State League Two Round 18 Review
Match of the Round
BATHURST 75 V NEPEAN FC
Bathurst have thrown their season a life-line, after defeating Nepean 3-0 Friday night at Cook Park, before scoring an all important 1-0 win in round 18 match of the round on Sunday afternoon to wrap up all points that were on offer.
Both sides had their chances, with Nepean hitting the bar twice during their encounter on Sunday before dangerous front man James Christie all but sealed the win for the home side just moments before the final whistle sounded out.
James Christie showed his intentions early on for the home side, letting fly a shot as early as the 3? minute that finished just wide of the target.
Bathurst were using the full width of the pitch in the opening stages, and were next to attack as Brett Osborne sent Nathan Riggs down the sideline on 13? minutes, but the winger was unable to deliver the ball into the box.
Nepean?s Garry Boardman turned his marker with the help of some footwork trickery on 19? minutes, before sliding a dangerous cross into the box on his weaker foot that none of his team mates were able to take advantage of.
Anton Karla cleverly scooped a through ball with finesse for Boardman, with the striker stabbing a low near post cross for Sam Pintabona ? who would have had his name on the scoresheet had it not been for some heroic defending by Bathurst.
Nepean continued to pepper Bathurst?s goal as Seb Camacho pounced in the 30? minute on a high bouncing ball from some 20 yards out, only to see his effort rocket into the side netting.
After very few clear cut chances in the first interval, Bathurst had one more roll of the dice before the break via James Christie – who latched onto a cross that was expertly saved by Ryan Trussell.
Following the break, Brett Osborne put James Christie through on goal catching Nepean?s defence off-guard, but Nathan Harnett showed sheer pace to make ground on the striker and force him to play backwards.
Nepean?s exploratory defender Ajak Deng headed on target from a long throw in the 64? minute that was easy pickings for Bathurst?s custodian Russell.
Less than a minute later, Anthony Belardo almost found an opening as he sent a powerful header on target, but Bathurst?s gloveman Russell denied the midfielder with a great reflex save to tip the ball onto the crossbar and out for a corner.
Anthony Belardo was involved in the action just moments later as he sensed an opportunity with Russell off his line – pulling the trigger from some distance with his shot taking a wicked bounce that Russell fumbled. A scramble ensued for the loose ball but Abraham Majok showed a little too much excitement as he clumsily fouled Russell.
Bathurst 75? player-coach Mark Rooke found himself one on one with Trussell just outside the area in the 70? minute, but with no call for ?man on? – the veteran striker ended up being smothered by Nepean?s Karl Ciappa before he could pull the trigger.
Nepean went close to taking the lead after Seb Camacho played the role of poacher in the 79? minute, dispossessing Daniel Luther of the ball before unleashing a shot that ricocheted off the crossbar.
It was end to end stuff in the dying stages of the match, and in the 81? minute Brett Osborne slammed a shot on goal inside the area after Nepean failed to clear their lines from a corner, but Trussell pulled off a terrific save to hold onto the ball at point blank range to keep the scores level.
Mitchell Grima showed great vision to switch the ball and find Abraham Majok in space on 86? minutes, but the striker hit across the ball from a tight angle.
With less than 3? minutes left on the clock and the game seemingly headed for a draw, Bathurst finally found a breakthrough. Mark Rooke controlled the ball out wide on the by-line and calmly swung in a cross to find James Christie who powered his header into the back of the net, giving Trussell no chance and to secure all three points.
It was a cruel end for the travelling Nepean side that also had their chances, with a fair result probably being a draw after a very even contest.
Match Stats
Bathurst 75 1 (J Christie 87?)
Nepean FC 0
Sunday July 22nd, 2012
Alec Lamberton Field, Kelso
Bathurst 75: 1.D.Russell; 12.N.Riggs, 6.C.Adair, 7.B.Osborne, 5.D.Luther, 8.B.Collins 2.N.Spice, 14.J.Hotham (15.J.Tugirth 54?), 9.J.Christie, 3.L.Sullivan (16.R.Guihot 79?), 10.J.Martin (4.M.Rooke 57?)
Substitutes Not Used: 23.B.Draton
Yellow Cards: 6.C.Adair,
Red Cards: Nil
Nepean FC: 1.R.Trussell; 2.A.Deng, 4.K.Ciappa, 3.A.Walker, 7.N.Harnett, 8.G.Opacic, 12.S.Pintabona, 11.S.Camacho, 9.G.Boardman (13.A.Majok 61?), 15.A.Belardo, 16.A.Karla (10.M.Grima 55?)
Substitutes Not Used: GK.R.O?Connor, 5.R.Colbourne, 6.C.McSullea
Yellow Cards: 15.A.Belardo, 3.A.Walker, 12.S.Pintabona
Red Cards: Nil
Division Two Review ? Round 18
Hawkesbury City SC 3 (M McCrory 29? P Cooper 64? E Daglis 70?) Belmore United 0
Saturday, 21 July 2012 @ 5-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Hawkesbury City has answered their critics in style, dismantling Belmore United 3-0 at home on Saturday night to keep in touch with the top five.
Michael McCrory opened the Hawks account in the 29? minute to give his side the lead as they hit the break.
Hawkesbury weren?t in the mood to rest on their laurels, and doubled their advantage through Paul Cooper in the 64? minute. The win was all but sealed less than 10? minutes later, as nimble midfielder Evan Daglis got on the scoresheet to settle the score 3-0 in Hawkesbury?s favour.
Mountains United 2 (P Henderson 12? A Waring 74?) Western Condors FC 0
Saturday, 21 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Summerhayes Park
Mountains United continued their unbelievable run to the finals with a comprehensive 2-0 win over Western Condors on Saturday night.
Hard-working front man Peter Henderson gave his side the lead in the 12? minute and that?s the way it stayed as both sides hit the break.
As both sides traded blows in search for a goal, Andre Waring scored in the 74? minute to make it 2-0 ? and Mountains defence were too good and held up for their sixth straight clean sheet and victory.
West City FC 2 (D Cornett 17? pen B Mitrovich 33?) Prospect United 1 (T Sullivan 37?)
Sunday, 22 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Chopin Park
In a local Sunday afternoon derby, West City has broken their losing streak to defeat Prospect United 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Daniel Cornett who was previously a Prospect United player, put West City in front via the penalty spot on 17? minutes. Brendan Mitrovich doubled City?s advantage on 33? minutes before Troy Sullivan pulled a goal back for the visitors.
In the end, neither side was able to add to their tally in the second stanza with West City wrapping up the points.
FC Gazy 3 (I Hameed 25? A Burnett 38?S Jappie 78?) Luddenham United 3 (A Lazarou 42? D Webster 60? C Camilleri 81?)
Sunday, 22 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Hartleys Oval
FC Gazy and Luddenham United battled out an entertaining 3-3 draw on Sunday afternoon.
FC Gazy took the lead via Ibrahim Hameed in the 25? minute and doubled their advantage as Adam Burnett tapped in from close range following a rebound in the 38? minute.
Andrew Lazarou pinned a goal back for the visitors following a cross to make it 2-1 before Chris Camilleri was denied on the penalty spot before the stroke of half-time.
Following the break, the action continued as Dujon Webster scored a diving header on the hour mark to make it 2-2, but it was short-lived with Sahligh Jappie putting the hosts back in front on 78? minutes.
With less than 10? minutes to go, Michael Wood set up Chris Camilleri who made no mistake to restore parity, with the game finishing 3-3.
Hurstville City Minotaurs 3 (H Morhi 46/90? M Di Meglio 48?) vs Hakoah 3 (N Jablonski 38/86? P Darvill 82?)
Sunday, 22 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
The battle between Hurstville City and Hakoah ended up all square as Hurstville scored a 90? minute equalizer to take home a share of the points.
Neil Jablonski put Hakoah in front just before half-time, but Haisam Morhi replied instantly following the break. Hurstville?s Michael Di Meglio then made it 2-1 in the 48? minute ? gifting the Minotaurs an unlikely 2-1 advantage less than 5? minutes into the second half.
Hurstville did their best to hold onto the lead, but a Patrick Darvill 82? equalizer squared things up before Neil Jablonski made it 3-2 in Hakoah?s favour with less than 5? minutes of play.
Hurtsville grit their teeth and gave it their all, and were rewarded with a 90? minute Haisam Morhi equalizer to take a share of the spoils ? and only the second side to do so against Hakoah all season.
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 18 Overview
Nepean scored a vital win away at Bathurst to move into the top five while Hawkesbury City flexed their muscles in a 5-1 trumping over Belmore United.
Mountains United have moved into the top five after defeating Western Condors 2-1 while West City beat Prospect 2-0.
FC Gazy scored an upset 4-3 victory over Luddenham before Hakoah beat Hurstville 3-0 to keep in hot pursuit of Hawkesbury.
Bathurst 75 vs Nepean FC ? 0-1
Hawkesbury City SC vs Belmore United ? 5-1
Mountains United vs Western Condors FC ? 2-1
West City FC vs Prospect United ? 2-0
FC Gazy vs Luddenham United ? 4-3
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Hakoah ? 0-3
-By Dean Southern
