Mens State League 1 Round 7 Review
Mother’s day weekend provided some entertaining games in what was a high scoring round for the Men’s State League One competition.
It’s been a few weeks now since Rage and Hakoah have shared top spot, and there has been no changes this weekend as both sides claimed victories.
Round 2 Catch-Up Game – Nepean FC v Hawkesbury City
In a tight local derby, Hawkesbury defeated Nepean 2-1 in their Round 2 catch up on Wednesday night.
Robert Carle gave the away side the lead, but Nepean FC equalised with Mikel Awad finding the back of the net after being played in by Rafid Hermiz.
With ten minutes to go Hawkesbury were awarded a penalty and striker Michael McCrory stepped up to slot home the game winner.
Nepean FC 1 (M.Awad) Hawkesbury City 2 (R.Carle, M McCrory)
Gladesville Ryde Magic v Hawkesbury City
This week’s match of the round saw Gladesville maintain their 100% home record with a 3-0 victory over Hawkesbury City. In a closer game than what the scoreline suggests, Gladesville scored two late goals to run away with the win.
The opening exchanges were evenly contested as both sides tried to stamp their authority in the middle of the park.
The first chance of the match came in the 5th minute with a fast break seeing Alistair Mckie cross the ball to Andrew Mckie into the box, but the powerful striker’s outside of the foot shot flashed just wide of the goal.
Hawkesbury’s first attempt on goal came via a counter attack from a Gladesville corner when left back Jarrod Palmer-Brown put in a curling cross into the back post for Michael McCrory, but the striker’s header went agonisingly close and hit the left post.
Hawkesbury had another chance soon after, this time courtesy of a free kick. Palmer-Brown delivered another delightful ball into the box for defender Dave Gardiner, but the centre-back could not find the target and his header flashed wide of the goal.
The match was still evenly balanced at this stage with neither team able to gain the ascendency, but John Martinez and Alistair Mckie tried to push Gladesville forward, while for Hawkesbury Dave Gardiner kept things tight in defence and midfielder Evan Daglis looked to provide a spark for Hawkesbury.
A minute before the end of the first half a long throw led to a goal mouth scramble in the Gladesville box and just as it looked like the ball might bounce kindly for Hawkesbury, the Gladesville defence was able to clear the danger.
Five minutes into the second half there was drama as a Gladesville free kick deflected off a Hawkesbury defender and crashed off the bar, with the rebound leading to an appeal of handball from the Gladesville players and fans. The referee consulted with the linesman and much to the disappointment of Gladesville players, he turned down the appeals and called for play on.
The next stage of the match picked up in intensity with heavy challenges coming in and neither team refusing to back down. The game was there for the taking for whichever team could keep their composure and control the ball.
It was Gladesville who took the lead in the 70th minute when a fast break saw Alistair Mckie put in a good through ball into the path of Majid Eslami, with the striker managing to hold off defender Dave Gardiner and feigning a chip shot, only to go around the keeper and slot the ball home. It was a very well taken goal from the lively striker.
The next few minutes saw Gladesville consolidate their lead, with the defence holding firm and allowing no chances to Hawkesbury. Both teams also looked to their benches to provide and impact to the final stage of the game.
But it was Gladesville’s substitutions that made the difference as soon after two newly introduced subs had a hand in Gladesville’s second goal. It started with some tough tackling in the middle of the park which saw Alistair Mckie switch the ball to Samuel Powell, the right winger delivering the ball into the box for another substitute Stephen Lloyd, who headed home at the back post.
Hawkesbury mounted one last desperate attempt to get back into the game when Todd Macrae got in behind the Gladesville defence and whipped the ball across the face of the goal and into the path of Michael McCrory, who saw his shot smothered by Gladesville goal keeper Kiriakos Tohouroglou.
The killer blow came moments later off a counter attack from a Hawkesbury corner. Right midfielder Samuel Powell played a good switch to Alistair Mckie on the left, with the midfielder delivering an inch perfect cross for Stephen Lloyd, who got in between two Hawkesbury defenders and headed in his second goal of the game.
The final whistle came moments later and Gladesville claimed a hard fought victory over a gallant Hawkesbury.
For Gladesville it’s another step in the right direction, with the team looking very well structured and doing the simple things efficiently to get their results. Best on the ground for the team were defender Alexander Morris, who was a tower of strength at the back while marshalling his troops all afternoon. In midfield John Martinez grafted away all match with a composed and tidy display, while Alistair Mckie was particularly dominant, consistently getting into space and having a hand in all three goals.
The Gladesville coach George Ganiatsas thought it was a hard fought win, “The boys just toughed it out and got the result in the end. Hopefully we can build from here”.
Hawkesbury will be disappointed with the final scoreline in a game that they were well and truly in right until the end. A strong performance was given by David Gardiner, who read the game well and continually looked to build up the play from the back. Also strong were midfielder Evan Daglis, who dictated Hawkesbury’s play from the centre of the park and made some good attacking runs, and striker Michael McCrory, who toiled away up front all afternoon.
Coach Hugh McCrory gave his thoughts after the game, “It was a tough day for us, I don’t think the final score really reflects the game. In the first half we had a few good chances but in the second half we didn’t create much. Overall we tried hard but it just wasn’t our day”.
Match Stats
Gladesville Ryde Magic: 3 (M.Eslami, S Lloyd x 2)
Hawkesbury City 0
Sunday, 11th of May, 2014
Magdala Park, Ryde
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assistant Referees: Luke Morgan, Philip Murray
Gladesville Ryde Magic: 5. A Morris, 12. Stephen Speirs, 33. K Tohouroglou, 6. C Gaitatzis, , 3.C.Newton, 7. M Eslami(S.Lloyd), 9.W Reece(,4. S Alexander Powell), 16. A Mckie(11. P Yannopoulos), 10.A Mckie, 8.John Martinez,2.B Townley-Jones
Substitutes Not Used: 1.A Guirgis, 13.Benjamin Kerr
Yellow Cards: A.Mckie, A.Mckie
Red Cards: Nil
Hawkesbury City: 37.R Carle(Prasheel Sharma), 13.P Cooper, 16.E Daglis, 5.David Gardner, 18.T Macrae, 26.J Mawein(11.J Mccrae), 10.R O’shea, 36.J. Palmer-Brown, 1.D Schwarzer, 14.R Wilson(A.Stevenson)
Substitutes Not Used: 3.D Smith, 15. E.Simone
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: Nil
Nepean FC v Western NSW Mariners
Nepean were 3-2 winners on Saturday night as they overcame Western NSW Mariners in a high scoring match.
Nikola Pozder opened the scoring and gave Nepean a 1-0 lead at half time, but the Mariners hit back after the break with John Henry levelling the scores.
Nepean then scored two goals in quick succession to take control of the game. Rafid Hermiz was first brought down in the box, with Terry Panowitz converting the spot kick, and then Hermiz was involved again, providing an assist for Jajaw to make the score 3-1.
Nepean went down to men with ten minutes to go and the Mariners pushed hard to get back into the game, but they could only manage a consolation goal in stoppage time.
Nepean FC 3 (N.Pozder, T.Pannowitz, W.Jajaw) Western NSW Mariners 2 (J.Henry, A.Scimone)
Camden Tigers v Hakaoh
Hakoah kept up their winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Camden on Saturday night.
The damage was done in the first half with goals to Lloyd Owusu and Kevin Lopes putting the away side 2-0 up at the break, and the score line remained unchanged in the second half as Hakoah notched up another victory.
Camden 0 Hakoah 2 (L.Owusu, K.Lopes)
Dulwich Hill v Northbridge
Northbridge returned to the winners circle with a 4-1 win over Dulwich Hill on Sunday afternoon.
Northbridge were two goals to the good at half time with Oliver Babington grabbing a double, before another goal in the second half by Paul Orgad made the score 3-0.
They were able to peg a goal back courtesy of a Frank Calcagno strike, but things got worse for Dulwich Hill as they had a man sent off.
Northbridge however struck again with Michael Cole to make the final result 4-1.
Dulwich Hill 1 (F.Calcagno) Northbridge 4 (O.Babington x 2, P.Orgad, M.Cole)
Balmain Tigers v Stanmore Hawks
Balmain and Stanmore Hawks played out a tense 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon.
In a bright start for the home side, Balmain hitman Rosario Occhipinti converted a first half penalty to put the Tigers up 1-0.
The match turned on its head in the second half with Balmain being reduced to ten men when left back Samuel Falanga was sent off.
With a one man advantage Stanmore piled on the pressure and were rewarded with an equalising goal right at the death, as a Lachlan Wright cross was headed into the back of the net by Jamal Boutkabout.
Balmain 1 (R.Occhipinti) Stanmore 1 (J.Boutkabout)
Inter Lions v Granville Rage
Granville Rage came away with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Inter Lions on Sunday night.
A David Bortolazzo strike gave the Rage a 1-0 half time lead and in the second half Zach Watters doubled the lead to make it 2-0.
Inter struck back shortly after, before Daniel Bortolazzo grabbed his second of the game. Inter then scored to make it 3-2 and although they pushed hard for the equaliser, Granville Rage held on for a close victory.
Inter 2 (A.Foti, D.Maiconi) Granville 3 (D.Bortolazzo x 2, Z.Watters)
-By Diego Munoz
