Round 5 – State League Men’s Review
We’re back, after a long journey down multiple highway, it’s time to dig in, show some physicality and take on this week’s recap.
This week saw a thriller between Prospect and FC Gazy Auburn. A massive win for UNSW FC over promotion rivals and much more. However, it was a clash in Wagga and a rare win for the home which highlights this week’s action.
Match of the Round
A determined Wagga City Wanderers have been able to overcome an underperforming South Coast Flame side at Gissing Oval.
In a game not devoid of chances, Wagga controlled large parts of Saturday afternoons fixture.
Goals to Tyler Allen and Duncan Cameron were enough to secure the Wanderers first three points of the campaign.
For the South Coast Flame, well what can you say? They came into the game as favourites and looked every bit a side who had just jumped out of the car from a long drive,
That combined with a missing striker and a half-fit number 10 Matt Mazevski meant disaster for the Flame.
South Coast Flame started the better, with a nice build up going from left to right before a Julio Mushabo shot was blocked. They continued to press and an Andrew Christie shot missed the target shortly after.
Wagga City Wanderers settled into the match and opened the scoring on 17 minutes. A corner on the right-hand side found the head of Tyler Allen whose looping header ducked under the crossbar.
The Flame continued to continued to press without causing any real issues, shots from Dion Sterjovski and Mazevski seemed to show there was life but they both didn’t trouble the oppositions custodian.
However, Wagga were starting to become a constant threat at the other end. Tinotenda Kunesu’s pace up front was causing Flames inexperienced backline several issues. The Wanderers started to believe that getting all three points was possible.
Sure enough, the lead was doubled shortly after the break. Duncan Cameron controlled a pass in the box well, held off a couple of defenders before launching a powerful left footed shot into the back of the net.
The Wanderers smelt blood, keen to push their advantage more with only a good save from Flame keeper and captain Matt White denying a shot from Prince Thompson
Unfortunately, shortly after Caylum Barber suffered a serious injury and we wish him all the best.
After an extended break because of that injury. The game resumed with everyone at the ground expecting the visitors to bounce back, it never came.
Wagga City Wanders Kunesu continued to press the backline and missed a shot after a cross from the right found him spectacularly.
The game should’ve been killed off a few minutes later when not one but two players threw their hat in the wing for miss of the season.
A cross from Tyler Allen looked to have set up Kunesu to finish from the six-yard box, he missed his kick before Thompson at the back post skied his shot well over the bar possibly landing in the Murrumbidgee River.
A third never came and although having their own moments, Flame lacked the quality throughout in front of goal.
Wagga coach Ross Morgan gave his interview to Damion Patterson who was a standout on the day. He said, “It was a hard-fought game, they came out with a post earlier saying we we’re desperate which lit the fuse amongst our lads”.
On his own performance. “I think I played well today, I’m always looking to improve my own game, but we’ll celebrate as a team tonight”.
South Coast Flame coach Paul Robbard obviously disappointed. “It was a disappointing start in the first half, second half we were better but it was too late unfortunately”.
He continued, “The team has put in some good performances, just not getting the results. They need to learn how to dig themselves out of a hole”.
Match Stats
Sunday 15th April, 2018
St George Stadium, Banksia
Wagga City Wanderers: 2 (Allen, Cameron)
South Coast Flame: 0
Referee: R. Duckitt
Assistant referees: C. Zhang & BJ Baird
Wagga City Wanderers: 1. Robert Fry, 2. Daniel Okot (14. Zac Pinney), 3. Damion Patterson, 4. Bradley Fangas, 6. Samuel Willian Johnes, 7. Prince Thompson, 8. Caylum Barber (5. Rhys Jones), 9. Tinotenda Kunesu, 10. Duncan Cameron (13. Juma Abbas), 11. Tyler Allen, 12. Shaun Moffat
Subs not used:
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
South Coast Flame: 1. Matthew White, 2. Andrew Bova, 5. Cameron Hansen (35. Wade Wilton), 6. Douglas Woodiwas, 7. Dion Sterjovski, 8. Andrew Christie, 10, Matthew Mazzevski, 11. Julio Mushabo (32. Johnny Vicoroski), 14. Kenneth James (12. Martin Thomson), 16. Caleb Grace, 17. Djordje Uzelac.
Subs not used: 41. Colin Heapy.
Yellow Cards: Grace, Uzelac.
Red Cards: Nil
Around the Grounds
Central Coast United 3-1 Hurstville City Minotaurs
Central Coast United continued their undefeated start to the season with a solid 3-1 victory over Hurstville City Minotaurs at Pluim Park.
United got off to a flyer early on with a goal to Josh Swadling who continued his goal scoring run with a skilful assist coming from Daniel McFarlane.
The Minotaurs rallied and kept the reminder of the first half tight, with very few clear-cut chances.
Fortunately, the game opened up in the second half as the hosts were content with sitting back and hitting the visitors on the counter. It paid off as Scott Mcginley doubled the advantage with a deflected shot finding the net.
It was McFarlane’s turn to find the scoresheet shortly after with a well placed low free kick finding the bottom right corner.
Minotaurs didn’t go home empty handed though after being awarded a late penalty. It was converted by Lorenzo Fatica to make sure the visitor’s avoided a dreaded duck egg.
Western Condors 2-0 Balmain Tigers.
Western Condors returned to winning ways as they beat a wasteful Balmain at Chopin Park.
It was a case of a slow burn as it took till the 60th minute for the first goal to be scored. Both teams fought hard and kept possession well throughout the opening 45 minutes however were unable to convert chances.
The Condors came out for the second half the better and were rewarded when a Joakim Moussinga stunner from 25 yards gave them the lead.
As a result, Balmain threw more and more players forward creating chances but not taking them. Western Condors used the extra space to extend the advantage with some lovely build up play leading to an Ahmed Chandab finish.
It could’ve been more as the Condors were content to sit back, absorbed than played on the counter, they however couldn’t trouble the scorers further.
Western Condors face Hurstville away next week whilst Balmain host our match of the round against Bankstown United.
Prospect United 3-2 FC Gazy Auburn
Prospect United overcame a FC Gazy Auburn side coming to surprise a few people in a thriller at Blacktown Football Park.
Indeed, the visitors took a shock lead on about 25 minutes with a long ball catching Prospect’s defence napping. Gazy striker Javier Salinas was able to find himself on the end of it and finished a 1-on-1 opportunity.
The hosts thought they had an easy equaliser on half time as a penalty was awarded. However, it was saved giving the coach some grief. Alex Bit was able to pounce after some pinball action and made sure the teams went in equal.
Prospect then went out to a two-goal lead as they looked to have finally found their best. Two stunning goals, one a header from Ben Iam after a pin-point cross from Nick Valjak and the other a crisp finish from provider turned scorer Valjak after a mazing run which left his marker for dead.
It wasn’t easy though particularly the last ten minutes as Prospect went down too ten. A penalty was converted by Nathan Adams but FC Gazy Auburn they were unable to find an equalizing goal afterwards.
Nepean FC 3-0 Hurstville FC
Nepean FC are back? The favoured hosts managed to secure back to back wins for the first time this season after a win over Hurstville FC at Valentine Sports Park.
Who knew a striker could make such a difference to a team? It was Clement Waoci who took the man of the match honours securing a double.
Clement deservedly opened the scoring in the first half as the hosts controlled both possession and the shot count to give them a lead at the break.
Hurstville FC changed things up at half time trying to be more adventurous in attack. Unfortunately, that means they also became more vulnerable at the back.
And Nepean have the quality to punish teams who chase the game and they did with Michael Fakiye scoring his first of the campaign.
The game was rounded out with the pick of the goals though with Clement Waoci scoring a brilliant long-range effort to add salt to the wounds of Hurstville.
UNSW FC 1-0 Bankstown United
We are only in round five, but this feels like a result we could label defining come the end of the season. UNSW FC overcame Bankstown United in a tense fixture again at Valentine Sports Park.
It was tight, it was physical, it was a game between two sides of which the result meant so much in the race for promotion this season.
A second half goal around 60 minutes to Luiz Lobo was enough to secure the three points. He combined well with Ignacio Pacheco down the left-hand side who provided the assist, in the only goal to be scored throughout the duration of the match
The visitors weren’t devoid of chances at the other end though. Bankstown United pushed hard following that goal and it was only a crucial stunning save from Ian Johnson denying in form striker Mitch Cross from levelling the score.
However, for the first time this season a side managed to match Bankstown United physically and didn’t let them over run them late on. And behold, that side got a successful result taking some crucial club championship points after their 20’s and 18’s also won.
BY Justin Smith
