State League Two Round 19 Review
Match of the Round
PROSPECT UNITED V HURSTVILLE CITY MINOTAURS
Hurstville City Minotaurs were always in control and found themselves up via the boot of Alex Obeid on 25? minutes ? and things turned bad to worse for the hosts just 5? minutes later with a costly defensive blunder gifting Michael Di Meglio time and space to make it 2-0.
The points were all but sealed less than an hour in, after Prospect left themselves open at the back after pushing forward with Michael Di Meglio topping off a great individual performance to finish Prospect off, with the Minotaurs running out deserved 3-0 winners.
Both sides started the evening cautiously, keeping the ball on the deck and testing out their opponents nerves via some long distance efforts.
Prospect United?s Oliver Omara turned Michael Di Meglio on half way and played in Luis Freitas, who in turn sent Nima Nikfarjam down the line for Prospect?s first foray forward? but the wingers cross was easy pickings for Hurstville?s custodian Sheku Kamara.
Prospect United?s midfield General Adrian Jennings thread a tidy pass for danger man Luis Freitas in the 8? minute on the edge of the area, but the striker miscued his shot for it to roll wide of the target as the home side were lumping some early pressure on Hurstville?s defence.
After 11? minutes, Hurstville?s Berry sent a long direct ball into the box picking out Terry Sidiratos, but Shannon Smith was gallant in defence and climbed to clasp the ball with two hands, taking the towering defender by surprise.
Haisam Morhi had a golden chance in the 13? minute, volleying from point blank after a scramble ensued from a Hurstville Minotaurs corner ? but the strikers shot failed to find its way through the host of bodies camped inside the six yard area.
It was end to end action early on and Adrian Jennings went close in the 24? minute for the home side, lashing a long range stinging effort just over the target.
Just moments later and down the other end though – Hurstville found an opening through Alex Obeid, who snapped a half volley into the back of the net from a high corner that Prospect failed to clear to make it 1-0 in Hurstville?s favour.
Hurstville?s attacking weapon Haisam Morhi skipped past his marker inside the box after 28? minutes and looped a dangerous ball across goal ? only for the chance to go begging for the Minotaurs with no one in the box.
Prospect were looking to play their way back into the game but a stray back pass put Michael Di Meglio one on one with Smith, and the striker extended the Minotaurs lead with a well taken sliding shot under the Prospect shot stopper to make it 2-0 after 31? minutes.
The home side almost instantly replied with Adam Gatt thumping a powerful strike from 25 yards out that blasted against the crossbar.
Prospect toiled away in the remaining stages of the first half and it was Adam Gatt again on the stroke of half-time that connected with a Matthew Hubbard corner that brushed past the post.
Following the break, Hurstville were happy to sit back and soak up some pressure ? and it was Prospect?s Troy Sullivan with the first chance of the half as he lashed a difficult volley over the goal from a corner.
Adam Gatt picked out Nima Nikfarjam who made a darting run into the box, but his first touch allowed Kamara to rush in and clear the danger.
It was all Prospect in the opening exchanges of the second-half and in the 56? minute Prospect?s lively midfield Adam Gatt controlled the ball and tried his luck from an acute angle, but the ball failed to hit the target.
Hurstville were content in seeing what Prospect could throw at them after the break and against the run of play, Angelo Vagenas showed great vision to dink a magical ball for Michael Di Meglio, and the striker made it 3-0 with wonderful side footed shot over the head of Smith.
Prospect were 3-0 down but certainly not out, as Adrian Jennings looked to get his side back in the contest after letting fly a shot from 20 yards out in the 64? minute that Sheku Kamara brilliantly tipped onto the bar and out for a corner to keep the Minotaurs three goal buffer intact.
Prospect were sending all men forward with nothing to lose and in the 70? minute, Stefano Marconi cleared the ball off the line after Eren Kirkpinar powered a head on goal.
In the end Hurstville were too good on the night, and made things difficult for Prospect after snatching an early 2-0 lead inside half hour of play which threw Prospects game plan out the window.
The win sees Hurstville stretch their timely unbeaten run to three games and consolidate their spot in the top five while that?s three losses on the trot for Prospect United.
Match Stats
Prospect United 0
Hurstville City Minotaurs 3 (A Obeid 25? M Di Meglio 31?/58?)
Saturday July 28th, 2012
William Lawson Reserve, Prospect
Prospect United: GK.S.Smith; 2.L.Isbister, 3.M.Viera, 7.L.Freitas, 5.O.Omara, 8.A.Jennings 9.N.Nikfarjam (10.A.Gaeta 53?), 12.T.Sullivan, 13.E.Kirkpinar (10.A.Diloreto 72?), 15.A.Gatt (6.A.Maxwell 65?), 16.M.Hubbard
Substitutes Not Used: RGK.M.Steell
Yellow Cards: 12.T.Sullivan 63?
Red Cards: Nil
Hurstville City Minotaurs: GK.S.Kamara; 4.S.Marconi (20.O.Lagousalis 75?), 41.T.Sidiratos, 14.S.Takopoulos, 16.M.Berry, 2.A.Obeid (L.Stratton 68?), 19.A.Vagenas, 5.D.Bajacua, 6.K.Phylactou (12.J.Gymellat 83?), 11.H.Morhi, 10.M.Di Meglio
Substitutes Not Used: RGK.R.O?Connor, 3.R.Colbourne
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Division Two Review ? Round 19
Bathurst ?75 2 (J Christie 39/86m) West City FC 0
Saturday, 28 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field
Bathurst 75? have backed up their 6 points last week with a solid 2-0 win over West City on Saturday night.
A James Christie brace ? with a goal either side of the break was enough to clinch three vital points for Bathurst 75, as they look to make a last dash play for a 2012 finals berth.
The win sees Bathurst move into outright sixth, just 2 points out of the top five while the loss confines West City to ninth on the ladder and 3 points further back.
Nepean FC 1 (A Majok 50m) Belmore United 2 (A Guerrera 33/61m)
Saturday, 28 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Cook Park
Belmore did their chances of avoiding the wooden spoon no harm as they edged out Nepean FC 2-1 on Saturday night.
Alessandro Guemera put Belmore up just before the break before Abraham Majok put the home side back in the contest with a 50? minute equaliser.
As both sides desperately fought out a gruelling battle and pushing for the points, Alessandro Guemera ensured Belmore would come away with a very important 3 points after scoring his sides second and eventual winner in the 61? minute.
The loss caps of a disappointing fortnight of football for Nepean, who have lost their last three games to now languish at the wrong end of the table. Belmore on the other hand will be happy to have tasted glory for just the third time this season, and will look to build momentum to avoid a bottom place finish.
Western Condors FC 0 Hawkesbury City SC 0
Sunday, 29 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Knight Park Field No.4
Western Condors FC and Hawkesbury City played out an entertaining 0-0 draw for amazingly the second time this season.
When these sides met back in May at Bensons Lane, it was an identical result with both sides cancelling each other out. After goals were expected this time around, both defences stole the show once again after a flurry of late chances and a Western Condors send off late in the game ? the draw seemed a fair result with both sides trading blows over 90? minutes.
The Hawks retain third spot on the ladder with the point helping their quest for a top three finish while the draw sees Western Condors move into eighth spot, after Bathurst and Hurstville both enjoyed victories.
Luddenham United 0 Mountains United 0
Sunday, 29 July 2012 @ 3-00pm at Luddenham Oval
Luddenham United and Mountains United also cancelled each other out on Sunday afternoon, with neither side able to break the deadlock for a share of the spoils.
With Hawkesbury and Western Condors also sharing the points at Knight Park Field, the result sees the standings almost remain static with only Bathurst and Hurstville benefiting after enjoying victories.
In a game of two halves, Luddenham soaked up plenty of pressure inside the opening 25? minutes as Luddenham shot-stopper Bojan Radmilo was called into action on numerous occasions to keep his side in the contest.
The home side did spring to life after the break though, with Luddenham unable to put the game to bed after creating some good chances late in the game.
Despite ending in a draw, Luddenham United head coach Rick Muscat was still happy with the football his side played against top two side Mountains United ?Although we didn?t win today, I was very happy with the football the boys played ? especially in the second-half.?
The draw extends Mountains United?s unbeaten streak to seven games and almost ensures a top two finish while Luddenhan will need to win their remaining games to give themselves any chance of making the finals.
Hakoah vs FC Gazy (see Football NSW website for result)
Sunday, 29 July 2012 @ 7-00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 19 Overview
Prospect United vs Hurstville City Minotaurs ? 1-3
Bathurst 75 vs West City FC ? 0-0
Nepean FC vs Belmore United ? 1-1
Western Condors FC vs Hawkesbury City SC ? 1-2
Luddenham United vs Mountains United ? 1-0
Hakoah vs FC Gazy (see Football NSW website for result)
-By Dean Southern
