Round 18 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Goals were the order of the day in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition over the weekend, with Round Eighteen producing a total of 29 goals across the six matches.
On Saturday evening, Dulwich Hill threw away a two goal lead late on to share the points against Sydney University, whilst Stanmore Hawks defeated Granville Rage in a seven goal thriller at Garside Park. In Sunday’s fixtures, Gladesville Ryde Magic edged out Hawkesbury City by the odd goal in three at Magdala Park, Balmain Tigers beat Inter Lions by the solitary goal at Wentworth Park, whilst Dunbar Rovers made light work of the Western NSW Mariners late on at Hensley Athletic Field.
This week’s feature match was the heavyweight bout at Rydalmere Park on Saturday night, where the Rydalmere Lions welcomed the visit of Hills Brumbies.
It was difficult to find parking in the surrounding streets of Rydalmere on Saturday evening, as fans made their way into Rydalmere Park for a match that promised goals and entertainment plus.
Home side, Rydalmere Lions, and the visiting Hills Brumbies, didn’t disappoint, as they showed why they have been two of the best teams in the NPL3 competition in 2016.
The surface was a little uneven in certain parts, and the evening dew gave the ball a quick take off, but both sides are full of talent and adjusted from the outset, with the home side quickest out of the blocks.
Rydalmere skipper, Shane Webb, had the first chance of the match on just five minutes, connecting sweetly with a low corner delivered to the edge of the box. Hills’ keeper, Joshua Stancic, was ever alert to parry the shot with a full length dive to his left.
The Lions were pressing in numbers, forcing turnovers, or at the very least, quick releases by the Brumbies, as they looked to take the match by the throat.
One such pressing after 9 minutes resulted in a stray back pass by Hills, the ball seized upon by Amaury Gauthier, and the quick fire striker raced through to place the ball past Stancic in the Hills goal to put Rydalmere in to the lead.
Hills responded on 13 minutes, Sean Mitchell hitting a swerving shot from 20 yards that cleared the Rydalmere cross bar by centimetres.
Rydalmere did not heed the warning, and the Brumbies equalised just six minutes later.
Jordan Parfait exchanged passes with Sean Mitchell, racing in to space before rounding Rydalmere’s keeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth, and placing the ball in to an empty net to restore parity.
The intensity lifted another notch at this point, the tackles fierce and at times mistimed, but referee, Mr Kurt Ams, showed his experience by pulling it up where needed without a rash showing of cards.
Hills kept trying to play some neat one touch football, but the surface meant the ball bobbled along and at times caused passes to go astray. Rydalmere were content to press hard and try and catch the Brumbies on the counter attack, especially with their speed up front.
Hills did edge themselves in front on 39 minutes, and it was Daine Merrin who was the instigator, picking up possession before sliding in to the right channel and cutting the ball back in to the box. Sean Mitchell was supporting the play like any good midfielder does, and he cracked a half volley first time from the penalty spot, the ball bouncing down in to the turf and it to the roof of the net for 2-1.
Half time brought a reprieve for all and sundry, but the fans were eager for more, and they were not to be disappointed with the second half bringing a frenzy of action from the outset.
Just four minutes after the break, Hills extended their lead to 3-1 with a snatch and grab.
Whilst Rydalmere tried playing out from a goal kick, Jordan Parfait and Sean Mitchell pounced like two hungry attackers, pinching the ball before Mitchell drew Rydalmere keeper, Sinpraseuth, and squaring to Peter Cejkaa for an easy tap in.
3-1 up and Hills were in the box seat, with Rydalmere needing to throw numbers forward if they were to rescue the match. The Brumbies had a habit this season of conceding goals after being in front, so it may not have come as a surprise to see the Lions reduce the deficit just after the hour mark.
A high press from Rydalmere forced a turnover in the Hills penalty box, and in the ensuing scramble, Hills’ Greg Giovenali was adjudged to have fouled Rydalmere’s striker, Yoel Silvestre. Amaury Gauthier stepped up, slamming his penalty in to the roof of the net to bring the home team to within a goal at 2-3.
But Hills kept trading blows, and went 4-2 on 70 minutes up with arguably the goal of the match.
Receiving a throw in from the right touchline, and with his back to goal, Hills’ striker Peter Cejkaa controlled the ball before swivelling, and snapping a left foot, angled volley that flew past Rydalmere’s keeper, Sinpraseuth, and nestled into the side netting inside the far post.
The visiting fans burst into raptures as the league’s top marksman – 28 goals and counting – raced away to celebrate with his club entourage on the bench.
Two minutes later, and Cejkaa had the chance to secure his hatrick, when Rydalmere’s Daisan Kim tripped Hills’ winger, Jordan Parfait, inside the penalty area. Cejkaa actually slipped as he ran in at his first attempt, before picking himself up and striking hard and low. Rydalmere’s keeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth, threw himself to his right to deny the striker his hatrick with a brilliant save.
Sinpraseuth’s save was just the tonic his team needed, as the Lions threw everything at Hills in the final quarter of an hour.
Rydalmere reduced the deficit yet again in the 75th minute, when Simon Zahra controlled a bouncing ball with his thigh some 25 yards out from goal, before hitting a dipping volley that found its way into the top corner, Hills’ keeper, Stancic, getting a hand to it but unable to keep it out.
The atmosphere intensified as Rydalmere threw numbers forward in the final ten minutes, including their goalkeeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth, forcing Hills to defend doggedly from a number of corners and free kicks in succession. But try as they may, no further goals eventuated, and Hills Brumbies took home the spoils.
Despite the loss, Rydalmere showed plenty of character in their quest to pull back Hills’ lead, reducing the deficit twice, but just coming up short in the end. Amaury Gauthier looked lively in attack throughout, helping himself to two goals, and always on the prowl in the attacking third; Simon Zahra was a mainstay in central midfield, strong defensively as he held his position, rewarded with a super goal; despite conceding four goals, keeper Harrick Sinpraseuth kept his side in the match with some crucial saves, highlighted by his 72nd minute penalty save, and was quick off his line, almost as a second sweeper, to clear the danger on many occasions.
This victory was hard fought and well executed for Hills Brumbies, and now means they have completed the double over Rydalmere Lions – no mean feat indeed. Peter Cejkaa played a strong number nine’s game, holding the ball up well, laying off to supporting team mates, and scoring two goals in a comprehensive display; both flankers, Dongyong Heo an Jordan Parfait, showed equal amounts of speed and skill to continually make inroads down each wing – Heo very neat with his touches, and lightning sharp in his turns, whilst Parfait made a number of slalom runs, scoring a goal from one and being fouled for a penalty from another.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Eighteen
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Referee – Kurt Ams
Assistant Referees – Scott Edeling and John Lalic
RYDALMERE LIONS (1) 3 (Gauthier 9’ / 61’ pen., Zahra 75’)
HILLS BRUMBIES (2) 4 (Parfait 19’,Mitchell 38’, Cejkaa 49’ / 70’)
RYDALMERE LIONS;
1.H.Sinpraseuth, 23.F.Aoun, 7.Z.Elrich, 24.A.Gauthier, 11.R.Hayashi (16.S.Tarutani 58’), 2.D.Kim, 15.M.Mayora, 17.Y.Silvestre (9.L.Owusu 70’), 8.S.Webb (capt) (31.E.Berreuzo 82’),19.S.Zahra, 6.Y.Samba.
Substitutes Not Used – 14.M.Akca, 25.M.Pritchard.
Yellow Cards – 6.Y.Samba 38’, 7.Z.Elrich 50’.
Red Cards – Nil
HILLS BRUMBIES;
20.J.Stancic, 5.T.Brandon (capt), 58.D.Heo (14.L.Lawler 79’), 17.B.Hoyer, 9.S.Mitchell,16.G.Giovenali, 6.B.Robertson, 11.D.Merrin, 18.P.Cejkaa, 53.J.Parfait (4.R.Faulkner 79’), 56.M.Zarantonello.
Substitutes Not Used –1.K.Wallace, , 19.G.Kelshaw(7.W.Giovenali 78’),
Yellow Cards – 56.M.Zarantonello 83’, 11.D.Merrin 90’ + 3’.
Red Cards – Nil
GRANVILLE RAGE – STANMORE HAWKS FC 3-4
Saturday, July 30
Garside Park @ 7-00pm
Stanmore Hawks and Granville Rage played out an entertaining seven goal thriller at Garside Park on Saturday night, the Hawks prevailing by the odd goal.
It was even first half hour or so, with Peter Theodosi going closest to scoring with an effort that came off the crossbar.
Peter Yannopoulos and Michael Toscano then scored in quick succession to give Stanmore a 2-0 lead, but that was remarkably erased before the break when the Rage scored two quick goals themselves through Daniel Bittar and Zac Watters.
Not to be outdone, Stanmore – without the services of captain Steve Liavas, suspended after accumulating five cautions – managed to restore their two goal lead, with Toscano grabbing his second after 55 minutes, and then Domenico Tripodi scoring direct from a free kick to make it 4-2.
Granville reduced the deficit when Daniel Bortolazzo netted, but that was too little too late, and Stanmore hung on for a narrow 4-3 victory.
DULWICH HILL FC – SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC 2-2
Saturday, July 30
Arlington Oval @ 7-00pm
Dulwich Hill and Sydney University shared the points and four goals when they met on a cold evening at Arlington Oval on Saturday night.
The first half was a tight affair, the ‘students’ a little weary from their midweek win over Inter Lions, whilst Dully worked hard but couldn’t penetrate the Uni rear guard.
The match didn’t come alive until the final quarter of an hour, when remarkably, the teams traded four goals in a frenzied finish after a stalemate for the best part of 75 minutes.
It took something special to break the deadlock, and it came via the boot of Dully’s lively flanker, Alex Yin, who blasted a rocket into the top corner from a relatively tight angle.
Not satisfied with that, Yin replicated his effort with another stunning effort minutes later, beating Uni keeper, Carl McMahon, all ends up from distance once more.
Two goals to the good and Dully would have thought they had the three points in the bag, but Sydney University came storming home to grab a point, and could’ve taken all three in the end.
With little more than five minutes remaining, Tommy Hyde and Domenic Di Mento worked the ball down the right side of the park, with Di Mento cutting the ball back for Scott Tonkin to net with a clinical strike.
A couple of minutes later and Sydney University were all square. Rosario Occhipinti turned on a six pence to create an opening, his strike well parried by Dully’s custodian, Michael Frost. Scott Tonkin – who else – was on the spot to pick up the scraps, scoring from close range to net his 15th goal of the season, giving his team a well deserved point.
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC – HAWKESBURY CITY SC 2-1
Sunday, July 31
Magdala Park @ 3-00pm
Gladesville Ryde Magic managed a hard fought 2-1 victory over Hawkesbury City on Sunday afternoon to earn a valuable three points in their quest for semi final football.
It took only 12 minutes for the home side to take the lead, when Joel Carter reacted quickest to strike home after a Chris Gaitatzis shot had been parried by Hawkesbury keeper, Daniel Schwarzer.
Hawkesbury equalised on 32 minutes, when a long range shot by Benjamin Gray flew past the outstretched hands of Kyriakos Tohouroglou to make it 1-1.
Chris Tomaras got on the end of a cross in the 52nd minute to put Gladesville in to the lead once more, and this time they held on until the end to grab all the points.
Both teams were reduced to ten men in a feisty second half, with Arthur Gavriil of Magic (56th) and Andrew Stevenson (71st) earning early showers, but neither side could add to the scoreline.
BALMAIN TIGERS FC – INTER LIONS SC 1-0
Sunday, July 31
Wentworth Park @ 3-00pm
Balmain Tigers grabbed all three points on Sunday afternoon when they overcame Inter Lions by a solitary goal.
Marcelo Turdera was the hero for the Tigers, scoring the all important winner which gave the home side all three points.
Inter lose ground on the top half of the ladder as a result of the loss, remaining in 7th position on 22 points, whilst the win and subsequent three points put Balmain on to 14 on the competition ladder, equal with Dulwich Hill.
DUNBAR ROVERS FC – WESTERN NSW MARINERS FC 7-1
Sunday, July 31
Hensley Athletic Field @ 5-00pm
Dunbar Rovers sent Western NSW Mariners home packing late on Sunday afternoon, winning 7-1 in a one sided affair at Hensley Athletic Field.
Dunbar’s midfielder, Andrew Doddy was amongst it early, putting the Rovers ahead in just the second minute, but then doing likewise at the other end, scoring an own goal to present the Mariners with an equaliser on 19 minutes.
Dunbar are making a habit of scoring excellent team goals, and they did it once more in this match, David Desmond finishing off a brilliant team move on 28 minutes, a lead the Rovers took to the half time break.
Andrew Green extended the home side’s lead to 3-1 in the 67th minute, but it took until the final minutes of the game before Dunbar would score again, the Rovers netting a remarkable four goals between the 84th and 88th minutes.
David Desmond helped himself to a hatrick of goals in the 84th, 86th, and 87th minutes – increasing his personal tally for the match to four, a fantastic effort by the opportunist striker.
Sean Burke netted in the 88th minute to finishing off proceedings, providing Dunbar Rovers with a 7-1 scoreline, and a valuable three points.
