Round 12 Review – State League Men’s

The State League Men’s kicked off for its second half, with big wins from St. George FA, Hurstville FC and the SD Raiders FC ensuring the competition is as tight up the top as it is down the bottom.

Match of the Round – Wagga City Wanderers vs. Prospect United: 2-1.

Prospect United suffered even more heartbreak this weekend, losing narrowly in a dramatic clash against the Wagga City Wanderers.

The home side took the initiative in the opening twenty minutes, with a firm grip on possession. However, Prospect’s defensive unit held compact and limited the amount of chances that the Wanderers were able to create with their share of the ball.

It took an unfortunate mistake from the Prospect goalkeeper to allow Wagga on to the scoresheet. With the ball passed back to him, Stjepan Fuduric fumbled his first touch – allowing Scott Dunn to pounce opportunistically, picking up the loose ball and burying it.

Prospect did not lose their nerve and continued to push the Wanderers after this goal. Both teams seemed to cancel each other out, as the game flew towards half-time. Wagga City became frustrated by Prospect’s efficient defending, and began to lose their discipline with numerous yellow cards dished out.

The second half picked up where the first left off, with the Wanderers passing the ball around well but unable to break through the Prospect back four.

Eventually they found an opening and capitalised in the sixty eighth minute. With a smart switched ball opening up the Prospect defense, Logan Flanagan finished coolly to double the home side’s lead.

Prospect were angry with themselves for conceding a second, but did not give up the fight. The visitors stepped things up a notch for the final twenty minutes of play and began to more closely resemble the dangerous attacking outfit that has been on show for the past month.

The Wanderers did not look entirely confidence in their lead, which was only compounded in the eightieth minute when Prospect United scored. Mohamed Sillah, in his first-grade debut, put his side back into contention and a comeback looked on the cards.

The final ten minutes were in clear contrast to the previous eighty, with Wagga City sitting deeper and looking to hold a reinvigorated Prospect out until full time.

Wanderers goalkeeper Liam Dedini would prove the hero for the home side, called into action dramatically in the final play of the game after Prospect won a penalty. Dedini dived strongly to his right and palmed the ball to safety, securing all three points.

Prospect United will again be devastated, and know that they should have come away with more.

Coach John Caruana points out that Prospect’s first grade and U20s teams were torn apart, due to university exams claiming sixteen of their thirty-eight-man squad.

“In saying that, we had eleven players under the age of nineteen and the kids played their hearts out.”

“We’ve been unlucky not to get something over the past three games but the kids are learning and the future looks good if they can deal with the setbacks.”

“The ground was not the best and if it was in Sydney, the game would have not been played. But that’s life and we play again next week.”

Wagga City Wanderers coach Andrew Douglas admits that his side weren’t at their best, but is happy that they got the result nonetheless.

Match Stats

Wagga City Wanderers 2 (S. Dunn 20’, L. Flanagan 68)

Prospect United 1 (M. Sillah 81’)

Saturday, 18 June

Gissing Oval

Wagga City Wanderers: 7. T. Allen, 15. L. Davis, 1. L. Dedini, 6. C. Dunbar, 11. S. Dunn, 16. L. Flanagan, 8. A. Grant, 13. S. Jenkins,10. A. Jolly, 2. C. Maccormick, 4. S. Mangelsdorf, 12. J. Ploenges, 5. A. Vastano, 3. K. Wilson.

Yellow Cards: S. Dunn, S. Mangelsdorf, A. Vastano, K. Wilson

Red Cards: N/A

Prospect United: 7. G. Ackroyd-Mosbeym 5 M. Bozzetto, 1. S. Fuduric, 16. J. Gilleland, 2. C. Higgins, 11.  R. Iredale, 19. O. Rogers, 4 M. Sillah, 13. N. Smith, 12. T. Sullivan, 9. M. Viera, 3. B. Whitby, 5. J. Xuereb.

Yellow Cards: T. Sullivan, M. Sillah.

Red Cards: N/A

Round Summaries

University of NSW vs. Gazy Auburn FC: 3-3.

In a must-win clash for both sides, UNSW and Gazy Auburn FC played exciting attacking football – but neither was able to go home satisfied.

The game was even throughout, with both teams dismissing their defensive duties as they desperately pushed for goals. Sean Miller, Luiz Lobo and Sam Wrublewski found the back of the net for UNSW; Kynan Mathew and Yusuf Orfali scored for the visitors.

Auburn now remain undefeated in two games for the first time all season, however will still feel disappointed by their inability to secure the win – which could have seen them propel up the ladder.

UNSW will also see this game as two points lost rather than a point gained; however they too are on their best streak of form this season, undefeated in their past three.

Hurstville FC vs. Camden Tigers FC: 2-1.

Hurstville FC claimed an important, though slightly unconvincing, three points this weekend against the Camden Tigers.

The home side took an early lead, but Camden were the more impressive outfit – eventually claiming a deserved equaliser before half time thanks to a brilliant individual goal from Rhys Hastie.

However, once more demonstrating their ability to grind out victories, Hurstville slotted home a second to maintain their parity with St. George for points atop the table.

Hurstville coach Alex Prophet says, “Camden played very well and tested us, so we had to play a solid ninety minutes.”

“We were led well by our skipper Andy Harb as well as Dario Borovickic.”

SD Raiders FC vs. Nepean FC: 4-1.

SD Raiders FC have made a major statement about their intentions in the second half of the season, smashing a resurgent Nepean FC in front of a strong home crowd.

Goals each from Mclintock, Fahmi, Symington and Romic saw the Raiders comfortably over the line, despite a consolation strike from Carlos Enwiya.

Nepean have now suffered their first loss under new coach Magdy Andrawes.

“The game was riding high on emotion and SD Raiders were just too good on the night.”

Andrawes believes this result is a wakeup call for his squad, saying, “The game showed that even though we have gelled well for the three weeks we have been together, we still have lots to work on to reach our full potential. And work on it we will.”

St. George FA vs. Bankstown United FC: 2-0.

St. George continue to sail ahead smoothly this season, dispatching a strong Bankstown United side with relative ease.

Goals from John Tsironis and a late strike from Sam Messam saw St. George over the line, but the league leaders feel they could have and should have scored even more.

Coach Manny Spanoudakis says, “We missed a penalty in the first half and probably should have capitalised on a few other chances.”

“We were pushed very hard by a very determined Bankstown. Happy to get through the game with three points and no injuries.”

“It was a good day all round for our club, with all three grades winning.”

Spanoudakis highlighted the role played by captain Adrian Webster in leading his squad to victory, as they now look forward to next week’s clash against Nepean FC.

Hurstville City Minotaurs v Western Condors WASHED OUT 

-by Daniel Palmer, State League Men’s Reporter