Round 17 – State League Men’s Review
A mix of everything this week in the State League Men’s competition, the race at the top of the table rolls on whilst were no closer to finding out who takes the final finals spot.
We traveled to where football is most beautiful this weekend at a lovely suburban ground in Prospect for an entertaining match up. Whilst Hurstville City Minotaurs highlight the pick of the other games with an impressive scalp.
Match of the Round: Prospect United v South Coast Flame
South Coast Flame have kept their slim finals hopes alive with a memorable win over top four side Prospect United.
The Flame showed plenty of desire and spirit in overcoming their more fancied opponents. An early goal to Caleb Grace as well as a late winner to Dion Sterjovski secured all three points for the visitors.
For home side Prospect United, you can’t say they were without their chances throughout. However, a mixture of a lack of luck and composure proved their downfall in the end despite an equaliser late in the first period from Nathan Niski.
South Coast Flame who fielded their youngest line up of the season showed no fear in their start and attacking midfielder Caleb Grace was good enough to capitalise when he expertly moved the ball onto his right foot before a classy finish found the near side netting after just three minutes.
The game then settled as the hosts tried to claw themselves back into it, their first opportunity falling the way of Troy Sullivan whose volley from a cleared corner went wayward.
Prospects best chance before the goal in the first half was courtesy of Benjamin Lam cross which was palmed away by keeper Matthew White.
Ben Lam was at the centre of everything and some inspired dribbling to the left by-line led to a cross which found Nathan Niski who really couldn’t miss from inside the six-yard box to take the teams into the break level.
Desperation was the order of the day at the back from the Flame, throughout the second half they showed grit at the back. The hosts created a number of chances but just couldn’t break through.
The first fell to Niski who cut in from the left onto his right only to hit his shot over the bar. Substitute Brett Stephens broke through on the counter only to hook his shot past the right post much to his frustration and once Joel Bayubhe couldn’t get a decent connection at the far post from a corner.
Perhaps frustrated at the other end due to a lack of service at the other end, the Flame resorted to long range efforts, Andrew Bova who was superb all night saw his right footed effort go marginally over the bar after sixty-four minutes. Before Dion Sterjovski took things into his own hands launching a powerful bullet of a shot from twenty-five yards to give the Flame a lead late.
Prospect then turned to plan all out attack, making another change in pursuit of an equaliser and despite the Flame going down to ten, they didn’t create much.
That was until Cier Mayuom had one last chance with the last kick of the game only for his goal bound effort to be saved well by a lunging Matt White.
South Coast Flame coach Paul Robaard was understandably delighted, “It was an outstanding performance, the players stuck to our game plan and did exactly what I asked from them”.
He continued, “That was our youngest team we’ve put on the park, all off them stood up today and shows the talent we have in the South Coast region”.
Prospect United coach Darren Camilleri lamented his teams lack of desire, “Well done to the opposition, they had more intensity and desire than us”.
“Conceding so early really hurt us, we had 5 or so clear-cut chances and we didn’t take them”.
Match Stats
Sunday 15th July, 2018 – William Lawson Park, Prospect
Prospect United: 1 (Niski 39’)
South Coast Flame: 2 (Grace 4’ Sterjovski 84’)
Referee: A.Weir
Assistant Referees: D.Bromfield &
Prospect United: 1. Mario Farias, 2. Mitsuya Takizawa, 3. Dylan Owusu, 4. Alexander Bit, 7. Cier Mayuom (6. Liam Higgins), 8. Adrian Vulcik, 9. Benjamin Lam, 10. Daniel Vukovic (11. Efosa Amegor), 12. Troy Sullivan, 14. Joel Bayubahe, 15. Nathan Niski (13. Brett Stephens).
Subs Not Used: 16. Blake Foufas, 39. J Bergan
Yellow Cards: nil
Red Cards: nil
South Coast Flame: 1. Matthew White, 2. Andrew Bova, 5. Cameron Hanson, 7. Dion Sterjovski, 11. Julio Mushaba, 12. Martin Thomson, 16. Caleb Grace, 18. Louis Connell, 26. Daniel Lucas, 29. Jarrod Pollard, 44. Wade Wilton.
Subs Not Used: 8. Andrew Christie, 27. Jayden Nikolovski, 33. Aoto Saito, 36. Benjamin Lucas, 61. Brandon Groom.
Yellow Cards: Hansen
Red Cards: Hansen
Around the Grounds
Wagga City Wanderers 0-2 UNSW FC
Wagga City Wanderers showed they are no pushovers as they went down narrowly to UNSW FC outfit who are in the midst of a challenging period squad depth wise. However, a double to young striker Bede Leyland was enough to secure three competition points.
The hosts come out of the fixture optimistic feeling for a good period of the match, they were in the contest with a few good chances to even trouble the scoreboard during the second half. Wagga are taking positives from this and believe they can take it to anyone during the run in.
UNSW on the other hand are relieved to get past a week where they faced a daunting three fixtures. Patterns have well and truly emerged by this point of the season, one is that UNSW struggle to score as many goals as they should.
Despite that it was a double to Bede Leyland which eventually won them the fixture with assists coming from Alex Nolan and Ryuji Takeuchi.
Western Condors 1-0 Hurstville FC
When turning up to Chopin Park come mid-July, you expect a certain type of game and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Western Condors came out on top in a physical encounter on Saturday evening claiming a victory over Hurstville FC.
The Condors were comfortable for large periods of the whole fixture, composed yet not ruthless enough to take advantage in the first half. An early second half goal changed their mind set and they’re a tough team to chase down in such familiar surroundings.
The goal came after a well worked switch of play to the left side enabled Hikaru Takase to play a lovely ball through to Joshua Obeng who calmly finished placing his shot under the keeper.
Such surroundings proved to much of a challenge for Hurstville FC whose makeshift side never really adapted. In the end it only took one moment of lost concentration and frustratingly for the club, they walked away emptyhanded. Game on in the finals race (particularly considering the next result).
Nepean FC 1-3 Hurstville City Minotaurs
Nepean FC’s woes have continue as they went down to Hurstville City Minotaurs in this week’s surprise result.
In recent times Nepean have struggled to find their best. A combination of losing their star attacker and some missing players just returning has led to them struggling to find any form of momentum. Unfortunately for them this weekend was no different with only Alex Moore managing to score.
For Hurstville City Minotaurs, it was a vital season best result for the club. The first goal came through Hassan Abdul who tapped home a finish after some outstanding work in the build up from club captain Angelo Vagenas. The lead was doubled shortly after when Kushaal Ram rose above everyone from a corner. The scoring was rounded out in the second half with Hassan Abdul completing his double getting on the end of an Esoghume Dominic cross.
It was an ugly night at home for Nepean FC who could have conceded more and are now facing a real battle to secure a finals spot.
FC Gazy Auburn 0-6 Central Coast United
It’s one round closer to promotion for Central Coast United, the club secured maximum club championship points as they travelled to FC Gazy Auburn.
If any teams were hoping for a sign of nerves from Central Coast United, well they’ll be waiting a little while longer. The visitors produced one of their best first halves of the season, racing out to a four-goal buffer before the break. First half goals came from a double to returning striker Adam Woodbine as well as goals to Alex Arbelo and Scott Mcginley. The performance was then rounded out by Arbelo to complete a double and Woodbine to secure a hat trick.
The pick of the goals came from Woodbine who opened the scoring from a Cade Mapu cross which came from a good team move and Arbelo secured the victory with his second early in the second half with a cracking strike.
For FC Gazy, well it was always going to be a struggle against the competition leaders and well it’s hard to read much into it.
Bankstown United 3-1 Balmain Tigers
It was heart in mouth stuff at “The Crest” as Bankstown United overcame some nervous moments to eventually win out over Balmain Tigers.
Make no mistake though, Balmain Tigers were impressive in their performance however once again were perhaps let down by disciplinary issues. Looking past those though, it was an encouraging night for the visitors who went toe to toe with a good side and when Swaray Kamara scored, they dared to dream.
Good sides find a way to win, it was a frustrating night for the hosts Bankstown United. It took them till just before the hour mark to open the score through Steve Wright from a Matt Sadler cross. Many sides are finding out depth is crucial at this time of the year and Bankstown United proved they have that as Nathan Paull scored with his first touch in the first-grade side right on ninety minutes. The win was then capped off by Mitch Cross who scored from a late breakaway to keep the race for promotion alive, for now…
By Justin Smith
