SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Round 13 Review
It was goals galore in round 13 of the SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 competition, with all teams in action getting on the scoreboard and an average of two goals per game providing plenty of highlights across the board.
Macarthur moved level on points with leaders Parramatta, who had their match washed out, while Bankstown City took advantage of Northern Tigers’ slip to move into third place.
It was joy for Sydney University and Mt Druitt Town Rangers, who temporarily climbed out of trouble with respective wins.
Bankstown City v Bankstown Berries – Match of the Round
Bankstown City claimed three points and bragging rights over local rivals Bankstown Berries with a 3-2 win that wasn’t without its nervy moments.
The Lions arrived at Jensen Park ready to play, but their early dominance was to no avail, with Omar Saadi handing Berries the lead on 14 minutes against the run of play.
The hosts were made to work for their goals but Brad Boardman and Huseyin Jasli banged in a goal each to hand the side a 2-1 lead at half time.
Bankstown City kicked on with it when Shane Webb scored a third but were almost undone late on as Berries midfielder Joel Anscomb scored a screamer before Dimitrios Zakilas missed a chance to level the scores from the penalty spot.
The Lions had the first attack with real menace just three minutes into the match when Grant Lynch whipped a free kick to Jason Naidovski at the far post and the attacker’s header forced Christopher Becerra into a fingertip save to push it over the goal.
It sparked a rapid flurry of pressure for the home side, with Naidovski again getting a clear sight on goal two minutes later, this time volleying just wide of the post from Huseyin Jasli’s cross.
But it was Berries who took a shock lead after 14 minutes with their first shot on goal. Bankstown City failed to clear a free kick from the left and the ball fell to Omar Saadi on the edge of the box, with the defender burying his effort into the bottom corner out of Matt Nemes’ reach.
Shots from distance seemed to be on the menu for Berries with Matthew Trotter next to try his luck in the 21st minute, only for his effort to sail over the crossbar.
The visitors enjoyed a few chances on goal for the next 10-15 minutes but the remainder of the first half belonged to the Lions, who fought tooth and nail to get back into the contest.
Jasli enjoyed plenty of action down the left flank and almost contributed to the equaliser after 26 minutes when Berries defender Daniel Carrozza slid in to clear his dangerous cross but instead had the ball deflect of his leg and parry off the crossbar.
It was no surprise when Bankstown City drew level in the 40th minute via the head of Brad Boardman. The striker rose high to meet Jasli’s freekick from the right hand side and watched his pinpoint header fly into the top corner.
They say you’re most vulnerable after you score but Lions turned that notion on its head, surging into the lead less than a minute later. A cross from the right found Boardman who drilled a shot that rattled the upright before the rebound eventually fell to Huseyin Jasli, who tucked his shot away low into the bottom corner to give the hosts a 2-1 advantage at the break.
Lions came out of the sheds firing and looked to have extended the buffer via a sublime passage of play. Grant Lynch released Jasli with a well time through ball and the wide man crossed first time for Jason Naidovski, who produced a classy finish only to be pulled back by the lineswoman’s flag.
Berries went up the other end almost immediately and it was the goal scorer Omar Saadi who found himself with space in front of goal, but he scuffed his effort wide.
Jasli went close to grabbing a brace for Bankstown City in the 53rd minute when Shane Webb poked the ball through for the attacker, who needed a bit more direction on his rocketing strike.
The breathing space for Lions came with 20 minutes left on the clock when youngster Aaron D’Mello split the Berries defence with an exquisite through ball for Shane Webb, leaving the midfielder with just the keeper to beat – a task he completed with aplomb.
Berries coach Wally Savor’s key criticism post-match was that his side gave their opponents too much respect and it seemed to take two-goal deficit for the away side to really stamp their authority on the tie.
Joel Anscomb pulled the deficit back to one in the 77th minute after picking up the ball in the centre of the park, driving towards goal and clearing the cobwebs with a brilliantly controlled shot that left Matt Nemes rooted to the spot.
And they could have turned the match on its head two minutes later when Kyle Ewart was fouled in the box by Lions defender Peter Vassilis. Berries’ top goalscorer Dimitrios Zakilas stepped up to take the resulting penalty but couldn’t get past a diving Matt Nemes, who comfortably caught the ball to deny what would have been the equaliser.
There were a few half chances to round out the match but Bankstown City claimed the spoils in this derby match and continue to assert their dominance in the top five.
For Berries, the result ended a positive run of fixtures, with coach Wally Savor experiencing a promising start to his tenure. Plenty of positives to take for the visitors, with their new additions particularly impressive.
Bankstown City 3 (Brad Boardman 40′, Huseyin Jasli 41′, Webb 69′)
Bankstown Berries 2 (Omar Saadi 14′, Joel Anscomb 77′)
Saturday June 14, 2014
At Jensen Park
Bankstown City: 9. Brad Boardman (13. Sam Salameh 67′), 15. Aaron D’Mello, 23. Grant Lynch, 22. Jason Naidovski, 19. Huseyin Jasli, 1. Matt Nemes, 17. James O’Rourke, 16. Anthony Schmidt, 4. Peter Vassilis, 3. Shane Webb, 8. George Nohra
Subs not used: 50. Stephen Morris, 28. Reuben Vijayakumaran
Yellow cards: Aaron D’Mello,
Red cards: Nil
Bankstown Berries: 8. Joel Anscomb, 27. Christopher Becerra, 13. Daniel Carrozza, 18. David Chung (16. Shivan Swamy 65′), 20. Peter Dimitropoulos, 7. Kyle Ewart, 10. Jun Kato, 4. Omar Saadi, 3. Joseph Savor, 6. Matthew Trotter (14. Nick Paras 84′), 19. Dimitrios Zakilas (11. Stephen Grbevski 84′)
Subs not used: 40. Nestor Tsioustas, 17. Alex Lekoski
Yellow cards: Kyle Ewart
Red cards: Nil
Mounties Wanderers v Macarthur Rams
10-man Macarthur temporarily moved level on points with first placed Parramatta after salvaging a 1-1 draw with Mounties at Cook Park on Saturday night.
The ever-reliable Daniel Severino handed Wanderers an early lead but Reuben Agyei-Danso equalised for Rams shortly before the half hour mark.
Agyei-Danso’s good work was undone after 33 minutes when he was sent off for lashing out at Mounties’ Mark D’Alessandro, making it difficult for Macarthur to hold control of the match.
Try as they might, Mounties couldn’t capitalise on their man advantage as Rams’ stubborn defence held firm.
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Daniel Severino)
Macarthur Rams 1 (Reuben Agyei-Danso)
Sydney University v Spirit FC
It was a goal fest at Hensley Athletic Field as Sydney University and Spirit FC went in opposite directions on the ladder following the host’s 3-2 win.
All five goals came in the second half, with strikes to Gavin Forbes, Nathan Amore and Peter Crevani for Sydney Uni enough to hold off a plucky Spirit, who had troubled the scoreboard via Gosue Sama and Roberto Polistina.
Uni climbed up to eighth and still have a game in hand, while Spirit dropped to 11th spot, remaining three points clear of Fraser Park.
Sydney University 3 (Gavin Forbes, Nathan Amore, Peter Crevani)
Spirit FC 2 (Gosue Sama, Roberto Polistina)
Fraser Park v Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Fraser Park remain rooted to the bottom of the Mens 2 ladder after Mt Druitt Town Rangers put in a commanding performance to dispose of their hosts 4-1.
After a difficult run of late, Rangers bounced back in style as Shiyar Cakal’s double and strikes to Glenn McPherson and Paul Crisp delivered a much-needed three points to co-coaches Luis Contigiani and Nick Verdos.
Ben Vidaic’s goal was ultimately a consolation for Fraser Park, who have plenty of work to do in the second half of the season.
Fraser Park 1 (Ben Vidaic)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4 (Shiyar Cakal 2, Glenn McPherson, Paul Crisp)
Parramatta FC v Hills Brumbies
Match postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
Northern Tigers v Central Coast Mariners Academy
Central Coast Mariners Academy boosted their hopes of playing finals football with an impressive 2-1 win over Northern Tigers on Sunday afternoon.
A 90th minute winner proved the difference for Mariners as they jumped into sixth place, two points from fifth placed Mounties.
Tigers, meanwhile, dropped into fourth.
Northern Tigers 1
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2
– By Mitchell Grima
