SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 2 Review
Macarthur Rams have gained the early upper hand in the SUPA IGA Mens 2 competition after defeating Mounties Wanderers 1-0, to open up a two point gap after just two rounds.
Bankstown City, in their first game of the season, added to Bankstown Berries’ early season woes with a 5-2 drubbing at The Crest, in a sign that the Lions may well be back after a disappointing 2013.
Mount Druitt Town Rangers are still waiting to get their season off to a start. After lighting failures prevented last week’s game taking place against Bankstown City, this week it was the turn of the adverse weather to cause the postponement of their match against Fraser Park.
Match of the Round
Macarthur Rams v Mounties Wanderers
Macarthur Rams accounted for local rivals Mounties Wanderers by the barest of margins to claim two wins from two, in what has been a perfect season start for the Rams.
Both of these sides can be expected to be challenging for honours once again, and the closeness of this match showed that there is little difference between the two. Surprisingly, there seemed a lack of fire and brimstone in this fixture, unlike most encounters of recent years, and apart from an early chance to the Mounties, the first half had little to show for the endeavours of the respective sides.
Macarthur could have found themselves a goal down inside a couple of minutes after Mounties midfielder Daine Merrin harassed and then dispossessed Calum Fleming inside the Rams penalty area before sneaking a shot past Chad Taylor, but it went just agonisingly shy of the upright, much to Fleming’s relief.
Any clearcut goalmouth chances were few and far between in the opening forty five, the Rams being limited to a few long range strikes which were really nothing more than speculative, while Mounties tried their best to break through the solid Macarthur defence via the speedy James Hoyt down the right, but while there was plenty of potential, the Rams backline, at times five strong, held firm.
The game badly need a goal to add some spark and it was the Rams, more in control after the break, who looked most likely early on. Fleming, David McMurray and Gerard Ouffoue all had attempts inside fifteen minutes but none really threatened Ali Akbal.
The Mounties responded through Steven Veleski, and this was more clearcut than most. The Rams had failed to adequately clear a dangerous Hoyt cross, and the ball fell nicely to Veleski, on the edge of the area. A firm strike seemed all that was needed, but the shot lacked sufficient power and Taylor did well to save.
Craig Cooley then struck against the post in a raid down the right as the game started to open up. A goal seemed on its way and it finally came midway through the second half.
The Rams lined up a free kick not too far outside the area, and Alvaro Malmierca swung in the ball to the far post where the tall Louis Duchesne, in a crowd of players, latched on to knock home. The Mounties were kicking themselves for conceding in such a way, an opportunity the Rams have perfected in recent seasons, and they immediately pushed three up front to try and claw something back form the game.
On came Haidar Riad, joining Veleski and fellow substitute Mark Symington in a three pronged attack. The Mounties piled on the pressure, as they looked for an equaliser and Veleski, again, had a great chance but was again denied by Taylor.
A chance for Daniel Severino, a free kick outside the box raised Mounties’ hopes, but the effort was too high. Riad too looked to be through, in the dying minutes, but a fine tackle saw his shot deflected.
Mounties just couldn’t break through despite their late charge, and Macarthur held on.
“I am obviously very happy to win”, said Macarthur’s Claudio Canosa. “It is a very good start to the season and Mounties always give us a hard game”.
“I thought the first half was even but we had the better of the second half overall. I am happy with the performance especially as we still have some players to return, including Neftali Gonzalez, who played Under 20s today.”
“So to have six points from six is a great way to start”, concluded Canosa.
“It was a disappointing to lose”, stated Mounties’ Glen Lockhart. “We came here to get the three points and I was confident that we would”.
“But we conceded a sloppy goal and we know that it is hard to break the Rams down. We had our chances and overall I am still happy with the performance. We had to rejig the team a little, what with Mark D’Alessandro’s suspension and a few injuries still, but I thought we handled it well, especially young Michael Borazio [on debut], who had a great game”.
So to the near future?
“We have the draw from hell for the first few weeks, next we have the Berries, then Lions then Tigers. But we will regroup and be ready”.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Louis Duchesne 71’) v Mounties Wanderers 0
Saturday 29 March 2014
at Lynwood Park, St Helens Park
Referee: James Lewis
Assts: David Haslett and Laken Ledden
Macarthur Rams: 1. Chad Taylor 2. Craig Cooley (c) 5. Calum Fleming 8. Simon Valastro 18. Louis Duchesne 7. Ko Kimura 10. Ben Simpson (15. Joel Craig 78’) 12. David McMurray 19. Alvaro Malmierca 14. Reuben Agyei-Danso (9. Shannon Hankin 81’) 11. Gerard Ouffoue (21. Aaron Farringdon 88’).
Subs not used: 16. Daniel Ramirez 20. Harrick Sinpraseuth.
Yellow Cards: Calum Fleming, Louis Duchesne
Coach: Claudio Canosa
Mounties Wanderers: 1. Ali Akbal 10. Daniel Willoughby 16. Scott Goodwin (c) 13. Milan Zoric 12. Michael Borazio 28. James Hoyt 9. Matt Viera (11. Daniel Severino 55’) 31. Daine Merrin 2. Eli Squillacioti (22. Haidar Riad 75’) 29. Jake Ingle (14. Mark Symington 53’) 27. Steven Veleski
Subs not used: 21. Anthony Costa 8. Edward Stewart.
Yellow Cards: Daine Merrin
Coach: Glenn Lockhart
Bankstown Berries v Bankstown City
After this fixture was switched to The Crest from Jensen Park midweek, you could have imagined that the Berries would have been confident going into this clash. After taking a lead via the spot through Dimitri Zakilas, those thoughts could have proven well founded but the Lions had other ideas.
Grant Lynch drew Bankstown City level before Billy Darwich sent the Lions in 2-1 at the break. The goals didn’t stop there, continuing to be shared around half the side, with Shane Webb, Adam Biddle and Brad Boardman all increasing the lead for the Lions without reply.
The Berries pulled one back late, again from the spot, this time by John Tsironis, but the damage had been well and truly done.
Bankstown Berries 2 (Dimitri Zakilas pen, John Tsironis pen) v Bankstown City 5 (Grant Lynch, Billy Darwich, Shane Webb, Adam Biddle, Brad Boardman)
Spirit FC v Sydney University
Stephen Grbevski notched a double as Spirit FC proved too good for Sydney University at Christie Park. Grbevski scored his first just after the half hour and his second to secure the win in the 67th minute.
Sandwiched between these two goals, were two by Spirit’s Grant Cornwell, who unfortunately put one through his own net, not long after doubling Spirit’s lead.
Spirit FC 3 (Stephen Grbevski 31’, 67’, Grant Cornwell 48’) v Sydney University 1 (Grant Cornwell o.g. 49’)
Hills Brumbies v Parramatta FC
Parramatta FC recovered from the opening round loss to Fraser Park, overcoming Hills Brumbies 2-0 at Lily Homes Stadium.
For Hills, it has been a slow start to the season, just one point from their opening six.
Hills Brumbies 0 v Parramatta FC 2
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Northern Tigers
Northern Tigers looked in control and were two goals to the good in their away fixture at Central Coast with strikes from Max Glanville and Aram Tayebi giving the visitors a handy half time lead. Glanville’s strike from outside the box into the top corner was one to behold but after the break, an error at the back allowed the Mariners back into the game.
Josh Swadling and Dean Calletti were the goal saviours for the CCMA who are proving to be more than a handful for their more experienced opponents.
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 (Josh Swadling, Dean Calletti) v Northern Tigers 2 (Max Glanville, Aram Tayebi)
Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Fraser Park
Washed Out
Under 20s
Mounties Wanderers took just a minute to take the lead away at Macarthur Rams, a Haidar Riad goal giving the visitors a very early breakthrough, a lead they held until half time. But the Rams drew level in the 53rd minute when Asmir Kadric scored to make it 1-1. The Mounties then gained the lead for a second time when Alex Boyadjian made it 2-1 with eighteen minutes to go.
After a dreadful 2013, prospects look brighter for Bankstown City in the younger grades, after they defeated last season’s high flyers Bankstown Berries 1-0 while Spirit FC also overcame Sydney University by the same scoreline, Glen Kelshaw netting their winner.
Hills Brumbies seem to have continued where they left off from last season, winning two from two this season, this time with a 2-0 victory over Parramatta FC. The win moves Hills to the top of the table.
After handling Spirit a 7-0 shellacking last weekend, Northern Tigers found themselves in a reverse after the Central Coast Mariners Academy triumphed 1-0 at Pluim Park, Jack Ragen scoring the all important winner in the first half.
Results: Macarthur Rams 1 v Mounties Wanderers 2, Bankstown Berries 0 v Bankstown City 1, Hills Brumbies 2 v Parramatta FC 0, Central Coast Mariners Academy 1 v Northern Tigers 0, Spirit FC 1 v Sydney University 0.
-By Peter Rowney
