Round 5 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The wet weather late on Friday did nothing to dampen the spirits of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition, with all matches going ahead, despite one late fixture change to a more suitable venue.
Furthermore, goals continue to be on the menu as a total of 32 goals were scored across the six matches at an average of over 5 per match.
Western NSW Mariners and Inter Lions were involved in an eight goal thriller at Mudgee where the visitors took all three points, Hills Brumbies prevailed by the odd goal in seven in a game of two halves against Dulwich Hill, Rydalmere Lions completed a busy and fruitful seven days by overcoming Gladesville Ryde Magic, Stanmore Hawks thumped Balmain Tigers at Arlington Oval, whilst Hawkesbury City and Granville Rage shared the spoils on Saturday afternoon.
Our featured Match of the Round changed venue and time on the morning of the game, with Sydney University facing off against Dunbar Rovers on Sunday afternoon at Heffron Park in Maroubra.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Five
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Heffron Park, Maroubra
Referee – Ben Abraham
Assistant Referees – Zack Coleman and Cameron Lee
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY (2) 4 (Karpes 15’, Occhipinti 29’, Tonkin 78’, Gowdy 90’ + 1’)
DUNBAR ROVERS (1) 2 (Deasy pen. 13’, Doddy 53’)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY;
1.D.Conway, 2.T.Hyde (capt) (17.J.Loke 65’), 4.J.Wynter, 32.J.Karpes, 6.D.Mifsud, 9.S.Tonkin, 10.R.Occhipinti, 14.J.Gowdy, 16.A.Porcu, 18.D.Di Mento (22.R.Chery 79’), 21.G.Wenyon.
Substitutes Not Used – 11. W.Donato.
Yellow Cards – 6.D.Mifsud 6’, 2.T.Hyde 23’, 14.J.Gowdy 63’.
DUNBAR ROVERS;
1.S.Deasy, 10.R.Deasy(capt), 3.S.Liu, 4.A.Simpson, 6.R.Ezekiel, 19.G.Swartz, 8.A.Doddy, 11.M.Miller, 13.S.Burke (20.M.Naoum 54’), 14.A.Euripidou, 21.A.Green.
Substitutes Not Used – 17.D.Adamo, 7.J.Hems, 18.A.Nicolosi.
Yellow Cards – 8.A.Doddy 48’, 6.R.Ezekiel 61’, 3.S.Liu 64’ / 76’.
Red Cards – 3.S.Liu 76’.
Sydney University huffed and puffed, and eventually came away with all three points in an arm wrestle of a battle against Dunbar Rovers on Sunday afternoon.
Overnight rain and an early morning pitch inspection deemed Sydney University’s recently launched Football Ground unplayable, and the match was switched to Heffron Park, Maroubra, and for a later kickoff time of 4-30pm.
In hindsight, Dunbar Rovers probably wished it hadn’t been played given the end result. But for all who chose to venture out and watch this PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s game instead of the A League Grand Final, they were not to be disappointed given the entertainment the players produced.
Heffron Park is an open field, displaying a newly laid artificial surface, and the gale that was blowing was at Dunbar’s backs in the first half.
Andrew Doddy, Dunbar’s busy midfielder, tested the breeze as early as the 6th minute, whipping in his free kick from the left for Sydney Uni’s custodian, Daniel Conway, to tip over the bar.
Doddy actually had a second bite from the ensuing corner, his blast from the edge of the box after a Robbie Deasy square pass sailing in to the sky like a kite.
But Dunbar kept at it, and were rewarded on 13 minutes.
A quick counter attack seemingly involved a wrestle between opponents near the left touchline, with Sydney Uni’s Jay Wynter felled as Dunbar’s Andrew Green continued down the flank. Green’s low cross was met by Andrew Doddy, who was fouled by a retreating defender, and the Rovers had a penalty.
Skipper Robbie Deasy fired low to Daniel Conway’s left, and Dunbar were one up.
It took less than two minutes for Sydney University to restore parity.
Gavin Wenyon took a free kick out on the right, beautifully slicing the ball in to wind and into the penalty area. Uni striker, Rosario Occhipinti, flicked it on with his head, and defender Josh Karpes, controlled the ball on his chest before slamming his volley in to the roof of the Dunbar net.
Karpes had been sidelined this season prior to this game, so it was a welcome return to the fray for the tough tackling defender.
Six minutes later the same pair combined with the same delivery – a Wenyon free kick whipped in from the right – this time however, Karpes’ header bounced just wide of the Dunbar upright.
Both sets of midfielders were combative in a tough opening half hour, both trying to grab the ascendancy and set their teams up for opportunities in the attacking third.
On 29 minutes came the goal of the match, and it edged Sydney University in front.
A long ball straight down the middle was expertly flicked on by Scott Tonkin just past the centre circle – the tall striker did not lose a header all day incidentally.
Strike partner, Rosario Occhipinti, anticipated the flick on, taking a first touch away from the defender before unleashing a left footed half volley from 25 yards that sliced through the wind and dipped over the head of Dunbar’s goal keeper, Stephen Deasy.
2-1 to the ‘students’ and half time came as the floodlights were switched on, both teams retreating to the sheds for some well-earned refreshments.
Now with the wind at their backs, the ‘students’ started the half confidently, and Tonkin almost increased their lead within twenty seconds, his angled shot parried away by Dunbar’s custodian, Deasy.
It was a miracle that Dunbar somehow did not equalise in the 50th minute. Striker Andrew Green made a great run in the right channel, drawing the last defender before squaring a pass to team mate, Robert Ezekiel.
Ezekiel could not have hit it better – low and hard, first time with his instep, from inside the six yard box – but Sydney University goal keeper, Daniel Conway, produced a miraculous reflex save to parry the shot.
But Dunbar were not to be denied, and parity was restored in the 50th minute. A half clearance by Sydney Uni reached Doddy, some 25 yards from goal, and he contorted his body to crack a first time volley that squeezed through a sea of players, rebounding off Conway’s right hand upright on the way in to the net.
The intensity did not let up as the tackles kept coming, and referee, Ben Abraham, issued four yellow cards – out of a total of seven in the match – within a fifteen minute spell just after the hour mark, trying to calm proceedings.
Two of those yellows were issued to Dunbar left back, Stephen Liu. The second caution came in the 76th minute when he clipped Uni’s Dom Di Mento, and the pendulum began to swing in Sydney Uni’s favour.
Two minutes later, Scott Tonkin made a run into the right channel, squaring a pass from the corner of the penalty area which was half cleared by a Dunbar defender. Tonkin himself was quickest to respond to the loose ball, pulling the trigger with his left boot before watching the ball squirm inside the far post, much to the delight of the Sydney University fans.
Dunbar were not finished just yet, and responded a few minutes later when Robbie Deasy cracked a shot from inside the box, only to see Uni keeper, Daniel Conway, parry the ball with his legs.
The icing on the cake came in injury time, when Occhipinti encouraged a foul on the edge of the Dunbar penalty area with a weaving run across the box.
Johnny Gowdy positioned himself almost at right angles, before expertly punching his shot over the Dunbar wall and inside Stephen Deasy’s right hand post to give Sydney University a 4-2 victory.
Dunbar Rovers were combative as usual, and worked very hard in patches, but it wasn’t enough to overrun an enthusiastic opponent on the night.
Andrew Doddy was his influential self in midfield, high on work rate and involved in both goals, scoring one himself; skipper Robbie Deasy was effective when he had the ball at his feet, and whipped in many a pass and cross from the right wing with his left peg; and Andrew Green kept the Sydney Uni defence honest with some hard working runs across the attacking third.
The loss is Dunbar’s first of the season, and they remain on 12 points and second spot on the ladder, 3 points behind Rydalmere and above Hills Brumbies on goal difference.
Sydney University were great value for their win. The twin strikers of Rosario Occhipinti and Scott Tonkin worked well together, playing off each other, physically interactive, strong in the air, and both being rewarded with a goal each; flankers Dom Di Mento and Johhny Gowdy provided able support in attack, whilst also tracking back in defence when required; Gavin Wenyon proved an able opponent for Andrew Doddy in midfield, combative in the tackle whilst often setting the Uni attacks under way with his crisp distribution.
The victory puts Sydney University on 9 points on the ladder, equal fourth with Stanmore Hawks and Inter Lions.
HAWKESBURY CITY SC – GRANVILLE RAGE 1-1
Saturday, April 30
David Bertenshaw Field @ 5-00pm
Hawkesbury City and Granville Rage played out a predictable 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon at David Bertenshaw Field.
Both sides have been in indifferent form of late, and were desperate to get their seasons on track in what promised to be an arm wrestle.
Ben Gough gave the home side the lead in the first half, and the Hawks hung on to it until the break, hopeful for their maiden victory of the season.
But Granville needed to bounce back from a couple of losses on the trot in recent weeks, and duly equalised through Dylan Stivala, the youngster’s second goal of the season.
That’s the way the match remained until the final whistle, the 1-1 draw and subsequent point seeing Granville move to 5 points in 9th position on the ladder.
The only way is up for Hawkesbury now, their first point of the season moving them off the bottom of the ladder at the expense of Western NSW Mariners.
STANMORE HAWKS FC – BALMAIN TIGERS FC 4-0
Saturday, April 30
Arlington Oval @ 7-00pm
Stanmore Hawks well and truly bounced back to winning ways on Saturday night at Arlington Oval, dismantling Balmain Tigers 4-0 in a comprehensive display in front of their home fans.
Sam Awad got things rolling for Stanmore after ten minutes, scoring his fifth goal of the season to give the Hawks a 1-0 half time lead.
Youngster Michael Toscano has been an able support in attack in recent weeks for Stanmore. He was rewarded after the break by helping himself to a brace of goals, before Sergio Tarazona completed the proceedings with goal number four.
Stanmore move to nine points and sit equal fourth on the ladder courtesy of the victory, whilst Balmain Tigers remain in 8th position.
WESTERN NSW MARINERS FC – INTER LIONS SC 3-5
Saturday, April 30
Glen Willow Stadium @ 7-00pm
In what is fast becoming a standard script at Glen Willow Stadium, three goals scored and a half time lead doesn’t seem to be sufficient enough to help Western NSW Mariners record a victory in front of their home fans.
Inter Lions themselves have been on the receiving end of having half time leads over turned, but this time they did the overturning by scoring three second half goals to defeat Western NSW Mariners 5-3.
It was the visitors who started the brighter, and Daniel Fogarty was quickest out of the blocks to put Inter Lions 2-0 up within ten minutes with a brace of runaway goals.
But the Mariners regrouped, and midway through the half reduced the deficit when skipper, Adam Scimone tapped in following a run and square pass from Lachlan Thomas.
The Mariners had the wind in their sails now, and Ken McCall restored parity shortly afterwards with a deflected shot, before Thomas himself helped himself to a goal just before the break to put the home side in front by half time.
It would’ve been a case of déjà vu for both sides at the half time break, having taken the lead and then lost it again, so no doubt focus and application would’ve been the key words spoken about in the dressing room speeches.
But it was Inter Lions who adhered to the coach’s talks, notching three second half goals to come away with the spoils. Daniel Fogarty was in a deadly mood all night, and his speed was simply too much too handle for the Mariners defence.
Within a quarter of an hour in the second period he had edged Inter in front, again racing in behind the Mariners defence before slotting away goals number 3 and 4 for himself and his team.
Western NSW Mariners changed tactically and pushed men forward, and were caught on the counter when Fogarty sped away before being brought down in the box by the Mariners’ experienced custodian, Adam Brackenridge.
Lachlan Wright converted from the spot to give Inter Lions a 5-3 victory, the subsequent three points putting the club on 9 points for the season in fifth spot on the ladder.
RYDALMERE LIONS SC – GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 3-2
Saturday, April 30
Rydalmere Park @ 7-00pm
Rydalmere Lions made it five wins from as many matches on Saturday evening at Rydalmere Park, but they didn’t have it all their own way against a resurgent Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Backing up from a tight away win over Western NSW Mariners last weekend, plus a midweek victory over Granville Rage, Rydalmere would’ve been excused for feeling a little fatigued in the legs.
Magic have been in a rich vein of form lately, and started the match where they left off last week, opening the scoring after just four minutes. Chris Tomaras connected sweetly with a Chris Gaitatzis’ corner to give the visitors the lead, notching his fourth goal of the campaign.
Rydalmere responded on 10 minutes, Zac Elrich’s low shot brilliantly parried by Kyriakou Tohouroglou, the Magic custodian.
The match took another turn in the 21st minute when a clearance fell to Rydalmere’s Seiji Tarutani, and he duly dispatched the leather to restore parity.
Rydalmere finished the first half very strongly, and started the second half with the same mentality, taking the lead three minutes in when Zac Elrich got in behind the Gladesville defence to slot past Tohouroglou for 2-1 to the home side.
Tarutani grabbed his second shortly afterwards to extend Rydalmere’s lead to 3-1, the fifth of the season for the diminutive little midfielder with a great eye for goal.
Rydalmere’s defender, Humin Lee, received his second caution late in the piece, reducing the Lions to ten men in the closing stages.
Gladesville did grab a consolation goal in the final minute when Yaw Billy converted from Gaitatzis free kick, but it was too little too late for Magic, and Rydalmere were worthy winners on the night.
HILLS BRUMBIES SC – DULWICH HILL FC 4-3
Saturday, April 30
Lilys Football Centre @ 7-00pm
Hills Brumbies got the fright of their lives on Saturday at Lilys Football Centre before prevailing by the odd goal in seven against Dulwich Hill.
It’s a football cliché, but it was clearly a game of two halves, with Hills Brumbies racing to a 4-0 lead at half time in a blistering opening half display.
Jordan Parfait opened proceedings for Hills in just the second minute, before Greg Giovenali doubled the advantage inside the ten minute with an absolute screamer from distance.
James Maguire made it 3-0 after half an hour, before Daine Merrin scored his side’s fourth goal on 37 minutes to cap off a remarkable first half performance.
Dulwich Hill coach, Norman Tome, must have read his team the riot act at half time, because Dully came out firing after the break.
Tom Bentham reduced the deficit on 58 minutes from the penalty spot, before Adam Johnston made sure of a frantic final twelve minutes, scoring a brace in the 68th and 78th minutes to make the score 3-4.
Dully’s Hussein Rachid didn’t help his team’s cause with his sending off in the last ten minutes, but Hills Brumbies regrouped and held on to record a narrow victory in the end, the three points seeing them consolidate third spot on the ladder on 12 points from five matches.
