Round 15 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Whilst the top two teams in the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition continue to win, and win well at that, the inconsistency of the teams below them make for a very congested league ladder.
Granville Rage returned with all three points from their road trip to Bathurst with a narrow 1-0 win against the Western NSW Mariners; Stanmore Hawks’ previously tight defence was made to look pedestrian as Fraser Park romped to a 5-0 win at home on Saturday night; Rydalmere Lions continue to score at will, grabbing half a dozen goals against Sydney University to remain top of the ladder; SD Raiders scored very late to beat St George City FA at Ernie Smith Reserve; Dulwich Hill moved to third spot on the ladder with a 2-0 triumph over Balmain Tigers at Arlington Oval; whilst Gladesville Ryde Magic continued their surge up the ladder with a 2-1 triumph over Inter Lions on Sunday afternoon.
Football NSW sat in amongst the vocal locals at David Bertenshaw Field on Saturday afternoon to watch Hawkesbury City and Dunbar Rovers do battle.
HAWKESBURY CITY – DUNBAR ROVERS 2-1
Hawkesbury City produced a workmanlike performance to snare all three points in a 2-1 victory over a gallant Dunbar Rovers on Saturday night, moving in to 5th spot on the ladder as a result.
The Hawks netted twice during the opening 45 minutes – against the run of play for much of the half, it must be said – before holding fort in the second half to take home the chocolates.
Dunbar Rovers came in to the match knowing that a win was critical if they were to remain within distance of a finals position, but were missing Tod Bamber, and boy, the big number nine would’ve been very useful the way the Rovers started the match.
Dunbar made an inroad as early as the opening minute, when a run down the left wing and subsequent far post cross by Hayden O’Kelly was met by Brad Karpin, whose header was grasped in mid air by Hawks’ keeper, Daniel Schwarzer.
Andrew Doddy then tested Schwarzer on five minutes with a well-executed free kick, but the Hawks’ custodian was equal to the task, diverting the danger with a good save to his left.
The Rovers kept at it and it was Ryan Shaughnessy’s turn in the 8th minute, the Dunbar number 10 cutting on to his left before hitting a swerving shot towards the far post that cleared the Hawkesbury cross bar.
Dunbar were using their wing backs to good effect in the first half, with Neil O’Sullivan and Dylan Deep-Jones getting up in support of their attack, swinging over some telling crosses to put the home side under the pump.
Karpin and Deep-Jones combined in the 9th minute to create a great opportunity for Dunbar, with Deep-Jones’ cross causing panic in the Hawks penalty area. New signing, Micaiah Te Rata, swivelled on the loose ball and hit a half volley over the bar from close range as Dunbar continued to press in numbers.
After weathering those opening furious blows from Dunbar, Hawkesbury had their first real opportunity in the 12th minute, when Muhammed Adil connected first time with a ball across the edge of the box, only to see the shot drizzle low past the post.
As is often the case in football, one team attacks for a period of time with nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, whilst the opposition goes down the other end and opens the scoring. Hawkesbury’s Muhammed Adil swung over a near post corner in the 17th minute which Dunbar failed to clear, and defender, Kyle Walker, swooped on the opportunity, slamming home from close range to the give the local fans something to cheer about.
Hawkesbury’s top scorer, Santiago Pallares Palomeque, had at this point been buzzing around in the attacking third without too much effect, but one could sense he would only need a half chance to make the opposition pay. On 26 minutes, in fact, Pallares Palomeque took a great pass on his chest on the edge of the box, turning and volleying wide all in the one movement as he started to find his range.
Dunbar then came incredibly close to scoring in the 40th minute with yet another sweeping move down the flank. Dylan Deep-Jones receive a great through ball down the line from Brad Karpin, before delivering a vicious cross that was met superbly on the run at the near post by Micaiah Te Rata.
Te Rata side footed first time towards the back stick, but Daniel Scwarzer showed why he is one the best goal keepers in the league, flinging himself to his right to divert the shot on to the upright before it was cleared.
The scoreboard could easily have shown 1-1, but instead it became 2-0 within minutes when Hawkesbury City went down the other end to extend their lead just before half time.
Santiago Pallares Palomeque flicked on a long throw, before receiving a delightful return pass from Michael Noro – who was introduced minutes earlier at the expense of the injured Muhammed Adil – via a neat backheel.
You simply cannot give Pallares Palomeque that much room inside the penalty area, and the silky striker took a touch before stroking past Dunbar keeper, Stephen Deasy, from close range, to make it 2-0.
Both teams retrieved to the dressing rooms for a well-earned breather, with Dunbar feeling a little aggrieved at being 0-2 down given their forward forays.
Hawkesbury seemed intent to sit back after the break and soak up whatever Dunbar Rovers had to throw at them.
As a result, much of the half was played between the halfway line and the Hawkesbury penalty area, with the home side defending stoutly and keeping their keeper, Daniel Schwarzer, without much to do.
Mark Noro had given the Hawks some additional bite in the midfield since his entry, and he almost extended his team’s lead with a cheeky lob from all of 35 yards in the 53rd minute. Santiago Pallares Palomeque had forced the ball loose by pressing the Dunbar defence, and Noro spotted Dunbar keeper, Stephen Deasy, off his line as he tried the spectacular, but alas, the ball bounced inches wide.
Kosta Zarafetas then had the chance to wrap up the match in the 73rd minute for Hawkesbury, doing well to force an error and pinch the ball on the edge of the Dunbar penalty area. Alas, Stephen Deasy saved well in a one-on-one from Zarafetas’ close range effort.
Dunbar put the cat amongst the pigeons on 74 minutes when they finally got a reward for their efforts by pulling a goal back.
Hayden O’Kelly ran in to the right channel of the penalty box, before whipping over an early cross that caught everyone out. Everyone, that is, except team mate, Micaiah Te Rata, who thumped home a close range header to make it 1-2, giving the visitors some added incentive to keep at it.
But try as they may, Dunbar simply couldn’t penetrate the resolute Hawkesbury backline, and the hosts were rewarded with a narrow but valuable three points.
Hawkesbury midfielder, Prasheel Sharma, worked tirelessly in the midfield, restricting the space afforded to Dunbar’s clever midfielders, Andrew Doddy and Ryan Shaughnessy.
Sharma reflected on his team’s work rate on the night.
“Coming up against a quality side, I think we got away with the win because everyone worked very, very hard, especially our defence, but even our attack, which made them feel like they were always under pressure,” said Sharma.
“We sat back a little more in the second half to make sure we had the numbers to stop them coming through the gaps,” he added.
When quizzed about this being the year that Hawkesbury City could make the finals, Sharma responded with; “We are working hard every week, focussing on doing our bit for that particular game, and not looking too far ahead…..but I think we have a good chance.”
Mark Noro added some support to Sharma in the hard working midfield once he entered just before half time, whilst Terry Pannowitz was his usual industrious self, cleaning up all the scraps in a solid defensive midfield display.
Dunbar’s Ryan Shaughnessy was despondent in the visitors dressing room following the loss.
“I thought we dominated for large periods of the game, just silly mistakes let us down,” said Shaughnessy.
“We just couldn’t put the ball away early on, and really missed Tod Bamber, our big target man, but our final ball also let us down tonight.”
“We are a new team, every week getting to know each other more, but we are still aiming for finals football,” concluded Shaughnessy.
Rocci Gabey was strong and vocal as a central defender with presence, whilst Dylan Deep-Jones and Neil O’Sullivan were great as wing backs, adding support with some telling runs down the flanks, with Deep-Jones especially effective off the back of Brad Karpin on the right.
The loss sees Dunbar Rovers remain in 10th position on 15 points, whilst the victory and three points sees Hawkesbury City climb to 22 points, and they are now sitting in 5th spot, holding a game in hand over most teams around them on the ladder.
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Fifteen
Saturday, June 17, 2017
HAWKESBURY CITY 2 (Walker 17’, Pallares Palomeque 43’)
DUNBAR ROVERS 1 (Te Rata 74’)
David Bertenshaw Field, Richmond
Referee – Cameron Lee
Assistant Referees – James Barnes and Samuel Quinn
HAWKESBURY CITY;1.D.Schwarzer (capt), 15.D.Bourke, 18.J.Ekehov, 14.C.El-Hayek, 7.J.Mawein, 10.S.Pallares Palomeque (9.M.Mccrory 58’), 6.P.Sharma, 3.K.Walker, 5.K.Zarafetas (16.R.Cormack 81’), 11.T.Pannowitz, 90.M.Adil (8.M.Noro 38’).
Substitutes Not Used – 20.C.Morley.
Yellow Cards – Nil
Red Cards – Nil
DUNBAR ROVERS; 1.S.Deasy, 18.D.Deep-Jones, 3.A.Doddy (capt), 22.R.Gabey (9.A.Nolan 90’), 2.B.Karpin, 6.H.O’Kelly, 13.N.O’Sullivan, 10.R.Shaughnessy, 12.H.Silva Neto, 8.G.Swartz, 14.M.Te Rata (17.A.Yasin 85’).
Substitutes Not Used – 24.J.Green, 23.D.Watson, 111.D.Wilson,
Yellow Cards – 13.N.O’Sullivan 90’ + 1’.
Red Cards – Nil
Western NSW Mariners – Granville Rage 0-1
Granville Rage made sure it would be a happy trip home from Bathurst when they held on to beat the Western NSW Mariners 1-0 in a tight affair at Proctor Park late on Saturday afternoon.
Troy Cheung was the hero for Rage, striking home on 28 minutes to give Granville the lead, a lead they would hold on to for the remainder of the match.
The Mariners remain in penultimate spot on the ladder on 9 points and are now six points adrift of a few teams above them – including Granville Rage – who are all on 15 points.
Dulwich Hill – Balmain Tigers 2-0
Dulwich Hill moved ominously into third position in the Playstation NPL 3 competition ladder courtesy of the three points and 2-0 win over Balmain Tigers at Arlington Oval on Saturday night.
Sean Burke gave Dully the lead on 21 minutes with a shot from outside the penalty area, and Luke Giverin wrapped up proceedings in the final minutes, converting a swift counterattack with most of the Balmain upfield searching for the equaliser.
The win and subsequent three points lifts Dulwich Hill over St George City and in to 3rd spot, now sitting on 25 points on the ladder.
SD Raiders – St George City FA 1-0
SD Raiders won a tight affair at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday night, squeezing past St George City FA 1-0 to pick up a valuable three points.
Raiders have had a dry spell of late, picking up a solitary point from their past four matches, but were resolute this week to return to the winner’s circle.
The winning goal came in the 83rd minute, with Dylan Stivala finding Mitchell Mclintock with a defence splitting pass, and Mclintock cracked home off the upright to give the home side the spoils.
The loss sees St George City remain on 24 points but drop to 4th spot, whilst SD Raiders move in to 7th position on 20 points.
Fraser Park – Stanmore Hawks 5-0
Fraser Park made light work of Stanmore Hawks on Saturday night, winning 5-0 in a canter to keep the pressure on Rydalmere Lions at the top of the Playstation NPL 3 competition.
Having lost players of the calibre of both Tai Smith and Nathan Sansom in recent weeks would’ve affected most clubs, but Fraser Park have regrouped immediately, with the depth of the squad evident in their continuing strong showings.
New signing, Goncalo Paradanta, opened up proceedings on 18 minutes, cutting inside to unleash a fierce effort that cannoned in off the cross bar.
It was 2-0 shortly afterwards, when Stanmore keeper, Matthew Mckenzie, could only parry a Chris Hatfield effort, with Peter Crevani tapping home to extend the advantage.
Fraser made it 3-0 on 62 minutes when Musashi Kokubo headed into the top corner following a Paradanta corner, and it was 4-0 two minutes later, with Peter Crevani slotting home from close range following some great lead up work by Ben Vidaic.
Vidaic had been threatening all night and grabbed his just rewards in the 75th minute, heading from a Peter Crevani corner to make it 5-0.
A disappointing night for Stanmore Hawks, who slip to 9th spot, whilst Fraser Park move to 38 points in 2nd position, just two points behind Rydalmere Lions, with a game in hand on their rivals.
Rydalmere Lions – Sydney University 6-1
The Rydalmere Lions juggernaut was on show once again at Rydalmere Park on Saturday night, with the Lions taking Sydney University to the cleaners, courtesy of a 6-1 drubbing.
The Lions lead 2-0 at the break, before running away with it in the second period and finishing with half a dozen goals, taking their season tally to 61.
Amaury Gauthier managed a hatrick in a clinical display, taking his tally for the campaign to an impressive 22 goals from 13 matches. Ahmad Elrich continued his rich vein of form, netting a brace to take him up to 9 goals for the season, whilst Zak Elrich scored the other goal for the Lions.
Sydney University’s lone goalscorer was Matthew Akehurst, but it was too little too late.
The loss sees the ‘students’ drop to 8th on the ladder on 20 points, whilst the win and three points takes Rydalmere Lions on to 40 points, two points ahead of Fraser Park on the Playstation NPL 3 competition ladder.
Gladesville Ryde Magic – Inter Lions 2-1
Gladesville Ryde Magic kept up their positive form of late with a 2-1 victory over Inter Lions on a cold Sunday afternoon at Magdala Park.
Magic came in to the clash without Heo Wookbum and Lachlan Harte due to injury, but granted a debut to ex-Stanmore Hawks central defender, Sergio Tarazona, who transferred during the week from Playstation NPL 2 side, Bankstown City Lions.
Inter Lions had the better of play in the early stages, hitting the upright with an 8th minute free kick, before Lachlan Wright cleared the cross bar in the 12th minute with a swerving left foot strike.
Majid Eslami responded for Gladesville in the 14th minute, racing down the left flank, before cutting inside and hitting a shot straight at the Inter keeper.
Lachlan Wright then went close again on 34 minutes for Inter, receiving a return pass from Clayton Musumeci before shooting wide of the mark.
Gladesville skipper, Chris Gaitatzis, replied in the 37th minute, shooting inches over the cross bar from 20 metres out.
But Gaitatzis was not to be denied, and he found the net in the 56th minute, striking home with his left foot from inside the penalty area after good lead up play by Majid Eslami.
Eslami went one better in the 65th minute, netting from close range after a great run and cross by Peter Voukidis, extending Gladesville’s lead to 2-0.
Inter Lions skipper, Lachlan Wright, reduced the deficit on 73 minutes with a superb left foot strike from 25 yards, and all of a sudden it was game on.
With merely two minutes remaining, the referee awarded a penalty to Inter Lions, and Lachlan Wright stepped up to take it, however, Gladesville Ryde Magic’s custodian, Kyriakos Tohouroglou, came to the home side’s rescue, diving to his left to divert the ball on to the upright before it was cleared.
The home fans were jubilant at the final whistle, with Gladesville Ryde Magic winning 2-1 to take the three points, climbing to 21 points and 6th position on the ladder.
