Round 6 Review – State League Men’s
Round 6 of the State League Men’s saw some vitally important results at both ends of the table, with a rampant Southern Districts finishing the weekend on top of the ladder.
MATCH OF THE ROUND – Wagga City Wanderers vs. Hurstville FC: 1-3.
A cloudy Gissing Oval hosted a huge clash between the Wagga City Wanderers and Hurstville FC, with both teams looking to consolidate their position in the top four.
Hurstville quickly established a firm grip on the game, looking to exploit the Wanderers’ defensive unit, who have been extremely vulnerable all season. The visitors dominated possession and looked extremely dangerous.
Indeed, it took only fifteen minutes for Hurstville to make a crucial breakthrough, with their pressure culminating in an early penalty. The impressive Henry Kamleitner burst down the left wing and darted into the box, where he was chopped down. Denis Cutura stepped up to the spot and coolly converted.
Just under twelve minutes later, Hurstville doubled their lead thanks to some more questionable defending from the home side. The Wanderers failed to clear a floated corner from Paul Gagro, and after a scramble in the box, Kamleitner managed to nod the ball into the back of the net.
If anything, this inspired Wagga to pick their game back up and they looked dangerous as the half came to a close. Before half-time, they managed to find a crucial goal to put them straight back into proceedings. The Wanderers broke forward down the wing and cut the back to the edge of the goal box where Andrew Grant slotted home with finesse.
The second half saw the Wanderers re-spirited, looking to take the game to Hurstville. Their midfield hustled and began to nag at the visitors, who looked frustrated in patches.
In the sixty fifth minute Wagga City were rewarded for their pressure, with Hurstville’s Cutura picking up a second yellow and his marching orders. A comeback looked well on the cards.
Just moments later, the equaliser looked certain; a powerfully driven shot into the top corner was, however, saved brilliantly by a diving Michael Rutherford in goals.
Wagga simply couldn’t break down a resilient and well organised Hurstville outfit who remained extremely compact and worked hard.
Their frustrations were added to just before full time, with Henry Kamleitner somewhat fortunately adding his second of the game – his shot taking a deflection into the back of the net. This put the tie away for the visitors, securing a vital three points on the road.
Match Stats
Wagga City Wanderers 1 (Grant 42’)
Hurstville FC 3 (Cutura 15’, Kamleitner 27’/88’)
Saturday, 7 April, 2016
Gissing Oval
Wagga City Wanderers: 7. T. Allen, 2. J. Brooker, 6. J. Curran, 1. L. Dedini, 5. K. Baumer, 7. 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: J. Brooker, S. Mangelsdorf
Red Cards: N/A
Hurstville FC: 4. M. Banic, 14. D. Borovickic, 9. D. Cutura, 2. S. Flatt, 10. P. Gagro, 6. A. Harb, 8. M. Janov, 11. H. Kamleitner,12. M. Karagiannis, 5. P. Lloyd, 7. D. Marjanovic, 13. T. Oneill, 18. M. Rutherford.
Yellow Cards: D. Cutura, A. Harb.
Red Cards: D. Cutura
Round Summaries
Prospect United vs. St. George FA: 0-2.
A spirited performance from a young St. George squad saw them claim an impressive victory over Prospect United, thanks to goals from Christopher Lawson and Maximilian Schulz.
St. George shoot up to second on the table, and coach Manny Spanoudakis believes it was his side’s best performance all year “from a determination and courage perspective”.
“Seven first grade players were out due to injury, six of whom were starters. Four young lads had to back up from the U20s.”
Spanoudakis gives special mention to goalkeeper Sam Thorn, who kept clean sheets in both U20s and for first grade; including a crucial penalty save for first grade.
“It was an excellent character building performance and indicative of the culture we are building at the club. Very proud of all the boys. Massive effort!”
Prospect United coach Brian Vella believes that his team could have come away with more from the game; a familiar narrative this season.
“We should have been at least two goals up at half time, it was the best we have played all season.”
“St. George were organised and well structured, but we should have at least got a draw after missing a penalty which would have made it 1-1.”
Vella is still happy with what he sees developing and remains optimistic about this season, stating, “When we finally click it will be good to see. Keep working hard and we will get results.”
Nepean FC vs. Gazy Auburn FC: 3-5
This fixture, between two teams towards the bottom of the table, was expected to be low-scoring; instead, Nepean and Auburn competed in one of the most exciting games so far this season.
With both teams desperate for a result, neither side prioritised defending in what was an end-to-end game of attacking football.
The teams went into halftime with scores levelled at 2-2, but Gazy dug deep in the second period – notching another three goals to storm away with an impressive victory.
Gazy’s goals came by way of Yerson Muchaypina Altam, Friday Jeremiah, Elvis Ibric and a brace from Yusuf Orfali.
Nepean’s Carlos Enwiya scored two goals, supported by a strike from Samuel Bingham.
SD Raiders FC vs. Bankstown United FC: 5-2.
A ‘first versus second’ clash between Southern Districts and Bankstown did not disappoint, with the Raiders surging to the top of the table after another convincing victory.
Pregame talk centred around whether the competition’s highest scoring attack (Southern Districts) would overcome the competition’s best defence (Bankstown); a question which the Raiders answered firmly.
Bankstown United coach Petar Finka believes it was a game of two halves, “We shocked them a bit in the first half, but then they changed their game plan in the second and got us.”
“At 2-4 we missed a penalty, which could have made things different. But credit must go to Southern Districts, who played well and took their chances.
Southern Districts’ dynamic duo of Mclintock and Symington continues to prove deadly, with both players scoring a brace. Damien Smith also scored, his third of the season.
Bankstown’s goals came by way of Luke Jones and Matt Harrison.
Hurstville City Minotaurs vs. University of NSW: 2-1
Hurstville City claimed a relieving three points this weekend, edging past the University of NSW at ES Marks Field.
Both teams entered this match with only one win to their name, determined to kick on this season. Hurstville City saw to a 2-1 lead at halftime, and should have added more in the second but ultimately hung on to their lead.
Minotaurs coach Peter Sarikakis is delighted with his team’s performance and what he sees as a turning point this season.
“We gave the students of UNSW a lesson. That’s two out of two wins at home – the historic ES Marks Field.”
Sarikakis mixed things up tactically against the Lions, and is proud of how his players adapted to the changes, “I played a new system and my players carried out my instructions perfectly.”
“We should have scored two or three more goals actually, missing another penalty. That’s seven out of seven missed penalties now.”
“Both goals came from the two midfield players – a smart freekick from Anthony Holmes and a great shot by his midfield partner Nick Nisbet. The defensive pattern worked to the letter.”
Camden Tigers FC vs. Western Condors FC: 0-0.
In a game between two evenly matched sides, it is perhaps no surprise that the Camden Tigers and Western Condors shared the points this weekend.
Neither side were able to breakdown the other over ninety minutes, with both sides defending compactly. Each set of players will be disappointed to have not come away with more and still remain in limbo towards the middle of the table.
Nevertheless, Camden and the Condors will look at the positives; happy to have each kept a clean sheet under trying conditions.
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter
