Men’s State League 1 Round 9 Review
Round nine was a big weekend for a number of teams chasing that top spot in what were massive matches for all involved.
MATCH THE ROUND:
Dulwich Hill FC 1 (Cornish) v Rydalmere Lions FC 3 (Camilleri 2 and Avery)
Rydalmere has continued their resurgence with a second half surge thanks to a Chris Camilleri brace to remain undefeated heading into the tenth week of the State League competition.
Despite their impressive form, it was Dully that started brighter. Norm Tome’s men harangued the Lions defense with Alex Yin almost capitalised on an errant pass three minutes in. He was unable to find a target across the six yard box.
Dully bossed much of the opening twenty minutes, as the home side continued to create space and put balls in the right area but no one was there to finish the chance.
Much of the attack for the Lions came from the flank, almost exclusively from Zakeriya Elrich. The winger produced a dipping effort that needed to be saved in the 20th minute as Rydalmere started to dominate.
It was a half of two halves almost – as Rydalmere weathered the early storm from Dully and peppered their keeper for the rest of the first 45. Their best chances fell to John Fahmi after a string of passes couldn’t keep either of his shots down to break the deadlock.
Tony Basha kept his charges out on the field at half-time and the strategy worked. Four minutes into the second half, Elrich took on two defenders before he squared to Camilleri to blast the roof of the net.
Camilleri linked up well with his wide men throughout but his second was a solo effort. After a handball just outside the box, he brushed the free-kick in off the underside of the bar for 2-nil and threatened to be more.
There was life for Dully on 73 minutes. Alex Yin produced a splendid cross from the free-kick planted right on the head of Sam Cornish to pull one back. Yin almost levelled things but for a point blank save from Harrick Sinpraseuth.
The game opened right up in the last fifteen, as Dully searched for an equaliser. Their willingness to attack allowed Rydalmere to kill off the game. Elrich chipped into the path of 17 year old sub, Aaron Avery to make it 3-1.
Afterwards Coach Tony Basha downplayed his side’s win.
“It is a tough step up to this level especially getting a result against a strong Dulwich Hill,”
He added the recent signing of Lloyd Owusu will give them “something different up front.”
Norm Tome once again lamented the missed chances.
“We didn’t take our chances, and it cost us once again. Our momentum was there but it shows if you don’t take your chances it costs you.”
MATCH STATS
Dulwich Hill FC 1 (Cornish ’73)
Yellow cards: Hrysanthos and Rachid
Rydalmere Lions FC 3 (Camilleri ’49, ’56 and Avery ’83)
Yellow cards: Sayan
Granville Rage 1 (S. Vukovic) v North Shore Mariners 1 (R. Hardy)
The Rage rebounded from their defeat to Stanmore last week, to earn a credible 1-1 draw against high flyers North Shore Mariners.
Stephen Vukovic scored the Rage’s goal in a game where they controlled the tempo and pushed the much vaunted Mariners back for the majority of the contest. Joe Haywood was delighted to steal a point in the last five minutes through Ry Hardy’s fifth strike of the season to deny a much improved Rage.
Nepean FC 1 (Kodai) vs Hawkesbury City SC 1 (Gough)
There is some light at the end of a torrid period for Nepean after gaining their first point since round one. Hawkesbury meanwhile has put their mid-week thrashing behind them to continue building some form.
Nepean started off the brighter with a goal in the third minute on the counter attack via Japanese attacker Kodai Hayashi.
Hawkesbury dug deep when Ben Gough equalised and held on despite a second successive send off to James Mawein as both teams were reduced to ten by full-time.
Western NSW Mariners FC 1 (Hughes) vs Hills Brumbies 1 (Faulkner)
Western NSW played out a credible 1-1 draw against the Hills Brumbies.
The first half was dominated by Mark Giovenali’s men taking a 1-nil lead into the break after a rare goal to defender Ryan Faulkner. The Mariners changed their structure in the second half and proved harder to break down creating several chances of their own. Their number ten Kane Hughes finished his chance to split the points.
Inter Lions 1 (Wright) vs Balmain Tigers 1
Inter Lions and Balmain Tigers shared the spoils as the match ended 1-1.
Balmain rebounded from their midweek defeat quickly, troubling the scorers early in the first half putting the Lions behind once again. Inter showed resolve controlling much of the contest after conceding. They got their reward in the 55th minute when Lachlan Wright was on the end of some fantastic lead up play and even could have stolen the points as Michael Sidoti’s effort hit the post in an improved performance.
Washed out: Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Stanmore Hawks
-By Justin Davies, Men’s State League 1 Reporter
