Round 10 Review – State League Men’s
The boys at the top flex their muscle as the race for the finals heats up.
UNSW (4) vs Camden Tigers (1)
The game began in explosive fashion as each side tried to assert early dominance. UNSW, buoyed by their six-match winning streak, looked to settle into their passing rhythm while Camden’s tigerish press sought to disrupt them.
Fans barely had time to nestle into their seats however, before Camden opened the scoring in the 3rd min.
A free kick, taken deep inside UNSW’s defensive half, was won in the air by Camden. The clearing header fell into the path of Nicholas Mugridge who looked up and saw the Red Sea of UNSW’s defence, part before him. He showed electrifying pace to slice through the gap and keep his composure to finish low into the corner of the goals.
The match continued at a blistering pace, as both teams fought doggedly for every loose ball.
The second half began with as much fireworks as the first.
After just three minutes, Stephen Lloyd, Camden’s ferocious striker, collided innocuously with a UNSW midfielder. The referee marched over, brandishing Lloyd his second yellow of the game and reducing Camden to 10-men.
UNSW wasted no time in making their numerical advantage count, as Nima Beik delivered a delightful cross in behind the Camden defence which found Luiz Lobo ghosting in at the back post. Lobo did his last name proud with a luscious lob over the keeper – a spectacular chip with a touch of salsa.
Camden rallied and almost restored their lead when the competition’s leading scorer, Jayden Russell, out-muscled UNSW captain Lenox Tweneboa, to win the ball on the by-line and then laid a pass into the path of Nicholas Mugridge who could only fire over.
However on 72mins, it was UNSW, who would take the lead.
Dylan Penglase, chasing after a chipped through-ball in behind the Camden defence, showed terrific skill to control on his chest and fizz a shot low to the keeper’s right. Unable to hold the shot, the keeper’s parry fell invitingly at the feet of Ilan Kessler who tapped home.
It was that man, Kessler, again just two minutes later. Swivelling on a dime, he rolled the ball out of his feet and struck a vicious shot from 30yards out which soared into the roof of the net. Take a bow, son.
The final nail in the Camden coffin was delivered late into injury time when substitute Luke Petterson scored with nearly his first touch of the ball. Peter Liaskos showed brilliant athleticism to burst down the right flank, scamper into the box, and tickle the ball into the path of Petterson who had the easiest of finishes.
Despite a seventh win on the trot, UNSW coach Gabe Knowles refused to get carried away, “We’re confident in where we’re headed, but there’s still a long way to go”.
For Dean Bradley and his Camden side, it was a night of frustration. “I’m disappointed with the result. We have more than enough quality to get the job done and didn’t do ourselves justice out there”.
Overall an enthralling game, wetting our appetites for a possible rematch in this season’s finals.
Match Stats
UNSW – 4 (Luiz Lobo, Ilan Kessler x2, Luke Petterson)
Camden Tigers – 1 (Nicholas Mugridge)
Valentine Sports Park, Sunday June 18
UNSW: N. Beik, J. Birkeland, J. Chahal, J. Daza, I. Kessler, M. Lalik, P. Liaskos, L. Lobo, N. Morabito, G. Penfold, D. Penglase, L. Petterson, G. Singh, L. Tweneboa, S. Wrublewski.
Camden Tigers: C. Cevenini, M. Clarke, S. Doherty, M. Green, L. Hastie, R. Hastie, M. Johnston, S. Lloyd, D. Mugridge, N. Mugridge, B. Page, C. Rogers, J. Russell, M. Serone, B. Simpson, B. Szumski
Wagga City Wanderers (2) vs Western Condors FC (1)
Without a win at home all season, the Wagga faithful gathered in numbers on Saturday afternoon, hoping their side would be able to shake one very large monkey off their collective backs.
For Western Condors, their season is quickly slipping away, after three straight defeats has anchored them to the bottom half of the table.
With the competition’s two worst defences coming together, the first goal arrived in unsurprising fashion. A defensive error from the Western Condors backline allowed Lachlan Davis to pounce, converting calmly in the 35th min.
Buoyed by the opening goal, Wagga City continued to move the ball with speed and purpose, treating the fans at Gissing Oval to some delightful football.
For all their promise in attack, Wagga City have been plagued by defensive mistakes this season. And another error in the 65th min gave Western Condors a lifeline in the match.
With the scores locked at 1-1, both sides pushed hard for a winner. However, with the clock winding down, it seemed as though Western Condors would deny Wagga City their first home win of the season.
But in the 89th minute, Lachlan Davis, spurred on by the roar of the home fans, picked up the ball and darted towards goal. An inch-perfect cross found the on-rushing Jake Ploenges, who kept his composure to blast the ball into the back of the net. The Wagga faithful erupted.
Wagga City coach, Ben Schmid, believed his side’s late goal was well deserved for their effort and endeavour in the match.
Celebrations continued long into the night as Wagga City claimed victory in all three grades, potentially resurrecting life into the club’s season.
For Western Condors, a week of soul-searching awaits after their fourth defeat in a row has left their season hanging by a thread.
Nepean FC (3) vs Prospect United (1)
After an impressive victory against Hurstville FC in Round 9, Prospect travelled to Nepean on Saturday night, eyeing off the mountain men’s top four spot.
And the in-form Prospect side struck early, Thomas Kasunic showing great leadership to finish coolly – a true captain’s goal.
It was a lead Prospect would take into half time, as Nepean struggled to find the quality in their play which has seen them rise to second on the table.
Shortly after the break, Nepean would find their way back into the game, courtesy of a controversial penalty decision, after the referee had deemed a Prospect player to have handled the ball.
Frustrated by the referee’s decision, Prospect lost their focus and defensive shape after the goal, while Nepean surged.
They capitalised on this shift in momentum, adding two quick-fire goals within the next 10 minutes.
Leading 3-1 and spurred on by superb home support from the Nepean Shed Crew, Magdy Andrawes’s side closed out the match expertly, demonstrating the qualities that have led many to label them as genuine championship contenders for 2017.
Darren Camilleri was left frustrated by key decisions that went against his team, but ultimately acknowledged his side needs to compete more consistently in games if they are to play finals football this season.
Hurstville FC (0) vs Bankstown United (2)
Sitting just outside the top four, Hurstville FC were hoping to do the double over Bankstown United this season, after their 3-0 victory in Round 1.
For Bankstown, it was all about revenge and solidifying their spot at the top of the competition table.
And it was Bankstown who struck first, a superbly taken free kick from Andreas Kartsioulis inside the first half-hour. The game was marred in just the 30th minute however, when Paul Gagro was shown a straight red card.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Hurstville showed tremendous resilience, coming close with several chances of their own.
Hurstville hearts were broken late in the second half, as they pushed for an equaliser, when Bankstown’s Tommy Markovski scored his side’s second of the game and secured another three points for United.
Jack Bulic praised his side’s effort but highlighted the importance of responding with three points next week if his side are going to play finals football this season.
For Bankstown coach Claudio Canosa, it was another pleasingly professional performance in what has become a trademark of his team recently.
Hurstville City Minotaurs (4) vs FC Gazy Auburn (1)
Two sides that have tasted defeat too often this season yearned to fill their bellies with three important points in this match.
It was the Minotaurs who roared out of the gate, racing away to a 3-0 lead after just 28 minutes. New recruit, Dimitri Zakilas opened the scoring in the 10th minute, before Dom Dom and Kush added Minoaturs’ second and third of the game.
FC Gazy were rattled, yet managed to re-group after half time, finding their first goal of the match mid-way through the second half.
Any chance of a Gazy comeback was snuffed out late in the game, when Dom Dom grabbed his second and his side’s fourth goal in the 88th minute.
A crucial win for the Minotaurs, which sees their finals’ hopes stay alive.
Frustratingly it’s back to the drawing board for FC Gazy coach Ernesto Meduri who was disappointed his side couldn’t build on their victory last round.
-By Ryan Latty
