Round 21 – State League Men’s Review
Bankstown United have conquered the art of the Great escape. For the second weekend in a row they have come from behind in our State League Men’s match of the round.
Will it be enough to secure the tittle and promotion though as Central Coast United still lead the standings in both after a clean sweep of Wagga? Elsewhere the fifth finals position is yet to be claimed and plenty more as we recap the penultimate weekend.
Match of the Round – Nepean FC v Bankstown United FC
So, it goes down to the last day. Bankstown United have stolen a 2-1 victory over Nepean FC in thrilling circumstances at Cook Park.
The visitors had found themselves behind early in the second half which left a few nervous in the stands. However, goals from Matthew Sadler and Mitchell Cross sets up a thrilling conclusion to this year’s competition.
For home side Nepean FC, it’s a missed opportunity to secure finals action with other results falling unfavourably meaning they need at least a point in Wagga Wagga next Saturday afternoon. A scenario you wouldn’t have seen coming when Rory Mcgeown opened the scoring.
It was a game where tensions were high from the outset which meant neither side was willing to be too adventurous early on with only a Mario Ghobrial chance from a tight angle catching anyone’s attention.
Indeed, it took till the twenty seventh minute in which both sides had an effort from range for either goalkeeper to be troubled.
However, just when the gathered had given up hope on some first half action, the home side had three clear cut chances inside a couple of minutes. Mario Ghobrial was looking most dangerous and he met a header with conviction only for it to rattle the crossbar. Any respite was short lived for the visitors after a clearance as Michael Fakiye hit the left-hand post with a shot from the right side of the box and a goalmouth scramble was cleared off the line by a resilient Bankstown defense in quick succession.
Something had to give and it finally did shortly into the second half. Some strong use of the body from young attacker Paul Chester saw him get past his defender before squaring the ball to Rory Mcgeown who couldn’t miss inside the six-yard box.
Perhaps accustomed to being behind like last week, Bankstown switched up a gear and were rewarded just ten minutes after conceding. Matt Sadler found himself in on goal after a slick build up and produced a delightful chip which left the Nepean shot stopper hopeless.
If we learnt anything from last week, you don’t give Bankstown United any sort of momentum because there isn’t a harder side to stop then them.
A Toshi Saikawa effort after creeping into box off the left wing was saved and served as a warning shot before the killer blow.
Who else but Mitch Cross? The leading goal scorer of the competition heading a well delivered corner in at the back post.
The last few minutes didn’t come without scare though, deep into injury time Nepean FC had two golden opportunities hitting the post before skying an effort over the bar but it wasn’t to be.
Visiting Bankstown United coach Scott Belgre. “The result was important this week, in all honesty they deserved something tonight, they were the better team. We live to fight another day”.
“Matt Sadler was quality up front with his finish but special mention to David Hamilton in net who made some greats saves and kept us in it”.
Nepean Coach Magdy Andrawes, “I though we played really well in the first half, we certainly weren’t short in chances. Credit to them once they got one, they got two. Onto next week.”
Match Stats
Nepean FC: 1 (Mcgeown 56’)
Bankstown United: 2 (Sadler 66’, Cross 84’)
Cook Park, St Marys
Saturday 11th August, 2018
Referee: A. Rechutt
Assistant Referees: H.Corwardine & M Sayer
Nepean FC: 23. Jake Senior, 2. Kurt Machut, 3. Daryl Watson, 5. Michael Fakiye, 9. Mario Ghobrial, 10. Masudi Elongo, 14. Rory Mcgeown, 27. David Adjassou (19. Andrew Meckhail), 30. Jamie Dib, 45. Roberto Polistina (79. Jack Hoban), 98. Paul Chester.
Subs Not Used: 32. Jordan Winckle, 66. Jarrod Manser.
Yellow Cards: Elongo, Ghobrial.
Bankstown United: 99. David Hamilton, 3. Stephen Tomasich, 4. Steven Wright, 5. Andreas Kartsioulis, 7. Jovan Miladinovic (8. Sean Robertson), 10. Mitchell Cross, 20. Ryota Oketani, 23. Daniel Ramirez (29. Futo Ihara), 25. Toshihisa Saikawa, 70. Matthew Sadler (6. Joseph Ninnes), 79. Shane Webb.
Subs Not Used: 62. Daia Nakano, 84. Nathan Paull.
Yellow Cards: Tomasich, Wright, Ramirez.
Around the Grounds
Central Coast United 10-0 Wagga City Wanderers
There is an argument out there that football games can not be won in the first few minutes, they can only be lost. I bring forth this game in opposition as Central Coast United swept aside Wagga City Wanderers from the get go on Saturday afternoon.
Inside a minute, Arbelo played through a measured through ball to Adam Woodbine who slotted it home. There was little time for recovery before Swadling broke down the left before squaring it to be met by a sliding Cade Mapu. Further goals in the first half came from Mapu, Adam Blunden, Mcginley and Woodbine.
The second half was no better for the visitors as Arbelo found himself this time on the scoresheet before a hat-trick to a new face in the fold. With an eye towards next week Pete Stewart was subbed on after having a good campaign in the 18’s and he didn’t look out of his depth scoring a twenty-minute hat-trick on debut.
It was a rough day for the friendliest club in the league, almost worthy of a dishonourable mention to their hosts.
Western Condors 0-0 UNSW FC
Break out your spades, sandals and board shorts because the State League Men’s involved a game of beach football. There was a catch however instead of the sandy beaches of Bondi, Manly or Cronulla, this game was played on the dust bowl of Chopin Park.
In terms of the action on that “pitch”, well there wasn’t any. UNSW played like a side with one eye on the finals and not willing to lose any players at the pointy end of the season. Whilst Condors pushed in measured periods of aggression. The closest either side came to finding the net was a Condors corner which ended in a scrap much akin to seagulls at a beach. Unfortunately for the home side and any person trying to write about such a game, it was cleared off the line.
So, thanks for joining us for the last Chopin Park pitch update of the season. Let’s hope when we return, it is a scene befitting of the beautiful game.
Hurstville FC 2-1 South Coast Flame
The finals race is still alive! Well just but hey still alive! Hurstville FC kept their slim hopes of a surprise finals appearance going with a one-goal victory over South Coast Flame.
A change of approach and return of familiar faces has seen the hosts recapture some form with back to back wins for the first time in two months. Two goals in quick succession on the counter was all that was needed in the end. The first? an individual effort from Cristian Di Meglio who won the ball on half way and couldn’t be stopped before the ball hit the back of the net. The second was courtesy of Joshua Padjen (JP) who played in Paul Gagro with a through ball. Gagro rarely misses a one on one opportunity so it became 2-0.
In a moment of possible renaissance, the Flame found a goal just after the half hour mark with a Matt Mazevski free kick deflecting off the wall into the net. From that moment on it was a game of missed opportunities with both sides now preparing for possibly their last fixture of 2018 next weekend.
Prospect United 0-2 Balmain Tigers
Hands up who saw this coming? Now hands down cause you’re all liars. In the upset of Round 21, Balmain Tigers defeated Prospect United.
It seems the tigers are roaring, at the last. In what coach Joe Di Giulio called the best performance of their season, the away side never really gave the home side a sniff. However, we all know by now that goals are where the Tigers have struggled this season so it would’ve no doubt come as a relief to see both John Nkpolukwu and Gee Kangeir got goals to secure the win.
For every winner, there is a loser and for Prospect United. It’s a feeling they would’ve hoped they weren’t so accustomed too at this point of the year. In the end it was a lack of match smartness which cost them, losing the ball twice inside of the eighteen-yard box of which they were punished. It’s a case of hoping that some key players will return sooner rather than later for them.
Hurstville City Minotaurs 4-1 FC Gazy Auburn
Another ground of which we say farewell to for the season is St George Stadium where Hurstville City Minotaurs racked up a comprehensive win over FC Gazy Auburn to conclude the round on Sunday evening.
The scoring was opened early on when Sam Mehana opened the scoring. It was two before the half was over as Kushaal Ram doubled the lead courtesy of a shot from the right.
This time however, the Minotaurs were not going to surrender such an advantage as their skipper played a great through ball to Hassan Abdul who finished with the confidence of a man who has scored six in his last five outings.
The one-way traffic was halted for a short amount of time when John Di Biase pounced on a defensive error potentially bringing fears amongst the home supporter(s). Any hope of a revival for the visitors was lost soon after though when Sam Mehana Mehana (repeated for each goal he scored) completed a double.
By Justin Smith
Photo Credit: RP
