 0 Northern Tigers 1 (Will Thom 24?)
Hills Brumbies v Bankstown Berries
Two injury time goals to Bankstown Berries dealt Hills Brumbies a cruel blow, as the third placed Berries came away from Blacktown Olympic Park with a 4-2 victory.
It looked like it would be points shared at 2-2 as the clock moved into time added on, but Dimitri Zakilas and Liam McKenna scored within a minute of each other to consolidate that third spot.
The Berries had lead 2-0 at the break with goals by Aram Tayebi and Zakilas but the Brumbies fought back well in the second half to draw level through Russell Farrell and Keunike Maralit.
Just as it seemed that the Brumbies would prove to be the Berries undoing again, Zakilas, for his second, and McKenna struck.
Hills Brumbies 2 (Russell Farrell 53? Keunike Maralit 70?) Bankstown Berries 4 (Aram Tayebi 14? Dimitri Zakilas 24?, 92? Liam McKenna 91?)
Dulwich Hill v Fraser Park
It has been a tough week for Dulwich Hill, who have conceded points in each of their past three games, right at the very end of matches.
The match against Fraser Park proved to be no different, a penalty awarded to Fraser five minutes from time, enough to ensure that the visitors took home all the spoils. Danny Wilson was the man who converted.
The loss keeps Dulwich Hill at the bottom of the table, two points off Sydney University and St George, while Fraser Park gain some ground on the three above.
Both have midweek games scheduled with Dulwich Hill travelling to Mounties on Tuesday while Fraser Park travel north to Mills Park to meet Northern Tigers on Wednesday.
Dulwich Hill 0 Fraser Park FC 1 (Daniel Wilson pen 85?)
St George v Bankstown City FC
Washed Out
Round Eleven Rescheduled
Thursday 5 July 2012
Spirit FC v St George
It was a penalty apiece at Christie Park last Thursday when Spirit FC and St George met in conditions which made life difficult for both sets of players, persistent rain and a heavy pitch preventing good control, despite the best efforts.
As early as the fifth minute, the first penalty had been awarded after Sam Messam was brought down inside the area by Cameron Jones. Michael Yarnold confidently stepped up to put the visitors in the lead.
But before twenty minutes had passed, Spirit had a penalty of their own, the always dangerous Akwasi Agyei being fouled by Simon Verrender. Greg Giovenali restored parity.
The best chance for a winner fell to Spirit and Agyei, who found himself clear in the area, and on the run, slammed the ball high and direct. But Daniel Nash produced a contender for save of the season, tipping over with lightning reflexes.
Spirit FC 1 (Greg Giovenali 19? pen) v St George 1 (Michael Yarnold 5? pen)
Leading Goalscorers
13 – Gosue Sama (Bankstown City FC)
Dimitri Zakilas (Bankstown Berries)
12 – Almir Dizdaric (Granville Rage)
10 – Robbie Shields (Dulwich Hill)
9 – Tom Spencer (Northern Tigers)
7 – Stefan Donevski (Macarthur Rams)
Max Glanville (Northern Tigers)
Wassim Hijazi (Fraser Park)
Under 20s
Goals to Nathan Lopino, Michael Toscano and Dean Caletti saw Spirit FC defeat Mounties 3-0 at Cook Park, and after a Thursday night 4-1 defeat of St George, Spirit now move nine points clear in the Under 20s competition. Northern Tigers, after a close 1-0 win over third placed Sydney University, are second, a further seven points clear of third. Granville Rage moved off the bottom after a 2-1 win over the visiting Macarthur Rams.
Dulwich Hill 1 Fraser Park FC 2, Hills Brumbies 1 Bankstown Berries 1, Granville Rage 2 Macarthur Rams 1, Mounties Wanderers 0 Spirit FC 3, Sydney University 0 Northern Tigers 1, St George FC Bankstown City Washed Out.
Round 1 Rescheduled: Hills Brumbies 2 Dulwich Hill 1
Round 11 Rescheduled: Spirit FC 4 St George FC 1
-By Peter Rowney
