State League One Round 18 Review

Gladesville edged Balmain to add three points to the three they picked up midweek against Fairfield City, Inter did likewise with wins against Camden and Schofields, whilst neither Fairfield and Stanmore helped their causes with a 2-2 draw at Norford Park. We review all of Round 18, with a special focus on Schofield?s visit to Leichhardt Oval to tackle the in form Inter Lions.
Match of the Round
Inter Lions ? Schofields Scorpions 3-2

After an uninspiring first forty five minutes, fours goals and a late flurry brought the match between Inter Lions and Schofields Scorpions to life for the brave spectators that sat in the vast grandstand at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon.

Inter Lions came into this match on the back of a 3-0 away triumph midweek against Camden Tigers at Ron Dine Reserve, effecting revenge for a loss suffered at the hands of the Tigers two weekends ago. Miguel Martinez was the star of the show for the Lions, scoring two brilliant goals in a mesmerizing display, whilst veteran Adrian Vizzari stroked home the third via a penalty.
The win placed Inter outright third, and confidence was high in the camp as they looked to extend their recent form and edge just that little bit closer to the top two with another triumph here against the Scorpions.
But the home side were depleted, given Nicky Ruoco was out with a fractured hand suffered during the midweek clash against Camden, whilst the Di Mento brothers were also missing, Domenic with a shoulder injury, whilst Jacob returns from overseas over the next week or so.
Despite lying near the base of the ladder, Schofields have played up to three matches less on some clubs, so were hoping to give their season a kick start and make a final ascent up the ladder with plenty of rescheduled matches due over the next few weeks.
The first half was void of any real intensity amongst both camps, as both sets of defences ruled the roost and kept their own goals intact.
That was, until the 27^th minute, when Jason Gonzalez ghosted in at the far post for Inter to slide his close range shot past Schofields keeper, Fleming. The opportunity was created after some wizardry in the box by Miguel Martinez, his weaving run inside three defenders ending with a cross shot that eluded all as it sped across the face of goal for Gonzalez to finish off.
The Scorpions failed to pick up any ascendancy despite falling a goal behind, and their only half chance was conjured up right on half time. Peter Pelekanos swung over a deep cross and Collins met it just outside the box, volleying metres over the bar as the referee called time.
After some much needed verbal inspiration from both coaches, the second half started with a little more toe as both teams realized there was a valuable three points at stake.
On 58 minutes, in almost a carbon copy of Inter?s first goal, a Martinez shot deflected to Gonzalez at the back stick, but this time the flanker shot over from a few yards with the goal at his mercy.
Inter?s Daniele Chiandotto got in on the act in the 61^st minute, his left foot volley from the edge of the penalty area flashing inches wide of the upright as the Lions looked to take total control with a second goal.
Tim Simpson responded for the Scorpions within minutes, slicing straight down the middle before hitting a 20 yard shot down the throat of Inter?s goalkeeper, Roberto Maiorana.
Just when they needed it, Schofields were given a lifeline in the 73^rd minute when Inter defender, McMullen, was adjudged to have committed a foul whilst executing a clearing header, conceding a penalty, much to the angst of the home supporters.
Peter Pelekanos executed the spot kick perfectly for Schofields, low to Maiorana?s right, to restore parity for the visitors.
Remarkably, within minutes, Inter had their own penalty, the Schofields defence adjudged to have fouled Martinez as he dazzled with his footwork inside the Scorpions penalty box.
The experienced Adrian Vizzari drilled his shot low to Fleming?s right to restore Inter?s advantage.
The match had opened up somewhat at this stage, as gaps began to appear in both defensive lines.
Maiorana was at his best in the 78^th minute, deflecting Caller?s shot with his feet when faced with an angled one on one, and repeating the dose with a second parry from the same player as the ball spilled loose.
As the Scorpions pushed numbers forward to snatch an equalizer, Inter went on the counter, and substitute Anthony Foti raced away in the 90^th minute after collecting a Martinez flick pass, slicing his shot wide of the mark with the goal gaping.
Two minutes later and it was the turn of another Inter substitute, but this time the scoreboard attendant was forced to act.
With his first touches of the ball, pint sized Marco Mazzarolo received a pass inside the box, steadied himself, and stroked a low shot past Fleming and into the bottom corner of the net to give Inter Lions a 3-1 lead in injury time.
The action wasn?t quite over as Peter Pelekanos, Schofields? best player on the day, grabbed his and his team?s second goal deep into injury time as he cracked a low shot at the far post past Inter?s keeper, Maiorana, but it was too little, too late, and the Lions grabbed all the spoils.
Neither team has moved positions on the ladder after the result, Schofields remaining on 17 points in 10^th spot, whilst Inter Lions remain third on 30 points, four points from UNSW and with a game in hand on second placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Match Stats
Inter Lions  3 (Gonzalez 27?, Vizzari pen 76?, Mazzarolo 92?)
Schofields Scorpions   2 (Pelekanos pen 73? / 94?)
Sunday 22^ndJuly, 2012
Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt
Referee: Terry Goodhew
Assistant Referees:  Alec Smith and John Lalic

Bench: J. Woods, Z. Elrich, W. Angel, V. Rigoli, I. Johnson.INTER LIONS: 1.R.Maiorana, 2.S.Givernaud, 3.P.McMullen, 4.M.Bosnar (capt), 5.A.Vizzari, 6.M.Mansueto, 7.D.Chiandotto (13.M.Mazzarolo 90?), 8.D.Espijez, 9.M.Martinez, 10.J.Gonzalez, 11.J.Guiterrez (14.A.Foti 88?).
Substitutes Not Used: 15.S.Riva, 16.M.Pilotto, 21.L.Soto.
Yellow Cards: .11.J.Guiterrez 81?, 8.D.Espijez.
Red Cards: Nil
SCHOFIELDS SCORPIONS: 1.R.Fleming, 2.J.Collins, 12.T.Harrington (capt), 3.A.Pearson (4.S.Okaro 83?), 14.P.Pelekanos, 7.D.Stivala, 6.A.Anderson, 11.C.Ianni, 17.W.Stuart, 10.T.Simpson, 13.A.Caller.
Substitutes Not Used: 20.N.Ali, 34.E.Amegor, 31.H.Keba, 28.B.Rogers.
Yellow Cards: 6.A.Anderson 42?, 17.W.Stuart 82?.
Red Cards: Nil
State League One Round Eighteen Review
SATURDAY, July 21                                                                                                  
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Southern Bulls 5-0
Mt Druitt Town Rangers kept up the pressure on league leaders, Gladesville Ryde Magic, with a 5-0 thumping of Southern Bulls on Saturday evening at Popondetta Park.
It took a while for the Rangers to break down the Bulls? defensive line, with Daniel Fogarty edging the home side in front after 35 minutes, and that was they way it remained until half time.
Three goals in ten minutes early in the second period put paid to any hope of a Southern Bulls reprieve, with skipper Ryan O?Shea doubling Mt Druitt?s advantage in the 55^th.
James Howard made it 3-0 on 62 minutes with his second goal since signing for the Rangers mid season, and Fogarty got his brace just three minutes later, his 15^th goal of a fruitful 2012 campaign this far.
Nathan Ralph finished off the scoring with Mt Druitt?s fifth goal in the 75^th minute, keeping the Rangers average goals per game above three, with 56 goals scored in 18 games.
The loss sees the Bulls remain perilously close to the drop zone, occupying 11^th spot on the ladder, just 4 points above Hurstville ZFC and having played an extra game.
Mt Druitt have now moved to 33 points, five behind Gladesvile Ryde as the season nears the final rounds.
UNSW vs Hurstville ZFC 4-0
Unlike the Magic last weekend, UNSW had no trouble accounting for Hurstville ZFC on Saturday evening, winning 4-0 at David Phillips Field in a canter.
Three goals in the first stanza made it an easy night?s work for the ?students?, with Stuart Meney returning to the goalscorers list with a brace, opening the night?s proceedings on 25 minutes and scoring the side?s fourth goal in the final moments.
Bustling striker, Henry Kamleitner, and Michael Karagiannis, were the teams? other scorers in a first half that meant the game was all over bar the shouting.
Hurstville ZFC remain bottom on just 12 points, whilst UNSW have now moved to 26 points, sitting within the top five in fourth spot.
Camden Tigers vs Northbridge FC 4-0
Camden Tigers have thrown the proverbial cat amongst the pigeons with an emphatic 4-0 victory against Northbridge FC at Ron Dine Reserve on Saturday night.
The Tigers? resurgence in recent weeks has been there for all to see, although they did suffer a setback midweek, losing 0-3 to Inter Lions, who gained revenge for a loss to the Tigers on a fortnight or so ago.
The home side knew a win here would see them catapult Northbridge on the ladder, and they did just that with a blistering first half hour of football.
Vince Finocchiaro had the home fans out of their chairs as early as the 2^nd minute, and incredibly made it 2-0 with his and his team?s second goal just 12 minutes later.
Dean Morgan kept the foot on the accelerator for Camden by scoring goal number three in the 24^th minute, before big Grant MacKechnie extended the lead to four just after the half hour mark.
The stunned Northbridge regrouped, but couldn?t pull a goal back, and the scoreboard remained untouched for the remainder of the game, securing a valuable three points for the Tigers.
The win sees Camden move to 24 points, and they now sit in fifth spot, whilst Northbridge?s third successive loss sees them drop to seventh position.                                                                                                                                                                    
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Balmain SC 1-0
Gladesville Ryde Magic and Balmain SC played out a hard fought battle at Magdala Reserve, the Magic prevailing by the solitary goal.
The Magic came into this encounter on the back of a 3-2 midweek victory over Fairfield City Lions, courtesy of goals to Lachlan Harte, Scott Tonkin, and Thierry Huet.
As early as the 4^th minute Balmain may have opened the scoring when a loose pass in midfield by Gladesville was intercepted, and with two quick passes Balmain?s wide-midfielder Joel Cook was released down the right wing, shooting straight at the Gladesville keeper, Kyriakos Tohouroglou.
In the tenth minute, Balmain kept at it when Tom Sowden controlled a bouncing deflection well before driving a dipping shot centimetres over the crossbar from the edge of the box. 
In the 18^th minute Gladesville struck the decisive blow for the afternoon. An Ali McKie freekick from halfway found Alex Morris rising high above the defence to head the ball past an on-rushing Balmain goalkeeper, Dave Conway. For the rest of the afternoon Conway was unbeatable despite a number of shots on target but the Balmain captain on this occasion was left stranded as Morris powered his header into the corner of the net.
Conway was called upon in the 26^th minute to divert a shot from Gladesville?s Christian Care after Care had played a neat one-two in midfield with Scott Tonkin and unleashed a powerful drive from 25 metres which was bound for the top corner of the net. Conway used all his height and agility to stretch full-length to his right and parry the ball away for a corner.
At the other end it was Robbie Bruno for Balmain who received the ball directly from a short corner and cleverly directed his low effort on goal through a forest of legs in a crowded penalty area. His attempt to ?thread the needle? almost found the net except for a vital deflection that landed the ball safely into the waiting arms of Tohouroglou, the Gladesville keeper.
Balmain?s Johnny Buonavoglia produced his usual display of tight ball control and incisive passing to create a number of openings for his teammates throughout the match. Unfortunately for Balmain they were unable to convert their chances into goals and paid the ultimate price.
Balmain?s Bruno had the opening chance of the second half when a low cross from the right found him unmarked in the 6-yard box. His hurried effort on goal went straight to Tohouroglou who, again, was untroubled in diffusing the situation.
At this stage of the match Gladesville were concentrating on defending their lead with their back five working overtime to nullify the resourceful Balmain attack. For Gladesville the likes of Harte, Morris, Care, Huet and Townley-Jones were tested to their limit but stood resolute against the probing challenges presented by Buonavoglia, Bello, Bruno and speedster Uri Kaye.
Penalty appeals at both ends of the park were met with rejection by the match officials as the final fifteen minutes saw Gladesville hold strong in defence and look to hit Balmain on the break. Ali McKie came closest for Gladesville when he had a freekick touched over the bar by an ever-alert Conway in the 78^th minute and then another curling effort in the 83^rd minute saw McKie?s shot from outside the box feather past the righthand upright.
As a result, the Magic have extended their lead to five points over the second placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers, moving to 38 points, whilst Balmain are still in the hunt on 22 points, despite dropping to 8^th position on the competition ladder.
Fairfield City Lions vs Stanmore Hawks 2-2
Norford Park witnessed an exciting clash on Sunday afternoon, with Fairfield City Lions and Stanmore Hawks sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
The Lions were a little leg weary given their midweek run against Gladesville Ryde, but took the lead nevertheless, Ozcan Cetinay netting in the 57^th minute.
The Hawks have been surging up the ladder in recent weeks, and showed they are a far cry from the team that started 2012, bouncing back by taking the lead through goals by Steve Biviano (74^th) and Kosta Gioulis (83^rd).
But the Lions grabbed a share of the spoils with Cetinay?s second on 88 minutes, much to the despair of the visiting contingent.
Fairfield City remain in 9^th spot on the ladder despite climbing to 20 points, whilst the point sees Stanmore Hawks move to 23 points in 6^th position, just one spot and one point outside the top five.

-By Frank Speranza