Round 14 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The six matches played in Round Fourteen of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition over the weekend interestingly produced five away victories and one draw, with no team playing at home managing a win.
Western NSW Mariners were the team that grabbed a point on their travels away at Sydney University, Gladesville Ryde Magic prevailed by the odd goal in five against Dulwich Hill, Stanmore Hawks scored at the death to topple Inter Lions at Concord Oval, Hawkesbury City grabbed the points in a narrow win against Balmain Tigers, whilst Hills Brumbies defeated Dunbar Rovers in the top of the table clash at Hensley Athletic Field.
Our feature match of the weekend was at Garside Park, where Granville Rage were out to try and stem the Rydalmere Lions tidal wave.
Rydalmere Lions put on a masterclass display at Garside Park on Saturday night, dominating from start to finish as they dismantled Granville Rage to the tune of 7-1.
It was the second successive week that Rydalmere netted seven goals in a match, racing away to lead 5-0 at the break before completing the rout in the second half.
From the outset it was evident that the Lions had come to play, pressing hard in numbers, winning possession and creating opportunities at will.
Yoel Silvestre gave an early warning sign after just 4 minutes, volleying just wide of the upright when a half cleared corner fell perfectly for him just inside the Granville penalty area.
Two minutes later and there was a turnover of possession near the half way, with Rydalmere’s Zac Elrich looking up and chipping Granville’s keeper, Pat Ferrara, from all of 30 yards. Ferrara back pedalled, stopping the shot on the line before gathering the ball at the second attempt.
Granville actually conjured up a good chance at this point against the run of play when a through ball found Daniel Bittar in space down the left flank. Bittar turned his body inwards before slicing his attempt wide of the mark.
Yoel Silvestre then slalomed his way on 9 minutes diagonally across the penalty area before scooping his shot over the bar as Rydalmere stepped up the ante.
You could sense it was only a matter of time before the Lions would score, and they finally netted after 12 minutes.
Farres Aoun received the ball down the left, before cutting back and switching a cross towards the far post. Yoel Silvestre volleyed first time back inside in to the path of Shane Webb, and the experienced campaigner side footed home from right in front to conclude a glorious opening goal for the visitors.
Four minutes later it was 2-0.
Matthew Mayora was playing in the uncustomary role of centre back, but that didn’t stop him having a hand in the attack. Mayora knocked a superb long range pass from deep in his own half, diagonally towards the top end of the Granville penalty area.
Yoel Silvestre dropped the ball like a magnet, waltzing past his marker before slotting past Granville’s keeper, Pat Ferrara, to double Rydalmere’s advantage.
Rydalmere showed no signs of letting up and scored again on 24 minutes. Mayora found Amaury Gauthier with an inch perfect pass inside the penalty area, and the striker accepted the ball by taking it a little wide of goal, before swivelling inside a defender and slotting under Ferrara for 3-0.
Rydalmere’s intensity was extreme, if they lost possession, it would only be for a moment as they pressed in packs across the entire pitch, and then attacked in droves.
They made it 4-0 in the 31st minute with another such counter attack, this time fullback Daisan Kim providing an inch perfect cross to the far post for Amaury Gauthier to net with a diving header that went in off the underside of the cross bar.
Granville had barely regrouped and it was 5-0, Yoel Silvestre slotting home from an acute angle as Rydalmere kept their foot well and truly on the metal.
Rage mustered an effort in the 38th minute when Daniel Bittar cut inside from the left flank, gliding past two defenders before scooping his shot over the bar from 25 yards.
But the half time whistle could not come quick enough for the home side, who were in dire need of a regroup and a pep talk to try and stem the Rydalmere tide.
And stem the tide they did somewhat after the break, although it was difficult for Rydalmere to replicate what was a ruthless first half, having had the three points in the bag courtesy of a 5-0 lead.
Zac Elrich had a shot from 20 yards on 54 minutes that went a metre or so over the bar, whilst Matthew Mayora made an intercept on the halfway line two minutes later, squatting away two challenges before volleying just wide of the upright.
The Lions did extend the lead to 6-0 in the 57th minute, when Ryunosuke Hayashi and Zac Elrich exchanged a series of quick passes inside the penalty area, culminating with Elrich rounding Pat Ferrara in the Granville goal before stroking the ball in to an empty net.
Six became seven in the 74th minute, Amaury Gauthier ending his slalom run through the Granville defence by slipping a neat pass in to the path of Yoel Silvestre in the left channel of the box. Silvestre put the ball back onto his right foot before curling a shot inside the far side netting to grab his hatrick.
There was even time for Lloyd Owusu to make an impact off the bench, almost scoring when heading goalward with his very first touch after entering the fray, before smacking a 74th minute shot against the cross bar following a swift multiple passing movement by the attacking Lions.
Granville did pull a goal back, and it came on 87 minutes, Alistair McKie pinching the ball off a hesitant defence some 25 yards from goal, before racing away and chipping the oncoming Rydalmere goalkeeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth, with a perfectly executed shot.
It was a relieved Granville Rage when full time blew shortly after, being totally outplayed on the night and hoping to put this result behind them. The Rage could not match Rydalmere for effort and application, and turned possession over too many times, a stat that can prove deadly when you face a side with the attacking options of the Lions. Alistair McKie was the pick in a disappointing home side, his non-stop effort rewarded with a superbly taken, last gasp goal.
Rydalmere would be extremely satisfied with what was a complete night’s work, the second successive week in which they have found the net seven times. They showed enthusiasm from the outset, worked hard in packs, and attacked relentlessly and unselfishly, racking up an insurmountable lead by half time that could not be overturned. It was difficult to pick a standout when it was in fact a standout team performance by Rydalmere Lions, but Yoel Silvestre grabbed a hatrick and constantly looked dangerous in attack, ably supported by Amaury Gauthier and Zac Elrich, whilst Matthew Mayora had a towering presence in defence, strong in the tackle, and even assisted in two of Rydalmere’s goals.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Fourteen
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Garside Park
Referee – Samuel Grasso
Assistant Referees – Luke Hammond and Laken Ledden
GRANVILLE RAGE (0) 1 (McKie 87’)
RYDALMERE LIONS (5) 7 (Webb 8’, Silvestre 16’ / 32’ / 72’, Gauthier 24’ / 31’, Elrich 57’)
GRANVILLE RAGE;
1.P.Ferrara, 7.D.Bittar, 11.D.Bortolazzo (16.C.Haddad 20’), 8.J.Casey (9.M.Miljkovic 46’), 17.T.Kasunic (capt), 6.K.Kushaba (14.B.Berkeley 85’), 10.A.McKie, 12.L.Mesiti, 4.S.Morris, 15.D.Nelson, 5.S.Vrankovic.
Substitutes – 18.T.Raftopoulos.
Yellow Cards – 10.A.McKie 36’, 5.S.Vrankovic 80’.
Red Cards – Nil
RYDALMERE LIONS;
1.H.Sinpraseuth, 3.K.Allybokus, 23.F.Aoun, 7.Z.Elrich, 24.A.Gauthier (16.S.Tarutani 74’), 11.R.Hayashi (9.L.Owusu 64’), 2.D.Kim, 15.M.Mayora, 17.Y.Silvestre, 8.S.Webb (capt) (12.M.Brown 57’), 19.S.Zahra.
Substitutes Not Used – 14.M.Akca, 27.J.Steenbergen.
Yellow Cards – Nil
Red Cards – Nil
DULWICH HILL FC – GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 2-3
Saturday, July 2
Arlington Oval @ 7-00pm
Gladesville Ryde Magic kept their Finals aspirations on track with a determined 3-2 away victory over Dulwich Hill on Saturday night.
But it was Dully who opened the scoring on 8 minutes when Tom Bentham netted following a goal mouth scramble.
Chris Tomaras levelled the ledger for Magic on 16 minutes, cutting inside onto his left foot before striking home from the edge of the penalty area.
The match was an arm wrestle for the remainder of the half, until first half injury time, when an unmarked James Townsend tapped in to give Dully the lead going in to the sheds.
Gladesville’s captain, Chris Gaitatzis, has been in scintillating form of late, and he continued that run by equalising in the 51st minute, unleashing a left foot drive from all of 25 metres.
Gaitatzis then grabbed what turned out to be the winning goal in the 69th minute, weaving inside a couple of defenders inside the penalty area before placing the ball beyond the Dully keeper.
Gaitatzis’ second and Magic’s third was enough to give the visitors the points, a win which puts them just two points adrift of fifth placed Sydney University.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC – WESTERN NSW MARINERS FC 1-1
Saturday, July 2
Sydney University Football Ground @ 7-00pm
Western NSW Mariners picked up a valuable point on their travels when they hung on to draw 1-1 with a fast finishing Sydney University on Saturday evening.
Sydney University’s Valentin Broehl was in the thick of the action early on, firstly giving away the foul from which the Mariners opened the scoring. Matthew Hobby converted the penalty and the visitors were on their way.
Five minutes later and Broehl was at it again, this time earning his team a penalty. However Johnny Gowdy had his spot kick brilliantly saved by the Mariners’ custodian, Adam Brakenridge, getting down low to parry the shot.
Broehl was not to be denied, eventually scoring for Sydney University following a goal mouth scramble midway through the second half, restoring parity.
The ‘students’ threw everything at the Mariners, but a combination of the woodwork and some brilliant keeping by Mariners’ keeper, Brakenridge, kept the scoreboard untroubled, the match finishing in a 1-1 draw.
INTER LIONS SC – STANMORE HAWKS FC 2-3
Sunday, July 3
Concord Oval @ 3-00pm
Stanmore Hawks continued their push towards premiership contention with a narrow 3-2 victory against Inter Lions on Sunday afternoon.
The surface at Concord Oval was a little bumpy and dry, and not conducive to free flowing football, but both teams went at it and put on an entertaining display.
The Hawks took the lead on 20 minutes following a Domenic Tripodi corner which was cleared to the edge of the box. Stanmore skipper, Steve Liavas, executed a thunderbolt of a volley which crashed off the crossbar, and Heo Wookbum snapped up the rebound to edge Stanmore in front.
Inter Lions restored parity within minutes via a fantastic Daniel Fogarty strike from outside the box, and it was game on.
The Hawks continued to threaten, but poor finishing meant they didn’t penetrate until just before half time, when Wookbum notched his brace, placing the ball across the face of goal in to the bottom corner of the net to send the visitors in to the break with a 2-1 lead.
Stanmore continued to dominate but could not transfer their efforts in to goals, and they paid the price when Inter Lions equalised in the 78th minute.
Clayton Musumeci hit a pearler of a free kick, the ball ricocheting off the bottom of the cross bar, bouncing down and in to the roof of the net to send the home fans in to delirium.
Just as it seemed that the game was heading for a draw, Stanmore scored with one last roll of the dice. Peter Theodosi played in Steve Liavas in to space down the flank, and the Stanmore captain put over a dangerous cross in to the mixer.
A collision of bodies and some desperation saw the ball played back across the face of goal where the experienced Neil Philippou was waiting, the Stanmore substitute slamming into an unguarded net to give the Hawks all three points.
BALMAIN TIGERS FC – HAWKESBURY CITY SC 0-1
Sunday, July 3
David Bertenshaw Field @ 5-00pm
Hawkesbury City climbed two spots in to 9th courtesy of their 1-0 ‘away’ win against Balmain Tigers at David Bertenshaw Field on Sunday afternoon.
The Hawks were backing up after two losses in the previous week, both at home, and were keen to make amends by hoping to hurdle the Tigers with a win this week.
Michael Noro was the hero for the home side, netting with a close range header after 26 minutes to give his side all three points.
Noro almost grabbed a second on the half hour, this time crashing his header against the upright.
The second half became a tense and fierce battle, peppered with yellow card cautions, but Hawkesbury City hung on to claim the spoils.
Balmain Tigers remain on 9 points but drop to 11th on the ladder, whilst Hawkesbury catapult themselves up to 9th, moving on to 11 points.
DUNBAR ROVERS FC – HILLS BRUMBIES SC 1-2
Sunday, July 3
Hensley Athletic Field @ 7-00pm
All eyes were on Hensley Athletic Field on Sunday evening as the competition’s top two sides, Dunbar Rovers and Hills Brumbies, battled for league supremacy.
Dunbar had prevailed in the previous two encounters this season, both by 4-1, coming in Round Three of the competition as well as Round Four of the Westfield FFA Cup.
Predictably the opening quarter of an hour was a fierce contest with so much at stake, with Dunbar striker, Andrew Green, amongst the action, bringing the best out of Hills keeper, Kane Wallace, with a couple of long range strikes.
But Hills edged in front on 37 minutes, stealing possession and breaking quickly, a trademark of their attacking strategy. Peter Cejkaa slid in to stab the ball home after Dunbar keeper, Stephen Deasy, had parried an initial effort, and the visitors were in front.
Dunbar seemed to have equalised minutes later, a scramble following a corner cleared off the line, with screams of goal by the home fans falling on deaf ears as the officials waved play on.
Hills then doubled their advantage just before the break, and it was that man Cejkaa once again, tapping home following some great work down the right flank by Dongyong Heo.
Dunbar came out of the sheds after half time full of running, and eventually reduced the deficit on the hour mark. Sean Burke made inroads down the wing before sending over a great cross for skipper, Robbie Deasy, to nod home.
The Rovers had the best part of possession in the final half hour, and despite putting pressure on the Hills defensive structure, could not muster an equaliser.
The loss sees Dunbar Rovers remain in second spot on the ladder on 31 points, whilst Hills first win over their closest rivals and the subsequent three points means the Brumbies go four points clear at the top.
