Round 19 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Rain and more rain resulted in two venue and kick off time alterations, as well as a postponement, as Round Nineteen of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition took place over the weekend.
Hawkesbury City came from one down at half time to run out convincing winners against the Mariners in Mudgee, Dunbar Rovers accounted for Balmain rather comfortably on the back of a David Desmond hatrick, Hills Brumbies finished strongly at Lily Football Centre to overcome Gladesville Ryde Magic, whilst Inter Lions triumphed at home against Dulwich Hill on Sunday evening.
Our feature match was a battle of two of the league’s big boys, with Stanmore Hawks locking horns with Rydalmere Lions.
Both sides came in to this match with plenty to play for, highly unlikely either can catch Hills at the summit, but second place is definitely up for grabs, with Dunbar Rovers also in the mix.
Opportunities early on were non existent, more so because of the intensity of both sides when defending, and neither keeper had much to do in the opening half hour.
Stanmore did suffer an early setback, losing the consistent Yorgi Mavrou through injury after only 17 minutes, but they needn’t have worried, the experienced Christian Bottalico entering the fray, and he performed admirably, out of his usual midfield position.
It took 27 minutes, no less, for either goal to come into danger. Rydalmere’s midfielder, Simon Zahra, picked up a ball some 25 yards from goal, and unleashed a left foot pile driver that was finger tipped over the bar by Stanmore’s ever-alert keeper, James Webb.
The ensuing corner from Shane Webb caused Stanmore all sorts of problems, Seijei Tarutani flicking it goalwards, the ball taking a couple of ricochets before landing in the arms of the grateful Webb.
Frustration was starting to get the better of the visitors, with three Rydalmere players picking up cautions in the quarter of an hour before the break, but both teams retreated to the sheds shortly after, happy with their effort, but in need of a goal to open up the battle.
Lloyd Owusu entered the match at half time in the place of Seiji Tarutani, and Rydalmere reverted to a 4-2-4 formation, making their intentions clear that they had come for a win and nothing less.
Owusu almost grabbed the opening goal on 52 minutes, sending in a powerful, angled header from a Farres Aoun corner, but Stanmore’s James Webb was equal to the effort, saving well at the near post.
Peter Yannopoulos responded for Stanmore two minutes later, cracking a left foot shot from the edge of the area that flew inches wide of the Rydalmere upright.
The artificial surface was especially slippery on the night, and the majority of through balls raced away to be gobbled up by the respective keepers, or alternatively carried over the goal lines for goal kicks. However, one such pass by Zac Elrich did find Yoel Silvestre in to space behind the Stanmore defence, but Christian Bottalico produced a superbly timed slide tackle to thwart the Rydalmere danger.
The game needed a goal, and it came on 61 minutes.
A cross was half cleared by Rydalmere straight to the feet of Stanmore skipper, Steve Liavas, who took a touch before unleashing a superb half volley from 20 yards, the ball cracking against the inside of the post before nestling in the net, sending the home fans into raptures.
Rydalmere showed some immediate desperation to restore parity, with Matthew Mayora heading just wide on 63 minutes from a Elrich free kick, whilst Silvestre hit a grass cutter in the 67th minute that flew inches wide of the post.
But Stanmore were awarded a penalty in the 82nd minute, when Daisan Kim committed a needless foul on Stanmore substitute, Chris Kolistasis, in the corner of the penalty area near the goal line.
Heo Wookbum slammed the spot kick straight down the middle to give Stanmore what looked like an unassailable 2-0 lead.
It was a tale of two substitutions that became pivotal in deciding the outcome of this match.
Stanmore’s captain, Steve Liavas, had been instrumental in his first game back from suspension (after accumulating five cautions), scoring to put his side in front, and his workrate second to none. He was subbed off in the 75th minute, and the Hawks seemed to feel his absence thereafter.
Rydalmere on the other hand, introduced Ryunosuke Hayashi in the 72nd minute, and the tricky flanker managed two late goals to justify his entrance.
The first came on 89 minutes, when Hayashi collected a ball on the left touchline, cutting inside before hitting a 20 yard arrow across goal and in to the far inside side netting, reducing the deficit to 1-2.
Stanmore defender, Sergio Tarazona, then earned himself an early shower, grabbing a needless second caution just as the clock ticked over the ninety minute mark, leaving the Hawks to fight out the remaining moments a man down.
Then after a few minutes of injury time, where Rydalmere found themselves absolutely camped in the Stanmore penalty area – with a few efforts on goal either saved by Stanmore keeper, James Webb, or cleared by body-on-the-line defending – Hayashi gave Rydalmere the equaliser they so desperately desired, stabbing home a loose ball from a few yards following another scramble.
Stanmore Hawks would surely be ruing two lost points given they had a two goal lead with eight minutes remaining. After grinding themselves in to a 2-0 lead, they became camped in their own half, defending stoutly, but could not keep the Lions out and succumbed to two late goals. Skipper Steve Liavas had a great 75 minutes, working tirelessly across the middle third, often closing down the Rydalmere ball carrier, and topped his game with a brilliant opening goal; keeper James Webb did ever so well to repel Rydalmere, attack after attack, courageous as he came out to clear the high ball, and with the final ten minute onslaught, was the reason that Stanmore didn’t lose all three points; left back Bibek Panta kept close watch on the Rydalmere right flank, was swift to close down the ball receiver, anticipated well throughout, and offered support when his team transitioned in to attack.
Rydalmere will take a lot of pride in grabbing something out of this match, especially when it looked done and dusted at 2-0 in the 82nd minute. As early as the 46th minute the Lions transitioned in to a 4-2-4 with an aim of pushing Stanmore back in to their defensive third, and that formation became somewhat of a 2-2-6 in the final minutes, given how many of their team pushed forward in to the Hawks’ penalty area hoping for a last gasp reprieve. Matthew Mayora was a rock in the centre of defence, winning his duels in the air and on the ground alike; substitutes Lloyd Owusu and Ryunosuke Hayashi had a real impact off the bench, exactly what you want when introducing a fresh set of legs; Owusu threw his big frame in to mixer at every opportunity, causing havoc with his height and strength, especially in the air, whilst Hayashi was rewarded for his positive approach with two well taken goals to rescue a point for his team.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Nineteen
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Referee – Tim Danaskos
Assistant Referees – Richard Clarke and John Lalic
STANMORE HAWKS (0) 2 (Liavas 61’, Hookbum 82’ pen)
RYDALMERE LIONS (0) 2 (Hayashi 89’, 90’ + 5’)
STANMORE HAWKS FC; 26.J.Webb, 11.S.Awad, 7.S.Liavas (capt) (5.F.Kamara 75’), 6.Y.Mavrou (27.C.Bottalico 17’), 4.S.Tarazona, 3.B.Panta, 23.P.Theodosi, 17.M.Toscano (21.C.Kolistasis 79’), 2.D.Tripodi, 10.H.Wookbum, 14.P.Yannopoulos.
Substitutes Not Used – 1.J.Adams, 22.S.Spargo.
Yellow Cards – 4.S.Tarazona 64’ / 90’ + 1’, 7.S.Liavas 71’, 21.C.Kolistasis 82’.
Red Cards – 4.S.Tarazona 90’ +1’.
RYDALMERE LIONS; 70.M.Farias, 23.F.Aoun, 7.Z.Elrich, 24.A.Gauthier, 16.S.Tarutani (9.L.Owusu 46’), 2.D.Kim, 15.M.Mayora, 17.Y.Silvestre (11.R.Hayashi 72’), 8.S.Webb (capt) (4.M.Lopez 75’), 19.S.Zahra, 6.Y.Samba.
Substitutes Not Used – 1.H.Sinpraseuth, 14.M.Akca.
Yellow Cards – 19.S.Zahra 33’, 17.Y.Silvestre 40’, 24.A.Gauthier 42’, 2.D.Kim 82’.
Red Cards – Nil
WESTERN NSW MARNERS FC – HAWKESBURY CITY SC 1-4
Saturday, August 6
Glen Willow Stadium No.2 @ 3-00pm
Hawkesbury City produced a clinical second half display at Mudgee, overcoming a 0-1 half time deficit to run out 4-1 victors against the Western NSW Mariners on Saturday afternoon.
After a stalemate for most of the first half, the Mariners took the lead when captain, Adam Scimone, got on the end of a Matthew Hobby cross and cracked his effort in to the top left hand corner moments before the break.
But Hawkesbury regrouped, and scored four times without reply in the second stanza.. Flying winger, Ben Gray, helped himself to a brace, whilst James Mawein and Michael McCrory also netted for the visitors.
DUNBAR ROVERS FC – BALMAIN TIGERS FC 5-1
Saturday, August 6
Hensley Athletic Field @ 7-00pm
Dunbar Rovers snuck in to second place on the competition ladder courtesy of their methodical 5-1 drubbing of Balmain Tigers on Saturday night.
Once again it was David Desmond at the centre of Dunbar’s performance, netting a hatrick to take his personal tally to 15 goals for the season, including 9 in the past three games.
Dunbar got things going after just five minutes following an infringement inside the box, with skipper, Robbie Deasy, converting from the spot to edge Rovers in front.
Desmond doubled the Dunbar advantage on 26 minutes, but it took another 46 minutes to break the Balmain rearguard again, with Desmond again on the scoresheet in the 72nd minute.
Two minutes later and Desmond had his hatrick, before Sean Burke iced the Dunbar cake in the 82nd minute, making it 5-0 to the home side.
Balmain’s top scorer, Marcelo Turdera, pulled a goal back for the Tigers on 85 minutes, his eight of the season, but it was too little, far too late, as the Rovers wrapped up the points.
The three points puts Dunbar on 41, edging one point past Stanmore Hawks in to second place on the ladder.
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC – GRANVILLE RAGE (washed out)
Saturday, August 6
Sydney University Football Ground @ 7-00pm
A deluge late in the week meant that the Sydney University Football Ground resembled more of a swimming pool than a football pitch, causing the postponement of the Sydney University – Granville Rage fixture. Stay tuned to the Football NSW website for details of the rescheduling.
HILLS BRUMBIES SC – GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 4-0
Saturday, August 6
Lily Football Centre @ 7-30pm
It took a while for the Brumbies to get going on Saturday night, but once they broke through just before half time, there was only ever going to be one winner.
Missing a host of players through injury and suspension, Gladesville Ryde Magic had keeper extraordinaire, Kyriakos Tohouroglou, to thank for keeping them in the game with a string of saves, more remarkable given he himself was in doubt for the match with injury.
Liam Lawler finally put one past Tohouroglou, striking low in the 43rd minute after connecting with a cross from the left flank.
Hills doubled their lead only a minute in to the second half, Peter Cejkaa scoring after some great work down the left wing and a subsequent cut back from Jordan Parfait.
Heo himself netted on 68 minutes, being first to react to a rebound after Tohouroglou had parried the first effort. Wade Giovenali then finished off proceedings in the 88th minute, scoring Hills’ fourth with a curling long range effort.
The loss leaves Magic on 29 points in 6th spot, one point behind Sydney University who have a game in hand.
Hills Brumbies on the other hand can smell the Premiership trophy from here, the three points putting them on 50 points, nine ahead of second placed Dunbar Rovers with just three matches to play.
INTER LIONS SC – DULWICH HILL FC 4-0
Sunday, August 7
Fraser Park @ 7-00pm
Inter Lions made light work of Dulwich Hill on Sunday night, winning comfortably by 4-0.
Concord Oval was deemed unplayable due to the rainfall over the previous days, and some quick phone calls resulted in a switch to Fraser Park for a 7-00pm kick off.
The first half was a dour battle, but Inter stepped it up a gear or two after the break, running away with it in the end.
Lachlan Wright and Daniel Fogarty exchanged passes on 58 minutes just outside the box, with Fogarty moving in to space before slotting the ball past Dully keeper, Michael Frost, from an acute angle to open the scoring.
Adam Funari doubled Inter’s advantage shortly afterwards, before Daniel Fornito made it 3-0 with a cracking 25 yard effort that flew in to the top corner.
Daniel Fogarty wrapped it all up towards the end, racing through to collect a Clayton Musumeci through ball to score his second of the match.
