Round 11 Review – State League Men’s
At the halfway point of the season, St. George FA and Hurstville FC share the top of the table with a commanding six-point lead over third place.
Match of the Round – Hurstville FC vs. Prospect United: 4-3.
A cool Heffron Park saw Hurstville FC host Prospect United this Saturday, in what was an incredible come-from-behind victory for the home side.
Hurstville FC have been one of the league’s best performers this season, but their first loss of the season – recently, against Nepean FC – was still fresh in mind. Prospect have been inconsistent, but have started to put the pieces together in the past few rounds.
A highly spirited Prospect United came firing out of the blocks, shocking the home side with two goals within the first twenty-five minutes of the game.
Their first came courtesy of a lofted free kick from Gary Ackroyd-Mosbey, which guided its way in at the back post. Prospect doubled their lead shortly later, executing a swift and direct counter attack that was finished coolly by the industrious Nick Valjak.
Hurstville were jolted into action, finding a way back into the game thanks to a strike from Daniel Marjanovic which deflected off a Prospect defender and into the goal.
Prospect did not slow down, and continued to overrun the home side with impressive high-tempo football. Just before half time, they reinstated their two goal lead thanks to a tap in from Matt Viera.
At half-time, Prospect looked well on top and deserved their commanding lead. Hurstville were shell shocked, and would have to dramatically turn things around in the second half.
This did not look to change in the opening period of the second half. Prospect dominated play across the park, and threatened to put the game to bed. However, the visitors were unable to capitalise on this spell. Hurstville goalkeeper Steven Flatt was particularly impressive, keeping his side in the game.
Emerging from the onslaught, Hurstville began what would be a remarkable turnaround. Just past the hour mark, Marjanovic again proved clinical; scoring his brace with a coolly executed finish that put the home side back into the competition, and noticeably rattled Prospect.
Following this goal, Hurstville made an interesting and perhaps genius move, pushing physical centre back Marko Banic into the striker position. Banic immediately proved his worth at the other end of the pitch, equalising for Hurstville with a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
The game looked destined towards a draw, with both sides cautious about throwing away their point. Nevertheless, the game continued to move from end to end and a potential winner seemed on the cards for either club.
In the last play of the game, Hurstville FC broke Prospect’s hearts thanks to an opportunistic goal from Denis Cutura. Banic continued to get into space behind the Prospect defenders, and cut a ball into the goal box. The resulting scramble seemed to last an eon, but was eventually bundled over the line.
Hurstville emerged, somewhat fortunately, with all three points, while Prospect have devastatingly thrown away a seemingly settled lead for the second time this season.
Prospect coach John Caruana believes his team dominated Hurstville, saying, “We totally out played them but didn’t put our chances away.”
“We didn’t, and the experience of Hurstville and their goalkeeeper kept them in the match and they came home strong. Our lack of experience and discipline costed us.”
“In saying that, a lot of positives that we can move forward and take into Tuesday’s game against UNSW and Wagga on Saturday.”
Hurstville FC coach Alex Prophet says it “was just one of those games really”, believing that Prospect tried hard but his side was always going to win.
“In the end, we left it late but showed our great team spirit.”
Prophet gives special mention to goalscorers Denis Cutura and Daniel Marjanovic, as well as Paul Gagro who continues to prove incredibly fruitful in assists this season.
“But the main man was Marko Banic, the big man went up front and finshed well – great contribution.”
Match Stats
Hurstville FC 4 (D. Marjanovic x2, M. Banic and D. Cutura)
Prospect United 3 (G. Ackroyd-Mosbey, N. Valjak and M. Viera)
Saturday, 11 June
Heffron Park (Synthetic)
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, 13. S. Malinverno, 7. D. Marjanovic, 15. J. Padjen, 17. M. Rutherford, 16. R. Turner.
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Prospect United: 7. G. Ackroyd-Mosbey, 14. J. Bayubahe, 15. M. Bozzetto, 10. D. Chung, S. Fuduric, 13. M. Gabriel, 3. A. Gatt, 16. J. Gilleland, 11. R. Iredale, 8. A. Jennings, 19. O. Rogers, 4. J. Smith, 12. T. Sullivan, 6. N. Valjak, 9. M. Viera, 5. J. Xuereb.
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Round Summaries
University of NSW vs. Camden Tigers FC: 2-2.
Neither UNSW or Camden will be satisfied with their share of the points this Saturday, after an entertaining draw at David Phillips Complex.
The Tigers took an early lead thanks to a strike from Matthew Serone, but a well placed finish from Luiz Lobo and a Camden own goal saw UNSW quickly steal the lead from the visitors.
Just before half-time, Jayden Russell equaliser for the Tigers and sent the teams into the dressing rooms on level footing. The second half saw neither side able to break the deadlock, with both teams settling after a high scoring forty five minutes.
Camden remain in the middle of the table, but missed an opportunity to close down on the Western Condors and extend their lead over Wagga.
University of NSW are third from bottom, but only on goal difference – each of the bottom three with only seven points to their name.
Wagga City Wanderers vs. Western Condors FC: 0-1.
The Western Condors pulled off a massive victory away to the Wagga City Wanderers this weekend, which sees them establish a three point gap ahead of sixth place.
The Condors continued to demonstrate their incredibly efficient football, holding the home side abay while sealing the victory with an opportunistic finish from Felix Awuku, after a deflected freekick fell at his feet.
Wagga City Wanderers coach Andrew Douglas asserts that his team had the majority of possession, but couldn’t find the back of the net.
“We had plenty of opportunities, but our attacking third failed to capitalise.”
The Wanderers now sit in seventh place and have a lot of work to do in the second half of the season. The Condors have leveraged themselves to within shooting distance of the top three, only two points behind Southern Districts and Bankstown United ahead of them.
Bankstown United vs. Gazy Auburn: 0-0.
Bankstown United will feel extremely disappointed with their scoreless draw against Gazy Auburn FC this weekend, losing ground on Southern Districts, Hurstville FC and St. George FA ahead of them on the table.
Gazy Auburn will be delighted with the result, seeing it as an incredible sign of improvement compared to their previous set of games. They now crawl off the bottom of the ladder on “Goals For” over the Hurstville City Minotaurs.
St. George FA vs. SD Raiders FC: 2-1.
St. George FA secured a vitally important win against the SD Raiders FC, which sees them stretch their lead atop the table to six points over the Southern Districts outfit.
Goals from James Spanoudakis and John Tsironis were enough to overcome a strike from Southern Districts’ in form Mitchell Mclintock (his nineteenth goal this season).
St.George coach Manny Spanoudakis admits that the visitors dominated the opening twenty minutes of the game, crediting them as an “excellent, very well-coached and fluent side with quality across the park”.
“We settled down after that and maybe the week off contributed to our slow start. The game was very even after that and had all the makings of a big derby.”
“Our overall performance was average, however the character and desperation our boys showed was nothing short of brilliant.”
“Vass and Lawson at the centre of defence were outstanding!”
St. George’s victory was overshadowed by the sad passing away of Southern Districts FA Technical Director, Ramsin Shamon. Football NSW would like to extend our condolences to friends and family.
Ramsin was an incredibly respected footballing mind, exemplified in his Coach of the Year award last season where he led his side to the Championship.
St. George Football Association would also like to offer their sincerest and deepest condolences to his family and to all the people at the Southern Districts Association.
Anyone wishing to farewell Ramson can do so with the Funeral taking place on Wednesday 15th of June at the Assyrian Church of the East on Greenfield Rd, Greenfield Park at 9am.
Nepean FC vs. Hurstville City Minotaurs FC: 1-1.
Nepean FC’s winning form has been halted by the visiting Hurstville City Minotaurs, who fought hard to earn a point away from home this Monday.
Nepean’s Charles William notched his second goal of the season, but the home side could not find another to overcome a strike from Hurstville City’s captain Angelo Vagenas.
Nevertheless, Nepean remain in touch with the middle of the table and will be happy to remain undefeated under their new coaching regime.
Hurstville City coach Peter Sarikakis says that his side “dominated eighty percent of the game” and should have won by five or six goals.
“There was a penalty not given to us, in the eighty-fifth-minute Terry Atsas hit the post with an open goal from five metres in front.”
“Nepean scored soft goal with their one and only chance. I suppose you don’t deserve to win if you can’t put the ball in the net.”
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter
