State League One Round Nineteen Review
The eagerly awaited match between competition heavyweights Gladesville Ryde Magic and Mt Druitt Town Rangers finished all square with some late drama at Popondetta Park, Inter Lions kept their foot on the pedal with another triumph, whilst UNSW and Northbridge FC both picked up three points in their quest for a top five finish.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers ? Gladesville Ryde Magic 1-1
Popondetta Park was full to the brim on Saturday night as home side Mt Druitt Town Rangers welcomed the visit of competition leaders, Gladesville Ryde Magic, for what shaped up as a six pointer in terms of the Premiership.
Holding a five point lead going into the clash, the Magic could ill afford anything but a loss to retain a stranglehold on the title, but the Rangers had other ideas, and were well and truly up for this battle.
Mt Druitt had done a wonderful job of promoting the match, and had many of their juniors in attendance, as well as local fans, providing a sea of support for the home side.
The juniors in fact had started the ball rolling with a clean sweep of victories over Gladesville Ryde Magic, from the U/13s which kicked off at 9-00am, all the way through to the U/20s Reserves, giving Mt Druitt six consecutive victories on the day in lieu of the first grade clash.
The Magic came out all guns blazing early on, putting pressure on the home side, Scott Tonkin?s header the best chance and almost putting the visitors in front, albeit for a goal line clearance by the Mt Druitt defence.
But the Mt Druitt Town Rangers held firm during these stages, and started to come into their own after the twenty minute mark.
Chances came and went for the Rangers, with Daniel Fogarty firing over and Glenn McPherson wide as the home fans were out of their seats in hope of a goal. Michael Todd actually had the ball in the net for Mt Druitt after a well placed shot but a referee?s assistant flag controversially put paid to any change to the scoreboard.
Drama unfolded on 54 minutes when Mt Druitt were awarded a penalty as Ryan O?Shea was sent tumbling inside the box.
Kyriakos Tohouroglou was having an inspired night between the sticks for Gladesville Ryde Magic, and he got down well to his right to save Daniel Fogarty?s penalty, but Fogarty was ever alert to the parry to crack home the rebound and give Mt Druitt the lead.
Both sides had ample talent on the substitutes bench, with Shane Ardle and James Howard amongst the Mt Druitt reserves, whilst Peter O?Doherty, Alan Ryan, Tommy Nastoulis and Thierry Huet were their Gladesville counterparts.
O?Doherty in fact had been sent into the fray after only 7 minutes for young John Fotiadis, who suffered a painful hamstring strain and had to be substituted.
But it was Gladesville that went with the introduction of fresh legs in the latter stages, and whether it was a factor in the final quarter of an hour, it did co-incide with the Magic coming home with a wet sail.
Mt Druitt held firm until well into injury time, when a Gladesville free kick was knocked into the ?mixer? with a final roll of the dice for the visitors. Lachlan Harte made a nuisance of himself in the challenge, and despite some desperation from the home side?s defence, Stephen Lloyd managed to head past Tim West, the Mt Druitt goalkeeper, to give the visitors a last gasp equalizer, much to the angst of the home side.
Lloyd, who earlier in the second half had a shot cleared off the line by a Mt Druitt defender, has been a shrewd signing by the Magic, and has begun repaying their investment with a priceless goal in this match.
The 1-1 draw is a second stalemate in as many outings for these two heavyweights, in what was an enthralling encounter between two very good sides.
Brett Townley-Jones did a great job marshalling the Magic backline, whilst Christian Care was up for this match, his big game experience coming to the fore in a solid midfield display.
The two goalkeepers, Tim West (Mt Druitt) and Kyriakos Tohouroglou (Gladesville) were outstanding between the sticks, both major factors as to why their respective sides find themselves at the summit of the competition.
The draw sees the Magic retain their five point lead over the Rangers, and with three matches remaining in the 2012 season proper, take a big step towards the title, but I?m sure this won?t be the last time we see these two sides meet in 2012.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Fogarty pen 54?)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 1 (Lloyd 90? + 2?)
Saturday, 28th July, 2012
Popondetta Park, Emerton
Referee Adam Susz
Assistant Referees ; Youael Shamon & Paul Faithfull
MT DRUITT TOWN: 1.T.West, 2.M.Aragone, 4.D.Fogarty, 5.R.O?Shea (capt), 8.N.Ralph, 9.C.McNaughton, 10.J.Kirby, 11.G.McPherson, 14.C.Prothero, 17.M.Todd, 18.T.Macrae.
Substitutes Not Used: 3.J.Howard, 6.D.Penfold, 7.S.Ardle, 12.L.Brown, 99.J.Marsh.
Yellow Cards: .9.C.McNaughton 35?.
Red Cards: Nil
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC: 1.K.Tohouroglou (capt), 2.A.Morris, 11.B.Townley-Jones, 9.S.Tonkin, 3.J.Fotiadis (14.P.O?Doherty 7?), 4.L.Harte, 13.C.Care (6.A.Ryan 83?), 10.Alistair McKie (7.T.Nastoulis 88?), 8.J.Martinez, 5.S.Lloyd, 15.A.McKie.
Substitutes Not Used: 12.T.Huet, 1.P.Ferrara.
Yellow Cards: .4.L.Harte 49?, 15.Andrew McKie 59?.
Red Cards: Nil
State League One
Round Nineteen Review
SATURDAY, July 28
Southern Bulls vs Northbridge FC 1-2
Northbridge FC came from behind to overpower Southern Bulls at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday afternoon, winning 2-1 at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Ercan Topal got the home fans out of their seats and cheering as early as the 7th minute, scoring to put the Bulls one up.
But Northbridge worked their way back into match, responding just nine minutes later through Michael Cole, before sneaking in front at the half hour mark via Wynter?s goal.
That?s the way the scoreboard remained, and as a result the Northbridge side have moved to 26 points, occupying fifth position.
Southern Bulls have disappointingly dropped away in recent weeks, and remain second bottom on 16 points ? they have three matches remaining in 2012 before they can start rebuilding for next season.
Stanmore Hawks vs Inter Lions 0-1
Inter Lions made it another three points in a tight tussle on Saturday night, accounting for Stanmore Hawks by a solitary own goal at Arlington Oval.
The goal came at a great time for the Lions, just before the break, and they fought hard to defend their lead and grab the spoils in a ?six-pointer? between the local Inner West sides.
Stanmore?s loss sees them in 7th position on the ladder, but still within a shout of making the top five after resurrecting their season in recent months.
Inter Lions have now climbed to 33 points, and sit third on the ladder, and are actually one point behind second placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers with a game in hand to be played this week against UNSW. It has been a great turnaround by the Lions from the basement position they held in 2011, to the heady heights of 3rd spot and finals football in 2012.
Balmain SC vs UNSW 0-1
UNSW grabbed a valuable three points on the road on Saturday night when they defeated Balmain SC at Lambert Park.
?King? Henry Kamleitner scored the all important winner on 30 minutes, his ninth goal of the campaign, to give the ?students? the spoils, putting on 29 points in 4th place on the ladder.
Balmain?s loss leaves them in 8th position on 22 points, with all in front of them if they are to extend their season come finals time.
SUNDAY, July 29
Schofields Scorpions vs Camden Tigers 0-0
Schofields Scorpions and Camden Tigers played out a scoreless draw at CSI Sport Ground on Sunday afternoon.
The draw hurts the Tigers the most as they slip outside the top five as a result, moving to 25 points and now in sixth spot, having four games left to play.
Schofields edge just that little bit further away from the basement, now on 18 points in 10th spot, two ahead of Southern Bulls and six in front of bottom placed Hurstville ZFC.
Hurstville ZFC vs Fairfield City Lions 0-1
Fairfield City Lions kept their semi final hopes alive by snatching all three points in a dour 1-0 away victory over Hurstville ZFC.
The Lions came into the Sunday afternoon clash at Hurstville Oval desperate for a win to stay in touch with the top sides, and managed to achieve their objective courtesy of Ben Cronk?s 64th minute goal.
The win sees Fairfield City move to 23 points, up to 8th spot on the ladder, but only three points from 5th placed Northbridge. In recent years the Lions have been an integral part of semi final football in State League One, and are keen to continue that and come home strong in their final four matches of 2012.
-By Frank Speranza
