Round 7 – State League Men Review

SLM-R7

Who ever said football was boring? This weekend in the State League Men’s competition had everything!

Our match of the round saw Balmain Tigers claim just their second win, whilst elsewhere we saw UNSW and Central Coast United set up a mouth-watering clash next weekend. So, with no time wasting here, let’s get into it!

Match of the Round

Balmain Tigers have produced an inspired second half performance to overcome Hurstville Fc at Seymour Shaw Park on Sunday evening.

The visitors rallied after a rather disappointing first half to put in a second half performance to remember eventually out-running their hosts. Their scoring account opened just after the break when Allie Jayee scored from a corner before a double from striker Antony Barca was enough to see them secure their second win of the season.

It was a disappointing result for Hurstville FC having held a first half lead courtesy of an own goal. However, they had more than enough chances in the first half to secure a result and were eventually punished for wasting them.

In a tight opening to the fixture, both defences preferred to hold a conservative defensive line resulting in a lot of midfield play.

Indeed, it was the first real chance which saw Hurstville take the lead. A free kick from Dario Borovickic on the left wing was unfortunately deflected in by Dylan Owusu.

Balmain responded well to going down, creating their best chance a few minutes later as some sloppy passing resulted in Michael Zezovski and Barca combining, the latter’s shot tamely dribbling to the keeper.

From then on in the first half, the hosts were looking dangerous on the counter as Balmain started to push men forward. A counter led by Rhys Turner resulted in a Jesse Gagro shot which came to nothing.

The break couldn’t have come at a better time for Balmain, after an emotive pep talk on the pitch before going into the sheds at half time, they came out a better team.

Balmain didn’t take long to make it count either, a corner from the right side was controlled by captain Swaray Kamara in the box before Jayee pounced on the loose ball in the box to scramble it home.

If they hadn’t lifted enough prior to that goal, they went to a whole other level afterwards. A shot from Michael Zezovski was saved well by Hurstville keeper James Drahalivas, unfortunately it fell into the path of Barca whose effort was eventually comfortably saved.

It served as a warning shot for things to come though, shortly after another set piece saw Antony Barca launch a fierce volley at the back post which was never going to be saved with the ball finding the net just inside the right post.

Searching for an equaliser, Hurstville pushed on with Balmain suddenly content to absorb pressure before breaking with speed.

Still most of the chances were coming for Balmain though as some sloppy desperation passing from the hosts was pounced on not once but twice only for the Hurstville shot stopper to stand tall when required.

The match was rounded out just into injury time, some pressing up front led to Barca going through again and he was never going to miss. He finished smartly from a tight angle with the ball hitting the back post before going in.

Balmain Tigers Joe De Gullo was delighted with his team, “Once we conceded the own goal, it looked like lady luck didn’t come to play again. After half time the boys came out inspired and once we scored, there was no stopping us given our confidence rose dramatically”.

On his players effort, “everyone deserves credit for the effort they put in, but particularly our left back Leonardo Di Giulio was a standout throughout”.

Hurstville FC coach John Gagro was obviously more downbeat, “I thought we deserved the lead at half time, we were playing our game but in the second half we were dragged outside our comfort zone”.

He continued, “It was particularly disappointing conceding two goals from set pieces, I believe we gave away a point or even three tonight”.

Match Stats

Sunday 6th May, 2018 – Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda

Hurstville FC: 1 (Owusu OG 12’)

Balmain Tigers FC: 3 (Jayee 50’, Barca 63’ 90’)

Referee: Bradley Wright

Assistant Referees: Daniel Stack & Jarryd Mcfarlane

Hurstville FC: 1. James Drahalivas, 4. Daniel Maras, 5. Stephan Perak, 7. Roko Celic, 8. Dario Borovickic, 9. Jesse Gagro (14. Joshua Padjen), 10. Paul Gagro, 13. Daniel Kocina, 17. Aleks Trenoski, 18. Cristian Di Meglio, 20. Rhys Turner (12. Christopher Kissas)

Subs Not Used: 6. Stefano Malinverno, 16. Andreas Maric, 19. Mitchell Ashley.

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Balmain Tigers: 1. Hiroki Fujiwara, 2. Mohamad Jirjnazi (19. Manuel Angelopolous), 5. Dylan Owusu, 6. Swaray Kamara, 16. Aidan Gray, 17. Michael Zezovski (11. Omar Touray), 21. Benne Owusu (20. John Nkpolukwu), 23. Leonardo Di Giulio, 25. Allie Jayee, 26. Alexander Barnstone, 28. Antony Barca

Subs Not Used: 12. Kassem Jirjnazi, 22. Martin Wrzos

Yellow Cards: Kamara, Jayee

Red Cards

Around the Grounds

Wagga City Wanderers 0-7 Bankstown United

Bankstown United have produced a performance to remember on the road, sweeping aside a helpless Wagga City Wanderers side on the road.

Bankstown United were faultless in the first half, going out to a six-nil lead before half time and not looking back. Even more impressive was a period of four goals in seven minutes mid-way through the first half.

It was all highlighted by a hat-trick to Sean Robertson who in recent weeks has found his own scoring boots making use of his strength and pace which Wagga couldn’t handle. Elsewhere Mitch Cross, Stephen Tomasich, Christopher El-Hayek and Ryota Oketani also contributed to the rout, the visitors showing no mercy in the process.

Overall as the score line suggests, it was a case of men against boys with Bankstown just having a lot more quality then Wagga City Wanderers. The Wanderers have a friendlier game against Balmain Tigers next week at home whilst Bankstown host Prospect United.

Central Coast United 4-1 South Coast Flame

Central Coast United have continued their impressive start to existence securing a comfortable win over fellow new club South Coast Flame at Pluim Park.

The hosts ran out four goals to one victors in a dominant display with goals coming from Cade Mapu, Geordie Howe, Josh Swaddling and Adam Woodbine. The visitors did manage a few good periods throughout and were rewarded by a late consolation goal to Matt Mazevski.

The scoring was opened by Cade Mapu who finished off a deflected cross to open the scoring. It remained that way till half time. The second came shortly after the resumption from a set piece with a Woodbine corner finding the head of Howe who duly converted.

Josh Swadling then won and finished off a penalty to make it three before possibly the pick of the goals as a nice build up saw a Mapu shot parried into the path of Woodbine who duly scored a tap-in.

Central Coast United face a mouth-watering match against UNSW whilst it doesn’t get easier for the Flame hosting Nepean FC.

Western Condors 1-2 Hurstville City Minotaurs

Hurstville City Minotaurs continued what was a good night for travelling sides as they saw off Western Condors at Chopin Park.

The Minotaurs had a late goal from Kushaal Ram in the 88th minute to thank for the victory. It was his second of the night after getting on the score board earlier.

Hurstville took control of the first period and could’ve had a larger lead if they had converted two or three one on ones. It wasn’t meant to be and they found themselves equal on the scoresheet when Henry Tau equalised.

Western Condors weren’t without their moments though and were threatening but were made to pay for pushing too hard for a winner.

Minotaurs substitutes Chris Lountzis and Bojan Srbinovski were ultimately the game changers after coming on. Both played a role in the eventual Kushaal Ram winner to clinch three valuable points for the Minotaurs.

Western Condors face FC Gazy Auburn next week whilst Hurstville City Minotaurs welcome Hurstville FC in the first derby of the season.

Prospect United 0-4 UNSW FC

UNSW FC continued their hot start to the season with a surprising comfortable win over Prospect United.

Indeed, if you surprise your coach, it’s usually either a really good thing or a really bad thing. For Uni, it was the perfect bounce back after a disappointing cup loss midweek where they played 120 minutes.

For Prospect it just wasn’t to be, coming up against a University side which just were on a different level on the night, more desperate for the points at both ends of the field.

The students opened the scoring 11 minutes in with a forced own goal after a Sam Wrublewski cross. The score was doubled just before the half time break when Luiz Lobo scored an outstanding goal, dribbling past a few players before a clinical finish off the post. The second half continued with with Florim Binakaj and Christian Soares also getting on the score sheet.

Prospect face a tough trip to Bankstown United next week whilst UNSW host the match of the round against Central Coast United.

Nepean FC v FC Gazy Auburn: Match Abandoned