Round 21 Review – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Surprise defeats for Inter Lions and Bankstown United has left the door ajar for the teams below them as the race for finals football well and truly heats up as we take in all the action from round 21 of the National Premier Leagues 3 NSW competition.
Hawkesbury City were on the wrong end of a 5-1 score line against SD Raiders at David Bertenshaw Field; Granville Rage produced one of the shock results of the season as they came from behind to secure all three points against Bankstown United with a 2-1 win at Garside Park on Saturday night; Parramatta FC fell to a 2-1 defeat against Gladesville Ryde Magic at Melita Stadium; Dunbar Rovers put on a spectacle as they smashed Western NSW Mariners 7-0 under lights at Hensley Athletic Field; Camden Tigers were handed their heaviest defeat at home this season as Stanmore Hawks overpowered them by four goals to nil at Ron Dine Stadium while Bankstown City had the edge over Sydney University, winning 1-0 at Jensen Park on Sunday night.
FNSW was in the stands at Arlington Oval to watch two inner west outfits battle it out as Dulwich Hill faced off against Inter Lions on Saturday night.
DULWICH HILL FC – INTER LIONS FC 2-1
A double from Dulwich Hill’s Peter Crevani provided all the inspiration for the hosts as they secured a 2-1 victory over Inter Lions at Arlington Oval on Saturday night.
This all-important win over their inner west rivals keeps Dully’s chances of finals football alive as we close in on the business end of the season.
It was Inter that provided the first scare in this contest after 11 minutes as Fikret Berisha’s header banged against the post and back into the field of play after he latched onto Domenico Tripodi’s corner.
However, it was Dulwich Hill who were able to take control of proceedings for the majority of the first half.
Peter Crevani had a hand in almost all of Dully’s attacking opportunities and he came close to teeing up his side’s first goal on 13 minutes when he cut it back for Sean Burke on the edge of the 18-yard area.
Burke’s effort stung the palms of Inter shot stopper, Robert Fanella, as he palmed the ball out of play for a corner kick.
Dully’s hard work and effort eventually paid off on the 35th minute mark as Peter Crevani stepped up to convert a peach of a free kick from just over 20 yards out.
The left footed strike sailed into the top left-hand corner of the goal, leaving Fanella with no chance as he helplessly watched the ball fly into his net.
One moment of individual creativity was enough for the home side to take the one goal advantage into the sheds.
The half time break must have done wonders for both sets of players with the opening quarter of the second half an entirely new ball game as both teams sprung to life.
Once again, in the 53rd minute, Crevani was at the centre of the action as he assisted Laureano Gomez Castro, whose shot caused a heart in mouth moment for Inter as it rattled against the crossbar.
Two minutes later and Dully found themselves 2-0 to the good after Crevani side footed home Gomez Castro’s strike which rebounded off the post right into the winger’s path.
Their two-goal advantage was short lived as midfield dynamo Zac Ribeiro popped up with a cracker of an effort for the visitors on the 57th minute mark.
Ribeiro’s screamer from just outside the 18-yard box struck the crossbar before bouncing over the line after he was picked out by Berisha’s cut back.
Despite their best efforts, it was Dully who were able to consolidate their lead and hold onto the valuable three points.
A frustrating outing for Inter sees them retain 5th position on 36 points, while the win and subsequent three points takes Dulwich Hill to 27 points and in to 8th place on the table.
Match Stats
National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round 21
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Arlington Oval
DULWICH HILL FC 2 (Crevani 35’, 55’)
INTER LIONS FC 1 (Ribeiro 57’)
DULWICH HILL FC; 2.N.Sansom, 3.R.Farrell, 4.P.Crevani, 5.N.Dimitropoulos, 8.R.Deasy, 11.M.Farnetti, 13.S.Burke(23.H.Browell 90+5’), 16.C.Desa, 18.D.Burbidge, 19.L.Gomez Castro(9.G.Sama 66’), 90.J.Fernandez(gk).
Substitutions Not Used – 21.A.Gornall, 28.P.Chin, 30.A.Shrestha.
Yellow Cards – 2.N.Sansom 28’, 9.G.Sama 76’.
Red Cards – Nil
INTER LIONS FC; 1.R.Fanella(gk), 2.N.Ballard, 3.S.Richardson, 5.C.Lawson, 6.D.Tripodi, 7.J.Rinaldi(66.J.Janic 45’), 9.F.Berisha, 11.Z.Ribeiro, 13.M.Sidoti, 18.D.Di Mento, 52.S.Ilic(23.N.Scicchitano 54’).
Substitutions Not Used – 16.D.Habib, 21.J.Soulios.
Yellow Cards – 11.Z.Ribeiro 69’, 6.D.Tripodi 73’, 23.N.Schicchitano 89’.
Red Cards – Nil
Hawkesbury City FC – SD Raiders FC 1-5
Hawkesbury City were harshly taught a masterclass in finishing as they fell to a 5-1 defeat against SD Raiders at David Bertenshaw Field on Saturday night.
A relatively even playing field in the first half meant that the scores remained locked at 0-0 and it was not until the 42nd minute that we were able to see the first goal when Raiders were awarded a penalty.
Charles Abouserhal stepped up to convert the spot kick to give his side a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
With three of Hawkesbury’s mainstay defenders absent on this occasion, it was only a matter of time before their makeshift defence was exposed by the free scoring visitors.
Ben Welch incredibly put three past the Hawks in the second half to get his hattrick while the league’s top scorer, Anthony Proia, added to his tally as Raiders blew away their opponents in the second half.
A late goal to Hawks’ Brad Gibson proved purely theoretical as the visitors ran out deserved winners.
The victory and subsequent three points sees Raiders retain 3rd position on 45 points while the loss keeps Hawkesbury in 10th place on 24 points.
Granville Rage – Bankstown United FC 2-1
Granville Rage have produced one of the biggest upsets this season as they knocked off finals contenders Bankstown United 2-1 at Garside Park on Saturday night.
The visitors took a 1-0 lead into half time and appeared on course for all three points however a second half resurgence from Rage turned the game on its head.
The hosts came out firing after the restart and incredibly scored two goals to complete the turn around as they secured a surprise victory against United.
This is Granville’s third win all season and is their first victory in 16 attempts, with their last triumph arriving in early April against Inter Lions.
The win keeps Rage in 13th position however they rise to 14 points and are now undefeated in their last two matches, whilst the loss means that United keep hold of 6th spot with 35 points to their name.
Parramatta FC – Gladesville Ryde Magic 1-2
Gladesville Ryde Magic’s three match losing streak came to an end at Melita Stadium as they enjoyed a 2-1 triumph over Parramatta FC on Saturday night.
The first of the three goals arrived on eight minutes after Magic were awarded a penalty which was calmly converted.
The visitors lead lasted just over five minutes after the inform Sheldon Tweedie buried the ball into the back of the net on the 14th minute mark.
Tweedie was in the right place at the right time as he was picked out by Victor Anyimba’s cross.
He had his first attempt parried by the Magic goalkeeper before he slotted away the rebound into the back of the net.
The scores were locked at 1-1 for the most of the second half and it was not until the 73rd minute that the visitors were able to pop up with the decider.
The loss keeps Parramatta FC in 12th position on 18 points, whilst the three points means that Magic retain 4th position as they climb to 40 points.
The subsequent win increases the daylight between them and 5th and 6th placed Inter Lions and Bankstown United after both sides were suffered defeats this round.
Dunbar Rovers – Western NSW Mariners 7-0
Dunbar Rovers dished out a 7-0 thumping to Western NSW Mariners in their fixture at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday night.
The floodgates opened after 20 minutes with Paul Orgad the first to get on the scoresheet for the home side.
Five minutes later and Dunbar found themselves 2-0 up after Gary Rafferty capped off a great team goal before he grabbed his side’s third and his second of the evening on the 34th minute mark.
Dunbar’s relentless pressure carried on into the second half and it was Rafferty once again who was on hand to score for the hosts as he completed his hat trick after slotting away his penalty kick on 50 minutes.
Steven Chester made it five to the good for the hosts after 63 minutes before Cooper Squires, who was deputising from the under 18’s, made it 6-0 with 20 minutes to go.
A second from Chester in the second minute of injury time capped off a memorable day for Dunbar as they condemned the Mariners to yet another heavy defeat.
The win and subsequent three points moves Dunbar Rovers up to 7th spot on 29 points. Defeats to the teams above them mean that they have closed the gap to just six points as they look to make the cut for finals football.
The loss keeps Western NSW Mariners rooted to the bottom of the ladder in 14th position with seven points.
Camden Tigers FC – Stanmore Hawks FC 0-4
Stanmore Hawks made light work of Camden Tigers at Ron Dine Stadium as they raced to a 4-0 victory on what was a chilly Saturday night.
The Tigers almost exemplary record at home was given a crushing blow by the league leaders, with the men from the inner west too hot to handle as they made it six back to back wins.
A Jovan Blagojevic double gave the Hawks a 2-0 lead heading into the break before goals from Vic Koutsoufis and Conor Quilligan rounded off the scoring in the second half.
The win and subsequent three points sees Stanmore Hawks clock over on to the 50-point mark as they continue their reign at the top of table, whilst the defeat sees Camden drop to 9th position with 27 points.
Bankstown City FC – Sydney University SFC 1-0
Bankstown City fought hard for a 1-0 victory against Sydney University in the final fixture of the round on Sunday night at Jensen Park.
A Marko Filipovic goal was all that the hosts needed as they secured victory over their matchday opponents.
The win and subsequent three points moves Bankstown City on to 45 points as they keep hold of 2nd position, their superior goal difference keeping them above 3rd placed SD Raiders.
The loss means that Sydney University remain in 11th position with 21 points.
-By NPL 3 NSW Men’s Chief Writer Samuel Greco Schwartz (Twitter handle: @SamuelGS97)
