Men’s State League 1 Round 10 Review
North Shore Mariners are the new leaders of Men’s State League 1 as Joe Haywood’s men overtook Hills Brumbies after their local derby win, still with a game in hand.
Meanwhile Rydalmere has moved into third after this weekend’s fixtures.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Gladesville Ryde Magic 1 (Martinez) v North Shore Mariners 2 (Cole and Jones)
The North Shore Mariners claimed local bragging rights after a late Lee Jones goal secured all three points at Magdala Park on Saturday night.
Fresh from a weekend off, Gladesville were keen to get runs on the board and emphasised this right from the outset. Chris Gaitatzis bent his 5th minute effort wide as the Magic tried to surprise their opponents.
Soon though North Shore would find their rhythm, passing the ball quickly and efficiently. That led to two shots flashed across Kiriakos Tohorouglou’s goal in the eighth minute, serving as a warning shot for Magic.
For much of the first half Michael Cole and Ricky Woodward orchestrated the attack for their forwards. Woodward weaved through the defense in the 23rd minute and played a one-two with his partner to force a save.
The best chances for the Magic came from their direct play and set pieces, continuously finding Peter Yannopoulos who got in behind several times but wasn’t able to convert.
They also would come close through Stephen Lloyd, who slammed an effort against the bar, however a foul in the build-up would have chalked it off.
The Mariners eventually turned their dominance into goals. Chris Lindsay weighted a beautiful cross onto the head of Cole whose effort was parried but his rebound squirmed in for a one nil lead.
Energised from his goal, Cole almost had a hat-trick after the break. The winger timed his run to have a shot saved in the 50th minute before a point blank save from Tohorouglou denied him again in the 56th minute.
For Gladesville their best forays came from the tireless Alistair McKie. The winger started and almost finished a move in the 61st after bursting into the box but couldn’t force a save.
Set pieces were the Magic’s best chances to level. After a half dozen in a short span, John Martinez forced it home to make it 1-1.
Just as Joe Haywood was contemplating another dropped game, Lee Jones flew down the right and dinked an effort into the post and also the net to bring the Mariners a 2-1 lead.
Despite some late chances, North Shore held on to take top position in the Men’s State League 1.
Coach Joe Haywood was a picture of relief following the win.
“We thought let’s get ourselves on the ball. It was much better in the first half,”
“This [Magdala Park] is a tough venue to visit and we’re happy to come away with a win.”
Match Stats
Gladesville Ryde Magic 1 (Martinez ’83)
Yellow card: M. Jones
North Shore Mariners 2 (Cole ’45, Jones ’85)
Yellow card: J. Wynter
Hawkesbury City SC 0 v Granville Rage 0
Hawkesbury City continued their thrust from the bottom as they played out a draw with Granville. It was a game which lacked chances with the two defenses cancelling each other out throughout.
Fans around David Bertenshaw Field will find the draw an encouraging sign in what is a tough period of injuries and wet weather for the Hawkesbury side.
Hills Brumbies 2 v Rydalmere Lions 4
Rydalmere claimed the scalp of the first placed Brumbies in a six goal thriller out at Lily’s Football Centre on Saturday night.
It was a superb opening for Hills as Daniel Morsillo got back on the scoresheet alongside Bruno Pivato who put them two nil up.
Tony Basha’s men aren’t ones to turn their toes up though as they clawed one back before the break.
Zakeriya Elrich then ran riot in the second half, completing a hat-trick to down the league leaders. Amaury Guatier added a fourth for the final scoreline.
Coach Basha was a proud man of the heart and effort to turn over a tough Brumbies side, and will take confidence into next week’s fixture against Stanmore.
Stanmore Hawks 1 v Western NSW Mariners FC 2
Stanmore will rue their missed chances as they crashed to 2-1 defeat at the hands of Western NSW Mariners.
It was the perfect start for Soteri Mavrou’s men as they opened the scoring through Costa Bakoulis’ sixth goal of the season.
The Mariners responded well, producing a double salvo before the break.
Adam Scimone’s fifth for the year brought it level before Kane Hughes made it two in two weeks to grab the lead.
Neither team could reproduce the opening half entertainment as the game petered out.
Mariners coach Andrew Fearnley will be happy to take all three points away from Arlington, much needed points as the battle for ladder position heats up.
Inter Lions 1 v Dulwich Hill 4
New signing Sam Messam proved the difference as Dulwich Hill continued Inter’s woes.
Inter were ahead early thanks to Rosario Occhipinto in the 20th minute but that’s where their joy ended.
Messam sprang into action providing a hat-trick of assists to match the hat-trick of goals for Stephen Hrysanthos. Sash Tirovski added the fourth for a valuable three points for Norm Tome and his men.
Balmain Tigers FC 2 v Nepean FC 0
The return of three players from Inter helped Balmain to overcome Nepean FC Sunday afternoon.
Dominic and Giacomo Di Mento and Josh Karpes energised Joe Di Giulo’s side after a flat hour of football.
Domenic Di Mento scored in a period of decent attack for Balmain, who peppered the Nepean goal for half an hour. It could have been much more than the final scoreline.
Johnathan Gowdy put away the second to secure all three points and keep pressure on the top five.
– by Justin Davies, Men’s State League 1 Reporter
