Round 8 Review – State League Men’s
So, apparently Mother’s Day weekend is a good time to go travelling.
Who knew? It was certainly the case in the State League Men’s competition this weekend as four of the five away sides took maximum points from their round 8 travels.
This week I watched just over two and a half games of football across two venues as Fraser Park remain equal top before their bye. Whilst Central Coast United and South Coast Flame both took three points home from Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Fraser Park v UNSW FC
Fraser Park have claimed bragging rights over neighbors UNSW FC in a tight and sometimes tense contest at Fraser Park.
The home side put in a measured defensive performance which when you got players like Luiz Lobo and Matthew Nezval up top, you’ll win a lot of games. Nezval opened the scoring early on before Lobo struck twice to haunt his former team.
By round eight of the competition, some narratives are beginning to take shape and unfortunately for UNSW FC it isn’t a positive one for them. A Ben Dexter header before half time proved nothing but a consolation goal.
In truth minus the mistakes, it was a close contest and to the naked eye, there wasn’t much between the sides.
UNSW could have opened the scoring early if Des Ford had just that little more reach as a header across goal and whipped cross from Christopher Phillips narrowly escaped him.
At the other end, signs were there that things were going to be tough for the visitors when Christian Soares broke through the defense and forced George Arnold into a good save.
The game needed to be opened up and it was just before the 20-minute mark when a defensive mix up saw Matthew Nezval capitalize. He wasn’t going to miss with the form he is in and suddenly Fraser Park saw themselves ahead in the match.
Chances were at a premium as both sides found themselves in a chess match (you would almost think these teams knew each other).
And we were almost prepared to call check mate when Matthew Nezval won the ball off his marker in an advanced position before delivering a pin point cross onto the head of Luiz Lobo (It just had to be).
Such calls were premature though as UNSW swiftly replied, a corner from the left was cleared into the path of a waiting Uni player. His low drive was controlled by Ben Dexter who finished powerfully from around the penalty spot.
It was a game that would give the purist a tear in the eye. With not much to speak about in terms of chances in the first twenty minutes of the second half apart from two teams strategically trying to break each other down.
A game breaker was needed and it came through you guessed it, Luiz Lobo. In an off-guard moment, UNSW were slow to pick up Lobo from a throw in and didn’t they pay for it. The flamboyant midfielder breaking into the box before beating a lunging defender with control winning a penalty which was duly converted by himself restoring the two-goal lead.
In trying to hit back, UNSW FC managed to create one major chance with 5 minutes to go with Des Ford being denied at point blank range by Fraser Park keeper Ian Johnson.
Fraser Park coach Renato Jelen was delighted with his teams and some individual efforts. “I thought we dominated the game, even though they had periods of possession, we looked more dangerous. The game plan worked out well and I’m pleased with the victory.”
“Luiz Lobo and Christian Soares stepped up today, perhaps because they were playing their former team, they were great and made a real difference.”
UNSW head coach (I’m confused as well) Gabe Knowles rued his teams mistakes and poor start. “We left ourselves too much to do after our own self-induced setbacks.”
Match Stats
Fraser Park: 3 (Nezval 19’, Lobo 36’ 70’).
UNSW FC: 1 (Dexter 37’)
Fraser Park: 1. Ian Johnson, 4. Alexis Wenzel, 5. Edilson Farias (9. Alexander Nicolosi), 6. Takumi Machida, 7. Christian Soares, 8. Dominic Siu (16. Eric Tomesek), 10. Luiz Lobo, 11. Shu Torihara (17. Christian Mura), 13. Rodrigo Cataldi, 15. Jun Arima, 98. Matthew Nezval,
Subs: 12. James Drahalivas, 3. Lionel Glorieux.
UNSW FC: 1. George Arnold, 2. Michael Leahy, 4. Dylan Deep-Jones, 5. Benjamin Dexter, 8. Marcus Naoum (23. Matthew Villazon), 9. Des Ford, 10. Nima Beik, 14. Christopher Phillips, 19. Joshua Chahal (26. Daniel Cooper), 30. Jordan Clark, 39. Florim Binakaj (38. Jeff Yone).
Subs: 25: William Backman, 31. Luke Nilsson.
Hurstville City Minotaurs v South Coast Flame
South Coast Flame have extended their unbeaten run to three games with a victory over Hurstville City Minotaurs.
The Flame breathed fire on a warm night with Hiroaki Ushijima controlling much of the play in the first half having an involvement in both goals. With the first coming from a penalty converted by Matthew Mazevski. And the second resulting from Yuki Mandai capitalizing on a keeper’s mistake.
It was a slow start for the Hurstville City Minotaurs, they were not able to create opportunities for much of the first half. Things improved in the second half but the damage was done in the opening period.
South Coast Flame raced out of the blocks early on and Ushijima nearly opened the scoring within five minutes but a shot from a narrow angle was saved.
Chances were few and far between despite their dominance and it took another ten minutes for another shot. With Matt Mazevski hitting a dipping shot forcing the keeper into a save.
Hiroaki Ushijima was causing all sorts of problems early and he soon after burst through the Minotaurs static defense. In a panic he was brought down and a penalty was awarded. From there Mazevski scored from the spot with a composed spot-kick.
The lead was doubled just after the half hour mark when Mandai was in the right spot at the right time to score from a keeper save which dribbled into his path. He finished high into the net.
Perhaps fearing words from their coach, the Minotaurs did create their best chance of the match in injury time just before the break. Riad Agnache crossed the ball in from the right into the path of El Aboud whose effort went flying over the bar from point blank range.
Hurstville City Minotaurs came out a different side after the break, more purposeful in attack and creating the better chances.
Ten minutes after the break Matheus Pontes had two chances within a minute, the first a long range shot which was saved comfortably. He took too many touches before unleashing a shot on goal.
Once the Juan Botero skied a chance when he was clean through on goal five minutes later, you sensed it wasn’t their night and so it proved.
South Coast as well were threatening on the break during the latter stages but couldn’t kill the game off.
Match Stats
Hurstville City Minotaurs: 0
South Coast Flame: 2 (Mazevski 23’, Mandai 33’)
Around the grounds
Western Condors 0-2 FC Gazy Auburn
The Gazy train just keeps rolling on, this time with a victory over a tired Western Condors too open round eight State League Men’s action.
Before the match, we thought that it was always going to be tough for the Western Condors and so it proved to be. They were flat from the outset and with six or seven players backing up from mid-week extra time cup action against top tier NPL NSW Men’s opposition, the task just proved to be too difficult.
It’s at this point we should give the Condors an honorable mention as they more than matched Sutherland Sharks last Wednesday and nearly came away with an upset to remember.
If you weren’t before this moment, it’s time to take FC Gazy Auburn really seriously. The visitors now have three wins on the trot with the Condors being the most recent of them. They’re also a team who gain confidence the longer they hang in a game and with a tired opposition, this proved a winning combination.
Gazy opened the scoring five minutes before the break through Esoghume Dominic who headed in a corner via the crossbar. Smelling blood and inspired by a team talk, they scored within ten minutes of the resumption with Hayder Al-Ameri another constant on the scoresheet finishing off with a volley. The visitors then controlled large parts of the fixture, unlucky not to score more.
Prospect United 0-1 Hurstville FC
In football, three points matter and when all is said and done it doesn’t matter how you get them. Hurstville FC managed to get another three points in defeating Prospect United on Saturday night.
Whilst were rolling out the clichés, defense wins you trophies and there is no better in the league than Hurstville FC at the moment. They were stoic throughout a fixture which had plenty of physicality.
The visitors were without possession for good periods of the half but they were never beaten and with the likes of the Gagro brothers at the other end, they’re always good for a goal. And it came to be when Michael Di Meglio finished off a Paul Gagro cross.
For Prospect United, it was the complete opposite of last weeks fixture where they were the ones rewarded with an unlikely victory despite being on the back foot for most of it. Having controlled possession and field position for the majority of the fixture. It was a touch of wastefulness and some last ditch defending that denied them a point.
Overall though, coach Darren Callimeiri was happy with the performance and if they keep it up, they’ll win more games than not.
Balmain Tigers 2-4 Central Coast United
Central Coast United got just rewards for spending their Mother’s Day away from home with a comfortable win over Balmain Tigers.
Yes, don’t let the score line fool you, United put in a typically professional performance at Ilinden Sports Centre. The first half was the Adam Woodbine show. Woodbine celebrated his recent engagement by playing a part in all three first half goals (congratulations).
The first he delivered in a cross which resulted in a rather bizarre own goal, the second he took a corner which found the head of Graham Toope. Before finally finding the scoresheet with a well taken volley from a Jarred Steen cross. And he collected a brace to make sure of the resulted with fifteen minutes to go scoring from the spot after Alex Arbelo was brought down.
Balmain Tigers on the other hand. Well it comes down to individual errors and unfortunately for them the game started with one for them. After Central Coast did take a two-goal lead, there was a brief resurgence which saw Mario Garcia half the deficit. However, a goal in injury time seemed to kill the spirits of the tigers. A late long-range thunderbolt from Nico Muscio probably made the score line more respectable than they deserved.
By Justin Smith (@smiththejustin)
