NSW Super League Round 19 Review

Bankstown Berries? sensational 6-1 defeat of leaders Bankstown City FC coupled with the Northern Tigers? loss to Mounties Wanderers has really opened up the title challenge. It didn?t seem likely a month ago, when the Lions were seven points clear of the third placed Berries, but it now looks like it will go down to the wire.
Bankstown City FC v Bankstown Berries
In a phenomenal scoreline at Jensen Park, Bankstown Berries have thrown the title race wide open after smashing league leaders Bankstown City FC 6-1.
With the Lions leading 1-0 moments from half time, there was little indication of what was to follow, but once Steve Liavas had received a red card for a handball on the line, and Dimitri Zakilas equalised from the spot, the second half was to be anything but predictable.
Both teams had started relatively evenly though the better of the chances fell to the Lions. An Adem Kir corner almost sailed into the net while Richard Luksic came close with a header. Despite a reasonable amount of possession, the Berries rarely threatened Zlatko Joseski directly, only a Zakilas left footer causing any concern.
With ten minutes to go before the break, a through ball fell to Gosue Sama, who showed good composure to slide the ball past George Bouropoulos. It seemed business as usual.
With a lead of 1-0, the Lions looked in control of their destiny but that all changed right on the break. A great cross from the right from Kodjo Adjassou drove across the Lions area, and a Stefan de Jesus strike was goal bound. There was no doubt of the referee?s decision once Liavas handled, a penalty and a red card an easy decision to make.
Down to ten and 1-1, the chance was there for the Berries to really pressure the Lions and pressure they did.
Two minutes into the second half and the Berries had taken the lead, Peter Peralta driving into the net. This put the Berries? tails up and though Nathan Ristevski had a chance go wide, after the Berries turned over possession a little too easily in the middle, it was Steve Wright who extended the lead for the Berries midway through the half. Wright rose powerfully to head home from a corner.
At 3-1, the Berries seemed safe but it was almost brought back to 3-2, except both Shannon Burgin and Reuben Lagos failed to connect to a chance, Bouropoulos diving desperately to smother the danger.
Instead, it went up the other end and 4-1. Brad Gibson, who had been denied by Joseski within moments of coming on, made no mistake with his second opportunity, slotting away into the bottom right to make absolutely sure of the result.
That could have been enough for the Berries, and indeed the Lions, who probably wanted this game to finish as soon as possible. But more goals were to come, Zakilas heading home from an Ante Deur free kick with thirteen minutes to go, to make it five.
Nicolo Sama made a brave attempt to add some respectability to the scoreline but hit the cross bar, before perhaps the goal which summed up the Lions? second half. A header back to the keeper by Matthew Presello didn?t account for the fact that Joseski had come out to collect, and the miscommunication resulted in the ball bouncing unchallenged into the net.
1-6 to the Berries was the final result, a scoreline no one could have predicted before kickoff. It now leaves Super League?s top three clubs separated by only one point, as the season reaches its title climax.
Bankstown City FC 1 (Gosue Sama 35?) v Bankstown Berries 6 (Dimitri Zakilas 45? pen, 77?, Peter Peralta 47?, Steve Wright 68?, Matthew Presello o.g. 88?)
Sunday 29 July 2012
at Jensen Park, Sefton
Referee: Adam Susz
Assts: Murray Wilson and Louis Cummings
Bankstown City FC: 1. Zlatko Joseski 41. Adem Kir 2. Matthew Presello 5. Richard Luksic 7. Steve Liavas 14. Nathan Ristevski (18. Nicolo Sama 70?) 6. Reuben Lagos 22. Zac Vallorani 9. Shannon Burgin 10. Robert Mileski (19. Damian Brosque 73?) 11. Gosue Sama (40. Angelo Petratos 83?)
Subs not used: 8. George Nohra 17. Jordan Nikolovski
Yellow Card: Robert Mileski
Red Card: Steve Liavas
Coach: George Nohra
Bankstown Berries: 1. George Bouropoulos 3. Steve Wright 2. David Gardiner 4. Alex Becerra 7. Peter Peralta (16. Brad Gibson 69?) 18. David Stojic 21. Ben Delicata (9. Ante Deur 70?) 12. Stefan de Jesus 8.  Kodjo Adjassou (15.Peter Crevani 81?) 11. Aram Tayebi 19. Dimitri Zakilas.
Subs not used: Rgk Chris Becerra 17. Michael Zezovski.
Yellow Cards: Alex Becerra Steve Wright
Coach: Tony Pace
St George v Dulwich Hill
St George claimed their second win on the trot for the first time this season, accounting for Dulwich Hill 2-0, with both goals coming from the boot of Michael Yarnold.
The first came just after half time, when Yarnold did well in recovering from a challenge, and save from Dully?s debutant keeper Lucas North, to slide away for the Saints? all important lead.
It was almost two for Yarnold within minutes when a spectacular bicycle kick was goal bound but which drew an equally spectacular save from North. Dully could have equalised midway through the second half, with firstly Dean Zammit and then Rob Morrison, but for some good keeping by Daniel Nash, and some errant shooting.
St George did double their lead with three minutes to go, Matt Toogood bringing down Sam Messam in the box.  Yarnold stepped up, but his penalty was saved by North. Unfortunately for the young keeper, the ball rolled back across the face of goal and Yarnold had the simple task of tapping in.
St George 2 (Michael Yarnold 52?, 87?) v Dulwich Hill 0
Macarthur Rams v Hills Brumbies
Goals at either end of the match by Hills Brumbies earned three valuable points, a win which virtually confirms their Super League status for another year.
Russell Farrell got the first with only three minutes on the clock, connecting to a cross from Brad Robertson, and that lead was held until well into the second half. But with thirteen minutes remaining, Michael Brown brought the Rams level and it looked like the points would be shared.
But a late corner to Hills brought reward, with Lord Darkoh, after his return to the club, netting well into time added on.
?We went there feeling comfortable?, said Mark Abi-Arrage. ?We had changed things around a little bit, and moved Dragan Savic to sweeper, and he was there for everything?.
?We played very well in the first half, and probably could have been two or three up, we should have made them pay more than we did. But they threw everything at us in the second half, but we stayed in the game. They rarely got in behind us, and this time we were able to get the late goal?.
The win puts Hills Brumbies six points clear of bottom with just three games left to play, a chance now to perhaps play without that relegation pressure.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Michael Brown 77?) Hills Brumbies 2 (Russell Farrell 3? Lord Darkoh 92?)
Fraser Park v Spirit FC
Fraser Park put their recent poor results behind them to overcome Spirit FC 1-0 with the lone goal coming from Carlo Musumeci.
The win keeps Fraser Park in the frame for finals football, but as David Perkovic readily acknowledged, it will be a tough final three weeks, with Bankstown Berries, Bankstown Lions and Northern Tigers being their last opponents.
?There is certainly plenty to play for, and we do need to rely on a few results going our way. But traditionally, we tend to do a bit better against the better teams and we would like to have a say in where the title ends up?.
?This season, we have beaten the Tigers, only conceded late against the Berries after being two up, and held the Lions for a large part of the game, so we will be asking a few questions. We know we can compete against these teams, and it is important that we finish the season on a high, with honest performances?.
It has been an improved season for Fraser Park, who have largely fought against relegation in the past three years.
?It has been a good transition season, and we have not been in danger of relegation all year. It has been something of a stepping stone, and whether we make the semis or not, is not the most important thing. We have had a lot of young kids, and our average age recently would not be much more than 23?.
?But the table doesn?t lie, and we just haven?t been consistent enough over the season. But in this league, it should be about producing players for better things, not just concentrating on winning the title?.
Fraser Park FC 1 (Carlo Musumeci 44?) Spirit FC 0
Northern Tigers v Mounties Wanderers
Northern Tigers lost the chance to take advantage of Bankstown City?s reversal, themselves going down 2-1 to Mounties Wanderers.
A goal to Daine Merrin after fifteen minutes put the Mounties in front but a first half equaliser via a Daniel Cunningham penalty drew the Tigers level.
Despite some strong second half pressure, the Tigers couldn?t get the second goal they needed and it was to be the Mounties who claimed all three points, Mark Symington scoring with twenty minutes to go.
Northern Tigers 1 (Daniel Cunningham 34? pen) Mounties Wanderers 2 (Daine Merrin 15?, Mark Symington 70)
Granville Rage v Sydney University

It was all square at Garside Park with the Rage and Uni taking a point each, the result just keeping Granville within range of Mounties, while Uni moved two clear of Dulwich Hill at the bottom, with three games left to play. 
It was the perfect start tor Uni who took a first minute lead through Ryo Kono, but the Rage?s leading scorer Almir Dizdaric drew Granville level ten minutes before half time.
Granville Rage 1 (Almir Dizdaric 36?) Sydney University 1 (Ryo Kono 1?)
Under 20s
The Under 20s title race is getting closer by the week, with Northern Tigers moving two points closer to leaders Spirit FC, after a 6-1 hiding of Mounties Wanderers. Spirit?s lead was cut to just four points after drawing with Fraser Park 2-2. Northern Tigers still have a game in hand, against Macarthur Rams.
Sydney University and the Rams remain third and fourth respectively, on 35 points while Bankstown Berries sit just three points further back in fifth, after their 2-1 defeat of Bankstown City FC. P Koulizakis and D Fornito got the goals for the Berries while Rocco Romeo replied for the Lions.
St George continued their push for a finals berth with a 5-1 defeat of Dulwich Hill. Stephen Grbevski with three and Andrew Koutsoukis with two were the Saints? scorers while Zac Chapman got on the scoresheet for Dulwich Hill.
Bankstown City Lions 1 Bankstown Berries FC 2, Granville Rage 0 Sydney University 3, Northern Tigers 6 Mounties Wanderers 1, Fraser Park FC 2 Spirit FC 2, Macarthur Rams 3 Hills Brumbies 1, St George FC 5 Dulwich Hill 1.
-By Peter Rowney