Round 3 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The incessant rain simply hasn’t gone away and played havoc with Round Three of the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition.
Rydalmere Lions haven’t seen the football since the opening day of the season given their second successive postponement on Saturday night when they were due to meet the high flying Inter Lions.
Both of Sunday’s fixtures were postponed as early as Friday, with the Gladesville Ryde Magic – Granville Rage and Balmain Tigers – Hawkesbury City games washed out, and now needing a midweek rescheduling.
Remarkably, the Dulwich Hill – St George City FA clash, at the synthetic Arlington Oval, was also postponed, abandoned in fact, following floodlight failure after approximately 10 minutes of play with the match still scoreless.
Of the three matches that were in fact completed, Western NSW Mariners had their second victory in four days after their midweek Westfield FFA Cup triumph, this time beating Stanmore Hawks 2-1 in Bathurst, whilst Sydney University defeated SD Raiders in what ended up being a five goal thriller at the University Football Ground.
Football NSW travelled to Marrickville on Saturday night to see the Fraser Park – Dunbar Rovers match unfold.
Match of the Round
Fraser Park v Dunbar Rovers
Fraser Park recovered from being a man down early on, and a goal down at the break, to break the hearts of the travelling Dunbar Rovers contingent with a last gasp 2-1 victory in front of their own fans on Saturday night at Fraser Park.
Both sides were backing up after midweek thumping’s over local Association sides in Round Three of the Westfield FFA Cup. Fraser Park knocked over Randwick City to the tune of 5-0, whilst Dunbar Rovers defeated Banksia Tigers 5-1, giving both teams the perfect leg stretch coming in to this eagerly awaited clash.
Fraser Park came in to the match keen to make it three from three after winning both of their opening two matches of the campaign, but it was Dunbar who started the better.
With just 45 seconds gone on the clock, Dunbar midfielder, Ryan Shaughnessy, retrieved the ball some 20 yards from goal, and tried to catch out Fraser keeper, Anthony Costa, with a delightful chip, but the ball cleared the crossbar.
Shaughnessy was at it again on 8 minutes, effecting a slick ‘give and go’ with Tod Bamber before firing an angled shot in to the arms of Costa, who got down well to hold the leather.
Controversy reigned in the 11th minute, when Fraser Park were reduced to 10 men. Dunbar skipper, Paul Rawlings, fouled Fraser striker, Ben Vidaic, when both were contesting the high ball on the edge of the area. Vidaic was adjudged to have been the instigator when the two players clashed on the turf, and referee, Mr Adam Weir, sent Vidaic for an early shower.
Fraser Park reverted to a 4-4-1 formation, with Nathan Samson taking pole position at the front of the attack, as they tried to avert conceding a goal.
But that’s exactly what happened, with Dunbar taking the lead on 20 minutes, much to the delight of the travelling fans.
Receiving a ball inside his own half, Dunbar’s Ryan Shaughnessy played a delightful cross field pass with his left boot, sweeping the ball in behind the retrieving Fraser Park defence. Left midfielder, Hayden O’Kelly, anticipated the play, shrugging off a challenge before latching on to the ball, and driving a low shot inside the near post to give Dunbar the lead.
Fraser Park responded just four minutes later, when Nathan Sansom headed in a perfect cross from the right by Musashi Kokubu, but the referee’s assistant had raised his flag for offside.
Fraser kept at it, and went close with two attempts on 34 minutes. Jordan Roberts let fly with a shot after a cross was cleared to him on the edge of the box, but the ball was deflected just wide for a corner. Kokubu headed the ensuing corner over the cross bar when he probably should’ve done better from right in front.
Jordan Roberts then went close with another effort in the 39th minute, racing the length of the half pitch and holding off Dunbar defender, Dylan Deep-Jones, before lashing his angled shot at the goal. Dunbar keeper, Ayman Hill, was equal to the task, diverting the ball away from goal.
The half time whistle blew shortly afterwards, with the visitors in the box seat, having a numerical advantage, both on the park and on the scoreboard.
The way the second half started to unfold was predictable – Fraser simply had to push men forward to get something out of the match, whilst being cautious not to concede a second killer goal. Dunbar had to be tight and structured defensively, and were content to try and catch Fraser on the counter attack.
Dunbar’s David Adamo had a great chance to double his side’s advantage on 49 minutes with his first touch after coming on as a substitute, but he got his angles all wrong for a miscued header after a dangerous cross from Shaughnessy.
The turning point of the match arrived in the 59th minute, and it involved three equally brilliant pieces of play.
Dunbar broke swiftly on a counter attack, with Ryan Shaughnessy carrying the ball down the middle. As Tod Bamber peeled off to the right, Shaughnessy dinked a delightful lob in to the path of his team mate, and Bamber responded with an expertly hit right footed volley, the downward shot heading for the far inside side netting.
Fraser Park custodian, Anthony Costa, was ever alert, and flung himself to his right to finger-tip the ball out for a corner. 2-0 and no doubt it would’ve been game over.
Fraser Park went three at the back in a valiant effort to save something from the encounter, and pushed men forward in to the attacking third, resorting at times to the long ball tactic.
And this is exactly how Fraser Park drew level in the 82nd minute. A long ball by Fraser keeper, Anthony Costa, caused confusion amongst the Dunbar backline just outside their own penalty area, and substitute, Tai Smith, seized on the loose ball, thrashing home a volley from inside the box to make it 1-1.
Now they were level, Fraser Park became greedy and were not content with a solitary point, throwing caution to the wind one last time in time added on to maximum effect.
A diagonal ball towards the edge of the penalty area was flicked on by Nathan Sansom, and collected by Peter Crevani out on the left, and he sent over a perfectly weighted cross towards the back stick.
Nothing was going to stop Tai Smith getting there, and the substitute striker powered a header past Dunbar keeper, Ayman Hill, to grab a last gasp winner, before running off to celebrate in the corner with jubilant team mates and fans alike.
Dunbar incredibly almost quietened the gallery a minute later when a Tod Bamber header looped over Anthony Costa in the Fraser goal, but alas for the visitors, the ball cleared the cross bar by a matter of centimetres.
With that heart stopping last play, the full-time whistle shrieked, much to the delight of the home faithful who had never given up hope of a last gasp win.
It was gut-wrenching for Dunbar Rovers, to walk away without as much as a point given their effort on the night. A second goal almost came and would’ve gone a long way to closing off proceedings, but it never eventuated, and the door was left ajar for a late Fraser Park revival.
Ryan Shaughnessy was best on ground, especially during a dominant first half display. He showed all the technique and creativity of the number 10 he wore on his back, assisted in his team’s goal, and was the go to man whenever Dunbar attacked. Tod Bamber played to his job description of a tough centre forward, holding the ball up effectively and playing in his team mates in the front third, whilst Paul Rawlings did well for most of the match to marshal his backline against the predicted Fraser onslaught.
There was plenty for Fraser Park to be happy about on the night, despite not playing to their best. Playing eighty minutes with a man down, and being a goal behind at half time, they needed to show persistence and determination to get back in this game. The players had belief in the coach’s strategic changes, and that belief was rewarded with a win that was accomplished in the final seconds.
It is hard to go against the impact Tai Smith made after his entry into the fray at the beginning of the second half. Smith showed composure as he made himself available and held up the ball for his team mates, and was a menace every time he touched the ball. He was in the right place at the right time to chase down and score the equaliser, and burst a lung as he strived towards meeting a far post cross to grab the winner. Captain, Nick Dimitropoulos, led by example, both with his fierce tackles, as well as his words, constantly barking motivation to his team mates, whilst keeper, Anthony Costa, was sound throughout, pulling off a game saving stop from Bamber, and then assisting in his team’s equaliser.
Match Stats
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round 3
Saturday, March 25, 2017
FRASER PARK 2 (Smith 82’ / 90’ + 2’)
DUNBAR ROVERS 1 (O’Kelly 20’)
Fraser Park, Marrickville
Referee – Adam Weir
Assistant Referees – Soheil Adabjon and Jarryd McFarlane
FRASER PARK: 21.A.Costa, 18.F.Aoun (20.S.Salameh 69’), 4.P.Crevani, 5.N.Dimitropoulos (capt), 6.M.Kokubo, 9.A.Euripidou, 16.D.Marjanovic (11.T.Smith 46’), 3.J.Roberts, 17.N.Sansom, 10.J.Simpson (14.H.Hanashima 63’), 13.B.Vidaic.
Substitutes Not Used – 1.C.Becerra, 15.M.Houdek.
Yellow Cards – Nil
Red Cards – 13.B.Vidaic 10’.
DUNBAR ROVERS: 21.A.Hill, 7.T.Bamber, 18.D.Deep-Jones (4.D.Adamo 48’), 22.R.Gabey, 2.B.Karpin, 9.A.Nicolosi (19.M.Dubdub 84’), 6.H.O’Kelly, 5.P.Rawlings (capt), 8.G.Swartz, 10.R.Shaughnessy,12.H.Silva Neto (16.S.Philby 28’).
Substitutes Not Used – 1.D.Wilson, 23.L.Kita.
Yellow Cards – 18.D.Deep-Jones 37’, 7.T.Bamber 55’, 9.A.Nicolosi 74’
Red Cards – Nil
Western NSW Mariners – Stanmore Hawks 2-1
Western NSW Mariners belted out their team winning song for the second time in four days when they accounted for Stanmore Hawks on Saturday night in Bathurst.
The first half was a tight affair, both defences holding fort and not too many opportunities at either end.
But all that changed early in the second half when Mariners’ striker, Nathan Davis, was fouled inside the box and the home side were awarded a penalty.
Matthew Hobby took on the responsibility, and had to take the spot kick twice, scoring on both occasions after a team mate had encroached during the initial penalty.
Midway through the half it was 2-0, and it was yet another set piece. Jaiden Culbert curled a free kick over the Stanmore defensive wall and in to the net to send the home fans into raptures.
Stanmore predictably came home with a wet sail, throwing men forward to salvage something from the match, and were rewarded when Chris Lynch struck with a quarter of an hour remaining.
Stanmore substitute, Peter Theodosi, then almost grabbed an equaliser for the visitors, cutting inside from the flank before unleashing a rocket which rattled the Mariners’ crossbar, but that was all she wrote, and the Mariners climb to fifth on the competition ladder courtesy of their first league win of 2017.
Sydney University – SD Raiders 3-2
Sydney University and SD Raiders put on a great show at the Sydney University Football Ground on Saturday night, with the ‘students’ prevailing by the odd goal in five in what was a tale of two halves.
Sydney University had lost their opening game of the season, and had been dumped out of the Westfield FFA Cup midweek, so something had to give, and coach, Andrew Prentice, had his troops well and truly charged for this one given the way they came out in the first stanza.
Sydney University made it 1-0 on 15 minutes when Raiders goal keeper, Tomi Romic, only managed to parry an initial shot, and young Matt Akehurst reacted quickest to slam home the opener.
Sydney University continued to press forward and it was soon 2-0 midway through the half.
Domenic Di Mento and Ninos Eshow combined on the right flank to set up Akehurst for his and his side’s second with a smart low finish.
Just as both teams were preparing for the half time break, the ‘students’ grabbed their third, and ultimately, winning goal of the night.
After missing a season out through injury, Sydney University are pleased to have the hard working Jacob Di Mento back in their midfield, and it was he who swung over a teasing free kick right on half time. Daniel Mifsud timed his run to perfection to nod his header past Romic, the Raiders’ keeper, and send the home side in to the sheds three goals to the good.
Just like they did on the opening day when they demolished Balmain, the SD Raiders came out of the half time sheds full of vigour and purpose.
They reduced the deficit on the hour when a Danny Martinez free kick was met by Mitsuki Nakada, and his header crept past Carl McMahon, the Sydney University keeper, to make it 1-3.
SD Raiders’ diminutive winger, Mark Symington, then set the cat amongst the pigeons shortly afterwards, jinking past two defenders before unleashing a spectacular drive in to the far left corner of the net for 2-3.
Sydney University however almost put the game beyond reach not once, but twice, with both Eshow and Akehurst striking the woodwork, but there were no more changes to the scoreboard, and the ‘students’ welcomed their first victory of the 2017 campaign.
Dulwich Hill – St George City FA – ABANDONED (FLOODLIGHT FAILURE)
Rydalmere Lions – Inter Lions – WASHED OUT
Gladesville Ryde Magic – Granville Rage – WASHED OUT
Balmain Tigers – Hawkesbury City – WASHED OUT
