Round 3 Review – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
The 2018 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition has a new leader following the completion of Round Three over the weekend, whilst at the other end of the table, every team is now off the mark, after yet another enthralling round of football.
Stanmore Hawks and Bankstown City shared the points in a tight 1-1 draw at Arlington Oval; Ben Welch helped himself to a hatrick for the SD Raiders as they overcame Camden Tigers 5-3 in a goal fest at Ernie Smith Reserve; Hawkesbury City continued their positive start to the season with a 2-0 win on the road against Inter Lions; Sydney University smacked Fraser Park 4-1 on the back of a Scott Tonkin hatrick to grab their first win of the campaign; St George City FA survived 78 minutes with ten men to snare a draw in a 2-2 stalemate against Dulwich Hill at Jubilee Oval; and Gladesville Ryde Magic went top of the league with a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Dunbar Rovers in the late game on Sunday night.
Match of the Round
Granville Rage v Western NSW Mariners
Football NSW visited one of the most nostalgic grounds in Australian football – Garside Park in Granville – to watch the locals, Granville Rage, play host to the visiting Western NSW Mariners.
Granville Rage recorded their first goal, first points and first win of the season when they netted a goal in each half to overcome the visiting Western NSW Mariners at Garside Park on Saturday evening.
With the grass on the playing surface an inch or so too long, and despite the rain that fell early in the encounter, both sides must be congratulated for their efforts in trying to take the game to their opponents from the outset.
With neither side having registered a win going in to the match, each were keen to make an early opening and take a stranglehold on proceedings.
It was the Mariners who conjured up the first opportunity on just 3 minutes, with Kenny McCall volleying just wide on the turn from the top of the box after Adam Scimone had made a darting run down the right before supplying the service.
Granville Rage responded with Jackson Warwick in the 5th minute, his low shot after cutting inside skidding across the surface in to the hands of the WNSW keeper, Brock Logan.
Tim Green then had a great chance to put the Rage in to the lead, seizing on a stray pass near the edge of the Mariners’ penalty area before stabbing his shot just wide in the 8th minute.
The end to end stuff continued during the early stages, and within sixty seconds, Adam Scimone went close for the visitors, collecting a pass inside the box before hitting an angled snapshot on the turn that was well saved by Rage goal keeper, Samuel Bortolazzo.
Bortolazzo was at it again a couple of minutes later. The ever alert Granville custodian did well to parry a blast from the edge of the box from Lachlan Thomas. The ball fell invitingly for Kenny McCall, who stroked the ball towards goal, but Bortolazzo sprung to his feet to avert the danger with a brilliant stop.
The deadlock was bound to broken at this rate, and it was Tim Green who was played in to the box, and even though his first effort was blocked by Mariners’ keeper, Brock Logan, Green was on hand to steer home the rebound and put Granville Rage in to the lead.
Western NSW Mariners were stunned somewhat by the goal, allowing Granville Rage to finish the half strongly, almost doubling their advantage on a few occasions before the break.
A slick passing movement from Rage in the 21st minute ended with Andre Guzman blasting over from the edge of the box, whilst Tim Green skied his effort from a few yards out on 26 minutes – admittedly the ball bobbled as he struck it – after a slalom run and cross from the right flank by Ryan Faulkner.
Four minutes before the break it was the turn of Jamie Ortiz, the Granville Rage left back, who made a dissecting run in to the box before finishing with a fierce angled shot that was diverted to safety by WNSW keeper, Brock Logan.
Both sides had earned a reprieve with plenty to play for in the second half.
Western NSW Mariners had a great chance to square the ledger just five minutes in to the second half. Adam Scimone collected a pass down the left side of the box, before turning and expertly playing in Paul Long, who cleared the cross bar with his first time shot.
Granville substitute, Abdul Khaliq Mohseni, then lit up proceedings with a mesmerising run, weaving past a few would be Mariners’ defenders before hitting a grass cutter that skidded inches wide of the upright.
Lachlan Thomas then let fly with a great effort in the 77th minute after a slick counter attack by the Mariners, but Samuel Bortolazzo was equal to the task in the Granville goal, collecting the ball at the second attempt with no Mariner in sight.
Granville Rage replied immediately by going straight up the other end, with Tim Green finding himself in space inside the box. Green kept his shot low and hard, but Brock Logan blocked well to keep the visitors in the game.
The Western NSW Mariners were intent on finding a goal, and couldn’t have come closer in the 87th minute. Logan Inwood let rip with a pile driver from all of 25 yards, but again, Samuel Bortolazzo was at his best, blocking the effort to keep his goal intact.
With seconds remaining on the clock, and the Mariners pushing numbers forward, Granville Rage hit them with a sucker punch to take the points.
Christo Hanna played a beautiful pass in behind the Mariners defensive line, and Robert Morsello race away, slotting past Mariners keeper, Brock Logan, to make it 2-0 and finish off proceedings.
Both sides should take some pride from their efforts, reflected by the fact that both keepers, Brock Logan of the Mariners and Granville’s Samuel Bortolazzo, were made to work very hard during the ninety minutes, with Bortolazzo prevailing on this occasion with a clean sheet.
It was a welcome win for Granville having got nothing from their close opening two games of the season, and they will hope to build on this performance and continue their climb up the ladder.
Match Stats
National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round Three
Saturday, March 24, 2018
GRANVILLE RAGE 2 (Green 13’, Morsello 90’ + 1’)
WESTERN NSW MARINERS 0
Referee – Stephen Ellsmore
Assistant Referees – John Lalic and Melik Ibrahim
GRANVILLE RAGE; 40.S.Bortolazzo, 7.D.Bortolazzo, 4.R.Faulkner, 19.T.Green (16.J.Wrightson 83’), 12.A.Guzman, 20.C.Hanna, 2.M.Luc, 3.J.Ortiz, 8.M.Sada (capt), 13.J.Warwick (18.A.K.Mohseni 70’), 10.F.Sanchez (14.R.Morsello 65’).
Substitutes Not Used – 1.J.Conaghan.
Yellow Cards – 2.M.Luc 16’, 7.D.Bortolazzo 67’, 14.R.Morsello 81’, 40.S.Bortolazzo 81’.
Red Cards – Nil
WESTERN NSW MARINERS; 1.B.Logan, 21.J.Fuda, 7.M.Hobby (18.J.Shahid 73’), 42.l.Inwood, 15.P.Long, 10.K.McCall, 13.J.McLeod (16.A.Elliott 10’, 17.C.Christie 76’), 26.A.Scimone, 3.N.Spice (capt), 19.L.Thomas, 8.J.Ward.
Substitutes Not Used – 25.B.McNab, 4.A.Brady.
Yellow Cards – 21.J.Fuda 65’.
Red Cards – Nil
Inter Lions – Hawkesbury City 0-2
Hawkesbury City continued their strong start to the 2018 campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Inter Lions at Fraser Park on Saturday night.
Inter Lions had the better of play in the opening quarter of an hour, but had nothing to show for it as the teams went in at 0-0 at half time.
Hawkesbury snuck in to the lead on 47 minutes when Bradley Gibson finished well following a corner, and Daniel Morsillo wrapped up proceedings for the visitors with a clinical finish from the top of the box in the 80th minute.
The three points puts Hawkesbury City on 7 for the season, equal second on the ladder with SD Raiders and Bankstown City Lions.
Stanmore Hawks – Bankstown City 1-1
Stanmore Hawks and Bankstown City Lions shared the points at Arlington Oval on Saturday night when the two sides battled out a 1-1 draw.
Neil Jablonski scored his third goal in two weeks for Stanmore, but it was only good enough to pick up a point on this occasion as former Sydney United 58 star Ante Tomic scored with a neat header for the visitors.
The point apiece puts Stanmore on 4 in 6th place, whilst Bankstown City have been joined by SD Raiders and Hawkesbury City on 7 points in second spot on the ladder.
SD Raiders – Camden Tigers 5-3
A hatrick from Ben Welch inspired SD Raiders to a 5-3 victory over Camden Tigers in a tough encounter at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday night.
It has been a remarkable week for Camden, who have scored 14 goals across three league and Cup matches, definitely giving the neutral plenty of entertainment whilst providing heartache no doubt for the Camden faithful.
Daniel Bittar opened the scoring early on for the home side, but Camden restored parity soon afterwards through Cormack Stevens, the two teams holding firm until the half time break.
Raiders dynamic midfielder, Dylan Stivala, then suffered a head gash that required hospitalisation and stitches – everyone at FNSW and in the wider football community wish Dylan a speedy recovery.
Stivala’s replacement, Matias Toro Suazo, actually edged the home side in front minutes after the restart, seizing on a Camden mistake to run through and slot home for 2-1.
But the Tigers once again pulled themselves level in the 53rd minute through Jayden Russell, and in fact, took the lead 3-2 with another goal just after the hour mark from Bailey Simpson.
The Raiders then picked up the intensity, and came storming home to win the match.
Following a foul on Sebastian Malfara in the 69th minute, Daniel Bittar’s penalty was well saved by Camden’s goal keeper, David Harris, but Ben Welch followed through to tuck away the rebound and make the score 3-3.
The home fans were cheering again in the 73rd minute, with Welch making it 4-3 after great lead up play from Bittar and Malfara.
Malfara then set up Welch for his hatrick on 75 minutes, rounding off proceedings at 5-3.
SD Raiders could even afford the late sending off of Sebastian Malfara, but hung on to grab all three points, climbing to seven on the competition ladder.
St George City FA – Dulwich Hill 2-2
There was drama at Jubilee Oval on Saturday night when St George City FA and Dulwich Hill shared the spoils in a 2-2 stalemate.
St George City FA were reduced to ten men after just 12 minutes when Mark Kamara was sent off following his second yellow card, giving City a mountain to climb.
Jovan Blagojevic then edged Dully in front when he converted a penalty, before Geoffry Lino squared the ledger shortly afterwards, sending the teams in at 1-1 at the break.
Goncalo Paradanta put Dulwich Hill in front within two minutes of the restart, but St George City FA lifted their ascendancy and eventually drew level once more via Sam Messam after he combined with Geoffry Lino to equalise.
Then in dramatic circumstances, St George City FA were awarded a spot kick with five minutes remaining. Michael Loupis converted, only for the goal to be ruled out due to encroachment. Loupis stepped up once again, but this time Dully keeper, Michael Frost, held his nerve and saved to earn his side a valuable point, their first of the season.
Sydney University – Fraser Park 4-1
Sydney University finally kick started their season on their home turf, giving Fraser Park a touch up on the back of a Scott Tonkin hatrick.
The rain during the week had done nothing to affect the Sydney University Football Ground, and the ‘students’ were primed to grab their first points of the season after a brace of losses in the opening two rounds.
Sydney University had flexed their muscles with a midweek 13-0 drubbing of Greenacre Eagles in the FFA Cup, and looked to continue that form early, with Fraser keeper, Mark Villaescusa, parrying a snapshot from Nathaniel Sharpley.
Sharpley was at it again moments later, providing the cross for Scott Tonkin, who managed to convert clinically from 10 yards out.
The same two players combined again moments later with Tonkin this time netting with a header, and the students didn’t let up, going on to score their third before half time.
Adam Smith and Tonkin combined to set up Uni skipper, Robbie Deasy, who lashed it home to send the home fans in to raptures.
Fraser came out after the break with renewed vigour, with both James Goldsmith, and captain Andrew De Brito, going close for the visitors.
But Sydney Uni weathered the danger, and in fact wrapped up the encounter when Scott Tonkin scored his third shortly afterwards. Tim Bowman was released down the left and his inch perfect cross was met by the big Sydney Uni number 9, who squeezed the ball home in off the post. It was a welcome return to goal scoring for Tonkin, following his second hatrick in a matter of days after his midweek exploits in the Cup.
To their credit, Fraser Park kept going and scored a consolation goal with ten minutes remaining, with De Brito curling a free kick in to the net despite a gallant effort from Uni keeper, Oliver Gibson, to keep it out.
That was all she wrote, with Sydney University now up and running, and Fraser Park suffering their first defeat of the season.
Gladesville Ryde Magic – Dunbar Rovers 2-1
Gladesville Ryde Magic are sitting pretty after three rounds of football, with their 2-1 triumph over Dunbar Rovers catapulting them to the top of ladder as the only side to have collected the maximum nine points.
There were no goals during a tense first forty five minutes, but not through a lack of trying. Dunbar Rovers had the better of the opportunities, with striker, Yoel Silvestre, twice thwarted by the evergreen Magic custodian, Kiriakos Tohouroglou, and Ryan Shaughnessy’s effort cannoning back off the upright as the visitors looked to take the ascendancy.
Dunbar in fact did take the lead, and deservedly so, with Ruben Mendes heading home four minutes after the break.
Joel Hampson then picked up two yellow cards in ten minutes, receiving his marching orders in the 68th as Dunbar were reduced to ten men.
The tide then started to turn, and Gladesville Ryde Magic found a way back in to the match, with Chris Gaitatzis finding the space to beat Stephen Deasy in the Dunbar goal and put
Magic back on level terms in the 81st minute.
In a dramatic period of additional time, Peter Voukidis netted an astonishing winning goal for Gladesville Ryde Magic, sending the home fans in to a frenzy as he drove the team to the top of the league.
Dunbar’s late despair continued when Neil O’Sullivan was given his marching orders, with the Rovers reduced to nine men in the final moments.
