Finals Series Round 1 Review – State League Men’s

The Camden Tigers FC and Hurstville FC were both deserved victors this weekend, in Round One of the Finals.
A stunningly brilliant performance from the Tigers against Bankstown headlined what was an exciting weekend of football.
Bankstown United FC vs. Camden Tigers FC: 2-4.

An impressive Camden Tigers were simply too good for Bankstown United this Saturday night, running away with a well-deserved victory.
Hat-trick hero Dean Mugridge was in unstoppable form, as the Tigers outclassed Bankstown in a vibrant performance at Fraser Park.
Both sides looked to establish control over the opening period with aggressive high-lines compacting the field dramatically. After a few minutes of scrappy football, Camden began to see the better of play against a nervy United outfit.
Seven minutes in, Camden’s Callum Rogers almost opened the scoring with a well-timed header that was cleared off the line by Andrew Lazarou.
It took only sixteen minutes for the Tigers to take the lead, after a mistake in defence from Bankstown. Defender Mathew Harrison misjudged a long kick from the Camden goalkeeper, allowing the ball to bounce over his head into the path of Mugridge. Mugridge smartly lofted the ball with his first touch over the top of goalkeeper Adam Biernat.
Bankstown did not respond well to conceding and continued to turnover the ball extremely cheaply under pressure from Camden.
Star striker Tom Markovski looked entirely isolated, receiving no support and having to drop deep to fight for possession. Indicative of this, in the fortieth minute Markovski received a yellow card for fouling a Camden player deep in his own half.
Meanwhile, Camden’s attacking trio of Dean Mugridge, Jayden Russell and Sean Doherty looked too hot to handle for Bankstown’s back four. Their combined pace and skill on the ball looked a constant goal threat.
In the last play of the half, Camden doubled their lead thanks to an incredible goal from Sean Richardson. The midfielder pounced on to a clearing header from Bankstown and smashed the ball on the half volley from outside of the box, all but breaking the back of the net.
The Tigers started the second period where they left off, continuing to stretch the Bankstown back four. Within moments of kicking off, Bankstown goalkeeper Biernat was forced into a point blank save denying Jayden Russell inside the goalbox.
Bankstown showed more fight however, and started to pressure Camden’s defence where they struggled to string passes together beforehand.
In the fifty first minute, Luke Jones burst through the middle of the park and into the penalty box, but fired wide under pressure.
Moments later, Rodney Mongan burst on to a loose ball in the Camden box and volleyed powerfully, forcing goalkeeper Matthew Johnston into a crucial save.
Nevertheless, it was Camden who would score next, with another stunning long distance strike. The ball was dropped off to Dean Mugridge ten metres outside of the box, who leant into his strike and launched it into the top right corner.
Bankstown were stunned into action, and managed to crawl a goal back seven minutes later thanks to an opportunistic finish from Tom Markovski. The big striker seemed to will himself onto the scoresheet, pouncing onto a failed clearance and heading powerfully into the net.
Camden showed no signs of slowing down, scoring their fourth goal of the game in the eighty fourth minute from perhaps the best piece of football showcased all night.
A penetrating ball through the lines to Stephen Lloyd saw the physical striker flick it first time backwards to Alexander Bullow. Bullow also hit the ball first time – a perfectly weighted through ball to the feet of Dean Mugridge. Mugridge took all of his available time, slotting away his hat trick goal with superb composure.
Again, Tom Markovski gave Bankstown the smallest glimmer of hope with a late goal; smashing the ball past Johnston after being set up by good buildup play from Jovan Miladinovic.
United finished the game with ten man, after fullback Andreas Kartsioulis spectacularly left the field after breaking and then losing his boot.
The full time whistle was met by rapturous applause from Camden’s large travelling fanbase, with the Tigers going home as well deserved victors.
Camden coach Dean Bradley was delighted with his squad’s performance, believing they played exactly as they had prepared for in training.
“Our lads executed our plan as I wanted them too, they played with character and passion and ultimately gave their best effort and that’s all we all can ask for.”
“I can’t be prouder of my guys, some positional changes didn’t deter them and they always do as I ask and for that I’m grateful.”
Bradley tips his hat to Bankstown United, crediting them for an impressive debut season in the State League Men’s.
Match Stats

Bankstown United FC 2 (Markovic 77’ / 86’)
Camden Tigers FC 4 (Mugridge 16’ / 70’ / 84’, Richardson 45+2’)
Saturday, 3 September 2016

Fraser Park, Marrickville
Bankstown United FC: 27. S. Belgre, 1. A. Biernat, 19. C. Denkov, 15. K. Elborough, 66. M. Harrison, 65. K. Hayashi, 8. L. Jones, 2. A. Kartsioulis, 14. A. Lazarou, 9. T. Markovski, 24. D. Mercuri, 7. J. Miladinovic, 5. R. Mongan, 17. T. Naruse, 12. M. Pedras, 6. M. Zezovski
Yellow Cards: 9. T. Markovski, 14. A. Lazarou
Red Cards: N/A
Camden Tigers FC: 29. A. Bullow, 12. S. Doherty, 15. M. Green, 26. L. Hastie, 20. M. Johnston, 1. J. Knight, 9. S. Lloyd, 17. J. Mcphillips, 10. D. Mugridge, 14. B. Page, 5. C. Rogers, 16. J. Russell, 8. M. Serone, 31. B. Simpson, 4. S. Tomasich, 3. J. Watson.
Yellow Cards: 31. B. Simpson
Red Cards: N/A
Hurstville FC vs. SD Raiders FC: 2-0.

Hurstville FC have taken one step further towards a place in the Grand Final, defeating the SD Raiders FC in this weekend’s Preliminary Semi-Final.
A comprehensive performance from Hurstville saw them keep out a typically rampant SD Raiders, while emerging victorious thanks to goals in each half from Marko Banic.
A header in the opening period from Banic was added to by a well taken penalty kick late in the game. Meanwhile, Hurstville’s defensive unit were able to hold back in-form striker Mark Symington and league top scorer Mitchell Mclintock..
Hurstville coach Alex Prophet was satisfied with the performance, though wary of the amount of work still ahead, saying, “It was a great all round performance and a well-deserved victory.”
Hurstville will now take on Premiers St. George FA next week, with a spot in the Grand Final up for grabs. The Raiders will have to defeat Camden to keep their hopes alive.
-by Daniel Palmer, Football NSW State League Men’s Reporter