Round 3 Finals Series Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Hills Brumbies became the first team to book their place in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s Grand Final, courtesy of their closely fought win over Rydalmere Lions on Sunday afternoon.
Our feature match was at Football NSW headquarters on Saturday evening, where Sydney University continued their amazing charge in the Finals Series, ending the 2016 season for the gallant Dunbar Rovers.
Sydney University booked their place in this season’s Preliminary Final with a workmanlike 3-1 triumph over Dunbar Rovers on Saturday evening.
Suffering the same fate as the Stanmore Hawks the week before, Dunbar had lost just four games in the competition proper – two of those against Sydney University, exactly the same stats as Stanmore – and were beaten for a third time this season by the ‘students’, again, a similar outcome as that of Stanmore.
But rather than put this victory down to some mysterious powers of fate, Sydney University grabbed a strong hold of their destiny with some good old fashioned hard work and focus in an accomplished performance.
Remarkably, both sides came in to this fixture without the services of their first choice goal keepers – both Stephen Deasy (Dunbar) and Carl McMahon (Sydney Uni) missing, thrusting youngsters Ayman Hill (Dunbar) and Oliver Gibson (Sydney Uni) in to the spotlight, and both showed maturity on the night with alert performances.
Dunbar in fact had even more troops AWOL – Clive Delaney, Malcolm Miller, Rene Mrva and Sean Burke to name a few – but their squad is capable enough to accommodate the absences. Even so, on the night you simply couldn’t take anything away from Sydney University’s application.
The opening twenty minutes saw a little sparring with jabs from both sides suggesting it was going to be a cautious affair.
David Desmond got his head on the end of a Dunbar move on 7 minutes, his downward effort well diverted around the upright by Ollie Gibson in the Sydney Uni goal.
In a partnership that would feature plenty on the evening, Uni’s Scott Tonkin swivelled before playing in Domenic Di Mento in the 12th minute, the winger’s crossfield shot well saved down low by Dunbar’s keeper, Ayman Hill.
Enough of the short stuff – Dunbar skipper, Robbie Deasy, took matters in to his own hands on 17 minutes, his direct crack from 25 yards well tipped over the bar by the busy Uni keeper, Ollie Gibson.
Sydney University then snatched the lead in the 32nd minute, and it was a well-executed piece of opportunism.
Some collective pressing by the ‘students’ resulted in Johnny Gowdy pinching possession, the ball played in to Scott Tonkin in the centre of the Dunbar half.
Just like he had done minutes earlier, Tonkin turned and played in Domenic Di Mento behind the Dunbar defence. The winger pounced on the through ball, drawing Dunbar’s keeper, Ayman Hill, as he entered the penalty area, before slotting it in to the bottom corner to give Sydney University the lead.
Just three minutes later and Sydney University doubled their advantage, and again it started with a turnover of possession just inside the Dunbar half. Again it was Johnny Gowdy who put the pressure on, eventually looping a header into space behind the retreating Dunbar defence.
Scott Tonkin had plenty of work to do, and he showed predatory instincts to shrug off two challenges as he entered the box, steadying himself, before striking past Ayman Hill to make it 2-0 after 35 minutes.
Dunbar kept at it, and Robbie Deasy saw a 38th minute effort almost curl inside the right post, only for Gibson to acrobatically push the ball out for a corner.
Half time came shortly after, with everything to do for Dunbar. The Rovers were definitely making an effort, with Andrew Doddy at the centre of most of their plays, but the focus was evident from Sydney University, whose backline of Hyde-Karpes-Kardasis-Loke were proving almost impregnable.
Sydney University captain, Tommy Hyde, got the second half under way with a firm header after sixty seconds from a Gavin Wenyon corner, the ball bouncing inches wide of the left hand upright.
Dunbar’s Michael Sealy made a great run in the 50th minute in to the left channel, before hitting a low cross in to the penalty area. The ball rolled in to Robbie Deasy’s path, but he uncharacteristically stabbed wide with the goal beckoning.
Scott Tonkin then managed to wriggle free on 54 minutes as he raced towards the goal line, crossing for Rosario Occhipinti, whose glancing header was well held by Ayman Hill in the Dunbar goal.
Tonkin was at it again on 66 minutes, forcing an error from a Dunbar defender as he valiantly chased a backline passing movement, swivelling to hit a first time shot from all of 25 yards – the ball beat Ayman Hill who was off his line, but it bounced agonisingly inches wide of the right hand post.
Dunbar eventually had something to show for their efforts, and it came in the 75th minute. A corner ricocheted off a couple of players in the Sydney Uni box, and Neil O’Sullivan reacted quickest, striking home from close range to half the deficit.
Sydney University responded by bringing on Will Donato, and he almost scored with his first touch moments later.
A diagonal ball played in to the edge of the box was well controlled by Occhipinti, taking it on his chest before volleying at Tonkin, who instinctively flicked it on for Donato to run on to.
Donato’s first time angled volley had goal written all over it, but Dunbar’s Ayman Hill tipped the ball over the cross bar to keep his team in the game.
With time running out, Sydney University delivered the killer blow right on 90 minutes.
Will Donato played Scott Tonkin in to space in the left channel of the penalty area. Still working hard and full of energy, Tonkin shaped to shoot from an angle, instead showed the presence of mind to knock the ball across the face of goal towards the back stick. Domenic Di Mento was following the play like all good wingers, and he simply couldn’t miss, slamming home from a few yards to send the Uni fans into delirium.
For Dunbar Rovers, it was a disappointing way to end what has been a solid and successful showing in their first season in the NPL3.
Losing only four games all season, and acquiring the second chance courtesy of their third place finish, they were missing some key personnel during the finals series where they lost both semi’s, conceding eight goals in the process.
But they will regroup and recharge and no doubt be back next season bigger and better for this experience.
Andrew Doddy was the pick for Dunbar on the night, always looking for the leather, quick to spray passes to supporting options, and tried all night to pry open the Syd Uni defence. Michael Sealy worked hard across the midfield, whilst youngster, Ayman Hill, kept the score respectable with some fine saves between the sticks.
The journey continues for the resurgent Sydney University team. On the night they were simply too focussed for their opposition, and out-enthused Dunbar for most parts of the match. The players had faith in the game plan, they stayed structured and kept shape throughout, and as a reward, now find themselves just ninety minutes away from a Grand Final, a remarkable objective if they can reach it having finished fifth on the ladder.
Scott Tonkin was best on ground with an absolutely tireless display over the ninety minutes. Tonkin worked feverishly in the front third, putting pressure on the Dunbar defence continuously, and played a strong, target man role to good effect. Tonkin’s deserved reward was a goal and two assists. A special mention to the central defensive pairing of Josh Karpes and Peter Kardasis, who stopped everything down the centre, both equally fierce in winning their battles on the ground and in the air, and as result, restricted Dunbar’s attacks.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Finals Series
Round Two
Semi Final 1
Saturday, September 10, 2016
Referee – Samuel Grasso
Assistant Referees – Sebastian Brennan and Jack Bell
DUNBAR ROVERS 1 (O’Sullivan 75’)
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 3 (Di Mento 32’ / 90’ , Tonkin 35’)
DUNBAR ROVERS FC; 1.A.Hill, 10.R.Deasy(capt), 16.D.Desmond, 8.A.Doddy, 6.R.Ezekiel, 21.A.Green, 3.S.Liu (4.D.Deep-Jones 15’), 15.N.O’Sullivan, 12.M.Sealy 2.A.Smith,19.G.Swartz.
Substitutes Not Used – 17.D.Adamo, 7.J.Hems,18.A.Nicolosi.
Yellow Cards – 12.M.Sealy 69’, 16.D.Desmond 84’.
Red Cards – Nil
SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SFC; 41.O.Gibson, 18.D.Di Mento, 14.J.Gowdy (11.W.Donato 75’), 2.T.Hyde (capt), 13.P.Kardasis, 5.J.Karpes, 17.J.Loke, 6.D.Mifsud (4.J.Wynter 86’), 10.R.Occhipinti (15.C.Muir 80’), 9.S.Tonkin, 21.G.Wenyon.
Substitutes Not Used – 20.S.Leech, 24.V.Broehl.
Yellow Cards – 14.J.Gowdy 27’, 21.G.Wenyon 51’, 6.D.Mifsud 72’, 15.C.Muir 83’.
Red Cards – Nil
Semi Final 2
HILLS BRUMBIES SC – RYDALMERE LIONS SC
Sunday, September 11
Lilys Football Centre @ 5-00pm
Hills Brumbies became the first team into this year’s NPL3 Grand Final with a narrow 1-0 victory over Rydalmere Lions on Sunday evening.
The artificial surface at Lilys Football Centre allowed some free flowing football and attacking opportunities throughout, but both defences held fort for the majority of the match.
After a scoreless first half, Hills had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring when they were awarded a spot kick on 50 minutes.
But Brad Robertson’s penalty was well saved by Rydalmere’s keeper, Harrick Sinpraseuth, and the scoreboard remained unchanged.
But that wasn’t for long, because five minutes later Hills did manage to edge in front, and the goal came via Glen Kelshaw, after connecting with a cross and firing past Sinpraseuth.
Try as they may, Rydalmere threw everything at Hills in a frantic final quarter of an hour, but they couldn’t draw an equaliser, and will now take on Sydney University in next week’s Preliminary Final – Hills Brumbies will be waiting in the Grand Final for the winner.
