State League One Round 16 Review
Stanmore Hawks continued their ascent up the ladder by knocking over competition leaders, Gladesville Ryde Magic, Fairfield City Lions gave Northbridge FC a touch up at Norford Park, whilst Mt Druitt smashed eight past Hurstville ZFC at Popondetta Park. We review all matches in Round 16, with a special focus on how Camden Tigers snatched all three points against Inter Lions at Leichhardt Oval.
Match of the Round
Inter Lions ? Camden Tigers 1-2
There was a familiar outcome on Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval ? the Tigers winning a football match. But it wasn?t the Balmain Tigers, nor was it the NRL – it was the Tigers of the Camden variety, and they came from behind to overcome Inter Lions 2-1 in Round 16 of the State League One competition.
Both teams had come into the match on the back of some positive recent form, Inter within the top five and Camden knocking on the door, and the picturesque Leichhardt Oval provided a perfect setting for players and spectators alike in what promised to be a tense tussle.
Inter Lions started the brighter, and when Nick Ruoco was fouled on the edge of the penalty area after ten minutes, they had a great chance to break the deadlock. Miguel Martinez shaped up to blast the set piece, but at the last moment curled a beauty over the Camden wall and into the near corner of the net to put the ?home? side in front.
Camden Tigers responded just four minutes later from the penalty spot, following a clumsy challenge from Inter?s Jason Gonzalez in bringing down Vince Finocchiaro.
Dean Morgan stepped up, hitting his penalty low to Inter goalkeeper, Roberto Maiorana?s, left hand side, to restore parity.
Inter continued to edge the possession within the first half hour, Adrian Vizzari and Marco Mazzarolo biting in the tackles, with Nick Ruoco the dazzling benefactor with the ball at his feet.
Miguel Martinez was proving tricky on the flank as he often weaved in and out of the Camden defenders, but to no avail as Inter?s attacking forays continued to break down in the final third.
Camden began to come into the match more and more as half time neared, and it was Finocchiaro who almost edged the Tigers in front on 32 minutes, cutting inside Gonzalez and unleashing a drive that needed a finger tip save by Inter?s Maiorana to keep the sides level.
A few minutes later and Finocchiaro was at it again, this time wide with a first time volley after a cross shot from Ross Purser reached him just inside the penalty area.
Nick Tarquinio gave his charges a verbal touch up at the break, and the Lions came out all guns blazing early on with a couple of great opportunities to break the deadlock.
Inter?s Miguel Martinez had trouble all afternoon staying on side, but he did just that on 50 minutes, but his angled shot was well saved by the advancing Camden keeper, Michael Rutherford.
A few minutes later and Nick Ruoco pinched possession before sending Martinez away down the right flank. The tricky winger smacked a square pass behind the retreating Camden defence, only for Domenic Di Mento to blaze over with the goal at his mercy.
Di Mento had looked lively all afternoon with his work rate, but succumbed to a shoulder injury at the second attempt, after earlier receiving treatment and electing to play on.
Before that Camden took the lead when they received a free kick on 59 minutes, some 40 metres from goal. Chris York played in a lofted high ball into the ?mixer?, and Callum Rogers rose highest amongst a flock of players from both sides to head past Maiorana and give Camden the lead.
There was a sudden increase in work rate from the Camden side, the players working hard across the pitch to defend their lead as Tigers have done so on many occasions previously at Leichhardt Oval.
Nick Ruoco didn?t stop for Inter Lions, though, and his wizardry on the ball was effective as he orchestrated yet another chance for his team on 71 minutes, his run and cross blasted over by substitute, Anthony Foti.
Following an Inter corner in the 81st minute, tall defender McMullen headed past Camden keeper, Michael Rutherford, only to see Dean Mugridge block the ball on the goal line, Rutherford gobbling up the loose ball a yard from the goal.
As the Lions pushed numbers forward, they left themselves somewhat exposed at the back, and on 83 minutes it was Finocchiaro who volleyed wide at the far post after a great pinpoint cross by substitute, Grant MacKechnie, after a Camden counter attack.
One final opportunity again fell the way of the visitors, with Dean Morgan picking up a long clearance from Inter?s keeper, Roberto Maiorana, and blasting a 25 yarder against the cross bar with the Inter defence retreating.
Referee Mr Jason Blackwood brought proceedings to an end, with the Tigers prevailing in a close encounter to take all three points back home to Camden.
The loss sees Inter drop to 5th spot on the competition ladder, squeezing into the top five on goal difference whilst still having a game in hand on all the teams above them.
The away victory continues Camden?s recent form and sees them climb to 7th spot on 20 points, right in the mix at just one victory from third and with all to play for from here.
Match Stats
Inter Lions 1 (Martinez 10?)
Camden Tigers 2 (Morgan 14? pen, Rogers 59?)
Sunday 8th July, 2012
Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assistant Referees: Louis Cummings and Ben Sansom
Bench: J. Woods, Z. Elrich, W. Angel, V. Rigoli, I. Johnson.Inter Lions: 1.R.Maiorana, 2.S.Givernaud, 3.M.McMullen, 4.M.Bosnar (capt), 5.J.Gonzalez, 6.A.Vizzari, 7.J.Gutierrez (13.R.Foti 86?), 8.M.Mazzarolo (14.D.Chiandotto 71?), 9.D.Di Mento (16.A.Foti 62?), 10.N.Ruoco, 11.M.Martinez.
Substitutes Not Used: 12.E.Demiroz, 21.L.Soto.
Yellow Cards: 8.M.Mazzarolo 27?, 11.M.Martinez 66?.
Red Cards: Nil
Camden Tigers: 1.M.Rutherford, 3.D.Mugridge, 4.C.York, 5.J.Forrest (capt), 6.V.Finocchiaro, 7.R.Purser (11.G.MacKechnie 81?), 8.C.Rogers, 13.D.Morgan, 16.A.Bourke, 17.M.Clarke, 18.G.Norton.
Substitutes Not Used: 10.D.MacKechnie, 14.T.Bromhand-Fuller, 19.J.Keane, RGK.J.Croman.
Yellow Cards: 3.D.Mugridge 51?, 8.C.Rogers 57?, 4.C.York 76?.
Red Cards: Nil
State League One Round Sixteen Review
SATURDAY, July 7
Balmain SC vs Southern Bulls 1-0
Not even a same day venue change could stop Balmain?s recent run of positive form when the wet weather meant Lambert Park was unplayable, forcing the evening match against Southern Bulls to be switched to Ninevah Field as late as Saturday morning, just hours before the scheduled kick off.
Tom Hyde grabbed the all important goal for Balmain after 51 minutes, giving them the three points and continuing their push for a semi final spot come season?s end.
On the back of three matches without conceding a goal, Balmain have picked up seven points from the last nine, and now sit in equal 5th spot on 21 points.
The Bulls have slipped away from the top half due to a poor run recently, and now occupy tenth position on 15 points, needing a drastic reverse of form to have any chance of finals football come season?s end.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Hurstville ZFC 8-1
Mt Druitt Town scored four goals in each half to run up an 8-1 annihilation at Popondetta Park on Saturday night against the hapless Hurstville ZFC.
Hurstville actually hit the lead after only 5 minutes, Svircevic edging the visitors in front, catching the home side napping.
Speedster Daniel Fogarty equalized for the Rangers within a minute with a brilliant chipped effort, before Nathan Ralph (27th) and Todd Macrae (31st) gave the home fans more to cheer about with a couple of quickfire strikes.
Hurstville ZFC did themselves no favours with a red card before half time, before Ralph grabbed his brace on 44 minutes, a superb header from a Justin Kirby free kick, to send Mt Druitt into the sheds well and truly in control at 4-1.
Recent new signing from Schofields, James Howard, scored on debut for Mt Druitt four minutes after the break, before Fogarty made it six with his double on 54 minutes.
Hurstville began to self destruct during the second stanza, a few players succumbing to injury, and with no substitutions remaining, completed the match short of the full quota on the park.
Mt Druitt took full advantage of the added space, with Todd Macrae?s 77th minute goal making it 7-1 ? his 17th of a fruitful 2012 campaign ? before Nathan Ralph secured his hatrick a minute before the end, a reflection of his barnstorming form of late, to round off the scoring at 8-1.
Mt Druitt have now scored 49 goals in 16 matches at an average of >3 goals per match, moving to 29 points on the ladder as a result of this win. The Rangers now sit in second spot, just two points behind Gladesville Ryde Magic at the top, but importantly, six points from third placed Northbridge and UNSW.
SUNDAY, July 8 Schofields Scorpions vs UNSW 3-5
UNSW came from two goals down after half an hour to overpower Schofields Scorpions at CSI Sport Ground by 5 goals to 3.
The Scorpions raced out of the blocks early on, and via a brace from Caller (2? & 31?) had a 2-0 lead by half time and looking the goods for the spoils.
But the ?students? responded with a barrage of goals just after the break, taking a sensational 3-2 lead just ten minutes into the second half with goals by Henry Kamleitner (47?), Rory Brennan (55?) and an own goal (52?).
Benny Lam has been in inspirational form for the Scorpions of late, and he continued it here by restoring parity for the home side with a goal on 67 minutes.
UNSW were determined to return to the winners? circle however, and edged in front when Michael Karagiannis scored in the 83rd minute, before Rocky Luca wrapped up proceedings in injury time.
Despite having a few games in hand, the Scorpions are languishing in 13th spot on the ladder on just 14 points, whilst UNSW?s 5-3 triumph sees them move to equal 3rd spot on 23 points.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Stanmore Hawks 0-2
League leaders, Gladesville Ryde Magic, came unstuck on Sunday at Magdala Reserve, losing 0-2 to a resurgent Stanmore Hawks.
Stanmore have been steadily climbing the ladder of late, and were quietly confident of upsetting the apple cart when they traveled to take on Magic in a derby of sorts.
Gladesville had the best of the opening exchanges with the experienced Sam Emmanouil in the Stanmore goal having to deal with a number of high crosses and corners under intense challenges from Gladesville?s Alex Morris, Lachlan Hart and Tim Woodhouse. Stanmore for their part were looking to release the ball quickly from midfield to their striking combination of Steve Biviano, Adam Scimione and Neil Philippou. The trio were full of running and anxious to take on the opposition defence at any opportunity.
Indeed Scimione probably would have felt disappointed that he didn?t have his name on the score sheet before half time. In the 10th minute he played a neat one-two with Biviano and struck a solid shot from 7 metres only to have Gladesville?s keeper Kyriakos Tohouroglou execute a phenomenal save to push the goalbound shot around the post. Not to be discouraged, though, Scimione conjured up another worthy strike in the 17th minute and within 30 seconds was put through on goal again only to see Tohouroglou comfortably pluck his well-struck, curling shot out of the air.
A number of willing challenges from both sides were met with yellow cards and stern words from the man in the middle midway through the first half but the turning point in the game came after only 35 minutes when Gladesville?s striker Stephen Lloyd was shown a straight red. It was always going to be a big challenge for Gladesville to win from there against quality opposition with the score locked at 0-0 and 55 minutes still to play but they took to the task seemingly undaunted and ready for a real tussle.
Stanmore seemed to relax after their opponents were reduced to 10 men and with Gladesville visibly lifting their workrate to accommodate for a lack of numbers there were a few chances late in the first half that had Stanmore?s defence at full stretch. The best of these opportunities saw a neat one-two played between Peter Doherty and Andrew McKie on the edge of the area only to see the final shot stabbed past the upright under intense pressure from the Stanmore defence.
After the break Stanmore took to the task with renewed vigour and purpose although it was the other end that the first real chance of the second half occurred. Gladesville?s Alex Morris rose highest from the pack to meet an in-swinging corner but his effort just grazed the left-hand upright as it flew wide of the target.
The dead-lock was eventually broken in he 65th minute from a well-rehearsed Stanmore corner. With Adrian Heath lurking wide of the far post, Rafael Bove played a long curling corner beyond the goalmouth. Heath was so wide that he was unmarked by the Gladesville defence and headed a return ball straight across the goalmouth where it was bundled over the goalline by Joel Rimmer.
Gladesville took to the challenge of being a goal down with tenacity and energy. They pushed men forward and their hard-working midfield combination of Ali McKie, Johnny Martinez and Peter Doherty pushed higher up the park in a bid to create an opening for an equalizer.
In the 69th minute a breakdown from a Gladesville attack saw the ball rebound to halfway creating a 3 on 1 situation as the Stanmore strikers bore down on goal. Steve Biviano controlled the play well with a dribbling run through the middle of the park before releasing an almost offside Neil Philippou who drove his shot low into the right hand corner of the net.
From this point onwards Stanmore were content to run down the clock and contain the efforts of Gladesville?s attack. Both sides had additional chances that required sharp reactions from goalkeepers and defenders alike but the scoreboard attendant was not to be bothered again during the afternoon.
Gladesville remain top of the ladder on 31 points despite the loss, but their lead has been reduced to a mere two points by a marauding Mt Druitt Town, who themselves just cannot stop scoring.
Stanmore Hawks are up to 8th spot given the victory, moving to 19 points, and are now within a victory of the top five, a far cry from when they languished at the base of the ladder earlier in the season.
Fairfield City Lions vs Northbridge FC 4-1
Fairfield City Lions upset the form guide at Norford Park No.2 on Sunday afternoon, showing what they are capable of on a good day with a 4-1 thumping of high flying Northbridge FC.
Ardahan Kumrulu got the scoreboard ticking for the Lions with his sixth goal of 2012 after 29 minutes, but Michael Cole responded for Northbridge right on half time with his 11th strike of the season.
With the season slowly slipping away in recent weeks, Fairfield took the game by the scruff after the break, and scored no less than three times. Ozcan Cetinay grabbed a brace on 67 and 80 minutes, whilst Ali Al Waeli got his name on the scoresheet with Fairfield?s fourth goal just before fll time.
Northbridge remain in third position on the ladder on 23 points, but Fairfield have thrown the cat amongst the pigeons with their victory, the three points putting them on 16 points in 9th spot, with up to three games in hand on some of the teams above them.
-By Frank Speranza
