State League Two Round 22 Review
Match of the Round
MOUNTAINS UNITED V BATHURST 75?
Mountains United proved too big an obstacle for Bathurst 75?, with the home side edging out their opponents 2-1 in a nail-biting clash on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Summerhayes Park.
Mountains United hit the lead through make-shift front man Craig Small in the 41? minute, but Bathurst restored parity just before the break via the head of Daniel Luther.
Bathurst came out firing in the second-half knowing too well that nothing but a win would do, but after soaking up plenty of pressure it was Peter Henderson for Mountains who broke the deadlock in the 67? minute ? with the home side defending out the game to win 2-1.
The centre of the pitch resembled something of a dust bowl, making passing difficult with both sides forced to move up the park cautiously early in the piece.
Brett Osborne for Bathurst was first to threaten as he cleverly swivelled and pulled the trigger with his left foot on 8? minutes, but his shot lacked power and was easily picked up by Geoff Abrahams.
Matt Kelly tried his luck from distance for the home side in the 13? minute but his shot finished well wide of the target.
A magnificent 30 yard ball from Tobias Elliot-Orr put Peter Henderson on-route towards goal with only his marker to beat, but the striker?s heavy first touch allowed Bathurst youngster Christie to break down the attack.
Bryan Campbell had an excellent chance in the 19? minute but failed to guide his header on target from a flat Peter Henderson cross.
Less than 60 seconds later Bathurst almost took the lead after player-coach Mark Rooke showed great vision to play Strainay into the box, with the winger doing well to dribble towards goal only for his shot to smash against the side netting.
Disaster almost struck Bathurst 75? in the 25? minute after Bathurst?s young shot-stopper Deaton failed to control a back-pass that almost saw the ball roll into the empty net – but he quickly redeemed himself after chasing down the rolling ball and booting to clear.
Bryan Campbell beat the off-side trap in the 32? minute and delivered a high looping cross that Tobias Elliot-Orr won, but the midfielders? header failed to test Deaton.
Mountains United were starting to really push Bathurst and lively midfielder Elliot-Orr turned provider in the 34? minute, knocking a lovely ball out wide for Bryan Campbell who again slid a ball into the box finding Peter Henderson ? but the striker failed to connect.
Collins toe poked a clever ball for Brett Osborne after 39? minutes, and the midfielder perhaps should have done better with a clear view on goal as he lashed a shot that failed to hit the target.
Mountains United capitalised on some lacklustre defending in the 41? minute, with Craig Small showing experience to use his body well to beat Deaton for the opening goal.
The home side?s 1-0 advantage was short-lived though, after James Christie won his side a free kick deep in Mountains half just before the break. Collins hit a deep ball into the box picking out an open Daniel Luther at the back post who lobbed his header past the hapless Geoff Abrahams to make it 1-1, restoring parity and keeping Bathurst?s finals hopes alive.
Following the break, Bathurst came out firing off the back of their equaliser with Brett Osborne threading a pass that split the Mountains United defence, but play was halted with Martin caught in an off-side position.
Bathurst defender Spice snapped a long range effort in the 48? minute, but Geoff Abrahams was equal to it.
The home side got their first look in on goal in the second-half after 54? minutes with Bryan Campbell trying to lob Deaton, but his effort finished wide of the mark.
After soaking up much pressure early on in the second half, it was Peter Henderson who made it 2-1 after latching onto a through ball in the 56? minute, slamming the ball past Deaton on his second attempt after the young Bathurst custodian pulled off a wonderful point blank range save first up.
James Christie was causing troubles for Mountains United and won his side a free kick 25 yards out in the 70? minute. The resultant free-kick saw Collins set up Booth, whose powerful drive was deflected out for a corner.
Jye Doyle had a great chance to finish Bathurst off in the 81? minute but his shot lacked composure and finished well over the cross-bar.
Bathurst?s under 18 youngster Tumeth Mcleod showed great speed to skip past his marker inside the area in the 82? minute, but his shot was brilliantly saved by Abrahams.
A minute later and some more fantastic work by the physical Tumeth Mcleod saw him run to the by line and cut back for Mark Rooke, but he failed to get a hold of his shot properly.
Bathurst?s attacking forays forward continued as Collins hit a back post cross for Booth, who was unable to direct his headed effort towards goal.
In the last chance of the game, Booth crossed into the box finding Daniel Luther?s head, but the defender?s effort finished agonisingly wide of the post which summed up Bathurst?s afternoon.
With Bathurst?s season hanging in the balance ? a late flurry of attacking assaults on United?s defence failed to produce any goals, and after their shock 5-1 loss to Belmore on Friday night they have failed to sneak into the top five after Hurstville booked their place with a 2-2 draw with Nepean.
Mountains United played a smart game, and were content to soak up plenty of Bathurst 75? pressure to hold out for the win with their focus now shifting to their blockbuster elimination semi-final against Hurstville next week.
FULL-TIME
Match Stats
Mountains United 2 (C Small 41? P Henderson 67?)
Bathurst 75? 1 (D Luther 44?)
Sunday August 19th, 2012
Summerhayes Park, Winmalee
Referee: J.Lewis
Assistant Referees: M.Kimber and L.Morgan
Mountains United: GK.G.Abrahams; 4.K.Davies, 3.N.King, 14.M.Kelly, 9.S.Lane, 25.T.Elliot-Orr, 29.J.Doyle, 12.M.Schensual (28.D.Mason 72?), 8.C.Small, 10.P.Henderson, 18.B.Campbell
Substitutes Not Used: 26.B.Griffiths, 1.T.Kelly, 33.C.Williams, 11.R.Haberman
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Bathurst 75?: GK.B.Deaton; 2.N.Spice, 6.J.Tumeth-Mcleod, 3.D.Luther, 5.A.Christie, 7.B. Osborne, 8.B.Collins, 11.J.Strainay (16.D.Harvey 75?), 4.M.Rooke, 10.J.Martin (12.D.Booth 58?), 9.J.Christie
Substitutes Not Used: 14.J.Hotham, 17.W.Fitzpatrick
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Division Two Review ? Round 22
Western Condors FC 1 (R Sanchez 36?) Luddenham United 2 (C Camilleri 24? P May 69?)
Sunday, 19 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Knight Park Field No. 4
Luddenham United finished their season off with a bang to claim victory over Western Condors 2-1.
Chris Camilleri put the visitors in front on 24? minutes before Roberto Sanchez for the Condors made it 1-1 just before half-time.
Paul May scored in the 69? minute for Luddenham making it 2-1, with United defending the game out to snatch all three points.
Luddenham and Western Condors both end the season on 27 points and an identical goal difference of -7 in equal seventh spot.
FC Gazy 3 (F Ryota 23? D Brooker 51? I Hameed 67?) West City FC 2 (B Mitrovich 21/70?)
Sunday, 19 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Hartleys Oval
FC Gazy have avoided collecting a second consecutive wooden spoon after defeating West City 3-2 in dramatic circumstances on the last day of the regular season.
Brendan Mitrovich set the scene for West City by putting his side in front after 21? minutes, but it was short lived after Fujioka Ryota equalised for FC Gazy just 2? minutes later.
Daniel Brooker scored a 51? minute penalty to give FC Gazy a 2-1 lead before Ibrahim Hameed made it 3-1 with a delicate chip over Akers in the 67? minute.
Brendan Mitrovich made it a contest once again after reducing the deficit to just one goal in the 70? minute but FC Gazy were too strong to hang on for the three points.
The win sees FC Gazy finished a measly one point above Nepean while West City finish in ninth position.
Hawkesbury City SC 0 Prospect United 1 (A Maxwell 70?)
Sunday, 19 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Bensons Lane Field
Prospect United finished their season on a high, booking their fourth straight win to snatch second place away from Hawkesbury City on the last day of the regular season.
Anthony Maxwell?s 70? minute winner separated the sides, with Prospect overturning their round 11 loss to the Hawks to book a home semi final next week.
The loss sees the Hawks come crashing down to earth after their huge scalp over Hakoah the week prior, but they won?t need to wait long to exact revenge as these sides will line up again next week in the first week of finals.
Belmore United 1 (C Bah 27?) vs Hakoah 3 (N Jablonski 19? J Mundell 42? Watt 88?)
Sunday, 19 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Blick Oval
Hakoah returned to the winners list after accounting for Belmore United 3-1.
Neil Jablonski opened the scoring in the 19? minute for the league champions but Belmore replied via Bah after 27? minutes.
Jordan Mundell edged the champions back in front just before the break and were reduced to 10 men after Randall was sent off after 60? minutes ? however this had little impact on the result as Jamie Watt sealed the win with a few minutes spare.
Hakoah will enjoy their well deserved week off next week while Belmore have done well to finish their season off strongly in tenth spot.
Hurstville City Minotaurs 3 (H Morhi 35/87? M Di Meglio 55?) Nepean FC 3 (S Camacho 20? A Walker 70? A Deng 90?)
Sunday, 19 August 2012 @ 3-00pm at Punchbowl Oval
Hurstville City Minotaurs have booked their place in the finals after plenty of drama unfolded at Punchbowl Oval on Sunday afternoon against Nepean.
Seb Camacho put the reds in front after 20? minutes but the home side replied before the break via Haisam Morhi.
Following the break, Michael Di Meglio put the Minotaurs up 2-1 but Andrew Walker made it 2-2 after 70? minutes.
With the Minotaurs needing three points to ensure their passage through to the finals, Pandemonium ensued after Haisam Morhi scored what looked like the winner in the 87? minute.
Football isn?t over until it?s over though, and Ajok Deng scored at the death to ensure both sides would share the spoils, much to the dismay of the Minotaurs camp.
Despite Hurstville?s inability to secure three points, Bathurst 75? were unable to overcome the might of Mountains United and therefore booked their place in the top five, with eyes now on their elimination semi-final against Mountains United next week.
Nepean on the other hand was unable to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon after FC Gazy scored a win against West City, but the closeness of League Two is there for all to see with just 12 points separating sixth to twelfth.
Rescheduled Fixture
Bathurst 75? 1 Belmore United 5
Friday, 17 August 2012 @ 8-00pm at Alec Lamberton Field
Division Two Reserve Grade – Round 22 Overview
Mountains United vs Bathurst 75? ? 1-1
Western Condors FC vs Luddenham United ? 1-2
FC Gazy vs West City FC ? 1-2
Hawkesbury City SC vs Prospect United ? 1-0
Belmore United vs Hakoah ? 1-6
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Nepean FC ? 2-2
Rescheduled Fixture
Bathurst 75? vs Belmore United ? 2-2
-By Dean Southern
