Round 19 Review – PS4 NPL 2 NSW Men’s

There were goals galore across the Playstation 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s with a phenomenal thirty-six scored in six games. The highest scorers were Sydney FC who hit eight against St George while eight further goals were shared between Marconi and Bankstown Berries.

Western Sydney Wanderers scored four of the own to stay top of the table, after a 4-0 win over Macarthur Rams.

In the battle at the bottom, Fraser Park came up trumps with a 3-2 win at North Shore Mariners.

Match of the Round

North Shore Mariners v Fraser Park

Fraser Park picked up yet another three points on Sunday, this time at North Shore Mariners, to make it five wins from their past six games, continuing a remarkable run which has moved them into eleventh spot on the ladder.

But never were points more hard won than they were against North Shore, a team also desperate for points as Fraser Park’s climb up the table has seen North Shore more or less move in the opposite direction.

This was a match which was boisterous from the kick off. It was clear that there would be no quarter given, the importance of the game a clear indication of that. It didn’t start well for Fraser though, an own goal by Peter Crevani on four minutes putting the home side in front early.

But Fraser Park recovered well enough without really making much headway against a solid North Shore backline. They had more than their fair share of possession and used their size to advantage, but didn’t quite threaten Anthony Zecchinati with much in the way of clear cut chances. The final touch was just falling short.

That all changed in an eight minute blast straddling half time.

An award for handball against James Scott with two minutes left to play of the first half, presented Crevani, an expert with his left foot, with the perfect opportunity. On the edge of the area, Crevani sweetly hit the equaliser into the top corner.

Smart words must have been spoken at half time by stand in coach Jason Culina, in the absence of incumbent Branko, as three minutes after the restart, Fraser Park were in front. This time Crevani turned provider as his corner kick swung onto the head of Ben Vidaic who nodded home. And before North Shore had a chance to recover from that, Fraser Park were a further goal ahead.

Just two minutes later, a well weighted through ball from Rocci Gabey slid into the path of Vidaic who had plenty of space to run and then drive past Zecchinati.

From one goal behind to two in front in a matter of game minutes.

For all that, Fraser Park were by no means able to think victory was secured. North Shore rallied with Addison Sayyan striking wide in one attempt and it didn’t take long before the arrears were reduced.

An inswinging corner largely evaded the Fraser defence but not North Shore, and it was James Scott who was able to prod over the line.

With just one goal in it, and plenty of time left to play, it set the stage for a grandstanding finish. It was North Shore who attacked Fraser Park with every opportunity, the wind really in their sails. Joshua Mbakwe worked hard up front against a tough Fraser defence, but couldn’t quite get the chance he needed.

Crosses came in, were cleared, with clearances seeking Vidaic. He had a chance, smashing a shot against Zecchinati, as did Nathan Sansom whose long range drive went very close.

North Shore tried desperately as the minutes ticked down, but Fraser stuck it out for yet another win.

This was one game in which both sides knew they had been in a match.

North Shore Mariners 2 (Peter Crevani own goal 4’, James Scott 65’) v Fraser Park 3 (Peter Crevani 43’, Ben Vidaic 48’, 50’)

Sunday 10 July 2016

at Northbridge Oval, Northbridge 

Referee: Jerry Bitas

Assts: Danny Horstead and Scott Edeling 

North Shore Mariners: 1. Anthony Zecchinati 3. Chris Lindsay 4. Jack Grant 6. Ricky Woodward 7. Tadhg Purcell 10. Julian Aguirre (21. Marley Petersen 84’) 13. Marquin Smith 17. Lachlan Everett (14. Jake Mavin 77’) 23. Joshua Mbakwe 37. James Scott 39. Addison Sayyan (49. Gianni Stensness 58’).

Subs not used: 36. Stefan Giglio 15. Jordan Mbakwe

Yellow Cards: Ricky Woodward, Julian Aguirre, James Scott 

Coach: Joe Haywood

Fraser Park: 21. John Dimitrakis 2. Rocci Gabey 4. Peter Crevani (9. Jeffrey Issa 70’) 5. Nicholas Dimitropoulos 6. Alexander Todoroski 8. Zac Ribeiro 14. Nikola Todoroski (13. Song Ho Lee 90 +1’) 15. Jordan Simpson (18. Alvaro Malmierca 84’) 16. Ben Vidaic 17. Nathan Sansom 20. Jordan Roberts.

Subs not used: 1. Wayne Estavao 11. Tobias Norval

Yellow Cards: Zac Ribeiro, Jordan Simpson, Nathan Sansom, Ben Vidaic

Coach:  Branko Culina

Western Sydney Wanderers v Macarthur Rams

The league leaders launched a first half blitz to see off the challenge of Macarthur Rams in Saturday’s early kickoff, knocking in four without reply to all but seal the result within the first forty five minutes.

As has happened all too often for Macarthur recently, they conceded early, going behind after five minutes following a Cameron Devlin strike from outside the box.

The lead was doubled by Jordan Morfitis just before the half hour, and he didn’t take too long to notch his second, and the Wanderers’ third, seven minutes before half time.

That might have been a bridge too far for the Rams, even then, but it got worse right on the break, when Kyle Cimenti stretched the lead out to 4-0.

That was enough for the Wanderers, a healthy victory keeping them at the top of the table for another week.

Western Sydney Wanderers 4 (Cameron Devlin 5’, Jordan Morfitis 27’, 38’, Kyle Cimenti 45’) v Macarthur Rams 0

Sydney FC v St George

Sydney FC served a warning that their recent run of poor results seem to be at an end after emphatic 8-1 defeat of St George.

With Western Sydney Wanderers having won earlier in the afternoon, the Sky Blues were already well aware of what needed to be done, and they spent no time at all in getting this game done and dusted. And if Macarthur thought that they were in strife being 4-0 down by half time in their game against the Wanderers, spare a thought for St George who were 5-0 down inside fifteen minutes.

It took just two minutes for Charles Lokolingoy to put Sydney FC in the lead, before William Mutch made it 2-0 after five. Daniel Araujo made it 3-0 after seven minutes before an own goal by Tarik Ercan made it 4-0. Mutch scored his second of the night, collecting a rebound off the post to make it 5-0 with a quarter of an hour gone.

The Saints may have been heavily depleted, but they were shell shocked all the same. Amazingly, despite the deficit, they could have brought it back to 5-3 before half time. Dimitri Zakilas got one back after getting on the end of a Stevan Ilic cross, and Bruno Pivato had two gilt edged chances but hurried both shots.

But Sydney FC were never going to give up this one, and George Timotheou headed home from a free kick to make it six, ten minutes after the restart. Christopher Arditti scrambled home another before a red card to Saints defender Ali Nasreddine, for a foul as last man, reduced the Saints to ten.

Nicola Kuleski made it 8-1 with twenty five minutes to go for the final goal of the night. 

It was Sydney FC’s biggest win of the season, and a superlative one at that, but nothing less than a night to forget for the visiting Saints.

Sydney FC 8 (Charles Lokolingoy 2’, William Mutch 5’, 15’, Daniel Araujo 7’, Tarik Ercan own goal 10’, George Timotheou 55’, Christopher Arditti 60’, Nicola Kuleski 65’) v St George 1 (Dimitri Zakilas 19’)

Sydney FC: 1. Mitchell Evans 3. Patrick Flottman 4. George Timotheou 5. Yianni Spyrakis 6. Nicola Kuleski (2. Brendan Curtis 85’) 7. Daniel Araujo 9. Bai Antoniou 12. Charles Lokolingoy 14. Cristian Gonzalez (27. Daniel Maskin 61’) 16. William Mutch 17. Chris Zuvela (11. Christopher Arditti 57’).

St George: 1. George Bouropoulos 2. Daniel Kamel (11. Wassim Hijazi 46’) 3. Ali Nasreddine 4. Johnathan Kontalis 8. Tarik Ercan 9. Stevan Ilic 10. Bruno Pivato 18. Yuta Konagaya 19. Dimitri Zakilas 20. Jayden McLeod 26. Tayfun Buyukkopru (14. Jacob Sullivan 59’).

Red card: Ali Nasreddine 62’

Marconi v Bankstown Berries

Marconi staged a miraculous comeback at home to Bankstown Berries, coming from 4-0 down early in the second half to snatching a 4-4 draw in the final minutes. 

It is doubtful that not even hardened Berries fans could have predicted a four goal lead but that is what occurred but what would be even more alarming is that the four goal advantage was lost.

Gavin Forbes had given the Berries the opener, his third goal in four games, before Tai Smith doubled the lead. Jake Bradshaw then made it 3-0 right before half time to give the Berries a seemingly unassailable lead.

When Nicholas Paras scored a trademark goal early in the second period, it seemed they were on the way to a famous victory.

But the Stallions thought otherwise and in a comeback to beat all comebacks, scored four themselves with a double to Mirjan Pavlovic, and one each to Sam Perre and Christopher Godoy Boscur.

Marconi 4 (Mirjan Pavlovic 2, Sam Perre, Christopher Godoy Boscur) v Bankstown Berries 4 (Gavin Forbes, Tai Smith, Jake Bradshaw, Nicholas Paras)

Mount Druitt Town Rangers v Northern Tigers

After three straight losses, Mount Druitt Town returned to winning ways with a narrow 3-2 victory over Northern Tigers. It was a win which was desperately needed to keep Rangers within touch of their opponents as each fight for a finals berth.

Goals to Abraham Majok, Kuag Reec and Goncalo Paradanta delivered Rangers over the line with Liam McConaghy and Braden Cheng responding for Northern Tigers.  

Mount Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Abraham Majok, Goncalo Paradanta, Kuag Reec) v Northern Tigers 2 (Liam McConaghy, Braden Cheng)

Central Coast Mariners v Mounties Wanderers

Mounties Wanderers have moved up to fifth spot on the ladder with a 3-2 win over Central Coast Mariners, sending the home side to a second consecutive defeat at Pluim Park.

Goals to Matthew West, Mitchell Davidson and Josh Viera set the Mounties on the way to the three points, with the Mariners’ reply courtesy of Trent Buhagiar, with his eleventh of the season, and Ryan Peterson.

Central Coast Mariners 2 (Trent Buhagiar, Ryan Peterson) v Mounties Wanderers 3 (Matthew West, Mitchell Davidson, Joshua Viera)

Postponed

Bankstown City v Spirit FC

– by Peter Rowney, Play Station 4 National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s Reporter