State League One Round 12 Review
Mother Nature tried valiantly to cause a disruption to State League One football on the weekend, with rain falling intermittently throughout Saturday and Sunday.
But it was only Wentworth Park that was affected substantially enough for the match of the round between Balmain Tigers and Nepean FC to be postponed, with all of the other five matches going ahead as scheduled.
Balmain retain their lead at the top despite not playing, but results elsewhere mean there are now five teams within a victory of the Tigers in a quagmire beneath them.
Dulwich Hill defeated Western NSW Mariners on the road for the second time this season, a single goal was all that was needed for Northbridge to overcome Inter Lions, Hawkesbury City hit Camden for six at Ron Dine Reserve, whilst Hakoah beat Gladesville Ryde Magic in a cliff hanger by the odd goal in five.
Our match of the round took us out to William Lawson Park where Prospect United welcomed the visit of Granville Rage on Saturday afternoon.
Prospect United – Granville Rage 2 – 0
Prospect United survived a penalty attempt midway through the second half before scoring two late goals to overcome a stubborn Granville Rage on a wet and slippery William Lawson Park on Saturday afternoon.
Prospect came into this match on the back of a 2-4 home reverse against Inter Lions last week, and were keen to rectify that and reduce the gap between themselves and the Rage, standing at four points leading into this match. Paul Curjak was missing from the Prospect flank with a long term injury, Troy McColl was suspended as a result of five cautions, and skipper, Gus Orcajo, took his place on the bench despite having a toe injury.
One of the only sides in league football with classy long sleeved jerseys, Granville were confident of upsetting the home side and maintaining their reach on the top sides, despite being without the services of the injured, young Calum Hedge in the midfield, whilst Daniel Martinez was missing due to futsal duties.
The Saturday rainfall was not heavy enough to deem the field unplayable, however, it did provide a slippery surface that affected the style of play, producing its fair share of errors early on as the players became accustomed fairly quickly.
Both sides traded free kicks in the first ten minutes, with Nenos Bobo’s effort for Granville clearing the cross bar in the 5th, whilst Chris Camilleri’s curler in the 10th needing a diversion from Rage goal keeper, Carl McMahon, to stop the ball hitting the net. McMahon was at it again from the ensuing corner, parrying Daniel Brooker’s downward header as the home side kept up the pressure.
The Rage responded with vigour in the 13th minute, with Leon Pirrello firing in a half volley from the edge of the box after a corner was cleared to him. The ball ricocheted off a defender on the line, and Nenos Bobo could only sky his snapshot under pressure from the Prospect defence.
Camilleri was ever alert in the 15th minute, earning and hitting a quick free kick in the middle of the Rage half into the feet of Daniel Brooker, just on the edge of the penalty area. The Prospect striker took a great touch into the box before stabbing his angled shot wide of the mark.
Granville’s speed machine, Zac Watters, was being kept under close wraps by the experienced Prospect defence, but did escape the shackles on 22 minutes, racing away down the left before hitting a cross shot that flew past the goalposts, eluding his team mate, Leon Pirrello, in the process.
After a series of forays in the Granville half, one such attack almost produced a goal in the 36th minute. A long throw caused chaos in the Rage penalty area, the ball spilling loose to Joe Beslic, who struck in beautifully in the wet. The ball fizzed towards the bottom corner, only for Granville custodian, Carl McMahon, to fling himself to his right and produce a brilliant save, holding on to the leather for good measure.
Referee, Mr Thomas Fiakos, called a halt to proceedings shortly after, and the players retreated to the sheds as the rain continued to drizzle down. An arm wrestle had developed between the sides, neither keen to give an inch, but neither able to break through with any clear cut chances.
Both sets of backlines had defended stoutly throughout, with only Carl McMahon, the Rage keeper, having to pull off a couple of saves of note.
On 53 minutes, some great build up play down the right flank by Prospect’s Benjamin McCann and Daniel Brooker saw the ball played into the feet on Joe Beslic, who clipped his shot wide of the mark from the edge of the box. Minutes later Prospect were at it again, breaking with speed as the ball was played out to Ben Lam on the left, and he cut inside before cracking his angled shot wide of the far upright.
The Rage then seemingly stepped up half a gear, and started running at players as Prospect retreated. Dave Harding was threading passes into gaps for Zac Watters and Leon Pirrello to run onto, and the home side were being stretched.
The intensity proved too much for Prospect in the 68th minute. As a result of a turnover of possession, Zac Watters picked up the ball in the middle of the Prospect half and took off on a slalom run, weaving at pace past a few defenders, before being felled inside the box. Referee, Mr Thomas Diakos, pointed to the spot without hesitation, giving the visitors the chance to break the deadlock.
Prospect goalkeeper, Mario Farias, had been a Granville Rage player until recently, unable to oust Carl McMahon from the keeper’s role at Garside Park. Once the transfer to Prospect was rubber stamped, everyone knew what the script would look like on this day, and Farias dived full length to his right to parry the penalty, firmly struck by Phil Pyliotis.
That was just the lifeline the home side needed, and they took it with both hands.
Skipper Gus Orcajo was introduced into the fray on 74 minutes, and was instantly into the thick of the action, his close ball control causing concern for the Granville backline.
On 80 minutes, Ben Lam cut inside down the left flank, and played a diagonal low pass into the path of Benjamin McCann on the right wing. McCann sent over a superb low cross, and Orcajo was first to react, reaching the ball before the Rage defence to send a cheeky flick off the inside of his right foot into the far side netting of the goal, a classy goal reflective of the number 10 on his back.
The match was all over just seven minutes later. Prospect’s man of the match midfield workhorse, Joe Beslic, picked up a loose ball within his own half, and sent Benjamin McCann clear from halfway with a perfectly weighted chip. McCann’s first effort was well parried by Rage keeper, Carl McMahon, but the ball rebounded off McCann and into the empty net to give the home side the spoils.
The Rage would be disappointed to have suffered only their third loss of the season, and remain on 16 points, in 7th spot on the ladder. Prospect’s long overdue win sees them climb to 15 points and into th spot, and importantly, keeps them in touch with the top half of the ladder.
Match Stats
Prospect United 2 (Orcajo 80’, McCann 87’)
Granville Rage 0
Saturday, June 22, 2013
William Lawson Park, Prospect
Referee: Mr Thomas Diakos
Assistant Referees : Mr Terry Goodhew and Mr Byron McCready
Bench: J. Woods, Z. Elrich, W. Angel, V. Rigoli, I. Johnson.PROSPECT UNITED : 1.M.Farias, 4.J.Beslic, 16.D.Brooker (10.G.Orcajo 74’), 7.C.Camilleri, 12.T.Harrington, 8.A.Jennings (capt), 15.T.Kasunic, 2.B.Lam, 13.B.McCann (6.J.Katsumasa 89’), 11.T.Simpson, 14.T.Sullivan.
Substitutes Not Used: 3.T.Elliott-Orr, 5.O.Omari, 20.M.Steell.
Yellow Cards: 7.C.Camilleri 67’.
Red Cards: Nil
GRANVILLE RAGE: 1.C.McMahon, 11.N.Bobo, 2.J.Ekehov, 7.D.Harding (capt), 4.K.Khushaba, 14.M.Luc, 18.L.Pirrello (10.D.Bortolazzo 85’), 8.P.Pyliotis, 12.D.Vukovic (19.R.Hermiz 73’), 13.Z.Watters, 9.M.Yanut.
Substitutes Not Used: 3.C.McKinnon, 22.M.Giancotti, 17.D.Nyarnhom.
Yellow Cards: 8.P.Pyliotis 9’, 12.D.Vukovic 65’, 14.M.Luc 74’.
Red Cards: Nil
STATE LEAGUE ONE ROUND TWELVE REVIEW
Dulwich Hill SC were relieved to return to the winner’s list on Saturday night, defeating Western NSW Mariners 2-1 at Proctor Park, Bathurst.
It was the second road trip this season for Dully against the Mariners, off the back of their opening day 7-1 trouncing of WNSW, but this time it was a different home side they encountered.
Dulwich Hill hit the front just before the break, and it was robust central defender, Marcus Frost, who scored for the second consecutive week, this time with a forceful diving header.
The Mariners came out swinging after the break, and even changed formation in the final quarter of an hour to try and peg a goal back. But Dulwich Hill caught the Mariners on the break, and Anthony Musumeci struck with a volley from outside the penalty area to double Dully’s advantage.
The Mariners did eventually reduce the deficit in the final minute, Seamus Fitzsimons latching on to a through ball from Corey Adair to strike home, but they couldn’t muster an equalizer.
The loss sees the Mariners remain on 13 points, and in 9th spot on the ladder, whilst Dulwich Hill climb to 19 points and 5th spot. Dully, in fact, can go to the top of the competition ladder for the first time since the early stages of the season if they can topple Inter Lions this coming Tuesday in a rescheduled Round Nine match, due to kick off at Lambert Park at 8-15pm.
Hawkesbury City SC kept well in touch with the teams at the summit of the competition with a 6-1 away trouncing of Camden Tigers at Ron Dine Reserve on Sunday afternoon.
Now boasting the best attack in State League One, the Hawks went on the attack from the outset and won comfortably in the end, Jayden Russell grabbing a late consolation for Camden when the match was all over bar the shouting.
Evan Daglis returned to the team lineup with a brace of goals, whilst there were single strikes for all of Michael McCrory, Ethan Simone, Paul Cooper and Kyle Simone.
The win sees Hawkesbury move on to 20 points and into 3rd spot on the ladder, just one solitary point from the two teams above them.
The match between Balmain Tigers and Nepean FC on Sunday afternoon was postponed due to the wet weather, with Wentworth Park deemed unplayable.
Out of action for just the one week, results elsewhere meant that Nepean dropped out of the top five altogether, whilst Balmain remain first on 21 points, ahead of Hakoah on goal difference, but of course, with two games now in hand.
Northbridge FC continued their recent rich vein of form by overcoming Inter Lions at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday afternoon.
Andrew McGrouther was the hero for Northbridge, scoring on 28 minutes, a lead that they were able to defend for the entirety of the match.
The 1-0 triumph puts Northbridge on 20 points, equal with Hawkesbury but fourth on goal difference, and only one point behind both Balmain Tigers and Hakoah who are on 21 points.
The final game of the round took place on the artificial surface Hensley Athletic Field at 5-00pm on Sunday, and brought together the State League champions of Div One and Div Two in 2012.
Gladesville Ryde Magic had opened up the 2013 season with a 3-2 win over Hakoah Sydney City East, so it was only fitting that Hakoah would return the favour this time around.
Despite the rain, the match was always going to go ahead, but the slippery artificial surface would mean the players would have to become accustomed with the bounce of the ball pretty quick smart.
Hakoah’s ‘local knowledge’ gave them a decisive edge in the first forty five minutes, and their domination resulted in two goals late in the half.
Mark McAlpine converted a 39th minute penalty to give Hakoah the lead, before Justin Kosmina latched on to a Robert Ezekiel cut back to double the home team’s advantage just before the break.
But the Magic aren’t champions for nothing, and they showed their true mettle by giving the match a real shake in the second half.
Gladesville pulled a goal back just after the hour mark when Hakoah’s goalkeeper, Terry Dal Broi, could only parry a shot from Magic skipper, Johnny Martinez, fired in from outside the penalty area. Magic striker, Scott Tonkin, was lurking as always to stroke home the rebound, and it was game on.
Magic then equalized with about 20 minutes remaining, just reward for their efforts, when Yavuz Ekinci curled a free kick into the top corner to send the traveling contingent into raptures.
But Hakoah had the last laugh by grabbing the winner with ten minutes remaining. A short corner and a dribble across the by line was eventually bundled over the line by Remy Wolanski, in amongst a sea of legs.
The Magic weren’t done just yet with a couple of late efforts threatening the scoreboard. Scott Tonkin’s drive from outside the box was tipped over the bar by Hakoah’s custodian, Terry Dal Broi, whilst the keeper was at it again shortly after, gathering a low strike at goal by Samir Eshani.
Robert Ezekiel should’ve wrapped it all up for Hakoah in the final moments, firing over the crossbar when clean through on goal and faced with the imposing image of Magic keeper, Kiriakos Tohouroglou.
The unlucky Magic remain in 10th spot on 11 points, whilst the win and subsequent three points sees Hakoah Sydney City East join Balmain Tigers at the summit, both on 21 points.
-By Frank Speranza
