Round 1 Review – State League Men’s
Oh, it’s good to be back! The first week of the State League Men’s season produced thrills and spills aplenty. As the matches took place on Saturday night, it was a struggle to keep up with everything going on, with a total of 20 goals across the 5 games on the weekend.
Match of the Round
Bankstown United v Hurstville FC
The match of the round took us to Bankstown United where an early goal to the hosts from talisman Mitchell Cross was enough for them to see off a defiant Hurstville FC side.
The hosts controlled large periods of the match missing several chances throughout the 90 minutes. It is still only week one though and they will look to add some ruthlessness to their play.
For the away side, they were busy and the effort in this performance alone nearly saw them steal a point. However just lacked the skill of which their opponents possessed.
Bankstown started on the ascendency going close after 5 mins when a Shannon Hankin header was blocked.
The raid continued 5 minutes later when a cross narrowly missed the head of Cross up front.
However, Hurstville weren’t so lucky the third time when a clever lofted through ball from central midfield found Cross who just put enough on a lofted shot to evade the visiting keeper.
Instead of being overwhelmed though it was the visitors who responded well, however they will rue not having that little bit of class. Their best chancing coming when Joshua Messinis cut on to his right foot well before pulling his shot past the near post.
Unfortunately, from that point on they often struggled to get out of their own half with misplaced passes/touches aplenty.
It was only a matter of time before Mitchell Cross threatened again and yes, he was everywhere. Cross forced a good save from outside the box with the Hurstville keeper producing a stunning save to his left before he linked well with Hankin as a lunging shot was saved well again.
The second half started much like the first with Bankstown on top, with only some quick thinking from Rhys Turner at the back stopping the hosts extending their lead.
The onslaught continued with Sean Robertson (finally another Bankstown attacker) seeing his shot deflected agonizingly wide.
Then came the visitors best period of the match and it resulted in a couple of decent chances for Hurstville’s number 9 Jesse Gagro. First came a header from the penalty spot after Messinis delivered a quality cross which was guided marginally wide before an acrobatic volley was not able to challenge the keeper who caught it comfortably.
From then on, experienced told again with chance after chance falling to the home side. Most notable of which came for substitute Toshihisa Sakawa who provided the spark the hosts needed finding himself on the end of multiple counters mostly led through the right side.
Despite this the scorers were not meant to be troubled and the game fizzled out to end with a valuable 3 points for the home side
Whilst Hurstville can definitely take positives from the performance and as the team gels from here on in, they won’t be easy to beat.
Match Stats
Saturday 24th March, 2018 – Jensen Park, Sefton
Bankstown United: 1 (Cross 13’)
Hurstville FC: 0
Referee: T.Griffith
Assistant Referees: J Rowe & J Apotsis
Bankstown United FC: 3. Stephen Tomasich, 8. Sean Robertson, 9. Shannon Hankin, 10. Mitchell Cross (18. Jonathon Prasad 91’), 12. Christopher El-Hayek, 13. Daniel Carrozza, 14. Andrew Lazarou, 19. Raul Carrizo (7. Jovan Miladinovic 62’), 20. Ryota Ketani, 24. Anthony Villazon, 99. David Hamilton. (25. Toshihisa Sakawa 69’)
Subs Not Used: 4. Steven Wright, 57’ Dane Johnson
Yellow Cards: Cross, Ketani, El-Hayek
Red Cards: Nil
Hurstville Fc: 1. James Drahalivas, 5. James Galic (17. Aleks Tronoski 52’), 7. Ro ko Celic, 8. Andreas Marcic, 9. Jesse Gagro (15. Christopher Kissas 69), 10. Paul Gagro, 11. Joshua Messinis 12. Mitchell Harding, 13. Daniel Kocina, 19. Daniel Maras, 20 Rhys Turner (16. Joshua Padjen 79’).
Subs Not used: 6. Youssef Nasreddine, 18. Marco Agliozzo.
Western Condors (3) v (1) Wagga City Wanderers
Western Condors got their season off to a handy start when they hosted Wagga City Wanderers on Saturday evening. Two Goals to Cristian Martinez within the first 30 minutes saw the hosts control of the match. However, a goal to Tinotenda Kunesu just before the break saw the visitors only one go behind at the half. It wasn’t to be for the wanderers though as they had their keeper Robert Fry to thank for keeping the scores close before Martinez again found the net after 72 mins to complete his hat trick.
Central Coast United (5) v (0) Balmain Tigers FC
Now this is how you announce your arrival! Central Coast United are here and in stunning fashion they dispatched of Balmain Tigers who have just re-joined the competition. It was the Josh Swadling show at Pluim Park with the winger filling his boots with a terrific 4 goal hall. The hosts found themselves ahead with Swadling scoring their first ever league goal after 22 mins, the killer blow in retrospect came from captain Daniel Mcfarlane who doubled the lead before ht. Balmain came back out fired up and subsequently found themselves on the end of 3 red cards.
Prospect United (3) v (2) Nepean FC
Prospect triumphed in a high scoring Western Sydney derby over Nepean at Blacktown football park. United we’re quickest out of the blocks racing to a two-nil lead after just 25 minutes, Wilter Jijaw with the opener before Alex Bit converted from the spot. The visitors reacted quickly in response clawing back the hosts with a one two punch, their goals coming from Daryl Watson and Shomari Sabatho. The hosts regained their composure and although they conceded more chances, they eventually broke the deadlock through substitute Efoso Amagor giving them a valuable 3 points.
UNSW FC (3) v (2) Hurstville City Minotaurs
A ground chance didn’t affect UNSW FC too much as they edged past the visiting Minotaurs. The Minotaurs found themselves ahead twice in the first stanza as a tired home side backed up from a big cup win during the week, their goals coming from Lorenzo Fatica and Ketung Manyiel. However, the hosts showed character with goals from Christian Soares and Giles Penfold bringing the score back level at the break. The win was secured on the hour mark when a stunning free kick from Ilan Kessler found the top left corner and ensured a Uni win in round one.
FC Gazy Auburn v South Coast Flame was washed out.
By Justin Smith
