SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Round 13 Review
The match of the round between St George and Macarthur Rams finished level at 1-1, the result leaving St George two points clear at the top of the table.
Bankstown Berries and Mounties Wanderers both won to draw themselves to within four points of the Saints.
Thomas Spencer of Northern Tigers was the weekend’s leading scorer, notching a hatrick in a 4-0 win against Fraser Park.
Waratah Cup action continues midweek for the last remaining non-Premier League side when St George travel the short distance to Seymour Shaw Park, to tackle Sutherland Sharks.
Sydney University v Bankstown Berries
A goal six minutes from time secured the three points for Bankstown Berries as they had to fight all the way against Sydney University, before taking a 2-1 win away from Hensley Field.
Substitute Kodjo Adjassou, returning from injury and on the field for just nine minutes, got on the end of a cross from Dimitri Zakilas, having the easy task of tapping into an empty net with just six minutes left, after the low cross had just eluded Riley Keayes.
The Berries had gone a goal down to University midway through the first half after Jamie Watt had chipped George Bouropoulos from the edge of the box. But while it took till almost the half hour mark for a goal to be scored, there had been numerous chances for both sides to open their account earlier than this.
University in fact, could have taken the lead within the first minute after Peter Crevani fed Hayato Wakano, who looked lively all evening, and set him clear. But Wakano, despite his pace, elected to shoot early rather than attack the goal, and the shot lacked sufficient power. Crevani had his own chance after ten minutes but stumbled slightly at the wrong moment, reducing his chance markedly.
But it was two following opportunities for the Berries which should have seen at least one goal. Chris Gaitatzis slammed his effort against the post from not too tight an angle, and then John Tsironis was away but shot against the keeper, when a goal seemed certain.
Watt’s goal finally broke the deadlock though and it promised an interesting night, to see how the Berries would recover from this. Uni’s passing game was pleasing on the eye although they did place themselves under undue pressure at times, with some wayward and misdirected passes not helping their cause.
While they held the lead until the break, it did not take the Berries long after the restart to draw level. A flick on from Tsironis fell nicely into the path of Kyle Ewart, who lobbed Keayes on the run, a nice goal for Ewart, his first for the club.
However, Uni had a perfect chance to take the lead again midway through the half when Daisuke Kataoke was upended in the box. There was little argument that a penalty was the right decision but what should have been a lead for the second time for Uni, was lost when Watt’s spotkick was saved by Bouropoulos. It was a miss that Uni would rue.
With just six minutes to go, Adjassou got the winner, a hard earned three points but an important win for the Berries, who maintain the pressure on the top two.
“I thought we were always comfortable”, said John Calleja after the game. “Even at half time, we were confident that as long as the chances kept coming, we would convert”.
“The penalty miss made things interesting though. It would have been interesting to see how we would have reacted from that, as Uni would surely have dug in”.
That miss was not the first for Uni.
“That was our second penalty miss in two weeks”, stated Mark McCormick, “though last week we did score from the rebound. We are just lacking that cutting edge up front but we have talked about it, and I am sure we will get there”.
“It was a disappointing result tonight, but in the long term, we are on the right track”.
Sydney University 1 (Jamie Watt 27’) v Bankstown Berries 2 (Kyle Ewart 54’, Kodjo Adjassou 84’)
Saturday 15 June 2013
at Hensley Field, Pagewood
Referee: Chris Young
Assts: Alex Long and Karl Davies
Sydney University: 21. Riley Keayes 17. Nathan Amore 2. Jonathan Hurtado Pacheo 14. Jeremy Butnaru 20. Joel Anscomb 4. Daisuke Kataoke 6. Peter Crevani (c) 49. Christopher McStay (5. Harry Ashcroft 59’) 10. Jamie Watt 7. Anthony Villazon (18. Adrian Porcu 59’) 29. Hayato Wakano.
Subs not used: 13. Alex Sopina 31. Raj Roy 38. Kane Curr
Yellow Cards: Joel Anscomb, Jeremy Butnaru, Jamie Watt.
Coach: Mark McCormick
Bankstown Berries: 1. George Bouropoulos 2. Adam Savetta 4. Alex Becerra 21.Nathan Mastroianni 3. Adem Kir 7. Chris Gaitatzis (9. Kodjo Adjassou 75’) 8. Ante Deur (c) (14. Nick Paras 83’) 33. Matthew Trotter 13. Kyle Ewart 10. John Tsironis 19. Dimitri Zakilas (28. Daniel Rees 87’).
Subs not used: 16. Pan Gotsis 40. Nestor Tsioustas.
Yellow Cards: Alex Becerra, Chris Gaitatzis, Kyle Ewart.
Coach: John Calleja
St George v Macarthur Rams
It ended all square at St George Stadium when St George and Macarthur Rams played out a 1-1 draw in the top of the table clash on Sunday, leaving the table “as you were”.
This was an ultra competitive match where no quarter was asked or given, and there were plenty of tired bodies at the end of this one. Both teams were missing players for various reasons, the Saints without Bill Tsanidis, Matt Sadler, Costa Andricopoulos and George Codrea while Juan Chavez started this one from the bench, as he still recovers from injury. The Rams were without Adam Wither, Michael Brown and Ryan Marchant so it was a varied lineup for both clubs.
But despite this, St George still took an early lead, as they have so often this season. Macarthur would be asking questions as to how the smallest player on the pitch, in Bruno Pivato, could have a free header in the box, connecting neatly to a dinked free kick, after only four minutes. It was Pivato’s first goal for the club in his first game start.
Macarthur rallied though and were unlucky not to equalise when Reuben Agyei-Danso had a shot destined for the top corner only for it to be saved by Dion Shaw, who tipped the ball onto the bar, with the ball rebounding against the back of the keeper’s head but then over for a corner, rather than in the net.
The Rams did gain their equaliser when Slaven Ljuboja crossed from the left, only for the ball to slip high inside the far post. An unlikely equaliser perhaps but they all count for the same.
While the Rams may have just had the upper hand in the first half, the Saints put more pressure on during the second. Some good chances fell their way, Sam Messam having a great chance with a header and Pivato shooting high over from in front. Either of those should have gone in but it seemed that St George would take the lead when Marino Musumeci was bundled over in the box by Joel Craig, with fifteen minutes to go. With regular penalty taker Chavez yet to come on, Messam stepped up but was denied by Chad Taylor, guessing the right way and getting down low to palm away.
It was to remain 1-1 but Agyei-Danso almost pinched it late when he shot against the post well into injury time.
St George 1 (Bruno Pivato 4’) v Macarthur Rams 1 (Slaven Ljuboja 39’)
Sunday 16 June 2013
at St George Stadium, Kyeemagh
Referee: David Morris
Assts: Alex Long and Andres Giev
St George: 23. Dion Shaw 3. David Dascal 2. Michael Smith 19. Nick Napoli 6. Sean Thomas 12. Aleks Jovovic 16. Jonathan Castano-Acero 7. George Lagoudakis 8. Marino Musumeci (11. Juan Chavez 76’) 10. Bruno Pivato 9. Sam Messam.
Subs not used: 60. Daniel Nash 36. James Spanoudakis 27. Daniel Tini 14 Johnathan Kontalis.
Yellow Cards: Jonathan Castano-Acero, David Dascal, Sam Messam, Marino Musumeci.
Coach: Manny Spanoudakis
Macarthur Rams: 1. Chad Taylor 4. Slaven Ljuboja 5. Calum Fleming (3. Emmanuel Elali 46’) 13. Daniel Carroza 18. Joseph Cartisano 19. Alvaro Malmierca 12. Neftali Gonzalez 15. Joel Craig 2. Craig Cooley 9. Shannon Hankin (11. Almir Dizdaric 70’) 21. Reuben Agyei-Danso.
Subs not used: 7. Reece Iredale 16. Daniel Ramirez 20. Ben Needham.
Yellow Cards: Joseph Cartisano, Craig Cooley, Daniel Carrozza, Joel Craig, Calum Fleming.
Fraser Park v Northern Tigers
There were plenty of fireworks at Fraser Park when they took on Northern Tigers with two penalties, two send offs, a hatrick, and a clutch of red cards for the Fraser bench.
The night belonged to the Tigers, not surprisingly, after Fraser had been the recipient of the reds. The first came midway through the first half when Max Glanville was brought down inside the box giving Tom Spencer the perfect opportunity to put the Tigers one up. Pat Cappuccio had the early shower, after picking up his second yellow of the evening.
It became 2-0 on the half hour when again Spencer took advantage of Glanville’s efforts getting a head to his cross to double the lead.
A straight red card to David Wilson reduced Fraser Park to nine players in the fifty sixth minute, for comments made, the decision causing furore amongst Fraser Park.
It is difficult enough defeating the Tigers with eleven let alone nine, and the scoreline duly expanded out to 3-0 when Matthew Collins was brought down for a second Tigers penalty, Spencer again converting. The lead then stretched out to four when Nick McInerney slotted home from an Aram Derakzala cross, in time added on.
“It was nice to score some goals”, said Jason Eagar. “And the return of Max Glanville has certainly given us a lift. We looked sharper and hungrier then we did against Spirit last week, it was a lot better performance. You could sense that the side lifted with Max back…we have eased him in now over the past few weeks, so hopefully, we can move up now”.
Fraser Park officials were in no doubt that the controversial red card decisions were critical to the result, and with coaching staff also being sent from the bench, it seems there is still some action yet to play in this one.
Fraser Park 0 v Northern Tigers 4 (Tom Spencer 23’ pen, 30’, 74’ pen, Nick McInerney 91’)
Spirit FC v Mounties Wanderers
Mounties Wanderers returned to the winner’s circle at last, after a five week barren spell, defeating Spirit 2-1 at Christie Park.
A David Gardner header gave Mounties the lead after twenty minutes, a lead they held until half time. Daniel Severino then doubled the score, guiding home into the bottom corner.
The introduction of Tim Simpson gave Spirit a lift and a late Grant Cornwell goal reduced the arrears but Mounties held on for their first win since round seven.
“We played some good football “, stated Glenn Lockhart, “but our finishing could have been more clinical. I feel we had the game at our mercy there but we lacked the finishing edge. We still have a bit of work to go too to get that vibe back.”
Mounties made a number of changes, with Mark Symington, Greg Baldock and Matt Viera all starting on the bench.
“We wanted to mix things up a bit”, he continued, “to reinvigorate the side. There is still a lot of improvement to be had, but for mine, Daine Merrin was our man of the match”.
Spirit’s Rob di Ceglie was pleased with his side’s efforts, despite the loss.
“We were never going to show the red flag. We had the same intensity as we did against the Tigers, but we couldn’t convert. We were still pushing forward at 2-0 down, showing plenty of effort, spirit and fight”.
“But of course, if you can’t convert, it is game over”.
Spirit FC 1 (Grant Cornwell) v Mounties Wanderers 2 (David Gardner, Daniel Severino)
Bankstown City v Mount Druitt Town Rangers
There seems to be a mini revival out Mount Druitt way after Rangers, following on from their win midweek, took a further point, this time at Jensen Park in a 1-1 draw against Bankstown City.
They came from behind to do so too, after Nicolo Sama had given the Lions the lead after sixteen minutes. But Hosyar Cakal, recently returned to the side, netted the equaliser just before half time.
A rousing display from Bankstown’s keeper Thomas Manos was a highlight of the game, but it soured late on when James O’Rourke received a red card with ten minutes remaining.
Bankstown City 1 (Nicolo Sama 16’) v Mount Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Hosyar Cakal 43’)
Parramatta FC v Hills Brumbies
It was points shared at Melita Stadium when Parramatta’s good recent form was stifled by Hills Brumbies, who took home their first point in four games.
Ryan Blaker gave Hills the lead in the first half but an equaliser to Daniel Rezo in the second period made sure that Parramatta gained the point necessary to keep them in the top five.
Parramatta FC 1 (Daniel Rezo) v Hills Brumbies 1 (Ryan Blaker)
Leading Goalscorers
11 – Juan Chavez (St George)
10 – Saso Petrovski (Bankstown City)
9 – Sam Messam (St George)
Under 20s
Bankstown Berries left it very late at Hensley Field but eventually overcame an undermanned Sydney University by 2-1 to stay top of the Under 20s competition.
University had taken a first half lead which they held until the last ten minutes. This was despite being reduced to ten men when Lee Ramsden was given a second yellow card just on the hour. Some concerted Berries pressure finally took its toll when Paul Koulizakis showed nice accuracy when equalising from an acute angle with nine minutes remaining. Uni were reduced further due to injury, finishing with nine players, and it was in the dying moments of the match that Mohammed Rahimi weaved his way through to score the winner a minute from time.
Hils Brumbies remain in second following their 3-0 win at Parramatta with Spirit moving to third after their 3-0 win over Mounties. Abraham Majok scored twice with Joel Carter getting the other for Spirit.
Aaron Farringdon put Macarthur in the lead at St George with a close range header in the 67th minute but the Saints equalised two minutes later to share the points. Northern Tigers took all the points at Fraser Park with a 3-2 win while Mount Druitt Town Rangers ensured that Bankstown City’s nightmare season continued with a 1-0 win at Jensen Park.
Results: Sydney University 1 Bankstown Berries 2, Spirit FC 3 Mounties Wanderers 0, Fraser Park 2 Northern Tigers 3, Bankstown City 0 Mount Druitt Town 1, Parramatta 0 Hills Brumbies 3, St George 1 Macarthur Rams 1.
-By Peter Rowney
