Round 17 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
With temperatures dropping to single figures in some parts of NSW, an abundance of goals meant the fans had plenty to cheer about and stay warm during the completion of Round Seventeen in the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition.
Dunbar Rovers were victorious in their match at Bathurst, overcoming a plucky Western NSW Mariners 3-1 with a couple of Andrew Doddy specials; Rydalmere Lions accounted for Granville Rage 2-0 at Valentine Sports Park No.3; Dulwich Hill and Sydney University both continued their recent form with Dully prevailing 5-2 at Arlington Oval, with a Luke Giverin hatrick complementing Tommy Bentham’s brace; Fraser Park kept up their relentless form of late by dismantling Hawkesbury City 6-0 with Peter Crevani scoring twice ; Gladesville Ryde Magic defeated Stanmore Hawks 5-0 at Magdala Park on Sunday, with Peter Voukidis and Heo Wookbum helping themselves to two goals each; St George City overcame a stubborn Balmain Tigers 2-0 in the late Sunday night game at Leichhardt Oval’.
Match of the Round
SD Raiders v Inter Lions
Football NSW spent the evening rugged up amongst the fans at the bitterly cold Ernie Smith Reserve to watch the SD Raiders entertain Inter Lions.
SD Raiders kept at it and eventually broke through an Inter Lions resistance that lasted the entire first half, scoring four unanswered second half goals to win 4-0 on a bitterly cold Saturday evening at Ernie Smith Reserve.
The fans that braved the freezing conditions were treated to a clinical second half display by the Raiders, although the first half was evenly matched, with both sides locked in an arm wrestle that produced chances at either end.
Raiders’ Daniel Bittar was a menace all evening on the right flank for the Inter defence, and he set up Mitchell Mclintock in the 7th minute with a short diagonal ball behind the Inter backline, but Mclintock’s shot was blocked by some desperate Inter defending.
Inter’s Daniel Fogarty then raced down the middle in the 16th minute before slipping a pass in to a gap for Dario Villante to strike from the edge of the box, but Raiders’ goalkeeper, Jair Fernandez, was equal to the task.
The Raiders squirmed a great opportunity on 20 minutes, with John Fahmi’s touch letting him down right in front of goal after Joseph Mensah had whipped over a delicious cross.
The Raiders kept probing and Mark Symington should’ve done better in the 27th minute, the striker skying his angled effort when Daniel Bittar squeezed him into space in the left channel with a super pass.
Inter Lions responded on the half hour, when Matthew Castelnuovo attempted a half scissors kick from a Christian Soares corner, but the ball flew over the Raiders’ cross bar.
Daniel Fogarty went close in the 35th minute when a half clearance from the Raiders reached him a few metres outside the penalty area, but Fogarty’s low drive took a slight deflection as it whizzed past the upright.
The final chance of the opening period fell to Daniel Bittar in the 38th minute, but his header from close range flashed past the Inter upright following yet another great cross from the right by Joseph Mensah.
The intensity of the first half was there for all to see, with the referee dishing out five yellow cards as both teams fought hard to grab the ascendancy over their opponents.
The Raiders finally grabbed the breakthrough they so desperately wanted, edging themselves in front on 51 minutes.
Raiders’ left back, Lucas Rossi, connected sweetly with a deep cross in to the Inter penalty area, his volley brilliantly tipped on to the cross bar by Inter’s keeper, John Soulios.
But Inter simply couldn’t clear their lines from the rebound, and in the end it was skipper, Mirza Sehic, who struck home with a low shot from just inside the box to put the home side in front.
Mitchell Mclintock should’ve extended the Raiders’ lead in the 58th minute, but his left foot volley went over the Inter cross bar following a precise cross field pass by Daniel Bittar.
Inter almost equalised in the 60th minute following a neat dribbling run by Daniel Fogarty, the speedster beating players at will as he raced in to the box from the left before crossing in to the danger area. A scramble ensued, and in the panic, Raiders keepr, Jair Fernandez, did ever so well to divert a ricochet from one of his own defenders out for a corner.
The Raiders could smell the kill and wanted the comfort of a second goal, whilst Inter pushed men forward valiantly in an effort to restore parity.
The Raiders sprung the Inter offside trap in the 67th minute, but Aldin Tuzlic’s effort was blocked at the edge of the box by Inter’s advancing goal keeper, John Soulios. Tuzlic went alone whilst he had team mate, Mark Symington, unmarked to his left and ready to tap in to an empty net.
The second goal finally came on 72 minutes, and again Daniel Bittar was the catalyst, racing in from the right flank behind the Inter defence. Advancing on goal, Bittar cut the ball beautifully in to the path of Mark Symington, who slammed an effort on target, only for Inter’s keeper, John Soulios, to parry the shot. John Fahmi beat the Inter defence to the loose ball to smack it in to the net from a few yards.
Inter Lions went three at the back, pushing Adrian Vizzari in to midfield in an attempt to drag themselves back in to the match, but that provided SD Raiders with even more space in the front third, and the home side kept their foot well and truly on the pedal.
Mclintock found Bittar on 77 minutes with a cross behind the Inter defensive line, but the Raiders attacker agonisingly scooped his effort over the cross bar.
But the Raiders only had to wait another minute for their next goal, and Bittar this time drew the Inter goalkeeper, John Soulios, once he raced on to a through ball, before squaring to substitute, Carlos Enwiya, to slam in to an empty net for 3-0.
Enwiya could’ve had his brace in the 81st minute, slicing his shot wide from inside the penalty area after a great run down the left and cut back by Lucas Rossi.
Inter’s woes continued in the 84th minute, when the energetic Mitchell Mclintock raced in to intercept a poor back pass to strike home SD Raiders’ fourth goal of the evening.
To complete a miserable second half for Inter Lions, Adrian Vizzari was dismissed in the final minute, before the referee called time on a resounding victory for the home side.
For Inter Lions, the loss sees the club remain in 12th spot on the ladder on 15 points, but they did show good signs on the night despite the end result. Inter were well in the match during a fiercely contested first half, but collapsed once they conceded the first goal and couldn’t drag themselves back in to the match. Daniel Fogarty always looked to spark things in attack and was effective with the ball at his feet, whilst Dario Villante worked hard as a target man without much luck in the front third. John Soulios in goals kept his side in the match for almost an hour before his defence began to let him down with a few runaway goals.
For the SD Raiders it is now three wins on the bounce as they consolidate their position in the top half, now moving to 6th spot on 26 points, just one point behind both Gladesville Ryde Magic and St George City FA.
The Raiders did well to put up a wall when defending, and looked ominous every time they attacked given the speed and efficiency of their front line.
Daniel Bittar was always dangerous when in possession on the right flank, supported by the speed and energy of Mitchell Mclintock and the experience of Mark Symington. Both wing backs, Joseph Mensah and Lucas Rossi, had great games also, strong defensively as well as offering plenty of support with overlapping runs.
Match Stats
PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Seventeen
Saturday, July 1, 2017
SD RAIDERS 4 (Sehic 51’, Fahmi 72’, Enwiya 78’, Mclintock 84’)
INTER LIONS 0
Ernie Smith Reserve, Moorebank
Referee – Daniel Stack
Assistant Referees – Samuel Quinn and Vishaal Prasad
SD RAIDERS; 43.J.Fernandez, 7.D.Bittar, 10.J.Fahmi (25.M.Nakada 85’), 8.M.Mclintock, 18.J.Mensah, 2.M.Morosin, 12.L.Rossi, 16.M.Sehic (capt), 6.D.Stivala, 14.M.Symington (9.C.Enwiya 73’), 20.A.Tuzlic.
Substitutes Not Used – 44.M.Massarotto, 15.M.D’Alessandro, 24.S.Irwin.
Yellow Cards – 6.D.Stivala 34’, 8.M.Mclintock 45’.
Red Cards – Nil
INTER LIONS; 1.J.Soulios, 39.A.Appiah, 8.J.Ciano, 44.D.Fogarty, 4.M.Sidoti (capt), 34.C.Soares (15.C.Musumeci 73’), 11.E.Tomasek, 3.A.Vizzari, 14.A.Clarke, 23.M.Castelnuovo (20.Z.Gray 74’), 17.D.Villante.
Substitutes Not Used – 1.D.Plowright, 21.J.Abbonizio, 6.G.Fabbro.
Yellow Cards – 34.C.Soares 15’, 14.A.Clarke 17’, 39.A.Appiah 41’, 15.C.Musumeci 74’.
Red Cards – 3.A.Vizzari 90’.
Dunbar Rovers – Western NSW Mariners 3-1
Dunbar Rovers completed the ‘double’ over the Western NSW Mariners, beating them for the second time this season – both games at Proctor Park in Bathurst – this time by 3-1.
The temperatures at kick off were below zero, but that didn’t take anything away from the application of the players on both sides.
Ryan Shaughnessy delivered a brilliant through ball early on but Bradley Karpin’s lob cleared the Mariners cross bar.
Dunbar took the lead on 25 minutes when midfielder, Andrew Doddy, fired in a great shot to give the Rovers a 1-0 lead.
However the Western NSW Mariners were awarded a penalty in the 41st minute following a handball offence. John Henry converted to restore parity, and the teams had a well earned break shortly afterwards at 1-1.
It took another piece of brilliance from Andrew Doddy to break the deadlock, and it came on 73 minutes. Receiving the ball inside the centre circle, Doddy spotted Mariners’ keeper, Brock Logan, off his line, and had the audacity to lob him from distance to make it 2-1 to Dunbar.
A Micaiah Te Rata shot from the top of the box in the 76th minute and it was 3-1, with Mariners keeper, Brock Logan, unable to keep it out.
The loss sees the Mariners remain in 13th position on 12 points, whilst Dunbar move to 18 points in 10th spot.
Rydalmere Lions – Granville Rage 2-0
Rydalmere Lions maintained top position in the PlayStation4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s competition ladder following their 2-0 victory over Granville Rage on Saturday night.
The match was switched from Rydalmere Park to Valentine Sports Park No.3, but it made no difference to Rydalmere Lions who won their 15th match of the campaign.
The two goals came from their livewire attackers. Amaury Gauthier netted from close range following a great flick on by Matthew Mayora, whilst Zak Elrich scored the other goal for the Lions.
The loss sees Granville remain in 11th position on 15 points, whilst Rydalmere stay first, moving to 46 points, two points ahead of Fraser Park.
Dulwich Hill – Sydney University 5-2
Dulwich Hill continued their recent positive momentum, easily accounting for Sydney University 5-2 on a cold Saturday evening at Arlington Oval.
It was once again the ‘Giverin-Bentham’ show in many respects, with the duo accounting for all the team’s goals in what was a comprehensive team performance on the night.
Dully raced away to a 2-0 lead within the opening quarter of an hour, were 3-0 up by half time, and 5-0 early in the second half, before Sydney University responded with two late goals to add some respectability to the scoreline.
Dulwich Hill took an early lead with a super strike from Luke Giverin, the Dully number 10 hitting it sweetly after Tommy Bentham had laid the ball back.
It was 2-0 shortly afterwards, when Sean Burke managed to slip a pass in between a couple of Uni defenders for Tommy Bentham to run onto. Bentham turned on a six pence before shooting across Uni keeper, Carl McMahon, to extend the lead to 2-0.
Luke Giverin made it 3-0 minutes before the half time break, squeezing his shot in at the near post after making space for himself at the top of the penalty area.
There was no respite for Sydney University after the break, with Dulwich Hill extending the lead with two quick-fire goals.
Henry Wells raced down the right flank before delivering a great far post cross to Luke Giverin, who laid it in to the path of the onrushing Tommy Bentham. It was gift for Bentham as he tapped home for 4-0.
Luke Giverin grabbed his hatrick minutes later, making room for himself inside the penalty area before shooting home off the inside of the upright to make it 5-0.
Sydney University pulled back two goals late on, with Mihajlo Jonjic heading home at the back stick following a corner, whilst recent signing, Brian Caulker, volleyed home soon after following a Josh Karpes cross.
The 5-2 win and subsequent three points continues Dully’s recent impressive form, seeing them climb to 31 points in 3rd position, whilst Sydney University fall further behind the leading pack, remaining in 8th spot on 20 points.
Fraser Park – Hawkesbury City 6-0
Fraser Park made a mockery of Hawkesbury’s recent good from, dismantling the Hawks 6-0 in front of their own fans on Saturday night.
Fraser Park couldn’t have started any better, nudging ahead on 4 minutes when Goncalo Parandanta struck home through a sea of legs.
A cross into Hawkesbury’s penalty area on 13 minutes found Benjamin Vidaic jostling for possession. With Keeper Daniel Schwarzer coming out to clear, Vidaic managed to slide in and slip his shot past the Hawkesbury keeper to double Fraser Park’s advantage.
Fraser Park kept at it, and in the 20th minute, Parandanta saw his shot from outside the area sail over the bar. Jordan Roberts was providing some telling distribution whilst impressive footwork from Chris Hatfield kept the Hawks’ defence on their toes.
Fraser Park forced goalkeeper Chris Beccera was forced into a great save early in the second half as Hawkesbury looked to drag themselves back in to the contest.
But it was all over bar the shouting in the 56th minute, when Hatfield’s low, powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area took a deflection on its way inside Schwarzer’s upright to make it 3-0.
Some neat interchange play in the 73rd minute on the edge of the Hawkesbury penalty area saw Hatfield feed the ball to Peter Crevani, who placed his angled shot past Schwarzer to bring it to 4-0.
Jordan Roberts scored the goal of the match on 75 minutes a fierce shot from outside the area to make it 5-0, whilst Peter Crevani picked up his brace in injury time, hitting a volley into Schwarzer’s top left corner.
It was a disappointing loss for the depleted Hawkesbury, who remain on 25 points and drop to 7th spot in the process. Fraser Park keep on, keeping on with another superlative performance, staying second on the ladder with a game in hand on Rydalmere but moving to 44 points courtesy of the win.
Gladesville Ryde Magic – Stanmore Hawks 5-0
Gladesville Ryde Magic gave their fans something to keep warm about on Sunday afternoon, trouncing rivals Stanmore Hawks 5-0 in a one-sided affair.
Magic came firing out of the blocks and took the lead in the opening minute.
Youngster Peter Voukidis created space on the left hand side of the Stanmore box before sneaking in behind the defence, slotting home to make it 1-0.
Stanmore responded with two headed efforts from Sam Awad, the first on 9 minutes and the second on the half hour mark, but both headers flashed wide of the mark.
Peter Voukidis was at it again in the 42nd minute, scoring his second goal of the match with a near post header.
It didn’t take long for Magic to extend their lead. Peter Voukidis found Johnny Martinez in space on the right flank in the 51st minute, and he squared the ball for Heo Wookbum to strike home Gladesville’s third goal.
Chris Tomaras was taking advantage of the space available in the Stanmore half, and it was a matter of time before the number 10 got in on the act. Tomaras took possession on 71 minutes, weaving his way past a few would-be Stanmore defenders before striking home Gladesville’s 4th goal of the afternoon.
Gladesville Ryde Magic provided a debut to 16 year old Nick Ioannides on 79 minutes, and a minute later it was 5-0.
Heo Wookbum managed his second goal of the afternoon against his old club with a super strike from 20 yards, wrapping up the scoreline at 5-0 in the 80th minute.
The heavy loss sees Stanmore remain on 20 points in 9th position on the ladder, whilst Gladesville’s superb run in recent months continues on, with the club climbing to 5th position on 27 points.
Balmain Tigers – St George City FA 0-2
St George City FA returned to the winner’s circle when they overcame a gallant Balmain Tigers in the late game on Sunday evening at Leichhardt Oval.
It was a real arm wrestle during the opening 45 minutes, with Balmain edging their opponents in general possession, but unable to make any break through on goal.
The two sides went in at the break at 0-0, but it was St George City who opened the scoring in the 54th minute.
Sam Messam made inroads down the left flank before cutting back on his right foot to deliver a cross into the box. Balmain’s keeper did well to block the first attempt, but could nothing to stop Alex Jovovic stabbing home the opener. It was a welcome return to the fray for Jovovic, who had been missing for the best part of two months through injury.
St George City wrapped up proceedings in the 86th minute when James Spanoudakis crossed to Sam Messam, and the tall attacker struck home from inside the penalty area to make it 2-0 to the visitors.
The win and subsequent three points puts St George City FA on 27 points in 4th spot, one goal better than 5th placed Gladesville Ryde Magic.
