Men’s State League 1 Round 5 Review
The elements conspired to shorten the round but four games played went ahead which saw Gladesville remain undefeated and a six goal thriller at Valentine Sports Park.
Check out our round review below.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
The crowd was treated to a six-goal bonanza at Valentine Sports Park on Sunday. A double to Daniel Morsillo led Hills to an entertaining 4-2 win over Inter Lions.
Inter started the brighter, their endeavour fashioned a chance for Rosario Occhipinto to get in behind for 1-nil. The striker latched onto a lovely through ball from midfield to slot past the Brumbies keeper.
Stung into action from the goal, Hills invented a free-kick routine that gave them the equaliser. After the free-kick was won, Bruno Pivato tapped the ball to Gregory Giovenali who smashed home.
Central to a lot of the good work in the first half, was Keunike Maralit, he tore down the wings with pace, creating several chances for Pivato which he spurned. Maralit had his own moment in the 25th minute when he spooned two chances in the space of seconds.
Most of Inter’s good work came through Occhipinti who got in behind the defense several times in the first half, unable to replicate his goal earlier.
Hills dominated the remainder of the first half, forcing several saves from the Inter custodian but no addition to the score-line.
The two sides traded chances after the resumption, highlighted when Gregory Di Mento tried to mirror his free-kick effort with his 59th minute effort. Hills were pressing and got on top of the Lions who wilted control of the game.
Daniel Morsillo got the breakthrough in the 67th minute for the Brumbies, as they worked it around the box and he was in position to slam it home. A deserved 2-1 lead that was looking to build into more.
Morsillo was the architect for the third goal. He and Pivato who buzzed around playmaking all game combined down the right, giving Maralit the reward for his work in the 69th minute. Maralit cut the ball across the area to get it past the keeper for a deserved 3-1 lead.
The Lions weren’t lying down with a fight though, making in three goals in six minutes. The cloud that blanketed Sydney gave way to the sun, almost in recognition of Di Mento’s goal.
The midfielder took a chance to curve a cross-cum-shot over the head of the Brumbies helpless keeper to give the Lions a lifeline back into the game.
Buoyed by this, Roberto Maiorana produced a triple save from the barrage of shots incoming from the Hill’s attackers to keep Inter alive.
Di Mento almost had a brace with a second speculative effort that needed the help of the post. Inter earned a late equaliser against Rydalmere last weekend and were on track to do so again.
Hills snuffed out the game in the 88th minute when Morsillo found space In the area, putting the game away, leaving a forlorn Maiorana to grasp at air. Morsillo almost had a hat-trick in added time which curled wide.
Match Stats
Hills Brumbies 4 (Morsillo 2, Giovenali and Maralit)
Yellow Card: Giovenali
Red Cards: nil
Inter Lions 2 (Occhipinti and Di Mento)
Yellow Cards: Cimino
Red Cards: Cimino
Western NSW Mariners FC 0 defeated by Granville Rage 1 (Bobo)
Mariners were unable to make it two wins on the trot in Mudgee, rueing a lethargic first half which allowed the Rage to score the winning goal. They lost possession in the midfield, allowing the visitors to play it in behind for Ninos Bobo to finish well for the win. The home side had an improved second half which frustrated Andrew Fearnley because they were unable to finish the range of chances they created.
Dulwich Hill FC 1 (Hyrsanthos) drew with Gladesville Ryde Magic 1 (Elsami)
Happier times for coach Norm Tome, as Dulwich Hill were able to salvage a draw in their game against the unbeaten Magic. Dully scored in the first half through Steven Hyrsanthos while Magic’s Majid Elsami cancelled out his strike in the second half. Gladesville were unlucky to not gather all three points as Chris Gaitatzis struck the crossbar twice with the keeper beaten.
Balmain Tigers FC 1 (Ahmed) defeated Stanmore Hawks 0
Balmain gave a much more controlled performance in their 1-nil victory at home which will please coach Joe Di Giulio after their last few weeks. Ahmed Chandab scored the goal which could have been more with the Tigers dominant passing game in the wet conditions. Stanmore continue to be inconsistent unable to build on their 5-nil win last weekend.
Washed out: Hawkesbury City SC vs North Shore Mariners and Nepean FC vs Rydalmere Lions
-By Justin Davies, Men’s State League One reporter
