SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Round 12 Review

Fraser Park are the team of the moment, their third win in a week moving them inside the top five for the first time since round two, after Hills Brumbies became the latest side to succumb.
In a weekend of few goals, only ten across the six games, Parramatta took the honours of the highest scorers, an unlikely accolade just a short month ago, with a 3-1 defeat of Mount Druitt Town Rangers.
St George stay top after their draw but their lead was reduced to two points, after Macarthur Rams overcame Bankstown City.
Northern Tigers v Spirit FC
Spirit FC survived strong second half pressure to dent Northern Tigers’ premiership aspirations with a 2-0 win at Mills Park, the McKie brothers doing the damage at just the right time of each half.
It was Alistair McKie who put Spirit ahead seven minutes before half time, his free kick from the corner of the box sneaking around Stuart Page, despite the keeper’s best efforts. It was a surprise lead for Spirit who had not really threatened too much prior to then although in fairness, the Tigers had not really threatened Murray Nelson at the other end either, only an Aram Derakzala shot into the side netting causing any real concern.
But the Tigers dominated possession in the second half, and created a number of chances shortly after the break which could have seen them draw level, if only the finishing was sharper. Liam McConaghy was back up front for Tigers, his first game since round six, and he forced Nelson into a good save, nine minutes in.
Maybe the best chance fell to Peter Hubbard, the central defender getting on the end of a Tom Spencer cross, but he too failed to convert, when in space.
Spencer had a go of his own, a good shot on the run being tipped over by Nelson again, who was certainly the busier of the two keepers. Page, by comparison, had little to do in the second period.
The Tigers were pressing for the equaliser, a loss here not really on the agenda, and withdrew Michael Rolston at the back in place of Matthew Collins, to add to their attack. Spirit, by obvious contrast, withdrew Ben Simpson for defender Lachlan Harte, their intention to protect their one goal lead.
But a rare attack on the break was to catch out Tigers, right at the death. Andrew McKie, on for Brad Gibson, evaded his markers and sealed the win in injury time.
Maybe a cruel way to end for Tigers but there can be no denying Spirit’s efforts in keeping their goal intact, amongst a lot of hard work.
Northern Tigers 0 v Spirit FC 2 (Alistair McKie 37’, Andrew McKie 91’)
Sunday 9 April 2013
at Mills Park, Asquith
Referee: Kurt Ams
Assts: Paul Faithfull and Dylan Otti
Northern Tigers: 1. Stuart Page (c) 7. David McMurray 2. Travis Oughtred 17. Peter Hubbard 4. Michael Rolston (10. Matt Collins 82’) 16. Steven Baveas 12. Stefan de Jesus 24. Thomas Spencer 11. Aram Derakzala 15. Adam Biddle 9. Liam McConaghy.
Subs not used: 3. Nicholas McInerney 14. Brendan Salameh 20. Jarrod Unicomb 6. Sebastian Bendall
Yellow Cards: Peter Hubbard, Tom Spencer
Coach: Jason Eagar
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson (c) 14. Tom Lovell 4. Paul Nicolau 16. Nick Trimble 13. Ross Kethel 17. Henry Wells (20. Brendan Hoyer 79’) 11. Callum Rogers 8. Matthew Clowes 10. Alistair McKie 15. Ben Simpson (18. Lachlan Harte 86’) 6. Brad Gibson (7. Andrew McKie 75’).  
Subs not used: 41. Hayden Browne 14. Grant Cornwell
Yellow Cards: Paul Nicolau, Andrew McKie. 
Coach: Rob di Ceglie
Hills Brumbies v Fraser Park
What a week it has been for Fraser Park. Three wins in eight days has seen them rise to fifth on the table, when a fortnight ago they were sitting tenth.
It has been a remarkable time and with a game in hand still to play, Fraser could rise even further. Should they defeat Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Wednesday, they will go to third.
It was a Pat Cappuccio goal which earned them the points against Hills Brumbies, around the hour mark, when he got on the end of a Kevin Oliviera cross. Not a noted goalscorer, in fact it was the ex Granville Rage player’s first goal for Fraser Park, but a most important one indeed.
Hills Brumbies 0 v Fraser Park 1 (Pat Cappuccio 60’)
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown City
Macarthur Rams drew within two points of leaders St George with a 1-0 defeat of Bankstown City, the win also moving the Rams four points clear of third. 
A second half goal scored by Neftchali Gonzalez did the trick, as Macarthur put their midweek loss to Fraser Park out of their minds in double quick fashion.
The two leading sides now meet next weekend at St George Stadium in a game sure to have pulses racing.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Neftchali Gonzalez) v Bankstown City 0
Bankstown Berries v St George
As they have so many times in recent years, it was yet another draw as Bankstown Berries and St George took away a point each in a 0-0 result on Saturday night. Maybe the most satisfied was the Berries who played for close to an hour with ten men after defender Gary Hill was redcarded eight minutes before half time for a studs up challenge.
The Berries defended stoutly a man down, and were certainly good for their point. It could have been more but for Dion Shaw’s miraculous save from Dimitri Zakilas, although St George were also earlier denied what looked a certain goal, when a point blank Juan Chavez drive was somehow palmed away by George Bouropoulos, the save even drawing applause from the striker himself.
They were the best of the chances for the two sides, the end result keeping both steady in first and third.
“It was a gutsy display”, stated John Calleja after the game. “Though maybe some of the decisions went against us a little too much, it could have been a bit fairer in my opinion”.
For St George’s Manny Spanoudakis, the recent schedule of matches played its part on the performance.
“We really only had about eleven fit players tonight, actually not even that, as Juan Chavez should not have played, but we were just so short of players. The heavy schedule has taken its toll and maybe the Wollongong cup game took more out of us than we thought it had”.
“But we will have Matt Sadler back next week, and Michael Smith will also be available after suspension, plus a couple of others, so we will start again”.
One new recruit for St George was Bruno Pivato, signed midweek from Rockdale, who showed some good touches when he came on with twenty minutes to go.  
Bankstown Berries 0 v St George 0
Mounties Wanderers v Sydney University
It has been now been six games since Mounties Wanderers claimed a win after Sydney University came away with a 1-1 draw at Cook Park, further stifling the Mounties’ premiership hopes. It has been nothing but a surprise as Mounties appeared so dominant early in the season but this midseason slump sees the Wanderers six points off top.
Daniel Severino earned the Mounties the point on Saturday night but a first half goal to University made sure of their share of the spoils.  
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Daniel Severino) v Sydney University 1
Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Parramatta
After their loss to Fraser Park last weekend caused heartache at Melita Stadium, Parramatta were able to return to winning ways, and the top half of the table, with a 3-1 win at cellar dwellers Mount Druitt Town Rangers.
Suad Ameti put the Eagles in front for the first time after twenty five minutes, Ameti rising high to meet a Daniel Rezo corner but an equaliser to Christian Cevenini saw Rangers draw level before half time.
The dominance of Parramatta earned dividends though when Devante Clut sent through a perfect ball to Frank Martey who was able to slot away under Jarrod Marsh to put the visitors ahead for the second time, early in the second half.
Steve Veleksi, a recent signing from Blacktown Spartans, then got his first goal for his new club, sealing the result at 3-1.
“We dominated the first half and probably had four or five good chances, but didn’t nail them”, said Lee Sterrey. “We controlled the tempo and had the majority of possession, but didn’t do heaps and heaps with it.”
“But goals change games, and after we got the second, it gave us a further impetus We deserved to win but credit to Mount Druitt, they didn’t lay down, considering where they are at the moment, and they came at us that’s for sure”.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Christian Cevenini) v Parramatta 3 (Suad Ameti, Frank Martey, Steve Veleski) 
Top Goalscorers
11 –       Juan Chavez                 (St George)
10 –       Saso Petrovski             (Bankstown City)
9 –        Sam Messam                (St George)
8 –        Danny Choi                   (Parramatta FC)
7 –        Dimitri Zakilas               (Bankstown Berries)
6 –        Daniel Severino             (Mounties Wanderers)
Under 20s
After winning 8-0 last weekend, Bankstown Berries scored another five in this, as they overpowered St George 5-0 to retain strong control at the top of the table. The Berries have a six point gap over second placed Hills Brumbies, who drew 1-1 at home to Fraser Park.
Macarthur Rams also had a strong win, 3-0 over Bankstown City, with a brace from Luke Beezem and one from Jesse Benyammin. 
Sydney University won their third game of the season, with goals to Jack Golbach and Benjamin Knobel helping in their 2-1 win at Mounties, whose lone goal was scored by Stjepan Curic. Spirit FC rose to fourth after a comprehensive 4-0 away win at Northern Tigers.
Bankstown Berries 5 St George 0, Macarthur Rams 3 Bankstown City 0, Mounties Wanderers 1 v Sydney University 2, Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 Parramatta 2, Northern Tigers 0 Spirit 4, Hills Brumbies 1 Fraser Park 1.
-By Peter Rowney