Round 4 Review – State League Men’s
League newcomers St. George FA have impressively claimed top spot at the conclusion of the weekend, while the Hurstville City Minotaurs secured their first win of the season in our Match of the Round.
MATCH OF THE ROUND – Hurstville City Minotaurs vs Gazy Auburn FC: 1-0.
Bitter cold and unerring sheets of rain could not prevent ES Marks Field from hosting State League Men’s football this Saturday, with the Hurstville City Minotaurs taking on Gazy Auburn FC.
With the field extremely waterlogged, the game was played in what appeared to be slow motion as both sides gradually adjusted to the conditions. Chances were hard to come by in the opening twenty minutes, with neither side finding any sort of groove in midfield.
Hurstville’s energetic centreback Edmund Wong marshalled his back four impressively; composed defensively, and quick to transition his team with high tempo forward distribution.
In the twenty fifth minute, Hurstville had their first significant opportunity. Striker Esoghume Dominic collected the ball on the byline and backheeled smartly to Kushaal Ram running off him. Ram fired powerfully towards the bottom corner, denied by a smart save from Pablo Meza.
Hurstville finally broke the deadlock in the thirty first minute. Dominic burst through a host of Gazy defenders, using his body liberally, and smashed the ball into the back of the net. City celebrated loudly, while Auburn players complained to the referee about the striker’s use of his body.
The game lifted in intensity after the goal, with the Minotaurs determined to add to their lead and Gazy Auburn looking for revenge. It would be the home side to continue to have the better of the half, with Dominic and Ram causing the Gazy back four all sorts of problems.
Across the park, Hurstville looked more composed in possession but failed to convert their chances. Auburn almost punished the Minotaur’s slack finishing on the cusp of half time, in one of their few well-constructed attacks.
Bursting forward on the counter attack, centreback Mathew Kynan thread through Yusuf Orfali on the edge of the box. Orfali turned and played the ball quickly to Friday Jeremiah overlapping, who smashed the ball on target from point blank. Hurstville keeper James Drahalivas came to the rescue with a crucial reflex save.
Auburn looked better in the second half, and were more patient in their attempts to breakdown the Hurstville defence. Right winger Yusuf Orfali proved a constant threat, while the physicality of Jeremiah provided a solid target for more direct passes. Ultimately, the Minotaurs defence held strong and frustrated the visitors.
Hurstville continued to impress moving forward, and came incredibly close to doubling their lead in the sixty ninth minute. Some brilliant build up play from Dominic and Modar Sultan found Christopher Theodosiou bursting into the box. The winger smashed the ball on target and Meza could only parry away; directly into the path of Dominic with an open goal to aim for, but the striker mistimed his header and sent the ball wide.
Auburn almost equalised in the seventy fifth, after a cleared corner fell at the feet of Yerson Muchaypina Altamirano on the edge of the box. The midfielder leaned into his shot and hit it with venom towards the bottom corner, but Wong was able to deflect the ball narrowly wide.
As rain drizzled slowly down, Auburn lifted their intensity even further in search for an equaliser. Hurstville seemed rattled by their inability to put the game away, despite an abundance of chances, and nerves settled in for the last ten minutes.
Nevertheless, they sat deep and held on valiantly, seeing out the final minutes and claiming their first win of the season.
Match Stats
Hurstville City Minotaurs 1 (Dominic 31’)
Gazy Auburn FC 0
Saturday, 23rd of April, 2016
ES Marks Field, Paddington
Hurstville City Minotaurs: 7. Esoghume Dominic, 1. James Drahalivas, 9. Anthony Holmes, 5. James Kay, 2. Paul Kirtley, 11. Nicholas Nisbet, 6. Kushaal Ram (16. Alexander Fraser), 4. Christopher Theodosiou, 17. Angelo Vagenas (14. Hasnain Ali), 3. Edmund Wong, 10. Terry Atsas (12. Modar Sultan).
Substitutes Not Used: 18. Zdravko Majkic, 111. Dean Vagenas.
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Gazy Auburn FC: 4. Matthew Cabrera (6. Yerson Muchaypina Altamirano), 8. Elvis Ibric, 10. Friday Jeremiah, 2. Jamie Jones, 88. Pablo Meza, 9. Yusuf Orfali, 15. Felipe Orjuela (7. Mohamad Jirjnazi), 17. Ertan Uzel, 5. Nathan Walker, 11. Gabriel Zihori, 3. Mathew Kynan.
Substitutes Not Used: 14. Nathan Gotsoulias.
Yellow Cards: 10. Friday Jeremiah
Red Cards: N/A
Round Summaries
Wagga City Wanderers vs. Bankstown United FC: 3-4.
Wagga City suffered their first loss of the season in a seven goal thriller against Bankstown United, shaking things up at the top of the State League Men’s table.
The Wanderers seemed to be cruising to victory, taking a very early two goal lead against the visitors; a fifth minute strike from Maclennan and twenty third minute penalty from Dunn had them well on their way.
However, Bankstown dramatically surged back to level proceedings by halftime. Then an early penalty in the second half gave them the lead, before a controversial goal quickly doubled it. A late converted penalty from Dunn was mere consolation for the Wanderers..
Bankstown United will be ecstatic with a huge victory against the league leaders, away from home. They are now well in the thick of the title race. Wagga City have finally been punished for their leaky defence, and perhaps a touch of fatigue.
Delighted Bankstown coach Petar Finka is feeling good after a brilliant come from behind victory and a long bus trip.
“I’m happy how the boys composed themselves and played the football we can play.”
Finka gave special mention to Bankstown’s hat trick hero, Tommy Markovski.
Nepean FC vs. Prospect United: 2-2.
Nepean FC and Prospect United could not be divided at the end of ninety minutes, playing out what was a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Nepean held the lead at halftime, thanks to goals from Mitchell McComasky and Roberto Polistina. Prospect United fought back vigilantly in the second to secure a well earned point.
Prospect coach Brian Vela was happy with his side’s improved performance from the week before, and believes that Nepean are “a good side, whose results don’t indicate their ability.”
“Played well in an entertaining game from end. Both teams had their opportunities, but I believe we had the better chances and could of got the points.”
“But in the end, a draw was a fair result.”
SD Raiders FC vs. Camden Tigers FC: 7-1.
The Southern District Raiders continued their superb turnaround in form with a massive 7-1 victory over the Camden Tigers this Sunday. The competition favourites went one better than their 6-1 win in Round 3.
Braces to McClintock and Symington were complemented by goals from D’Alessandro, Tuzlic and Martinez. This was a particularly impressive result for the home side, particularly backing up from a narrow defeat to APIA Leichhardt in the FFA Cup.
Camden will be devastated with their performance, and have plenty to think about throughout the week. They were simply no match for the Raiders.
Western Condors FC vs. St. George FA: 0-3.
St. George FA continue to impress, taking themselves to the top of the State League Men’s ladder with a commanding 3-0 victory over the Western Condors.
Goals to Mitwali, Umlil and Lawson saw a young and rotated St. George side demonstrate impressive depth, winning comfortably despite a short turnover from FFA Cup action. The visitors will be particularly happy to have kept a clean sheet.
St. George coach Manny Spandadoukis is delighted to have come away with no injuries and believes his boys are looking more and more like a football team every week.
“We’re taking small steps in the right direction. I’m very pleased with the overall performance; there were no standouts, it was a collective performance.”
Hurstville FC vs. University of NSW – WASHED OUT.
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter
