SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 round 22 review

An enthralling final day of the SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 season dished up a number of shake ups to the standings, with Central Coast Mariners Academy and Macarthur Rams joining Parramatta FC in the coveted top three.

Mounties were fortunate to keep hold of fifth place after losing to Spirit 4-2, with Sydney University failing to pounce on Wanderers’ slip up.

Mt Druitt were handed the dreaded wooden spoon as a result of Fraser Park’s 0-0 draw with Sydney Uni, while Hills Brumbies ended a mediocre season on a high, downing Northern Tigers 3-2.

Match of the Round

Mounties Wanderers v Spirit FC

Mounties scraped into the 2014 finals series, despite a 4-2 defeat to Spirit FC on Sunday. Wanderers could have guaranteed fifth place with a draw or a win, but were forced to receive a favour from Fraser Park, who held Sydney University to a 0-0 draw.

Mounties were made aware they wouldn’t be receiving a free pass into the finals from the outset as Spirit went direct to the pacy Henry Wells on the right flank from the kickoff.

The visitors carved out the first chance of the match five minutes in as Tom Lovell released Ryan Johnstone down the right, with the latter’s audacious chip easily collected by Ali Akbal.

Spirit’s urgency and Mounties’ desperation saw the game’s tempo lifted up a notch and the ferocity of challenges all over the park indicated there would be no love lost.

After being pegged back to their line for the opening exchanges, Wanderers finally relieved some pressure as Alvin Singh found himself in space on the right. The attacker cut inside Andrew Robertson but his tame shot towards the near post was comfortably saved by Murray Nelson.

Spirit took a deserved lead after 11 minutes via Ryan Johnstone, who picked up the scraps from Jacob Harris’ corner and saw his effort ricochet off Jake Ingle at the far post for the opener.

It put a real spring in their step and a mixup in the Mounties backline saw Akbal caught off his line, but Wanderers were given a reprieve as Scott Goodwin intervened to prevent Henry Wells’ long range effort from going in.

With opportunities limited through the middle of the park, Mounties were forced to use the wide channels, with Daniel Willoughby enjoying plenty of space down the right.

And it was from Willoughby’s corner that Mounties nabbed an equaliser six minutes after going behind. There was again congestion around the penalty area and after a bit of close range ping pong, Daine Merrin prodded home from a matter of centimetres out at the far post.

Things became a bit more methodical after the leveller as the frantic nature was replaced by a bit more composure from both sides.

Mounties looked to build up play but seemed a step behind Spirit and surrendered the second ball to their opponents on more occasions than coach Steve Appleby would have demanded.

And it was flat feet in defence that allowed Spirit to regain the lead just beyond the half hour mark. Harris’ deft chip over the Mounties backline put Gosue Sama through one-on-one with Akbal and the striker made no mistake, slotting his effort in the bottom corner.

Mounties were on the ropes for a majority of the remainder of the first half and their attacking pressure didn’t relent, Harris the next to test Akbal with a ferocios shot that forced the goalkeeper to produce a strong save.

Although chances were few and far between for the home side, they went close five minutes out from the break as Willoughby chipped into the box for an onrushing Matthew Viera, but his looping header flew over the crossbar.

Mounties would have been happy to head into the break one goal down and looking to reset in the second half. Spirit had no such plans.

Henry Wells sent a deep cross to Gosue Sama at the far post and his volley fell to Grant Cornwell who looked more desperate than his markers and poked home to give Spirit a 3-1 half-time lead.

A pep talk in the sheds appeared to make a difference for Mounties as they came out firing from the resumption.

Again, though, it was Spirit who should have found the net. Ryan Johnstone found an advanced Jake Harris on the left hand side and Harris delivered a pinpoint ball to the feet of Abraham Majok, the youngster hitting the ball into the arms of Akbal from close range.

They went even closer in the 67th minute as substitute Samuel Bingham blasted a shot from the edge of the box and watched his effort ricochet off the crossbar.

Hope was restored just 15 minutes out from the final whistle as Mark Symington pulled one back to make it 3-2. Symington latched onto a long ball and produced a tidy finish.

Mounties needed one goal to guarantee their place in the top five but their fate was taken out of their hands in the 82nd minute when Majok made the most of his next chance.

It was a precise ball from Bradley Gibson that put the youngster through on goal and Majok converted assuredly to put the result beyond doubt.

It was a positive finish for Spirit, who have experienced a positive turnaround in the second round of the season under the tutelage of Robert de Ceglie, Tony Walmsley and John McLafferty.

There will be plenty to ponder for Steve Appleby, who admits Mounties need much more hunger if they are to progress past week one of the finals.

"Too many players were below par today. From our club point of view that’s not acceptable, the first half was very poor," Appleby said.

"When you play a side that’s got nothing to play for, you never know how they’re going to turn up. Today they came out and played well and fair play to them.

"We were just sitting back too deep and we weren’t winning the first ball after we cleared it and then we didn’t win the second ball. In the end, you turn up and play, you’re going to do it. But if we turn up and play like we did there, we won’t do it."

But the result should be written off as an anomaly for Mounties, who have hit a rich vein of form in recent weeks and will feel confident of going all the way if they return to their peak next week.

Mounties: 40. Ali Akbal, 18. Mark D’Alessandro, 16. Scott Goodwin, 29. Jake Ingle, 31. Daine Merrin, 11. Daniel Severino, 25. Alvin Singh, 2. Eli Squillacioti (13. Milan Zoric 69′), 6. Aleksandar Tomic, 9. Matthew Viera (14. Mark Symington 69′), 10. Daniel Willoughby (27. Steven Veleski 77′)

Subs not used: 23. Klime Sekutkoski, 1. Kristian Sekutkoski

Yellow cards: Jake Ingle, Aleksandar Tomic, Ali Akbal

Red cards: Nil

Spirit FC: 8. Grant Cornwell, 7. Jacob Harris (10. Bradley Gibson 68′), 16. Ryan Johnstone, 15. Ross Kethel, 19. Tom Lovell, 35. Abraham Majok (9. Tim Simpson 84′), 1. Murray Nelson, 2. Andrew Robertson, 6. Gosue Sama, 4. Nicholas Trimble, 26. Henry Wells (27. Samuel Bingham 64′)

Subs not used: 12. Michael Streeter, 41. Kane Wallace

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

Sydney University v Fraser Park

Sydney University missed out on a chance to sneak into the top five after being held to a 0-0 draw with Fraser Park.

Mounties’ defeat meant Raul Blanco’s men would have jumped into fifth spot with a victory, but late heroics from Fraser Park ‘keeper Michael Frost ensured the stalemate.

It was a significant result for Fraser Park, who would have finished bottom of the Club Championship had they lost. Instead, they finish level on points with Hills and climbed off the foot of the first grade ladder to finish 11th.

Fraser Park have played some enterprising football over the last two months, with coach Mile Todorovski and Technical Director Albin Mikulski surely acknowledging their charges left everything on the pitch this season.

Sydney University 0

Fraser Park 0

Macarthur Rams v Bankstown City

Macarthur provided a lesson in how to take confidence into a finals series, producing an emphatic performance to dispatch of Bankstown City 6-1.

Rams surged to a 2-0 half-time lead and were aided by two Lions send offs as they ran rampant in the second stanza.

Striker Gerard Ouffoue made the most of the opportunity with an impressive four-goal haul, while David McMurray and Joel Craig also found the net in the rout.

Grant Lynch nabbed a consolation for Bankstown City, who finished the season in seventh place and four points outside of the finals places.

Macarthur’s ruthlessness saw them jump above Northern Tigers into third place on goal difference, handing them a valuable lifeline next week. 

Macarthur Rams 6 (Gerard Ouffoue 4, David McMurray, Joel Craig)

Bankstown City 1 (Grant Lynch)

Parramatta FC v Mt Druitt Town Rangers

Skipper Patrick Gatt proved the difference as Parramatta maintained their unbeaten streak to round out the regular season with a 1-0 win over Mt Druitt.

The Eagles finished nine points clear atop the first grade ladder and the victory allowed them to finish in pole position on the Club Championship table.

Frank Cosentino’s men head into the finals series with a significant dose of confidence and will relish the week off to recuperate.

It was a disappointing finish for Rangers, who finished as wooden spooners on goal difference.

Parramatta FC 1 (Patrick Gatt)

Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0

Northern Tigers v Hills Brumbies

Hills Brumbies had a big say in the final order of the top five, relegating Northern Tigers to fourth place with a 3-2 win at Mills Park.

Brumbies went into the break with a 2-1 advantage and led 3-1 in the second half, with Tigers only able to pull one goal back.

Hills showed all the signs of a team fighting for their Club Championship place, leaving Tigers to face an elimination final next week.

Northern Tigers 2

Hills Brumbies 3

Bankstown Berries v Central Coast Mariners Academy

Central Coast Mariners Academy surged into second place with a late 2-1 win over Bankstown Berries.

Mariners had their 1-0 lead cut back in the second half but a winner two minutes from time handed them a spot in the qualifying final.

Bankstown Berries 1

Central Coast Mariners Academy 2

– By Mitchell Grima