SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 4 Review
A bright start to Round Four of the SUPA IGA National Premier Leagues NSW Mens 2 saw fifteen goals on the Saturday, six of them coming from the Football NSW ‘Match of the Round’ at Jensen Park between Bankstown City and Sydney University.
11 more on the Sunday made for some entertaining football this weekend. Mounties Wanderers remain at the top of the ladder – at least for now – with Bankstown City three points behind with a game in hand.
Match of the Round
Petrovski hat trick not enough for Bankstown
It was a calculated start for the home side, seeking a win to that would take them to the top of the SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2.
In the first minute Nicolo Sama forced a save from Sydney University ‘keeper Julian Harders, who parried the ball out for a corner.
Saso Petrovski found himself with his back to goal in the fifth minute. The former A-League and South Coast Wolves striker turned and shot in one foul sweep but Harders again deflected the ball to safety.
Sydney University began to work themselves into the game, stringing some passes together inside their own half that would quickly lead to a profitable attacking phase after only 11 minutes.
Through the initial creative outlet of Hayato Wakino on the right flank, the ball made its way to Jamie Watt just inside the box who elegantly flicked the ball over his head and slotted home to give University the 1-0 lead.
Nathan Samsom was a Goliath in defence but at times his tackles were a bit agricultural. Petrovski was slammed to the ground by Samsom centimetres outside the penalty box but fortunately for the University giant the prime positioned free kick came to little.
On 20 minutes Peter Vassilis was brought down inside the box by Harry Ascroft and Petrovski coolly put the ball down the middle past the ‘keeper to level the scores at one apiece.
Referee Adrian Arndt was expecting a tough encounter at Jensen Park and indeed had to keep several Bankstown players in line, with five names from the home side going into the books.
A handball claim for Bankstown in the 29th minute was waived away but it would be forgotten three minutes later when Petrovski – on the counterattack – got on the scorecard again with a chip of the ‘keeper.
However Peter Crevani immediately fired back for Sydney University, driving the ball through a sea of players and into the back of the net. Two-all the score after 32 minutes but it wouldn’t stay that way for long.
Despite the away side playing arguably the more attractive football it was the experience of Petrovski that would win out. In the 38th minute the veteran bagged his hat trick powering the ball home to give City the 3-2 lead into halftime.
The pace and fervour of the first stanza was continued into the second, but the goals were not as quickly forthcoming. Opportunities at both ends came to nothing as tempers began to heat up.
Bankstown’s Michael Yarnold forced a save on the hour mark despite two defenders chasing him down. Up the other end University playmaker Daisuke Kataoka was running the show and the travelling away crowd sensed a third goal.
Meanwhile a long range effort from City defender Simon Verrender almost snuck into the bottom left corner, an outstretched Harder the only thing stopping a goal that would have sealed the win.
University eventually equalised through the in-form Jamie Watt, who snared his double in the 71st minute. Watt was beautifully assisted by Wakino, whose positional play and partnership with Kataoka throughout the match was a joy to watch.
3-3 the final score, a result which will leave both teams disappointed they didn’t take maximum points.
Saturday 13 April 2013
at Jensen Park
Referee: Adrian Arndt
Assistants: Steve Nguyen and Katie Patterson
Bankstown City FC: 24. Dominic Hudap, 25. Zlatko Joseski, 6. Reuben Lagos, 7 Stefanos Liavas, 17 James O’Rourke, 10. Saso Petrovski, 21. Nicolo Sama, 22. Zac Vallorani, 4. Peter Vassilis, 5. Simon Verrender, 19. Michael Yarnold
Subs not used: 12. Todd Halloran, 8. George Nohra, 15. Sam Salameh
Yellow Cards: James O’Rourke (23rd) 4. Peter Vassilis (43rd) 7. Stefanos Liavas (55th) 5. Simon Verrender (82nd) 6. Reuban Lagos (89th)
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney University SFC: 1. Julian Harders, 17. Nathan Amore (2. Jonathan Hurtado Pacheo), 20. Joel Ainscomb, 5. Harry Ascroft, 6. Peter Crevani, 4. Daisuke Kataoka, 3. Nathan Sansom, 7. Anthony Villazon, 23. Hayato Wakino, 8. Jamie Watt, 11. Aaron Kidd (18. Adrian Porcu 65th),
Subs not used: 14. John Chine, 31. Riley Keayes, 24. Jeremy Butnaru,
Yellow Cards: Nathan Amore (54th),
Red Cards: Nil
Mounties Wanderers FC 2 vs Parramatta FC 1
at Cook Park
It was former Gold Coast United player Daniel Severino who handed Parramatta their second loss for the season, slotting home a penalty for the home side that gave them the ultimate 2-1 scoreline from the 35th minute onwards.
The seasoned midfielder joined the Wanderers this year after a stint with Marconi Stallions in the former NSW Premier League and the well-recruited Mounties are already making a splash with ten points from a maximum 12.
Parramatta opened the scoring with a penalty of their own, Niram Kanoun stepping up to convert in the 25th. But two minutes later a break down the left wing saw the ball crossed to Baldock, who obligingly put the ball in the back of the net.
Mounties assistant Glenn Lockhart was happy with his boys’ performance, particularly the return of Scott Goodwin (from two weeks suspension) to the centre of defence and the impact of his substitutions.
MOUNTIES WANDERERS FC: GREGORY BALDOCK, DANIEL SEVERINO
PARRAMATTA FC: NIRAM KANOUN
Macarthur Rams 0 vs Spirit FC 1
at Lynwood Park
Spirit FC have been riddled with suspensions and injury but managed their first win of the season, defeating Macarthur Rams one nil and, perhaps more importantly, finishing with 11 men on the park.
Fielding a young team, Spirit focused on using a compact defence to break down the Rams, the move proving successful half way through the first half.
Henry Wells took the ball from the right flank into the edge of the box and flicked a pass through to Andrew McKie. The Spirit forward, one on one with the ‘keeper, side-footed the ball into the goal.
Coach of Spirit FC Rob di Ceglie was delighted in his team’s ability to win the aerial battles and hold the defensive line.
With Macarthur seemingly frustrated from the lack of penetration, high balls and long range efforts were attempted unsuccessfully and the score would remain 1-0 for the rest of the match.
SPIRIT FC: A. McKIE
Bankstown Berries 1 vs Fraser Park FC 1
at The Crest Athletic Centre
The Berries drew 1-1 with Fraser Park on Saturday in a toughly contested match at The Crest Athletic Centre. Nil all at half time, the game opened up when Liam McKenna headed one in at the back post off a set piece.
Disappointingly for the Berries, that lead lasted only five minutes as Fraser Park retaliated with a long balled free kick. A header from a hard angle eventuated in the equaliser and all signs pointed to a draw from there on it.
A highly competitive fixture, both sides did have several opportunities to take three points but came unstuck in the final third.
Coach for Bankstown Berries John Calleja saw his team as the dominant side on the day and was pleased with his players’ movement through the middle of the park and the defensive back four structures. The Berries are now undefeated in four matches, although only have six from a maximum 12 points.
BANKSTOWN BERRIES: LIAM MCKENNA
FRASER PARK FC: UNKNOWN
Northern Tigers 3 vs Hills Brumbies 1
at Mills Park
Tigers came back from a one nil deficit at half time with three goals to sink Hills Brumbies
It was Jeffrey Issa who opened the scoring, receiving a cross from the left and volleying the ball well to give the away side the lead.
Northern Tigers took their time to retaliated, but retaliate they did. Kick-started by a goal to Brendan Salameh late in the match, Thomas Spencer then gave the home side the lead.
Thomas received a cross from Nicholas Paras and volleyed over the head of Brumbies’ ‘keeper Michael Frost, the ball looping into the back of the net.
With only five minutes to go Aram Tayebi Derazkala completed the come-from-behind victory, meaning Tigers would take maximum points in a 3-1 triumph.
NORTHERN TIGERS: BRENDAN SALAMEH, ARAM TAYEBI DERAZKALA, THOMAS SPENCER
HILLS BRUMBIES: JEFFREY ISSA
St George FC 6 vs Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 1
at St George Stadium
St George demolished Rangers 6-1 with five of their goals coming in the second half to trample their western opposition. Juan Chavez, Aleksander Jovovic and Marino Musumeci all got their name on the scoresheet for the home side, with Chavez bagging four on his own.
An albeit competitive Mt Druitt Town Rangers had James Howard snare them a consolation goal but it was far too little too late against a team that seemed in-sync with one another from kick-off.
The lone first half goal came from the penalty spot with Chavez hitting home but it would be his second from open play early in the second half that would unravel Rangers defence.
Two more from Chavez and then one from Jovovic – a result of decent combinations and transitional play – made it five and then Musumeci comically scored with the back of his head. A weak back pass from a Rangers defender to his goalkeeper had Musumeci chasing it down but the attempted clearance rebounded off the St George player’s head and looped over the ‘keeper into the net.
St George FC coach Manny Spanoudakis was impressed with his young team’s performance and will look to take this momentum into next week’s catch-up match against Bankstown.
ST GEORGE FC: CHAVEZ (4), JOVOVIC, MUSUMECI
MT DRUITT TOWN RANGERS FC: HOWARD
-By Matthew Greenlaw
