Round 4 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The league ladder is starting to take shape in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition following the weekend’s matches in Round Four.
Western NSW Mariners and Rydalmere Lions put on one heck of show at Glen Willow Stadium on Saturday night, the Lions prevailing by the odd goal in seven in a match that had absolutely everything a game of football could muster.
Elsewhere, Dulwich Hill got their first win of the season at the expense of Hawkesbury City, the Dunbar Rovers juggernaut continued to roll on with a home triumph over Stanmore Hawks, Hills Brumbies proved too strong for Balmain Tigers at Wentworth Park, whilst Inter Lions edged Sydney University by the solitary goal at Fraser Park on Sunday afternoon.
This week’s feature match was the iconic Garside Park, where the previously unbeaten Granville Rage welcomed the visit of Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Gladesville Ryde Magic made it a week to remember with their third consecutive victory inside six days, beating Granville Rage 4-2 in a Round 4 clash at Garside Park on Saturday evening.
Magic had won their first match of the season last weekend when they overcame Dulwich Hill 3-2, and backed that up with a comprehensive 6-0 drubbing of Padstow United in the Westfield FFA Cup midweek.
Riding the crest of a wave, Gladesville were far too organised and focussed against Granville, extending themselves to a 4-0 lead before a late two goal flurry by the Rage made the score line more respectable at fulltime.
Ironically, both teams were missing their captains for this eagerly awaited clash, with Marko Miljkovic (Granville) and Chris Gaitatzis (Gladesville) sidelined and unable to take part.
Plenty of rain in the preceding twenty four hours and an uneven surface at Garside Park promised the unexpected for the committed fans that braved the cold weather, and both teams took an entire twenty minutes to sort themselves out in a cagey opening to the match.
Gladesville Ryde Magic striker, Majid Eslami, made the first real attempt on goal, in the 21st minute, when he beat the Rage offside trap on the right flank, before cutting inside and hitting a firm left foot shot into the arms of Granville custodian, Carl McMahon.
On 25 minutes, Gladesville should’ve taken the lead when Joel Carter sent an inch perfect cross to the back post from a free kick on the right wing. An unmarked Lachlan Harte nodded his header wide with the goal at his mercy.
But Granville Rage did not heed the warning, and a minute later the same two players combined to put Magic in front. Carter this time bent his free kick low and behind the Rage defensive line, and Harte bundled the ball over the line from a few yards for his second goal in four days following his Westfield FFA Cup goal midweek.
Granville coach, Miguel Sosa, had seen enough and rang the changes, bringing on both Zac Watters and Jess Casey in the 34th minute, hoping to spark the home side in to action.
But it was the well organised Magic that extended their lead three minutes in to the second half. Stand in skipper, Johnny Martinez, raced down the right flank before swinging over a perfectly placed low cross behind the retreating Granville defence. Magic striker, Majid Eslami, was on hand to smack home from close range to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Some of the Granville players had seemingly got under the skin of Gladesville’s playmaker, Chris Tomaras, by this stage of the match, and the ex-Sydney Olympic and ex-Blacktown City number ten made them pay with two superb goals around the hour mark.
On 58 minutes, Tomaras picked up the ball on the right wing, proceeding to weave in and out of a couple of defenders before cracking an angled drive at goal from inside the penalty area. Granville Rage keeper, Carl McMahon, got a hand to the shot, but couldn’t keep it out, and Magic were 3-0 up.
In almost a carbon copy of his first goal, Tomaras received a pass some forty yards from goal in the inside right channel. Strolling forward a few metres, Tomaras cut inside a defender before unleashing a powerful drive with his left foot from 20 yards inside the near post that beat McMahon all ends up.
At 4-0, Gladesville Ryde Magic somewhat took their foot off the pedal, whilst Granville Rage lifted the tempo to salvage something from the match.
Zac Watters raced through a static Magic backline on 80 minutes before being tripped by Gladesville defender, Yaw Billy, inside the box. Watters dusted himself off before drilling the spot kick low and to the right of Kyriakou Tohouroglou, the Magic custodian, who incidentally had had very little to do until that point in the match.
Tohouroglou then was called in to action in the 87th minute, spectacularly diverting a Luke Mesiti left foot volley over the cross bar.
Mesiti then played the part of assistant in injury time, taking the ball to the byline before his cutback was bundled over the line by Daniel Bittar, making the score a more respectable 2-4 to Gladesville Ryde Magic, and that’s the way it finished.
A disappointing night for Granville, who, despite their efforts, simply just couldn’t play themselves into the match. Zac Watters was an injection they needed when he entered the fray after the half hour mark, his speed a nuisance for the remainder of the match, and he was rewarded for his application by winning and scoring a penalty late on.
For Gladesville it was a very sound, resolute performance from the entire team in truth. The defence was well structured, limiting the shots at Tohouroglou’s goal to an absolute minimum. A special mention to young 17-year-old debutant, Manny Manias, who was very tidy and alert at right back. Johhny Martinez and Nathan Tsioulos worked tirelessly in midfield, whilst Chris Tomaras inevitably was the difference with his two goals, as well as his creative lead up play.
Match Stats
Garside Park
Referee – Dale Fuda
Assistant Referees – Daniel Zautsen and Jack Bell
GRANVILLE RAGE 2 (Watters pen. 80’, Bittar 90’ + 2’)
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 4 (Harte 26’, Eslami 48’, Tomaras 58’ / 70’)
Granville Rage; 1.C.McMahon, 7.D.Bittar, 11.D.Bortolazzo (18.D.Stivala 66’), 17.T.Kasunic (capt), 5.K.Kushaba, 6.M.Luc, 8.A.McKie, 12.L.Mesiti, 4.S.Morris, 9.T.Najdovski(13.Z.Watters 34’), 16.A.Punzo (10.J.Casey 34’).
Substitutes – 15.D.Nelson, 5.S.Vrankovic.
Yellow Cards – 8.A.McKie 27’, 7.D.Bittar 65’.
Red Cards – Nil
Gladesville Ryde Magic; 33.K.Tohouroglou, 16.Y.Billy, 17.J.Carter, 6.A.Cocaro (2.T.Nelson 71’), 11.M.Eslami, 5.L.Harte, 13.B.Kerr, 8.J.Martinez (capt), 10.C.Tomaras (32.H.Shizuka 71’), 15.N.Tsioulos, 28.M.Manias
Substitutes – 18.R.Parry.
Yellow Cards – 10.C.Tomaras 70’.
Red Cards – Nil
WESTERN NSW MARINERS – RYDALMERE LIONS 3-4
Saturday, April 23
Glen Willow Stadium
The fans that ventured out to Glen Willow Stadium on Saturday evening definitely got their money’s worth when Western NSW Mariners and Rydalmere Lions produced an epic display in a seven goal thriller.
The pre match odds were heavily stacked in Rydalmere’s favour, having come in to the match still not having conceded a goal this season, whilst the Mariners had yet to register a point. But the form book was well and truly tossed out as the Western NSW Mariners took the match to the visiting Lions, pressing from the opening whistle and forcing Rydalmere in to their defensive third.
The Mariners hit the front on the half hour, when skipper Adam Scimone broke through the Rydalmere backline and cut it back for Mitch Hutchings to tap home.
Home goal keeper, Adam Brackenridge, made some telling saves either side of the break to protect the Mariners’ advantage, an advantage that was extended ten minutes in to second half.
The quick thinking Jeremy Judge took a quick free kick to slip Scimone in to space inside the box, and the Mariner’s captain returned the pass for Judge to smash home goal number two.
A gilt edged opportunity presented itself on the hour mark, when the Mariner’s Matthew Hobby was upended inside the Rydalmere penalty area, presenting the home side with a chance to extend their lead. But John Henry’s spot kick was saved by Rydalmere custodian, Harrick Sinpraseuth, much to the angst of the home fans.
Minutes later and there was another spot kick awarded, this time to the visitors. Lions skipper, Lloyd Owusu, cracked his effort against the base of the cross bar, the ball bouncing down and out, but the referee’s assistant had signalled that Mariner’s keeper, Adam Brackenridge, had moved prematurely. Owusu missed the target altogether with his second effort, and the score remained at 2-0 to the home side.
If you thought the action was done and dusted as the match ventured towards the end, you were far mistaken, as the remaining minutes brought a glut of frenzied activity that kept all and sundry on their feet.
Rydalmere midfielder, Seiji Tarutani, reduced the deficit in the 85th minute, before Joey Steenbergen, grabbed what looked like a dramatic equaliser for the visitors just two minutes later.
A second caution and subsequent red card to Rydalmere’s Luiz Doretto swung the pendulum back in the home side’s favour, and Matthew Hobby then duly edged the Mariners back in front with an 88th minute goal.
3-2 to the Western NSW Mariners if you’re having trouble keeping up, but Rydalmere were far from finished. Coach Tony Basha’s tactical adjustments earlier in the match paid dividends when the Lions snatched two goals in injury time, first with Lloyd Owusu equalising, before Steenbergen snared an unlikely winner deep in to added time.
A remarkable three points on the road from the never say die Rydalmere Lions, putting them on nine points with a game in hand this coming Tuesday against Granville Rage.
For the Western NSW Mariners, it was gut wrenching to say the least, having one of the competition’s heavyweights on the ropes well in to the latter stages of the match, before having the three points slip from their grasp.
It was a case of déjà vu for the home side – twelve months ago they were 3-1 up against the very same opponent before coming unstuck 3-4 in a similar occurrence.
DUNBAR ROVERS – STANMORE HAWKS 3-2
Saturday, April 23
Hensley Athletic Field
Dunbar Rovers made it four wins from four matches on Saturday evening, dispensing of Stanmore Hawks 3-2 in a tightly fought encounter.
Andrew Doddy lofted a free kick in to the Stanmore penalty area on 39 minutes, where the ball was firstly headed on towards the far post, then headed on to the cross bar, before Alexander Nicolosi was first to react to the rebound, his angled header squeezing inside the near post to give Dunbar the lead.
Stanmore responded immediately, equalising within a minute.
A shot from distance was spilled by Dunbar goal keeper, Stephen Deasy, and Stanmore youngster, Peter Yannopoulos, was quick to seize on the rebound to stab it home.
Dunbar’s Andrew Green restored their one goal advantage in the 69th minute, rising high to nod home after yet another lofted Doddy free kick. Four minutes later it was 3-1, Marcus Naoum slamming home from close range following a firm cut back from the right.
Stanmore weren’t finished just yet, and made sure for a final few frantic minutes when Heo Wookbum reduced the deficit to 2-3 in the 87th minute, he himself scoring from close range after a great run and square pass from Sam Awad.
It was yet another solid display from the Rovers, having backed up after their Westfield FFA Cup exit midweek against Bonnyrigg White Eagles, and they now remain at the competition peak with 12 points from 12.
DULWICH HILL – HAWKESBURY CITY 3-1
Saturday, April 23
Arlington Oval
Dulwich Hill grabbed their first win of the 2016 season when they accounted for Hawkesbury City 3-1 on Saturday evening at Arlington Oval.
But they had to do it tough, coming from behind against a gallant Hawkesbury City, who should’ve lead at half time.
Dully keeper, Michael Frost, is well known for his penalty saving exploits, and he was at it again on Saturday evening, parrying Jason Browne’s spot kick to keep the first half scoreless. It was Frost’s third penalty save this season, and all at crucial times for his team.
But Browne was not to be denied, and he eventually gave the Hawks the lead three minutes in to the second half, scrambling home from close range after a defensive slip up from Dully.
Dulwich Hill coach, Norman Tome, rang the changes, and two of the substitutes combined to restore parity for the home side.
Tom Bentham set up Steve Hrysanthos to score in the 64th minute, and Dully upped the ante in search of more goals.
Dulwich Hill skipper, George Lagoudakis, let fly on 84 minutes from outside the penalty area. Hawks keeper, Craig Morley, parried the effort, only for Tom Bentham to pick up the scraps and edge the home side in front.
Dulwich Hill put the game out of reach in the 89th minute, when a corner was cleared to Adam Savetta, who crossed the ball to the back stick for Kodai Hayashi to head home, giving the club a very valuable three points.
INTER LIONS – SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 1-0
Sunday, April 24
Fraser Park
Inter Lions got back to winning ways on Sunday afternoon when they won a fiercely contested match by 1-0 against Sydney University.
Sydney Uni had a couple of great opportunities in the first half, even having Rosario Occhipinti’s goal ruled offside to send the teams in to the sheds at 0-0.
The tension kept building and the yellow cautions kept coming as both sides showed desperation to turn one point in to three.
But it was Inter that grabbed the spoils on 68 minutes. The mercurial Lachlan Wright played speedster, Daniel Fogarty, in to space, and he didn’t disappoint, slotting past Uni goal keeper, Daniel Conway, much to the cheers of the home fans.
BALMAIN TIGERS – HILLS BRUMBIES 1-3
Sunday, April 24
Wentworth Park
Hills Brumbies had to overturn a one goal deficit to defeat Balmain Tigers 3-1 at the iconic Wentworth Park on Sunday afternoon.
Marcelo Turdera continued his recent good form by putting the Tigers in to the lead on 20 minutes, but that lead was cancelled out within sixty seconds by Wade Giovenali.
Turdera then hit the cross bar with a great effort before half time, but the score remained 1-1 at the break.
Hills lifted the tempo in the second stanza, and scored a brace of goals to win the match – Brad Robertson converting on the hour, and Peter Cejkaa scoring his sixth goal of the season in the 75th minute to wrap up a 3-1 win for the visitors.
Rescheduled Match
RYDALMERE LIONS – GRANVILLE RAGE 1-0 (match postponed)
Tuesday, April 26
Rydalmere Park
This Round Three match was initially abandoned at the 10 minute mark due to floodlight failure, but the remaining 80 minutes will be played on Tuesday evening, with Rydalmere leading 1-0 following a scrambled goal by Zac Elrich after Seiji Tarutani’s initial shot was spilled.
