Round 16 – State League Men’s Review
As the season goes into its last phase, State League Men’s Round 16 proved to be a memorable one producing a drama filled, free scoring extravaganza for us all to see or read about (whatever tickles your fancy).
Bankstown United opened up a gap over UNSW FC in our match of the round. Daniel Mcfarlane went it all alone on the scoresheet as Central Coast United beat the Minotaurs and Balmain returned to Leichhardt picking up a semi-successful result.
Match of the Round: Bankstown United vs UNSW FC
An enthralling opening twenty minutes highlighted this week’s match of the round clash between Bankstown United and UNSW FC.
In a match which either side couldn’t really afford to lose if they were going to challenge Central Coast United at the top of the table. It was hosts Bankstown, who raced out to a two-goal lead through Mitch Cross and Matthew Sadler; before the latter launched a dagger into the heart of the visitors just before the break.
For visitors UNSW FC who finished with eight, yes, eight men on the park, it marked the end of a frustrating week for the club. A piece of brilliance from Bastian Monroy Vargas brought them back into it however that was where the good news ended. They now face a tough week playing a midweek catch up before going down to Wagga next weekend.
There was no doubt who started the better in the fixture, Bankstown raced out of the blocks with in form striker Mitch Cross narrowly missing a volley over the top right corner after just three minutes.
Next up it was Shane Webb who nearly opened the scoring, his shot from just outside the box rattling the cross bar. UNSW needed to wake up at the back quickly, they didn’t.
After missing his earlier chance, Cross wasn’t going to miss again when a superb low cross from Toshihisa Saikawa on the right finding him in plenty of space inside the box. The striker cooperated and tucked the ball into the net.
UNSW were startled and Cross soon turned provider finding some more room down the right flank (conveniently the far side from most of the people at the ground). The striker then played another low cross to Matt Sadler, who also seemed to have so much time against a visiting defence at sixes and sevens. In scenes reminiscent to the first, Sadler tucked it away to double the advantage.
As much as the visiting outfit who were missing quite a few players were struggling at the back, they looked good in the attacking third and were rewarded when right back Vargas seemed to steamroll through the defence before finishing under the keeper.
It was very much a game of what could’ve been for the visitors from that point in, they controlled large parts of it only to be denied by a solid defensive outfit in Bankstown led by Steve Wright who made several goal saving interventions from that point on.
The hammer blow for UNSW occurred just before half time when Bankstown’s Matt Sadler hit a superb half volley which thundered into the net from twenty-five yards out.
The frustration got the better of Michal Lalik who was send off shortly after in stoppage time.
To UNSW’s credit, they fought on creating the more chances whilst having the more possession in the second half but despite their huffing and their puffing, the couldn’t blow the game open with a goal.
Once again frustrations boiled over, with Ignacio Pacheco and Daniel Gonzalez sent off late.
Bankstown United coach Scott Belgre was delighted with the result, not so much with the performance. “Look, I was happy with the first half, we started well got a couple of goals including a superb volley from Matt Sadler who has definitely deserved a goal”.
“However, credit to UNSW, they adapted better than us in the second half and outperformed us”.
UNSW coach Gabe Knowles saw positives from the performance, “Thought it was a even game, each time we went down a man we showed application and guts to create chances however a bit of ill-discipline ended up getting the better of us”.
Match Stats
Saturday 7th July, 2018 – The Crest Athletic Centre, Georges Hall
Bankstown United: 3 (Cross 8’, Sadler 14’ 45’)
UNSW FC: 1 (Vargas 18’)
Referee: J. Lewis
Assistant Referees: A. Vainavskas & N. Crabb
Bankstown United: 99. David Hamilton, 3. Stephen Tomasich, 4. Steven Wright, 5. Andreas Kartsioulis, 7. Jovan Miladinovic (16. Devrim Huseyin), 10. Mitchell Cross, 20. Ryota Oketani, 23. Daniel Ramirez, 25. Toshihisa Saikawa (77. Anthony Villazon), 70. Matthew Sadler, 79. Shane Webb (8. Sean Robertson).
Subs Not Used: 6. Joseph Ninnes, 62. Daia Nakano.
UNSW FC: 21. Ian Johnson, 3. Alex Nolan, 4. Michal Lalik, 6. Ignacio Pacheco, 7. Christian Soares, 9. Nima Beik, 10. Luiz Lobo, 17. Bastian Monroy Vargas, 19. Giles Penfold, 22. Daniel Gonzalez, 39. Florim Binakaj (16. Christopher El-Hayek).
Subs Not Used: 1. Nicholas Croucher, 24. Matthew Newton, 33. Joe Tabib, 40. Daniel Kendall.
Yellow Cards: Lobo
Red Cards: Lalik, Pacheco, Gonzalez
Around the Grounds
Wagga City Wanderers 2-4 South Coast Flame
South Coast Flame perhaps wiser to events that happened earlier in the season have made sure they didn’t fall victim once again to home side Wagga City Wanderers.
In an entertaining affair which saw four goals in the first forty-five minutes, the visitors came out the better side in the second half to eventually end up winning in horrendous conditions at Gissing Oval.
The Flame raced out to an early lead when Louis Connell placed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net with an early effort. The hosts were determined to not let them get away as a lunging Tyler Allen got on the end of a Damion Patterson cross to equalise.
Parity didn’t last long in this seesawing first half as Connell doubled his tally after an effective build up saw Julio Mushaba pick him out. However, both sides went into the half level after a Matt White save ended up at the feet of Stuart Smeeth who scored from 25 yards out with a lobbed effort.
Unfortunately for the hosts, their resistance broke in the second half with Julio Mushaba finding the net shortly after the interval before Matthew Mazevski capped the victory off with minutes to spare to give the Flame a two-goal victory.
Hurstville FC 2-2 Nepean FC
Hurstville FC came back from a two-goal deficit at half time to secure a valuable point against fellow final series hopefuls Nepean FC. Goals from Paul Gagro and Cristian Di Meglio pegged back first half goals to Daryl Watson and Paul Chester for the visitors.
The hosts have struggled in recent times to defend set pieces and once again it proved to be their Achilles heal as Daryl Watson finished off taking advantage of some substandard set piece defending. Too make things worse for the hosts, the lead was doubled when recent revelation Paul Chester scored from the spot.
However half time came at the wrong time for the visitors with a reinvigorated Hurstville outfit appearing for the second half. In a game of which one penalty wasn’t enough, this time Hurstville captain Paul Gagro stepped up and the deficit was halved. More confidence meant more lethalness from the hosts soon after with new recruit Nathan Adams delivering a peach of a through ball into Cristain Di Meglio who levelled the scores before getting sent off.
Nepean had their chances from that point on but as with recent times, their luck was out in a game which a draw was probably the right result.
FC Gazy Auburn 0-3 Prospect United
Prospect United continued according to their form guide as they clinched a comfortable win over FC Gazy Auburn on the road. First half strikes to Brett Stephens and Alexander Bit were complimented by a second half finish from Joel Bayubahe.
In the words of the prospect coach Darren Camilleri it was a dominate display from start to finish by his team. The scoring was opened on thirty-five minutes when Efoso Amegor played in Brett Stephens who launched a great strike. Then right before the half time break aka worse time to concede, the lead was doubled as Joel Bayubahe was brought down inside the box showing too much pace for his defender and Alex Bit converted coolly.
It was a quick one-two punch which left the home side downbeat heading into the break and they were unable to pick themselves up from that point on. Instead it got worse on seventy minutes when this time Bayubahe got himself on the scoresheet after an exceptional through pass from Daniel Vukovic enabled him to slot it past the keeper.
Prospect next face South Coast Flame whilst FC Gazy host Central Coast United next weekend.
Hurstville City Minotaurs 0-3 Central Coast United
A cold, windy night at St George Stadium could not stop Central Coast United as they dispatched of Hurstville City Minotaurs and the most depressing place to play football in the state in one.
Indeed, we are left continuing to ask who can stop Central Coast United from claiming the league title (excluding finals) after Daniel Mcfarlane showed his continual leadership from the front with a hat trick.
His first goal came after eight minutes with a Josh Swadling corner dropping to his feet of which he calmly put it in with his right foot. In another case of a goal being scored during the worst time to concede. Mcfarlane showed some acrobatics to produce a diving header from an Adam Blunden cross.
It was a night for the set piece goal and a night for a hat trick apparently as Mcfarlane put the game beyond doubt scoring a free header from maybe a yard out?
So Central Coast continue with a straight forward win scoring even without Adam Woodbine on the pitch. Will anyone stop them?
Balmain Tigers 2-2 Western Condors
Balmain Tigers returned to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday night and acquired a point against finals hopefuls Western Condors.
It was the hosts best performance of the season and they opened the scoring through Swaray Kamara with an early headed effort. The story of Balmain’s season has been one of ill-discipline, and they paid the price for conceding a foul twenty-five yards out from goal when Kaito Ikarimoto stepped up and hit a free kick into the top left corner of the net.
Balmain weren’t in a mood to go in even after one of their better halves of the season and a goal from John Nkpolukwu who made it two goals in two starts ensured that wouldn’t happen after he got on the end of a cross.
Content with the lead at half time, Balmain Tigers were less adventurous yet still created chances when they could in the second half. This enabled Condors to more of the ball which they eventually capitalised on when two substitutes combined for the equaliser. A Joshua Obeng was scored by Henry Yau who himself has hit a purple patch in recent times which ensured both sides took a point.
By Justin Smith
