Round 13 – State League Men’s Review
This week’s State League Men’s action cannot be accused of being short of intense yet surprising action.
Match of the round took us up the coast to see the Central Coast United do battle in a highly anticipated fixture against Nepean, whilst fellow high flyers UNSW were on the wrong end of the most surprising result of the season. That and more in just another week in the State League.
Match of the Round: Central Coast United FC VS Nepean FC
Too put it simply, Central Coast United did what they needed to do as they overcame a firing Nepean squad at Pluim Park on Saturday afternoon.
In a battle of two of the league’s most prolific strikers, it was the home sides front man in Adam Woodbine who stole the show netting a double in quick fire fashion mid-way through the second half.
It was enough to see them past the visitors who came out of the blocks hard in both halves, but were unable to convert despite Jamie Dibs effort in the first half.
With their last-minute heart break fresh in their minds, the visitors were determined to take control early. Their high pressing style saw Dib force the first action from either keeper as he palmed away his shot from a narrow angle,
Despite being relatively successful in their plan, they nearly went behind to a Daniel Mcfarlane free-kick a minute later.
The pressure soon paid off though, Dib was able to beat the off-side trap, control the ball and successfully finish just after the fifteen-minute mark despite the keeper’s best efforts.
Goals change games and Central Coast United seemingly then woke up in terms of creating chances, A Mcfarlane shot was saved shortly after and Joshua Swadling missed a golden opportunity to level the scores spraying a shot over the bar from inside the six-yard box.
The Central Coast attacker was having a first half to forget when he missed a one on one opportunity after being played in by Mcfarlane with a good save coming from Nepean keeper Hamilton.
Once again Nepean appeared to catch the hosts by surprise with their start to the second half with multiple chances falling to Clement Waoci who you’d normally fancy to score.
The attacker created his best chance of the match when he cut inside off the left wing masterfully beating his attacker only to hook his shot past the near post. He looked to have found his grove as shortly after as he confidently took on a few defenders before hitting his shot over the bar.
It felt like a goal was coming and unfortunately for the visitors it came shortly after for the hosts. Striker Adam Woodbine showed his Nepean counterpart how it was done as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, before taking a touch then finishing superbly.
The next act was ruthless as he then doubled his tally a minute later when a Bennett cross fell to him at the back post, Woodbine confident after his first finish calmly volleyed into the right-side netting.
Not content with a one goal advantage, Central Coast United somehow managed to miss the unmissable with a Woodbine shot being saved before a quick follow up hit the crossbar.
From that point on, frustration was ever present in Nepean’s play as they were only able to create one meaningful opportunity, in which Waoci didn’t connect fully with a volley resulting in a comfortably saved.
Central Coast United coach Stu Davis, “I always say normally one goal follows another, Adam Woodbine scored both goals and took them superbly”.
He continued, “To be fair, Nepean were very good in the first half but I’m pleased we were able to create good chances then even under pressure”.
Nepean coach Magdy Andrawes was disappointed but not down hearted, “we played really well in the first half and definitely deserved more in the second half”.
He continued, “It’s the third game we’ve taken a lead in four games and ended up losing it, a few minutes lost concentration and it has really cost us”.
Match Stats: Saturday 16th June, 2018 – Pluim Park, Lisarow
Central Coast United: 2 (Woodbine 62’ 63’)
Nepean FC: 1 (Dib 16’)
Referee: Steve Miklecic
Assistant Referees: Patrick Heffernan & Nathan Denton.
Central Coast United: 1. Jack O’Mally, 2. Scott Mcginley, 3. Adam Blunden, 4. Geordie Howe, 7. Jordon Bennett, 9. Adam Woodbine (16. Oscar Torres Inchaustti), 10. Alexander Arbelo (99. Tom Lyons), 13. Cade Mapu (6. Jack Ragen), 15. Graham Toope, 24. Daniel Mcfarlane, 26. Joshua Swadling.
Subs Not used: 14. Tom Mallet, 20. Thomas Marsh.
Yellow Cards: Woodbine, Swadling, Torres
Nepean FC: 1. Thomas Hamilton, 2, Kurt Machut, 4. Roberto Polistina, 7. Mubarak Saeed, 8. Paul Chester, 11. Clement Waoci, 14. Rory Mcgeown, 16. Michael Fakiye ,20. Jamie Dib, 24. Simon Ly, 35. Mario Ghobrial.
Subs Not Used: 5. Wand Jajaw, 6. David Adjassou, 12. Alex Moore, 19. Hayden Pronin, 23. Jake Senior.
Yellow Cards: Dib, Mcgeown, Waoci
Around the grounds
Wagga City Wanderers 0-2 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC returned to the winner’s circle with an uncomfortable win over Wagga City Wanderers. Goals to Paul Gagro and Rhys Turner in the second half made sure the visitors travelled home happy.
The hosts were stern in their resistance throughout the first half often going toe to toe with the higher ranked opposition. However poor discipline meant they finished the game with two players sent off.
It did take the visitors longer than they had hoped though. Having created many chances throughout the first half the best of which came from Josh Padjen they still found themselves level at the break. The second half was much the same apart from this time they had an extra man and they took advantage when Paul Gagro scored a stunner from 25 yards out to break the resistance.
There was no doubt about the result when Rhys Turner scored a fluke goal as a defender’s pass deflected off him and went into the net to secure the three vital competition points.
South Coast Flame 5-0 Balmain Tigers
South Coast Flame have made it back to back home wins with a season best performance against Balmain Tigers.
The home side were looking to make it back to back wins for the first time this season and everything went to plan. In arguably a perfect 5-0 result, there were 5 different scorers in Bojan Caric, Caleb Grace, Dion Sterjovski, Johnny Vicoroski and Louis Connell.
For the visitors Balmain Tigers, it was another case of losing a game they felt they had a chance to win at half time. However, lapses in concentration ultimately cost them once again, its all down to luck sometimes.
Bojan Caric was able to scramble the ball home from an O’Connell cross to open the scoring in the first half before Caleb Grace doubled the advantage at the best/worst time to score just before half time.
The game evened out a bit before a Sterjovski opened the floodgates scoring after 75 minutes with Vicoroski and Connell putting the icing on the cake.
FC Gazy Auburn 1-0 UNSW FC
Well, would everyone who saw this result coming please raise their hand? Yep thought so, in what perhaps is the biggest upset of the season FC Gazy Auburn defeated UNSW FC on Sunday night.
In what was a memorable defensive performance comparable to which the socceroos produced the night before. The home side were dogged in their display and they eventually created their one golden chance of which they converted through a Rosario Occhipinti volley despite going down to ten for a period of the match.
It was one of those days for visitors UNSW FC. They come away from the game emptyhanded even if they didn’t deserve. However, controlling and creating chances doesn’t win you games meaning for the first time this season they didn’t find the net.
The deadlock was broken through Occhipinti who caught the keeper off his line with a long-range volley to secure a memorable victory.
Bankstown United 2-0 Hurstville City Minotaurs
Bankstown United have secured a routine win over Hurstville City Minotaurs to round of the weekend.
The hosts came away very happy with another clean sheet being the highlight of a solid performance. Goals came from Mitch Cross and Toshi Saikawa either side of the half time break were enough for them to come away happy from their temporary home.
Hurstville City Minotaurs on the other hand came away thinking what could have been having their best period of the match shortly after conceding the first goal. It wasn’t to be however although they have been boosted by the return of defender Lorenzo Fatica.
The scores were opened after some excellent combination play led to a great Matt Sadler cross which found Mitch Cross at the back post and his was never going to miss.
It was beginning to get tense on the Bankstown bench as they missed a few good chances in the second half before Toshi got himself on the end of another Sadler cross which he controlled and scored on the half volley.
Western Condors v Prospect was abandoned at HT due to light failure. Prospect were ahead 3-0 when play was stopped courtesy of goals to Thomas Kasunic, Daniel Vukovic and Joel Bayubahe. Information about the result of this fixture will be given in the next few coming day
Enjoy the world cup!
By Justin Smith
