State League One Round 4 Review
Round 4 in State League One produced almost 4 goals per game with a total of 22 in the six matches played over the weekend. Three matches finished in entertaining 2-2 draws, Dully hit Camden for six, whilst Hakoah returned to the winner’s list against the high flying Hawks.
Our match of the round was at The Crest where Inter Lions welcomed the visit of Nepean FC.
Inter Lions 0 Nepean FC 2
Inter Lions arguably had the better of play on Sunday evening against Nepean FC, but failed to convert their opportunities, and eventually succumbed 0-2 at The Crest Athletic Centre.
The Lions came into the match having parted ways midweek with their coach of over two years, Nick Tarquinio, with the club rewarding their successful U/20s coach, Matteo Maiorana, by giving him an opportunity to step up to the mark. They were also missing the experience of Adrian Vizzari, suspended following his red card in Wednesday’s Cup defeat at Parramatta, Miguel Martinez, also suspended, and Nino Fragassi, still recovering from injury.
So Inter had it all to do against a Nepean side that had progressed to Round 4 of the Waratah Cup following their 3-2 victory against Southern Bulls midweek, and with a loss and a draw to show in the league this season, they were looking to complete the set with a victory on the road.
The Lions started the brighter, however, with Anthony Poniris blasting over in the 3rd minute when Jacob Di Mento found him with a great square pass on the edge of the box.
Domenic Di Mento, back in the side after injury, then strained to head just over the bar in the 10th minute when Michael Sidoti had found some space on the right hand side for Inter to send over a far post cross.
Inter Lions were stubborn across the back, and slick in their passing in midfield as they dominated possession in the first half hour, patient as they tried to prise open the Nepean defensive line.
Inter should’ve opened their account on 33 minutes, when Joshua De Kelly made some inroads down the inside left before slipping a pass to Domenic Di Mento on the left wing. The tricky winger cut inside a defender before sending over a brilliant far post, pin point cross, only for Steve Biviano to crash his downward header against the base of the upright and out, a chance he would normally gobble up with his eyes closed.
Nepean finally had an opportunity themselves, and it came after a long 34 minutes, with Sebastian Camacho’s left foot snapshot deflected wide following a brilliant run and cut back by Joshua Hunter.
The same two players combined in the 40th minute, well almost, with Camacho just failing by millimetres to connect to Hunter’s low cross after the busy winger had seized upon a lazy square pass by the Inter defence.
Nepean would’ve been content to hear the half time whistle, having kept Inter scoreless, and hoping to regroup and turn things around in the second half.
Camacho almost did just that within moments of the restart, heading over when he connected with a Marc Gane free kick.
Nepean goalkeeper, Ryan Trussell, was then called into action on 50 minutes, when he was at full stretch to tip a Michael Sidoti 25 yard piledriver over the cross bar as Inter pushed on the gas.
Nepean were dangerous on the counter, and showed their wares in the 57th minute when Nikola Pozder’s downward header flashed wide of the mark after some great work on the right flank by Camacho.
The action flowed back and forth as both teams tried to sniff out a goal, and this time it was Inter’s turn in the 61st minute, with Nepean’s Marc Gane’s desperate lunge blocking Domenic Di Mento’s angled shot after a great defence splitting pass by Daniele Chiandotto.
Both coaches went to the bench for some fresh legs after the hour mark, and shortly after it was Nepean who edged themselves in front on 73 minutes.
Marc Gane hit a grass cutter that was spilled by Inter’s goalkeeper, Andrea Gabrielli, and Joshua Hunter was ‘johnny-on-the-spot’ to tap the loose ball into the empty net to give the visitors the lead.
Inter responded with a couple of long range efforts that had the Nepean faithful gasping, firstly via Dario Espejel from 25 yards in the 81st minute, and then Chiandotto’s well placed 87th minute shot had to be tipped over by Nepean’s keeper, Trussell.
The visitors picked up a couple of late cautions as they tried valiantly to hold ground, but even did one better when they scored again to wrap up the match.
Joshua Hunter was at it again down the left flank, weaving in and out of an Inter defender before his low blast across the goal was diverted into his own net by the unfortunate Espejel, and that was all she wrote.
Nepean coach, Adam Malouf, would have been thrilled with the three points, and the way his team held firm under pressure before coming away with the late win. Sebastian Camacho was a busy striker, strong on the ball, and competitive in the tackle, whilst Nathaniel Harnett and Marc Gane had influential games in the heart of defence. Joshua Hunter was dangerous every time he touched the ball, with every outcome causing Inter problems.
Inter have had a tumultuous week of sorts, and were always up against it with the personnel changes, but did ever so well under the circumstances and easily could’ve come away with something from the match. Matteo Maiorana will be actually able to get a training session under his belt this week, no doubt, and will surely help lift the club away from the lower rungs of the ladder.
Daniele Chiandotto was very effective in a holding midfield position for Inter, linking well in defence and attack alike as he looked very composed on the ball. Michael Sidoti and Dario Espejel also did well, working ever so hard in a real box to box performance for both midfielders.
Match Stats
Inter Lions 0
Nepean FC 2 (Hunter 73’, Espejel own goal 90’ + 2)
Sunday, April 28, 2013
The Crest Athletic Centre, Georges Hall
Referee: Mr D Morris
Assistant Referees : Mr A Rego and Mr C Abela
Bench: J. Woods, Z. Elrich, W. Angel, V. Rigoli, I. Johnson.INTER LIONS: 21.A.Gabrielli, 11.S.Biviano (15.J.Prasad 70’), 6.D.Chiandotto, 8.G. Di Mento (7.A.Ali Khan 65’), 2.S.Di Natale, 14.D.Espejel, 5.R.Bradley (capt), 9.D.Di Mento (13.A.Al Waeli 70’), 3.J.De Kelly, 10.M.Sidoti, 4.A.Poniris.
Substitutes Not Used:1.L.Soto, 12.E.Demiroz.
Yellow Cards: 10.M.Sidoti 36’.
Red Cards: Nil
NEPEAN FC: 1.R.Trussell (capt), 17.D.Borg, 2.S.Camacho, 12.R.Colbourne, 7.D.Fagan (10.M.Awad 65’), 3.M.Gane, 6.N.Harnett, 14.J.Hunter, 8.T.Pannowitz, 13.N.Pozder, 18.N.Walker.
Substitutes Not Used: 5.A.Deng, 25.R.O’Connor, 20.M.Miladinski, 16.K.Ciappa.
Yellow Cards: 10.M.Awad 88’, 18.N.Walker 89’.
Red Cards: Nil
STATE LEAGUE ONE ROUND FOUR REVIEW
Round Four kicked off with two fixtures late on Saturday afternoon, with both finishing in a 2-2 draw.
At Lawson Park, league leaders, Prospect United, welcomed the visit of Balmain Tigers, both teams smarting from midweek losses in the Waratah Cup to local Association sides.
Balmain started the brighter, and Yianni Kritikos almost broke the deadlock on six minutes, but Prospect keeper, Michael Steell saved when faced in a one on one battle.
The Tigers kept at it and took the lead in the 25th minute, Liam Cole showing that effective set pieces is a family gene by scoring direct from a free kick inside the near post.
Will Donato then doubled the visitors advantage, heading in another free kick in the 43rd minute to give Balmain a commanding half time lead.
The second stanza had barely commenced and Prospect were awarded a penalty, with Balmain defender, Stuart Bauld, red carded for the infringement. Prospect skipper, Gus Orcajo, reduced the deficit with a clinical finish from the spot.
Prospect then equalized a few minutes later, and it was Chris Camilleri doing the damage this time, curling the ball in from outside the Balmain penalty area.
Despite getting seemingly on a roll on, Prospect couldn’t make any more of their one man advantage, with Balmain doing well to hold on for a draw.
The other Saturday match was at Glen Willow Stadium, where Western NSW Mariners and Northbridge FC shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
After some great lead up work from Mitch Hutchings, the Mariners hit the lead inside the first minute via a cracking strike from James Christie, his third in a matter of days following his brace in Wednesday’s night’s 3-2 victory over Canberra Olympic.
The midfield battle was especially fierce, with Western NSW’s Ricky Guihot, Brent Osborne and Andrew Christie in a real arm wrestle for possession against Lee Jones, Michael Cole and Ricky Woodward, Northbridge’s engine room.
The Mariners looked dangerous on the counter, but it was Northbridge who equalized early in the second half, and it was that man, Michael Cole, who found the net for the fourth consecutive match, continuing his rich vein of form in 2013 by scoring his fourth goal of the season.
Mariners’ coach, Andrew Fearnley, turned to his bench and brought on Seamus Fitzsimmons in a master stroke, Fitzsimmons edging his side back in front on 55 minutes with a brilliant 30 yard lob.
But Northbridge are not a team that lies down easily, and their pressure eventually resulted in a goalmouth scramble, and an own goal, which meant a share of the points for both sides.
Dulwich Hill well and truly flexed their muscles on Sunday afternoon at Ron Dine Reserve, winning convincingly over Camden Tigers by 6-1.
Dully were in control from the outset, racing to a 4-0 lead at half time, and never surrendered the ascendancy thereafter. The club have acquired the services of Malik Bellouch, previously plying his trade in France, and he helped himself to two of the opening goals when he got on the end of a couple of defence splitting through passes.
Some great build up play from Bellouch and the Villazon boys, Carlos and James, gave Anthony Mususmeci the opportunity to score the third, whilst Carlos Villazon himself made it four before the break.
Musumeci and Carlos Villazon both helped themselves to their respective braces with clinical second half volleys to stretch Dully’s lead to six, before a late consolation goal to Camden’s Leigh Brown rounded off the afternoon’s proceedings.
Camden’s third loss sees them at the foot of the ladder, whilst the win puts Dulwich Hill on seven points, with a healthy ‘goals for’ return of 15 in the three matches played.
Gladesville Ryde Magic and Granville Rage produced the third 2-2 draw of Round 4 of the State League One competition in a entertaining match at Magdala Park on Sunday afternoon.
Granville started strongly and had the better of the opportunities over the first half hour, but squandered a number of solid chances with some wayward shooting or reliable keeping by the Magic custodian, Kyriakos Tohouroglou.
Gladesville continued to absorb the pressure but struggled to maintain possession for any length of time. Their closest chance came in the 31st minute when striker Samir Eshani sped away from the cover defence and unleashed a powerful drive from 12 metres that ricocheted off the last defender, onto the upright and away for a corner. Hakoah Sydney City East edged out Hawkesbury City at Hensley Athletic Field by a solitary goal, Dean Ginsberg making the most of a shot that rebounded off the Hawk’s crossbar to slot in the winner in the 80th minute.
-By Frank Speranza
Granville’s persistence eventually paid off in the 42nd minute with a well-constructed team goal. A sweeping passing movement down the right hand side finished with a deep cross to the far post. Granville’s Daniel Martinez did well to meet the cross with a strong header that found Calum Hedge lurking with intent at the edge of the 6-yard box, and duly struck to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at half-time.
A remarkably similar goal this time from Gladesville levelled the scores immediately after half-time. A Yavuz Ekinci free kick from the right saw Tim Woodhouse climb highest on the far post to nod the ball back into the mix where it was met by young Mitchell Smith, who managed to dispatch the ball into the back of the net for 1-1.
With scores level and still 40 minutes to go on the clock the pace of the game continued to climb. Granville forced Gladesville to defend stoutly throughout the half with numerous forays forward and a strong display of possession football. A couple of their best were midfielders Hedge and Daniel Vukovic who continually won possession in the engine room and unerringly found their teammates with incisive distributions.
Vukovic’s toil was rewarded in the 70th minute when he surged forward from the halfway line and unleashed a scything drive from 25 metres. The shot seemed well-covered by keeper Tohouroglou in goals until it took a wicked deflection from the body of striker Leon Pirrello and drifted past the wrong-footed keeper into the back of the net.
In the 80th minute it was Gladesville’s turn to test the opposition keeper. A switch of play found young substitute, Cameron Madden, lurking on the left touchline with some space about him. Madden attacked the ball with vigour, beat the first defender, drew the next before a slipping the ball across to Scott Tonkin on the edge of the penalty area. Tonkin’s first touch did enough to wrong-foot the defence so that his second touch, a left-foot drive, flew into the bottom right-hand corner of the net, just beyond the out-stretched diving reach of Carl McMahon, the Granville keeper.
It was helter-skelter football for the remaining 10 minutes with both sides surging forward looking for a winner. Gladesville were far from a spent force and conjured a number of chances late in the game that could have swung the balance but in the end a draw seemed a just result.
