PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 Round 7 Review
Only two games saw the light of day as the shocking weather continued to play havoc with the PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 2 schedule. Even so, we have a new leader with Northern Tigers moving to the top after defeating Hakoah Sydney City East 3-1 on Sunday evening.
Bankstown Berries inched up to fourth after overcoming Sydney University in atrocious conditions at The Crest, in Saturday’s only game.
Hakoah Sydney City East v Northern Tigers
Northern Tigers climbed to the top of the ladder after an impressive second half performance saw them overturn a 1-0 half time deficit to draw away to a 3-1 win.
In a game switched to Hensley Field from the originally planned Mills Park to escape the wet conditions, the Tigers will no doubt be grateful that the game went ahead, as they went three points clear of their nearest rivals. It was their fifth league win in a row, having not dropped a point since the first round, and they are certainly in a rich vein of form.
Having played a tough two hours of cup football on Wednesday, the Tigers were content to rest central defender Michael Rolston to the bench, and were also without Paul Davies, returning from injury in the U20s, while Hakoah Sydney City East were unchanged from the side that defeated Mount Druitt Town Rangers last weekend. And if the first half was any guide, it seemed that Hakoah were right to seek to switch the fixture.
They almost took the lead only two minutes in, when a shot from Michael McCrory was just deflected around for a corner. The resultant free kick from Deklan Gilmartin took everybody by surprise, curling into the area and almost into goal before being parried by Matt Nemes, at the last moment.
Hakoah started very strongly, and dominated the Tigers in the early exchanges, looking particularly dangerous down the left. It was perhaps a surprise that they didn’t score until thirty minutes had passed, but it was a goal worthy of the lead. Brad Paikin did well down the right, before cutting back for who else, but Neil Jablonski, who shot first time from the edge of the area for his seventh goal of the season.
It was a cruel blow nonetheless for Northern Tigers, who themselves had the ball in the net just a minute before, but Liam McConaghy was adjudged to be offside before his strike smashed in.
There was no doubt that Hakoah deserved the lead, and it could have been more, especially when McCrory failed by inches to connect to a Michael Randall cross. Gilmartin too, tested Nemes.
If there was to be a turning point to the match, it came on the hour. After having lost Jablonski to injury just before half time, fellow striker McCrory had to leave the field for treatment before he, himself, was substituted. Down to ten for a moment, Northern Tigers took immediate advantage. A great goal it was though with a superb diagonal pass from Liam McConaghy finding Tai Smith on the right. Smith evaded his defender, before just getting to the byeline in time, crossing for Braden Cheng to strike home the equaliser.
The goal gave the Tigers a great lift, and with Hakoah’s regular strike force both off the pitch, always looked the most likely to get another. Smith had the first opportunity, perhaps delaying too long before the chance was lost, but with thirteen minutes left on the clock, the goal came. A headed flick on by Matthew West found Smith whose shot was parried away by Matthew Symes. Only as far as Daniel Stuart though, who smashed in the Tigers’ second.
Having scored the winner for the Tigers last week, it seemed that Stuart may well have won it for the Tigers again. That Hakoah may claw back a goal themselves looked slim when Gilmartin received a second yellow, just a minute after going behind and the night was all over when Smith popped up for the third with ten minutes to go.
The Tigers will have a chance to go even further ahead on Wednesday when they tackle Bankstown City at Mills Park, in what will be a big ten days for the club, as they also look forward to the Westfield FFA Cup final preliminary round on Wednesday week.
Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Neil Jablonski 30’) v Northern Tigers 3 (Braden Cheng 60’, Daniel Stuart 77’, Tai Smith 80’)
Sunday, 3 May 2015
at Hensley Field, Pagewood
Referee: Adam Weir
Assts: Alex Long and Jordan Lake
Hakoah Sydney City East: 1.Matthew Symes 2. Remy Wolanski 4. Bradley Walker 5. Michael McCrory (26. Federico Kertscher 62’) 8. Paul Orgad 9. Neil Jablonski (7. Kevin Lopes 43’) 10. Deklan Gilmartin 13. Michael Randall 16. Brad Paikin 19. Jacob Esposito 20. Joseph Dingwell
Subs not used: 11. Gavin Rae 25. Jesse Lenn 29. Harry Jones
Yellow cards: Michael Randall, Deklan Gilmartin
Red Card: Deklan Gilmartin 78’
Coach: Mark Robertson
Northern Tigers: 1. Matt Nemes 2. Samuel Ryder 5. Samuel Porter 9. Liam McConaghy (7. Matthew West 77’) 10. Shervin Adeli 12. Russell Farrell 16. Steven Baveas 17. Braden Cheng 18. Tai Smith 19. Daniel Stuart (Lucas Dawson 81’) 23. Julian Lim.
Subs not used: 4. Michael Rolston 15. Hayden Krha 21. Harrison Devenish-Meares
Yellow cards: Nil
Coach: Steve Hurd
Bankstown Berries v Sydney University
Bankstown Berries didn’t take long to recover from their midweek loss when they defeated Sydney University 2-0 on Saturday, the only game scheduled to escape the constant deluge.
Goals to Gerard Ouffoue and Mitchell Davidson, in each half, did the damage and lifts the Berries up to fourth spot while Uni remain anchored at the bottom. Uni will travel to Christie Park on Tuesday, weather permitting, as they still seek their first point.
Bankstown Berries 2 (Gerard Ouffoue, Mitchell Davidson) v Sydney University 0
Washed Out
Bankstown City v St George
Macarthur Rams v Central Coast
Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Spirit FC
Mounties Wanderers v Fraser Park
Midweek Fixtures
Tuesday 5 May
Spirit FC v Sydney University
Wednesday 6 May
Macarthur Rams v Mounties Wanderers
Northern Tigers v Bankstown City
Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Fraser Park
– by Peter Rowney, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 2 Reporter
