Round 5 Review – State League Men’s

Bankstown United continue their impressive maiden sail in the State League Men’s, leading the competition after Round 5.

The University of NSW pulled off the shock of the round, claiming their first win of the season against the Wagga City Wanderers.

Match of the Round – University of NSW vs. Wagga City Wanderers: 4-1.

A winless University of NSW hosted Wagga City this weekend, with a gargantuan task ahead of them. The Wanderers have been flying this season, while the home side have struggled to find the back of the net.

It did not take long for the home side to show that they were well up to the challenge. Just twelve minutes in, Sean Miller coolly slotted home to give the Lions a shock lead.

And before Wagga City could catch their breath, UNSW added to their lead in the fourteenth minute. The Wanderers turned over possession in the middle of the park, and were hit by a deadly counter attack from the hosts. Sean Miller finished off the move with a neat finish.

Wagga were stunned into action and begun to move the ball more quickly forward, straining the UNSW defence. They will feel unlucky, having two goals disallowed within the next twenty minutes for offside.

UNSW executed a bold offside trap that looked risky at the best of times – but was ultimately effective, catching the Wanderers on a plethora of occasions.

The visitors finally made a breakthrough in the thirty eighth minute, winning a penalty after their sustained pressure finally boiled over. Dunn stepped up to the spot and converted calmly, putting his side right back into the game.

Nevertheless, UNSW came firing out of the games in the second half and made a massive statement about their ability this season.

On the forty ninth minute, UNSW’s Sean Miller claimed an impressive hat trick and restored the two goal lead after a deflected shot fell at his feet, with plenty of space to smash the ball home.

Finally finding the connection between midfield and attack that they have struggled with all season, UNSW then added a fourth in the fifty fifth minute thanks to Matthew Newtown. Another goal off a swift counter attack secured the Lions’ first win of the season, in a massive coup.

Wagga City have now suffered their second consecutive defeat and will not be quite sure what happened this Saturday. Their defence continues to be a major issue, but for the first time they were unable to score freely as well.

Match Stats

University of NSW 4 (Miller 12’/14’/49’, Newtown 55’)

Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Dunn 38’)

Saturday, 30 April, 2016

David Phillips Complex

University of NSW: 4. M. Balazs, 16. F. Binakaj, 21. M. Gabriel, 17. M. Lalik, 9. L. Lobo, 3. H. Maki, 7. S. Miller, 11. M. Newton, 5. A. Nolan, 12. R. Ortega Urra, 1. M. Porch, 15. E. Silva, 10. H. Silva Neto, 8. S. Sommacal, 6. D. Zouroudis, 2. S. Zouroudis.

Yellow Cards: M. Balazs

Red Cards: N/A

Wagga City Wanderers: 7. T. Allen, 2. K. Baumer, 6. J. Curran,1. L. Dedini, 5. C. Dunbar, 11. S. Dunn, 14. A. Grant, 10.  A. Jolly, 15. A. Lagwi, 9. D. Maclennan, 4. S. Mangelsdorf, 12. J. Ploenges, 13. M. Ryan, 8. B. Schmid, 16. A. Vastano, 3. K. Wilson.

Yellow Cards:  S. Mangelsdorf, D. Maclennan, S. Dunn.

Red Cards: N/A

Round Summaries

Prospect United vs. Western Condors FC: 0-2.

The Western Condors have pulled off a huge coup, rather comfortably beating Prospect United away from home.

Prospect United will be very disappointed with the result, in a game that could have propelled them up the ladder.

Prospect coach Brian Vella says that his side had most of the ball, but “could not put our number of chances away.”

“Their keeper pulled off some crucial saves. We just have to go back to training and work harder.”

Camden Tigers vs. Nepean FC: 6-1.

The Camden Tigers have stormed past Nepean FC, scoring six goals in undoubtedly their best performance all season.

Headlining the show was Jayden Russell, who scored four of Camden’s goals. Russell has now scored eight goals from five matches this season and is key to Camden’s potential success.

After slowly building momentum in the last few rounds, Nepean will be devastated by the result and looking to go back to the drawing board. A lone goal from Alen Lajin provided mere consolation.

Bankstown United vs. Hurstville City Minotaurs: 2-1.

Bankstown United continued their impressive surge to the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over Hurstville City.

The victory wasn’t as convincing as they may have hoped for, but Bankstown will be happy to have come away with all three crucial points nonetheless.

Coach Petar Finka acknowledges that the game “got a bit scrappy, but we’re happy to have held our nerve to come away with three points.”

Star striker Tommy Markovski continued his incredible run of form, scoring both goals to back up from his hattrick in Round 4.

Hurstville City coach Peter Sarikakis feels that his team was unlucky not to come away with more, “We had seventy percent of the game, but conceded two soft goals.”

“In the first half, Bankstown could not get past half way.”

St. George FA vs. Hurstville FC: 1-2.

Hurstville FC have won their most important fixture so far, beating local rivals St. George FA in a tightly fought encounter at the top of the table.

St. George have now lost for the first time in State League Men’s, and coach Manny Spandoudakis believes they were simply outplayed.

“We were beaten by a better team and a team that is a very serious championship contender. They were too good on the night. Well deserved victory and strong for the title.”

He hopes that it was a good learning experience for his boys.

Hurstville coach Alex Prophet is happy with his team’s performances believing the win was “well deserved, thanks to a great team effort.”

Prophet particularly credits goal scorers Janov and Cutura.

Gazy Auburn FC vs. SD Raiders FC: 2-6.

Southern Districts continue their rampant form, scoring six goals for the third consecutive week to comfortably dispatch Gazy Auburn FC.

Losing 3-1 at half time, Gazy Auburn still had a small breath of hope – but were defeated by the same scoreline in the second half, to a Raiders outfit that look unstoppable.

Mitchell McClintock continues to score for fun, scoring four goals; ten for the season. Yusuf Orfali was the standout for the home side, converting both of their efforts.

The Raiders have now surged into the top three, and look to be living up to their reputation at the start of the season as title favourites.

-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter