Round 23 Review – PS4 NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Whilst the top two teams won yet again, results beneath them saw some shuffling of positions as clubs strive to consolidate a Top Six finals spot with just three rounds remaining in the 2017 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition.
Round Twenty Three commenced on Saturday afternoon when Rydalmere Lions picked up all three points on their travels to Hawkesbury in a 3-1 win that sees them maintain their lead at the top; St George City managed a second half equaliser to salvage a 1-1 draw against Dunbar Rovers; Dulwich Hill could afford the luxury of two missed penalties on their way to an 8-1 drubbing of the hapless Western NSW Mariners at Arlington Oval on Saturday night; Sydney University made it six points in four days when they backed up their midweek win vs Granville with another three points in a 3-1 triumph over Stanmore Hawks; Peter Crevani scored a hatrick in Fraser Park’s 3-0 away win versus Balmain Tigers at Wentworth Park; and Granville Rage picked up some valuable Club Championship points in their 3-0 win against Inter Lions on Sunday night.
SD RAIDERS – GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC 1-1
Gladesville Ryde Magic conjured up an 89th minute equaliser on Saturday night to take home a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw with the SD Raiders at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Going in to the match, this encounter had become a real ‘six-pointer’, given the quagmire of teams clambering for a finals position.
With six teams in the hunt for four positions, and just four matches remaining, SD Raiders were 5thcoming in the game on 37 points, three ahead of Magic, who occupied 7th spot on 34 points.
The two teams were cagey from the outset, both intent on not making a mistake and conceding early.
The Raiders had the slightly better of play, moving the ball around in the Gladesville half, but opportunities were mostly non existent.
Experienced campaigner, Mark D’Alessandro, was marshalling his Raiders backline by example, stopping any Magic attack in their tracks before they reached the penalty area.
Lachlan Harte and Yorgi Mavrou were doing likewise in the centre of the Gladesville Ryde defence. The Raiders did have a few pot shots at the Magic goal, but all were from distance, and all missed the mark by a fair way.
The first real opportunity on goal didn’t arrive until the 26th minute, and it came via the visitors.
Chris Tomaras floated a free kick into the box from distance, and big Lachlan Harte managed to get his head to the ball to execute a flick on.
Raiders’ keeper, Jair Fernandez, sprung to his left to grasp the ball mid air and deny Magic their opening goal.
The Raiders responded on 31 minutes with a well executed move.
John Fahmi played a neat one-two with Mark Symington, receiving the ball over his head as he ran into the Magic penalty area. Fahmi’s volleyed cross was met with a downward header by Mitsuki Nakada, but Gladesville’s veteran keeper, Kyriakos Tohouroglou, dived to his right to divert the effort before it was scrambled to safety.
Raiders’ Mark Symington then went solo on 38 minutes, receiving the ball out wide on the edge of the penalty area before cutting inside and letting fly with a 20 yard shot that flew the wrong side of the Gladesville upright.
Both sides went in to the half time break locked at 0-0, with the intensity of the outcome showing in the safety first play from both sides.
Gladesville Ryde Magic almost took the lead in the 50th minute, and it came after an exquisite bit of play from the playmaker, Chris Tomaras.
Aaron Khan had barged his way down the right wing and into the box, before laying the ball into Tomaras’ feet. Surrounded by a flurry of Raiders’ defenders, Tomaras danced his way into space before cracking a low angled effort on goal.
Jair Fernandez was ever alert in the Raiders goal, blocking the shot to maintain the 0-0 scoreline.
That save was made to look even more valuable when SD Raiders took the lead on the hour mark.
Daniel Bittar was played in to space behind the retrieving Gladesville defence, and after holding off a challenge as he raced in to the box, Bittar unselfishly squared for Mitchell Mclintock to tap in to an empty net and give the home side the lead.
Both sides rang the changes around the hour mark, in a hope to either protect the lead (Raiders) or grab an equaliser (Gladesville), with Magic bringing on skipper, Chris Gaitatzis, who returned midweek from overseas.
SD Raiders almost doubled their advantage in the 77th minute, when Bittar stole possession in the front third and played in Mitchell Mclintock.
Mclintock attempted a left foot shot that looked like swerving inside the near post, but Magic custodian, Kyriakos Tohouroglou – a day before his 45th birthday – sprung like a jack in the box to acrobatically finger tip the effort over the cross bar.
The one goal just didn’t seem enough of a security blanket for the home side, and Gladesville Ryde Magic kept at it until they pinched an equaliser in the 89th minute.
Chris Tomaras floated over a corner, and big Aaron Khan got on the end of it amongst a heap of bodies, looping his header back the way it came, with the ball landing in the side netting inside the post to send the visiting contingent in to raptures.
There was time for a little bit of late drama, with Raiders’ substitute, Tyrone Gatt, earning himself two yellow cards within seconds in injury time, the first for a rash challenge on Chris Tomaras, and the second for his protestations.
That was all she wrote, and a 1-1 draw was the final predictable outcome between two very capable sides vying for a finals position.
For SD Raiders, it continues an amazing undefeated run of form during the second round of competition, which has seen them accumulate six wins and four draws over the ten matches.
Their eighth draw of the season moves them to 38 points and keeps them in 5th spot, with Magic and Hawkesbury beneath them and challenging for a finals spot.
On the night they showed they can be fiercely protective of their goal, evidenced by keeper, Jair Fernandez, who pulled off a couple of great saves when called upon, and Mark D’Alessandro, a tower of strength in central defence. In fact, D’Alessandro was missed when Magic scored their headed goal as he was off the park at that stage. Lucas Rossi was especially impressive at left back, anticipating well with his intercepts in defence, and always keen to add support going forward.
A loss here would’ve given Magic a mountain to climb to make the finals, so the jubilation was there for all to see at full time after snaring that late equaliser.
Gladesville have been down on troops at different times of the season, and subsequently given plenty of game time to numerous youngsters, namely 19 year old Peter Voukidis in midfield, and 16 year old Nick Ioannides, who showed nice touches and quick feet on the flank.
With Chris Tomaras in the side, Magic will always be making opportunities on the back of his creativity, and he looked dangerous whenever he had the ball near the Raiders’ box. Lachlan Harte and Yorgi Mavrou repelled most of the Raiders’ feared attacking weapons, whilst Michael Sada worked tirelessly across the midfield.
Match Stats
SD Raiders 1 (Mclintock 60’)
Gladesville Ryde Magic (Khan 89’)
Ernie Smith Reserve, Moorebank
Referee – John Garcia
Assistant Referees – Jaryd McFarlane and Wayne Lenardon
SD RAIDERS; 43.J.Fernandez, 7.D.Bittar (22.T.Gatt 62’), 15.M.D’Alessandro (18.J.Mensah 66’), 10.J.Fahmi (20.A.Tuzlic 81’), 24.S.Irwin, 9.M.Mclintock, 2.M.Morosin, 25.M.Nakada, 12.L.Rossi, 16.M.Sehic (capt), 14.M.Symington.
Substitutes Not Used – 44.M.Massarotto, 5.G.Opacic.
Yellow Cards – 18.J.Mensah 69’, 16.M.Sehic 75’, 22.T.Gatt 90’ + 2 / 90’ + 2’.
Red Cards – 22.T.Gatt 90’ + 2’.
GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC; 33.K.Tohouroglou, 36.M.Amin (9.C.Gaitatzis 55’), 5.L.Harte, 44.N.Ioannides (53.T.Sands 74’), 13.B.Kerr, 4.A.Khan, 8.J.Martinez (capt), 2.Y.Mavrou, 6.M.Sada, 10.C.Tomaras, 16.P.Voukidis.
Substitutes Not Used –12.T.Nelson, 11.M.Eslami, 1.N.Gongolidis.
Yellow Cards – 8.J.Martinez 51’, 5.L.Harte 79’, 33.K.Touroglou 87’.
Red Cards – Nil
Hawkesbury City – Rydalmere Lions 1-3
The carnival atmosphere at David Bertenshaw Field on Saturday drew a healthy crowd of locals, but they were unable to stop the visitors, Rydalmere Lions, taking all three points on offer with a 3-1 win over Hawkesbury City in the 1st grade clash which kicked off at 5-30pm.
The competition leaders were methodical in their drive to victory, winning 3-1 in the end after leading 1-0 at the half time break.
The league’s top marksman, Amaury Gauthier, got things going for Rydalmere Lions, netting his 29thgoal of the season in the 35th minute, a lead the visitors held until half time.
Zac Watters extended that lead in the 56th minute, his 12th goal of the campaign giving Rydalmere a 2-0 lead.
Hawkesbury’s chances of getting something out of the match seemingly evaporated when hard working midfielder, Prasheel Sharma, was sent off in the 65th minute, reducing the home side to ten men.
Rydalmere Lions made it 3-0 in the 2nd minute of injury time with a goal by Addison Sayan, before Kosta Zarafetas gave the locals something to cheer about, scoring Hawkesbury’s consolation goal in the 5thminute of injury time.
The loss sees Hawkesbury City drop to 7th on the ladder on 35 points, although they are within a win of both Gladesville Ryde Magic and SD Raiders above them.
The win gives Rydalmere Lions yet another three points – their 20th victory of the competition – keeping them five points clear at the summit as we head in to the final three rounds of the season proper.
Dulwich Hill – Western NSW Mariners 8-1
Dulwich Hill climbed back in to 3rd position on the competition ladder courtesy of an 8-1 drubbing of the Western NSW Mariners at Arlington Oval on Saturday night.
In fact it was the Mariners who scored first early on, but it didn’t take Dully long to draw level, with Tommy Bentham finding the bottom right corner after Luke Giverin had played the big man into space.
Within minutes the same two players combined for the same outcome, with Bentham grabbing his brace with a left foot shot after Giverin had provided a weighted pass over the Mariners’ backline.
Nathan Bowden-Haase celebrated his return to the line-up by netting the third goal, controlling and swivelling on the spot before cracking a shot into the top corner on the turn, a great piece of skill from the central defender.
Dulwich Hill made it 4-1 a few minutes before half time when Luke Giverin raced in to meet a Henry Wells cross, guiding his volley over Mariners’ keeper, Brock Logan, to finish off proceedings in the first half.
There was no let up in the second half by the home side and they made it 5-1 shortly after the break, with Luke Giverin smashing home from the edge of the Mariners’ penalty area.
It became 6-1 in the 56th minute with Henry Wells connecting at the back stick to a Giverin cross shot, and Callaghan Sharpe made it 7-1 shortly afterwards with a right foot effort from the edge of the box.
Dulwich Hill finished off the night’s work with goal number eight after Ethan Bardsley – a second half substitute for the injured Tommy Bentham – raced in from the left flank before chipping Brock Logan in the Mariners’ goal.
Remarkably the score could’ve been even higher, with the home side missing two penalties. Phil Reilly’s spot kick hit both uprights before staying out, whilst Dully keeper, Michael Frost, took the second penalty, sending it over the cross bar.
The Western NSW Mariners drop to 13th spot following the heavy defeat, whilst Dulwich Hill climb back into 3rd position on 41 points.
St George City FA – Dunbar Rovers 1-1
St George City FA came from behind to snare a 1-1 draw against Dunbar Rovers on Saturday night at Fraser Park.
Dunbar Rovers edged themselves in front just before the half time break when Hezio Silva Neto netted after a goalmouth scramble in the St George penalty area.
St George City were missing their two top goalscorers in Sam Messam (suspended) and Aleksander Jovovic (injured), as well as midfielder Nicholas Napoli, but worked their way back in to the match before finding an equaliser in the 69th minute.
George Codrea made space for himself before firing a shot from distance that found the mark, giving the teams a share of the spoils.
Dunbar’s eight point of the season moves them up one spot into 9th position ahead of Stanmore Hawks, whilst St George City FA climb to 38 points on the ladder, but drop to 4th spot after being hurdled by Dulwich Hill.
Sydney University – Stanmore Hawks 3-1
Sydney University’s finals hopes are well and truly alive after the ‘students’ picked up six points in four days.
Last Thursday, Sydney University and Granville Rage returned to Garside Park, the scene of floodlight failure the previous Saturday with the scores locked at 0-0 after 52 minutes.
The clubs played out the remaining 38 minutes, and Sydney University snatched all three points when Daniel Marjanovic netted late on to give the ‘students’ the win.
On Sunday afternoon, Sydney University backed that up with another victory, this time accounting for Stanmore Hawks 3-1 at Arlington Oval.
After Stanmore had taken an early lead, Sydney University replied ten minutes before the break when Domenic Di Mento chased what looked like a lost ball, blocking an attempted clearance by Stanmore keeper, Matthew Mckenzie, before bundling the ball over the line under challenge from a defender.
Sydney University kept up the ante after the break, and eventually won the game on the back of a Jovan Blagojevic double, giving the ‘students’ a 3-1 victory.
Stanmore Hawks remain on 23 points, dropping to 10th position, whilst the win and subsequent three points sees Sydney University remain in 8th spot, but they have now climbed to 32 points, just three behind Hawkesbury and Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Balmain Tigers – Fraser Park 0-3
Fraser Park kept up the pressure on league leaders, Rydalmere Lions, when they accounted for Balmain Tigers 3-0 on Sunday afternoon at Wentworth Park.
Peter Crevani returned to the starting lineup with a hatrick in a clinical display of finishing, starting with the opening goal just before the break, tapping in from close range after Pat Ferrara parried a Michael Gaitatzis effort.
Liam Cole and Gavin Wenyon were creative for the Tigers in the midfield, but Crevani got his and Fraser Park’s double just before half time when he slotted home after a couple of neat ‘one-twos’.
Crevani snared his hatrick in the final quarter of an hour when he beat Balmain keeper, Pat Ferrara, after racing through on goal, to wrap up proceedings for the visitors.
Other than Crevani, Fraser Park skipper, Nick Dimitropoulos, was a standout, leading by example in a stellar display from the back.
Inter Lions – Granville Rage 0-3
Granville Rage earned some valuable Club Championship points on Sunday evening, defeating the hapless Inter Lions 3-0 in the late game at Fraser Park.
Leading 1-0 at the break, the Rage scored a couple more in the second half to pick up all three points, moving away from both Inter Lions and the Western NSW Mariners by climbing to 20 points on the 1stGrade ladder.
Granville’s goal scorers on the night were Masahiro Aoki, Jess Casey, and Tobias Elliott-Orr, and they now have all to play for with four games remaining in the season proper.
