PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 Round 3 Review

The inclement weather played havoc with the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 schedule for this weekend, with only Friday’s fixture taking place.

It proved decisive all the same, with a stand-alone leader after just three rounds.

Hakoah Sydney City East v Central Coast FC

Central Coast FC moved into outright first on the table after a clear cut 3-1 win over Hakoah Sydney City East, becoming the only PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 outfit to retain a perfect record.

Both clubs started without regular first choice selections, Hakoah minus the injured Gavin Rae, German Cabrera and Bradley Walker while the visitors were without the suspended Louis Bozanic and the unavailable Adam Woodbine. Perhaps the Coast looked more comfortable, taking into account their respective losses of personnel, even if it was Hakoah who fired the opening salvo.

Neil Jablonski could have opened the scoring inside the first sixty seconds, but surprisingly shot wide, while a cross from Federico Kertscher sailed onto the top of the cross bar a few minutes later.

But the Coast responded with good effect, and it wasn’t long before they had taken the lead. And it came from the boot of 16 year old Trent Buhagiar, who showed composure beyond his years, firstly in getting the better of his opponent, and then striking home with accuracy, from some distance, past the stranded Hakoah keeper, Matthew Symes. It was certainly a nicely taken goal, hit well with just the right amount of weight.

The Coast almost went two up ten minutes later, but Symes saved superbly this time from Daniel McFarlane, and a further chance fell the visitor’s way when Josh Bingham looked likely to double the lead but sliced his shot wide.

It probably should have been a couple of goals to the good for Central Coast at the break, but they had to remain content with just the one.

When they did go 2-0 up, four minutes after half time, it was with a touch of good fortune. A nicely worked free kick saw Bingham slam his drive against the wall, but a wicked deflection sent Symes the wrong way, the ball ending up neatly in the other corner.

Hakoah’s best period of the game should have ended with a goal. Michael McCrory’s audacious touch was brilliantly saved by Blake Tuxford, who again denied the Hakoah front man a few minutes later with a superb diving save, preventing a goalbound header.

Had Hakoah succeeded at that time, things may have got interesting, but a penalty to the Coast, awarded after a push in the box, all but sealed the result. Bingham, for his fourth goal of the season, slammed the spotkick without any hesitation, and with just eight minutes left, it was all over.

Hakoah did pull one back, Paul Orgad hitting home after picking up a loose ball following a corner, but even then, the Coast almost immediately replied. In the best passage of the game, Buhagiar, after combining well with Connor Wilkinson, could have made it four, but for Symes getting down low.

Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Paul Orgad 88’) v Central Coast FC 3 (Trent Buhagiar 20’, Josh Bingham 49’, 82’ pen)

Friday 3 April 2015

at Hensley Field, Pagewood

Referee: James Lewis

Assts: Janush Adabjou and Matthew Cassidy

Hakoah Sydney City East: 1. Matthew Symes 8. Paul Orgad 9. Neil Jablonski 10. Deklan Gilmartin 13. Michael Randall 14. Gilad Swartz (2. Remy Wolanski 50’) 16. Brad Paikin 19. Jacob Esposito 23. Michael McCrory 26. Federico Kertscher 29. Harry Jones (12. Jeremy Horniblow 73’).

Subs not used: 18. Alex Nicolosi 21. Robert Bronev 40. Matthew McKenzie.

Yellow Card: Brad Paikin

Coach: Mark Robertson

Central Coast FC: 1. Blake Tuxford 2. Liam O’Dell 4. Nathan Verity 5. Bryan Jamba 8. Joel Hardwick 12. Trent Buhagiar 16. Daniel McFarlane (6. Matthew Crowell 82’) 17. Lachlan Wales 18. Jake McGing 19. Josh Bingham 23. Connor Wilkinson.

Subs not used: 13. Alex Arbelo 15. Ryan Frame 21. Mark McManus 40. Beyhan Irmako

Yellow Card: Lachlan Wales

Coach: Peter Preston

Washed Out

Macarthur Rams v Mounties Wanderers

Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Fraser Park

St George v Bankstown Berries

Spirit FC v Sydney University

Northern Tigers v Bankstown City