Round 20 Review – NPL 2 NSW Men’s

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Seven games produced seven winners in the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s competition.

The top two are breaking away, however an intense race for the remainder of the finals spots is developing, with only one point separating the teams in third and seventh.

Match of the Round: Central Coast Mariners v Bonnyrigg White Eagles

This week’s Match of the Round took us to Pluim Park for a clash between Central Coast Mariners and Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

Second half strikes from David Vrankovic and Asmir Kadric gave Bonnyrigg a valuable 2-0 win, a result that leave the Mariners facing an uphill battle to make the finals.

Kadric looked lively from the opening whistle, and eight minutes had passed when he got on the end of Ray Miller’s through ball, forcing a decent low save from Aidan Munford.

A few minutes later, new Mariners signing Mark Moric was able to make space in the area, James Chronopoulos pushing his shot wide.

Bonnyrigg came back at the hosts, and just past the quarter hour mark Nikola Zonjic rose highest at a Sam Gallaway corner kick, heading inches wide of the post.

Gallaway was involved again in the 25th minute. Kadric spotted his run into the area, and the left back was able to draw Munford out of his goal, but his square pass to Jack Fulton was cleared behind by Lewis Miller.

Both teams were willing to throw men forward in search of a goal, and on 36 minutes Central Coast midfielder Michael Katsoulis set up Joey Jevtic for a shot which flew over the crossbar.

However, Bonnyrigg finished the first half on top. Kadric was denied by an excellent block from Mariners skipper Alec Vinci, while Vrankovic had the ball in the net just before halftime, only for play to be called back for a foul on Munford.

Kadric continued to be a nuisance into the second half, and three minutes after the restart he managed to outrun the defence, Munford getting his angles right on this occasion.

Bonnyrigg then took the lead 90 seconds later. Gallaway started the move by intercepting the ball on the halfway line and running at the defence. His shot was blocked, but he gathered the rebound, crossing to the far post for Vrankovic to score with an easy header.

Mariners coach Nick Montgomery rung the changes, making two subs in quick succession, however it was the White Eagles who would score again just past the hour mark. From Gallaway’s corner, Vrankovic headed onto the crossbar, and Kadric eventually forced the ball home following a scramble in the six yard box.

Central Coast responded almost straight from the kickoff, and Maximilen Balard played a nice switch to the left side to find Kyle Johnson in space, his low shot whistling just past the far post.

The Mariners were now having a good spell. 20 minutes remained when Dylan Ruiz-Diaz chipped the ball into the area for Moric, Chronopoulos rushing out quickly to make the save.

Bonnyrigg held out, and Kadric could have made it three in the 83rd minute. The speedy forward raced clear after pouncing on an error and managed to get round Munford, but his shot was cleared off the line by Balard.

Then in the third minute of stoppage time, Gallaway outran a defender and cut the ball back for Jordan Crighton, Munford doing well to save.

The result moves Bonnyrigg up a spot into fifth, while Central Coast drop a place to ninth. Next week, the Mariners have a long road trip to Lynwood Park to face Macarthur Rams, with Bonnyrigg returning home for an important game against Northern Tigers.

Match Stats

Central Coast Mariners 0 vs Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (David Vrankovic 49’, Asmir Kadric 62’) 

Sunday 14 July 2019

at Pluim Park

Central Coast Mariners: 1. Aidan MUNFORD, 3. Lewis MILLER, 5. Matthew HATCH (8. Kyle JOHNSON 54’), 7. Michael KATSOULIS, 9. Jordan SMYLIE, 11. Mark MORIC, 12. Joey JEVTIC, 14. Alec VINCI (c), 15. Sasha KUZEVSKI (18. Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ 57’), 17. Joshua NISBET (4. James BAYLISS 78’), 19. Maximilen BALARD

Unused subs: 30. Zenden HART, 10. Dan HALL

Yellow cards: 18. Dylan RUIZ-DIAZ 71’, 17. Joshua NISBET 73’

Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 1. James CHRONOPOULOS, 3. David VRANKOVIC, 5. Goran SUBARA, 6. Nikola ZONJIC, 9. Jack FULTON (19. Aaron PETERSON 58’), 11. Asmir KADRIC, 12. Jack ARMSON (13. James McKENZIE 85’), 14. Bradie SMITH, 15. Raymond MILLER (c) (21. Jordan CRIGHTON 67’), 16. Samuel GALLAWAY, 17. Mark RODIC

Unused subs: 20. Stevan SAVICIC, 8. Amar ADILOVIC

Yellow cards: 16. Samuel GALLAWAY 54’

 

Blacktown Spartans 4 (Connor Eldridge 19’ 28’, Finley Hayhurst 60’, Mason Ireland 90+4’) vs GHFA Spirit FC 2 (Ahmed Sweedan 34’ 71’)

Two goals in each half took the Spartans to a crucial victory at Blacktown Football Park.

Injury and illness forced Spirit into numerous changes, and Paul Hubbard’s side were able to take advantage. Connor Eldridge made it 1-0 on 19 minutes with a cool one on one finish, and repeated the feat nine minutes later to double his side’s lead, converting from Christian Torrelli’s cross.

Spirit pulled a goal back in the 34th minute through Ahmed Sweedan, the tricky winger getting on the end of some nice buildup play down the left side. However, their injury woes continued as skipper Grant Cornwell left the field early in the second half due to a broken arm.

The sides continued to trade goals, and the Spartans made it 3-1 on the hour. Evan Patramanis set it up for Eldridge, and although his effort was blocked, Finley Hayhurst picked up the scraps, beating a defender and finding the net.

Sweedan then grabbed his second of the night in the 71st minute, but the Spartans eventually sealed victory in time added on. It was Mason Ireland who scored, getting past two opponents and following up after his initial shot was saved.

 

St George FC 3 (Kevin Lopes 43’, Marcus Beattie 51’, Juan Carlos Romero 77’) vs Macarthur Rams 0

The Saints marched to a huge win in their battle against relegation, defeating Macarthur Rams 3-0.

Wally Savor’s side were in control from the opening whistle, and they would take a deserved lead just before halftime. Kevin Lopes made the breakthrough, recording his fifth goal of the year with a neat left-footed strike into the bottom corner.

St George FC then doubled their lead early in the second half, fleet-footed winger Marcus Beattie racing onto a through pass, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting the ball into the empty net.

Victory was ensured 13 minutes from the end of regulation, a Juan Carlos Romero shot from outside the area securing a priceless three points for the Saints. St George FC could even have gotten a few more towards the end, but some good goalkeeping kept the score at 3-0.

 

Northern Tigers 2 (William Foristal 86’, Ollie Wiggin 90+3’) vs Rydalmere Lions 0

Northern Tigers kept themselves in the finals mix after a late show at North Turramurra Recreation Area.

In a very windy first half, Rydalmere’s front three of Garang Awac, Malcolm Omar Dixon and Kuot Maliet caused problems for the Tigers backline, however the score stayed at 0-0.

The stalemate continued deep into the second half. A missed one on one chance for Rydalmere late in the game proved crucial, as Adam Hett’s side went down the other end and broke the deadlock. William Foristal was the hero, pouncing on a missed clearance to grab his second goal in two weeks.

Ollie Wiggin would make the points safe in second half stoppage time with a spectacular 25 yard free kick, and the Tigers can now look forward to another huge game next weekend against Bonnyrigg.

 

Mounties Wanderers 1 (Theo Kofinas 51’) vs Hills United 4 (58’, 66’, Daine Merrin 77’ 86’)

A second half comeback at Sydney United Sports Centre saw Hills United break away from the chasing pack.

There were chances at both ends in the first half, but the game remained goalless until the 51st minute, when Theo Kofinas opened the scoring off a Mounties corner.

Hills equalised seven minutes later, Kento Sakurai providing a moment of magic as he spotted the goalkeeper out of position and found the net from the halfway line.

A nice team move led to Patrick Zwaanswijk’s side hitting the front midway through the second half. Centre back Jarrod Dodds played a great diagonal pass to Jordan Parfait, who cut the ball back for Daniel Fogarty to finish.

United skipper Daine Merrin then made the game safe with a pair of late penalties, and the north west Sydney outfit will look to carry the momentum from this game into next week’s crucial clash against Spirit FC.

 

Canterbury Bankstown FC 3 (Gino Cerasoli 23’, Zac Elrich 32’, Scott Tonkin 87’) vs Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Mohamed Adam 81’)

At The Crest Athletic Centre, Canterbury recorded their first win in four games.

The Wanderers started the brighter of the two sides, but it was Canterbury who struck first. Zac Elrich whipped in a cross from the left side, finding Gino Cerasoli for a close range finish.

Elrich doubled his side’s lead nine minutes later following a quick turnover, running at the defence and slamming the ball home from the edge of the area.

The away side dominated possession in the second half. Canterbury were able to maintain their defensive shape, however their goalkeeper Enol Ordonez Suarez was needed on a few occasions, most notably with 15 minutes left when he dived full length to his left to parry a shot from Jarrod Carluccio.

Arthur Diles’s put the pressure on in the final ten minutes, winning a spot kick after Jake Trew was brought down in the box. It was no surprise that Mohamed Adam stepped up, and he duly tucked the ball away for his 21st of the season.

Canterbury would have the last laugh on the night, a thumping Scott Tonkin header from a corner sealing the win.

 

St George City FA 1 (Geoffry Lino 79’) vs North Shore Mariners 2 (Sean Eve 30’, Chris Lindsay 61’)

North Shore Mariners maintained the five point gap at the top of the league courtesy of a solid win at Jubilee Oval.

Sean Eve got the league leaders started on the half hour mark with a long range special, beating the goalkeeper from 25 yards out.

City’s task became even harder in the 61st minute after Matthew Mayora conceded a penalty and was sent off. Chris Lindsay converted from the spot to make it 2-0.

The home side would pull a goal back 11 minutes from time when Geoffry Lino was played behind the defence – the speedy winger dribbling round the goalkeeper and tucking the ball away. However, North Shore were able to see the game out, and they are one step closer to the Premiership.

By Eric Subijano

Twitter – @eric_subijano