Men’s State League 1 Round 11 Review
The North Shore Mariners continue to lead the State League 1 competition after a hard fought 2-0 victory away to the Western NSW Mariners while the Match of the Round saw Dulwich Hill defeat the Hills Brumbies 3-1 thanks to a five star performance by new signing Sam Messam.
MATCH OF THE ROUND: Dulwich Hill FC 3 v Hills Brumbies 1
A clinical performance from Dulwich Hill led by a brace from new Kiwi recruit Sam Messam helped them breeze past Hills Brumbies on a sunny Sunday afternoon at Arlington Oval.
The signing of Messam has reinvigorated a stuttering Dully side, helping them put away the chances they were missing earlier in the season.
His impact on this afternoon’s contest was unveiled in the 4th minute. Messam chested down a long throw, turned and poked the ball past the Brumbies keeper for 1-nil.
Following the goal, Hills peppered the netting behind Mario Faras’ goal with their radar proving wayward.
Dully was clinical getting their chances though – Another set piece, this time a corner pin-balled around the box was forced home by James Morrison.
Brumbies were flat from spurning numerous chances and were caught on the break by Dully. The first two scorers Messam and Morrison combined as the former arrowed his effort home.
It was more of the same after half-time. Brumbies had a ten minute period where they were camped in the Dully half. Steve Biason, Daniel Morsillo and Bruno Pivato all had chances to put themselves on the scoresheet but skewed wide.
Hills luckless streak was highlighted in the 60th minute when with the goal wide open neither Bedzo nor Morsillo could get a foot to the ball.
They finally found a route into the game through the penalty spot. Dully were judged to handle the ball in the 70th minute. Chris Bedzo stepped up and slotted the penalty for 3-1.
After that goal, the game became frenetic as Brumbies tried to inch closer but like the rest of the afternoon were off target .
Substitute Frank Calcagno almost killed off the contest in the 86th minute with his effort fell tamely to the keeper. Dully remained defensively sound to see off the final few minutes.
Dully coach Norm Tome was delighted in his team’s defensive display.
“Today wasn’t our best performance but defensively it was good and for once it was us taking those chances.”
Mark Giovenali was disappointed in his side’s defensive issues.
“The first three goals which we gave them I thought, gave them momentum and we missed our chances especially right after half-time.”
MATCH STATS
Dulwich Hill FC 3 (Messam ‘4, ’29 Morrison ’21)
Hills Brumbies 1 (Bedzo ’70)
Dulwich Hill FC: Maruca, Cornish, J. Morrison, Lagoudakis(Calcagno ’83), Johnston, Tirovski(R. Morrison ’45), Yin, Rachid(Moustakas ’76), Iannacito, Farias and Messam
Yellow cards: Cornish, Iannacito Moustakas and Rachid
Hills Brumbies: Miller, Faulkner, Brandon, Morsillo(W. Giovenali ’86), Pivato, Bedzo, G. Giovenali, Hoyer, Maralit(Biason ‘ 17), Mccracken, and Savetta(Maguire ’65)
Subs not used: Kelshaw and Franich
Yellow cards: Maguire
Balmain Tigers FC 1 v Granville Rage 0
Balmain secured back-to-back victories with a narrow 1-nil win against a gallant Granville team at Garside Park.
The Tigers edged a competitive first 45 where they scored the only goal through Jonathan Gowdy’s free-kick.
It would be a tense final half hour after the dismissal of Gowdy reduced the home team to ten.
Joe Di Giulo’s men held strong though and saw out the closing stages well with a flurry of chances that could’ve added to the scoreline.
Gladesville Ryde Magic 2 v Hawkesbury City SC 0
It was a swift bounce back after their derby defeat for Gladesville who brushed aside Hawkesbury at home on Saturday afternoon.
Ali McKie and Peter Yannopoulos struck in the first half for the Magic who scored from both their chances.
Hawkesbury hustled and bustled their way back into the contest in the second half but were able to convert their chances into goals.
Afterwards Hawks coach David Bertenshaw rued three dropped points against a solid Magic team.
Western NSW Mariners FC 0 v North Shore Mariners 2
A professional performance from North Shore in the battle of the Mariners gave them breathing space at the halfway mark.
Joey Haywood’s men scored through Ry Hardy and Jack Grant either side of half-time to put away a dogged Western NSW team.
Western NSW gave their higher ranked opponents a challenge in the second half but was repelled well defensively.
The defensive structure and ruthless edge proved the difference as Andrew Fearnley and his men were left to ponder what may have been.
Nepean FC 2 V Inter Lions 2
A ding-dong battle between two of the lower ranked sides ended square on a cold Saturday night in Sydney’s west.
Nepean led early through Alejandro Arregin in the first half to edge out an even half.
The Lions had a ten minute salvo in the second half – Stephen Roda made it 1-all before Gustavo Maya Valiente’s 65th minute effort put them ahead.
Like a majority of the season it ended in heartbreak for Inter. Rosario Occhipinto hit the post late and his miss allowed Nepean to steal a point in the 88th minute via Ben Knobel. It was a better showing by the home side who had the better of the chances and could have taken all three points but secured a valuable point in the end.
Rydalmere Lions 2 v Stanmore Hawks 1
The Rydalmere juggernaut rolls on after Tony Basha’s men secured a 2-1 victory to make it four wins on the trot, moving them up to third position.
New signing Lloyd Owusu proved an immediate impact for his new team opening the scoring in an open and entertaining game.
Livewire winger Zakeriya Elrich made it a show for young and old with his eighth goal this season in the second half from an Amaury Gautier assist.
Christian Ekwerike clawed one back for the visitors but Basha’s men were able to see out the result.
-By Justin Davies, Men’s State League 1 reporter
