Round 12 – National Premier Leagues 3 Men’s Review
We have a new leader in the 2018 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW competition, with the previously undefeated Hawkesbury City being replaced at the helm by St George City FA following the completion of Round Twelve over the weekend.
The Hawks have been undefeated all season so far, but a heavy injury toll has eventually seen their wings clipped this week against Dunbar, allowing St George City FA to hurdle them in to first position on the back of their 8th consecutive league victory.
Taking a look at the weekend’s fixtures; as stated, Dunbar Rovers became the first side to inflict defeat on Hawkesbury City when they won 4-1 at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday afternoon; Western NSW Mariners and Sydney University shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw in Orange; Dulwich Hill left it late to overcome Granville Rage 2-0 at Arlington Oval on Saturday night; SD Raiders knocked over 9-man Bankstown City Lions 4-2 in a thriller at Ernie Smith Reserve; Gladesville Ryde Magic got the chocolates at Christie Park with a narrow 2-1 defeat of Stanmore Hawks; Inter Lions came from a goal down to record a much needed 2-1 triumph over Fraser Park, who finished the match with 8 players on the field.
This week’s feature Match of the Round saw St George City FA entertain Camden Tigers at Fraser Park in Marrickville.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
St George City FA – Camden Tigers 2-1
St George City FA are the new NPL 3 NSW competition leaders following their 2-1 triumph over a gallant Camden Tigers at Fraser Park on Saturday night.
St George City FA came in to this clash backing up after a Round 6 FFA Cup fixture on Wednesday night. The encounter was against NSW NPL Men’s side Bonnyrigg White Eagles, and it was a match where St George City FA more than held their own. It took a goal from Bonnyrigg skipper, Ray Miller, in the 113th minute to deny St George City, yet the tough 120 minutes would not deny the resilient St George side as they recorded yet another league win here against the Tigers.
St George knew they could be leg weary as the game wore on, so they needed to start well and avoid having to chase the result.
Star attackers Geoffry Lino and Sam Messam – both notable absentees in the Cup fixture – had not trained all week due to the flu, yet Lino took his starting position whilst Messam made it on to the bench.
Enigmatic midfielder, Kerim Kumsuz, was out, straining a hamstring in the Cup game.
Geoffry Lino gave St George the start they wanted on 24 minutes when he turned a Camden defender on the edge of the penalty area before finding the net with a powerful low drive past Camden’s goal keeper, David Harris.
Lino was at it again just after the half hour mark when he was fouled in the penalty box. Young Steve Kuzmanovski, himself returning from injury, netted from the spot to give St George City a commanding 2-0 lead.
The goals gave St George the impetus to keep their foot on the pedal.
Geoffry Lino spurned a couple of golden opportunities after some great lead up work, whilst James Spanoudakis smacked an effort against the upright as St George City looked to turn the screws.
Camden kept at it, and tried valiantly to come back in to the match, but were unable to find a way through. As the petrol commenced to run out, St George City tried to soak it up, whilst Camden increased their intensity as the minutes ticked over.
Camden’s never say die attitude was more than evident in the second period, and the Tigers pulled a goal back in the 81st minute when Mitchell Brooker found the mark with a neat finish, causing panic in the dying moments for the home side.
However try as they may, the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser and St George took all three points.
It was a huge effort from a number of St George City players who had to back up following that epic midweek Cup game, the team putting in an almighty effort against one of the league’s toughest opponents in Camden, with the reward being more than the three points on offer.
St George City FA now move to 29 points, two ahead of second placed Hawkesbury City, and riding a wave of momentum which has seen them win 8 matches in succession.
It was an honest effort as always from Camden, who remain in mid table, sitting on 16 points in 8th position.
National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Saturday, May 27, 2018 – Fraser Park, Marrickville
ST.GEORGE CITY FA 2 (Lino 24’, Kuzmanovski 32’)
CAMDEN TIGERS 1 (M.Brooker 81’)
Referee: S.Grasso
Assistant Referees: H.Crawddine and C.Wells
STGEORGE CITY FA;
1.C.Marques, 4.L.Burke, 6.M.Kokubo, 17.S.Kuzmanovski (9.E.Koumis), 18.G.Lino, 8.A.Malmierca (13.R.Thomson-King), 3.K.Mori, 10.J.Spanoudakis, 2.S.Thomas, 5.B.Tsanidis, 11.A.Euripidou (7.S.Messam).
Substitutes Not Used: 26.E.Davis,14.J.Dimopoulos.
Yellow Cards: 2.S.Thomas 18’.
Red Cards: Nil
CAMDEN TIGERS;
1.D.Harris, 11.B.Brooker (18.M.Brooker), 6.S.Doherty, 24.J.Harris, 9.S.Lloyd (38.B.Simpson), 23.M.Lynch, 5.D.Martinez (14.B.Clarke), 10.D.Mugridge, 7.N.Mugridge, 16.J.Russell, 4..M.Viera.
Substitutes Not Used: 20.M.Johnston, 2.A.Farrington.
Yellow Cards: 6.S.Doherty 31’, 10.D.Mugridge 60’, 11.B/Brooker 68’.
Red Cards: Nil
Western NSW Mariners – Sydney University 2-2
On a bitterly cold evening in Orange the Western NSW Mariners and Sydney University shared the spoils in what proved to be an entertaining game for the fans who braved the temperatures.
The Mariners started the stronger and opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Adam Scimone capitalised on some ponderous defending from Uni, burying a cool finish past Uni keeper, Charlie Fanner.
The ‘students’ created their fair share of opportunities, but Brock Logan kept them out, twice denying Jovan Blagojevic – the striker re-joining Sydney Uni after leaving Dulwich Hill in the transfer window.
However it was the Mariners who extended their lead with a well worked free kick routine, the ball slammed in by Matthew Corben.
Uni strikers, Scott Tonkin and Michael Loupis both went close for the ‘students’ before half time, but it remained 2-0 until the break.
The second half was a similar story with Sydney University dominating possession and the Mariners looking to break on the counter.
With twenty minutes remaining Uni finally pulled a goal back, when a Michael Loupis free kick was whipped in from the left, evading everyone as it nestled in to the bottom corner.
It was the second goal in successive games for the young striker since his recent transfer from St George City FA.
Some last ditch defending and resolute goalkeeping from the home side kept the Mariners in front as the clock ticked down. Then Sydney Uni threw on Tim Bowman in search of the equaliser, and he duly obliged on 86 minutes.
Great work on the left from Jovan Blagojevic set up Scott Tonkin – celebrating the birth of twin baby girls this week – but his snap shot was palmed away by the Brock Logan in the Mariners goal. Bowman however was on the spot to stab the rebound home, ensuring both teams took home a share of the spoils.
For Sydney University it continues their recent revival, the point taking them to 11 and keeping them in 11th spot on the ladder.
It was oh so close for the Western NSW Mariners, the draw being their 4th of the season as that first win continues to elude them.
Dunbar Rovers – Hawkesbury City 4-1
Dunbar Rovers came from a goal down to overpower league leaders, Hawkesbury City, 4-1 at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday afternoon.
But Rovers had to do it the hard way after going behind early, with Hawkesbury getting off to their customary good start.
Top goalscorer, Daniel Morsillo, managed to squeeze a free kick inches inside Stephen Deasy’s upright to give Hawkesbury the lead after a quarter of an hour.
Although Dunbar were up for this one, and equalised just six minutes later.
Yoel Silvestre got on the end of a Michael Karagiannis pass to restore parity for the home side.
Dunbar edged themselves in front on 31 minutes when they were awarded a spot kick after Alexander Crane was fouled inside the penalty area. Dunbar skipper, Andrew Doddy, converted to make it 2-1.
Minutes later it was 3-1 when Paul Orgad scored from long range, sending the home fans into delirium as the teams trudged off for a half time break.
Try as they may, Hawkesbury couldn’t find a way in to the match after half time, and in fact, conceded a further goal late on in the game.
Ryan Shaughnessy produced a great through ball for substitute, Cristian Garces, to run on to, and the striker slotted home to end proceedings.
The first loss of the campaign sees Hawkesbury City lose top spot on the ladder, remaining on 27 points as they are surpassed by St George City FA.
The win and subsequent three points moves Dunbar on to 20 as they remain in 7th spot on the ladder.
SD Raiders – Bankstown City Lions 4-2
SD Raiders downed Bankstown City Lions in a six goal thriller at Ernie Smith Reserve on Saturday night.
The Raiders lead 2-0 at one stage, before Bankstown City managed to peg them back to 2-2. But the home side were not to be denied and netted two more goals to snatch all three valuable points.
Matias Toro Suazo, Mathew Barkho, and Daniel Bittar with a brace of goals got on the scoresheet for the home side.
Ante Tomic netted both goals for Bankstown City – the first directly from a free kick, and the second from the penalty spot after Nathan Lopino was fouled inside the box.
The job for Bankstown City was hard enough without having to do it with less personnel.
Mirza Sehic received his second caution of the match with half an hour remaining, with Bankstown City trailing 1-2, at which point they still managed to equalise.
However when Jacob Boutoubio saw red on 81 minutes with the score 2-3 to Raiders, it was a job too hard to complete for the remaining 9 men of Bankstown City, and SD Raiders managed a 4th and final goal to take all three points.
The loss sees Bankstown City remain on 24 points in 3rd spot on the ladder, but SD Raiders have closed the gap to just one point, and they sit in 4th spot on 23 points courtesy of the victory.
Dulwich Hill – Granville Rage 2-0
Dulwich Hill left it late but secured all three points nevertheless when they defeated Granville Rage 2-0 on Saturday night at Arlington Oval.
Recent signing, Dean Krkovski netted on debut in the 81st minute after some great lead up work from Henry Wells and Nathan Bowden-Haase, whilst Ben Vidaic made sure of the win with a goal in injury time.
The loss sees Granville remain 9th on the ladder on 12 points, whilst Dulwich Hill remain in 5th spot, but climb to 23 points, one point within Bankstown City Lions and SD Raiders.
Gladesville Ryde Magic – Stanmore Hawks 2-1
Gladesville Ryde Magic stayed in touch with the leading teams when they laboriously played their way to a 2-1 victory over a gallant Stanmore Hawks at Christie Park.
Early on it was all Gladesville, and Magic threatened a number of times without finding the mark.
Youngster, Peter Voukidis, was first to test the range, shooting wide from the right flank with his angled drive eluding eberyine as it raced past the far post.
Moments later and a Magic corner was cleared to the edge of the Stanmore penalty box, where Gladesville’s Adrian Jolly returned serve with a volley that flashed wide of the upright.
It was only a matter of time before the Gaitatzis brothers found a connection, and just before the half hour mark, Chris found younger sibling, Michael, who raced down the left hand side before cutting back onto his right, but his shot cleared the crossbar.
Then it was the turn of skipper, Chris Gaitatzis, whose chip cleared the cross bar after he tried to lob the Stanmore keeper.
Chris Kolistasis replied for Stanmore before the break, but his audacious lob from close to the half way line fell into the arms of Magic custodian, Kiriakos Tohouroglou.
Despite the opportunities created by Gladesville during the first forty-five minutes, it was Stanmore who scored the game’s opening goal, and it came just minutes before the half time break.
Alec Caragher found himself in space, racing in to the Magic penalty area before slotting past Tohouroglou to give Stanmore a 1-0 half time lead.
That lead didn’t last too long, as Gladesville Ryde Magic restored parity with a sublime free kick, Michael Gaitatzis finding the net to make it 1-1.
Both sides had opportunities to edge themselves in front, but it was youngster, Nicholas Ioannides who was the hero for the home side, scoring the winning goal for Magic after great lead up work by Chris Gaitatzis.
The loss sees Stanmore Hawks remain on 11 points, but results elsewhere mean they drop to 12 spot on the ladder.
The three points sees Gladesville Ryde Magic move to 23 points in 6th spot, but equal with SD Raiders and Dulwich Hill, all sitting one point behind Bankstown City Lions.
Inter Lions – Fraser Park 2-1
Inter Lions continued their improved form in recent weeks when they came from a goal down to overcome Fraser Park 2-1 on Sunday evening.
The loss is Fraser Park’s 10th in the opening 12 rounds, and they only have themselves to blame after finishing the match with just 8 players.
The game started rather cautiously as both teams realised the importance of the three points on offer.
Although Fraser Park’s Gerbe Magela was marched early on following a rash challenge on an Inter player, and Fraser Park were down to ten.
Remarkably Fraser Park took the lead despite being a man down, with Nicholas Mouzourakis slotting home from close range after racing on to a through ball supplied by Daniel Fornito.
Fraser Park carried that lead in to the second half, but Inter Lions came out of the sheds with intent, and almost drew level when Chris Lawson headed against the cross bar from a Jacob Di Mento corner.
Drama ensued on 74 minutes following slick passing move by Inter Lions.
Cameron Stephan played a neat one-two with Inter substitute, Juan Chavez, and he slipped the ball to Hezio Silva Neto to blast at goal.
However Gabriel Gomes was adjudged to have handled the ball, and was given his second yellow of the match, reducing Fraser Park to just nine men.
If that wasn’t enough, Fraser Park defender, David Muller, continued with the protestations, and was duly marched, leaving Fraser to protect a 1-0 lead with just 8 field players.
Once the drama had settled down, Juan Chavez showed his experience to convert the spot kick and draw Inter Lions level.
11 vs 8 just doesn’t work in football, and Inter Lions eventually secured the win with minutes remaining.
It was that man again, Juan Chavez, who this time played Sean Richardson in to space, and the flanker converted to give Inter Lions a much wanted victory.
The win and three points sees Inter jump three spots on the competition ladder, moving to 9th position on 12 points.
The loss means Fraser remain bottom, yet to record a win this campaign, and it doesn’t get any easier for them next week – they’ll have three players suspended for their clash against Gladesville Ryde Magic.
