Round 24 Review – NPL 3 NSW Men’s

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The seven fixtures over the weekend in the 2019 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition provided entertainment plus for the spectators, with Round 24 producing no less than 34 goals at an average of just shy of 5 goals per game.

League leaders, Stanmore Hawks, had an emphatic 5-2 victory over their nearest rivals, Bankstown City Lions, in the process placing one hand on the Premiership trophy as they extended their lead at the summit to 5 points with just two rounds remaining.

In other matches, Hawkesbury City came from 1-3 down at the break to snare an exciting 4-4 draw at Richmond in a goal fest against Inter Lions; a local derby near the foot of the table took place at Melita Stadium as Parramatta and Granville Rage shared the spoils in a 2-2 stalemate; Dulwich Hill hung on grimly to their finals aspirations when they grabbed a point at Jensen Park in a 2-2 draw against Bankstown United; Camden Tigers made very light work of the plucky Western NSW Mariners, winning 9-0 in a canter at Ron Dine Stadium on Saturday night; Anthony Proia netted to give SD Raiders the points in a 1-0 away win against Sydney University.

FNSW visited Christie Park at Marsfield to watch Gladesville Ryde Magic host the visiting Dunbar Rovers.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC – DUNBAR ROVERS  0-1

Dunbar Rovers kept their ever so slim Finals hopes alive following their narrow 1-0 triumph over Gladesville Ryde Magic on Sunday afternoon at Christie Park.

The win and subsequent three points puts Rovers on 32 points in 9th position. Inter Lions are in the sixth spot on the ladder on 37 points, and have Camden Tigers (36 points), Dulwich Hill (34 points), and now Dunbar Rovers (32 points) breathing down their necks for that last position in the semi-final series. It’s going to take two wins from their last two games from Dunbar Rovers, and results elsewhere to go their way, but whilst there is a chance, there is hope, and stranger things have happened in football.

Gladesville Ryde Magic came in to this match cursing their luck in recent weeks when it comes to playing personnel, and this week it was no different, with Zoran Kolundzic ruling himself out following the warm up, whilst Ben Kerr damaged his ACL recently and will be out indefinitely as he works his way through the rehabilitation process.

Kerr has been one of Gladesville’s most consistent and reliable defenders over recent seasons, and FNSW and the entire football community wish the 29 year old all the very best in his recovery, and we hope to see him back on the paddock as soon as possible.

Sunday afternoon produced marvellous conditions for football, a sunny brisk day with a slight breeze helping Gladesville start off on the front foot from the get go.

After a neat give and go with Chris Triantis on 10 minutes, Magic’s Sergio Tarazona played a delightfully chipped pass in to space behind the Dunbar defence for Chris Gaitatzis to run on to. The Magic captain seized on the opportunity, blasting a superb left foot volley that cannoned back off the cross bar with the Dunbar defence reeling.

The woodwork came to Dunbar’s rescue once again in the 17th minute, following a foul on Triantis on the edge of the Dunbar penalty area. The former A League star picked himself up before striking a wonderful free kick up and over the Dunbar wall, the ball this time smacking against the inside of the upright before Dunbar cleared the danger.

Football can be a cruel game at times, and it proved so just two minutes later. From having a coat of paint between giving Gladesville a 2-0 lead, Magic found themselves 0-1 down, and it was a former player who did the damage for Dunbar.

Andrew Doddy took a quick free kick just inside the Gladesville half, effecting a give-and-go with Paul Orgad, before clipping a delightful through ball in behind the Gladesville defence. Former Magic favourite, Heo Wookbum, was quickest to react, racing in between defender and goal keeper to snatch his volley in to the Gladesville net and give the visitors the lead.

The goal gave Dunbar a bit of a lift, and governed by Doddy and Orgad in the guts, the Rovers began to go at Gladesville with some slick passing movements.

Andrew Doddy has a reputation at this level for some cheeky goals from distance, and he tried his luck on 25 minutes with a 30 yard lob that just cleared the Gladesville crossbar.

Doddy was at it again on 35 minutes, this time fed a square pass from Orgad, and this time blasting a 25 yard dart that flew inches over the Magic crossbar.

A reprieve gave the sides a well earned rest, but it was Gladesville who came out firing after the half time break, with Billy Sherwin meeting a great cross by Chris Gaitatzis in the 46th minute, only to sky his effort from in front, albeit under pressure from Dunbar’s Micaiah Te Rata.

Dunbar responded themselves by almost extending their lead a minute later, Alexander Crane doing well to control a pass before smacking an angled snap volley from close range on target. Gladesville’s evergreen custodian, Kyriakos Tohouroglou, defied his years by acrobatically denying the Dunbar flanker.

Gladesville’s Chris Triantis was proving a havoc for Dunbar every time he had the ball at his feet. On 72 minutes, Triantis was at his slaloming best, weaving past a number of Dunbar defenders on a run into the penalty area, culminating in a far post cross. Chris Gaitatzis got on the end of it, flicking a back heel in to the path of substitute, Edward Yoon, whose first time shot was brilliantly blocked at close range by Dunbar’s goal keeper, Charles Samushonga.

Yoon had another great chance in the 78th minute, staying onside to race in from the left to meet a fantastic diagonal ball by Gaitatzis. Alas, the Magic speedster was thwarted by Samushonga once more, the Dunbar custodian having raced off his line to narrow the angles.

Gladesville were determined to grab something out of this match, and almost did so in the 89th minute. It was Triantis once more who was the initiator, delivering a brilliant swerving far post cross behind the Dunbar defensive line. Sergio Tarazona had an excellent game in the midfield for Gladesville, and deserved a reward, throwing his big frame at the ball with all his might, but his diving header went agonisingly wide of Dunbar’s upright by a matter of inches.

The referee’s whistle shortly afterwards brought an end to proceedings, with Dunbar hanging on for the spoils.

It was gut wrenching for Gladesville to come away with nothing, especially when they hit the woodwork twice in the opening twenty minutes, and went so close on a number of occasions in the second half. Chris Triantis was at the centre of anything dangerous in the front third, whilst Tarazona was a real presence all day in the midfield, winning his heading duels, smart in the tackle, and neat with the ball at his feet.

The loss keeps Gladesville Ryde Magic in 4th spot on 44 points, and with a big gap above and below them, this is where they are likely to finish come the end of the competition proper in a fortnight’s time.

It was a most welcome and desirable three points for Dunbar Rovers, as it keeps their season alive as mentioned earlier.

Dunbar had a couple of conductors pulling the strings in the centre of the park, with Andrew Doddy and Paul Orgad working well as a combination, quick and sharp to rid the ball, always showing for a give-and-go, and smart with their distribution.

Whilst they’re still in with a chance of finals football, expect nothing but 100% from Dunbar Rovers in their final two matches of the season.

MATCH OF THE ROUND

GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC – DUNBAR ROVERS  0-1

National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s

Round Twenty Four

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Christie Park, Marsfield

Referee – Adrian Dendt

Referee’s Assistants – Liam Cole and Amir Hosnani

GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC          0

DUNBAR ROVERS                            1 (Wookbum 19’)

GLADESVILLE RYDE MAGIC; 33.K.Tohouroglou, 2.C.Newton, 3.S.Tarazona, 5.L.Harte, 8.P.Voukidis, 9.C.Gaitatzis (capt), 11.C.Triantis, 15.K.Nikas, 18.C.Haddad, 22.Z.Hando, 28.B.Sherwin (30.E.Yoong 61’).

Substitutes Not Used – 1.G.Koliomihos, 12.A.Jolly, 44.I.Martins.

Yellow Cards – Nil

Red Cards – Nil

DUNBAR ROVERS; 23.C.Samushonga, 2.N.Holton, 3.M.Te Rata, 4.G.Swartz, ,6.A.Tayebi Derazkala, 7.P.Orgad, 8.A.Doddy (capt) (21.G.Rodriguez 90’ + 3), 14.A.Crane (13.N.O’Sullivan 87’), 17.H.Wookbum (5.P.Lee 80’), 19.D.Hudap, 22.T.Purcell.

Substitutes Not Used – Nil.

Yellow Cards – 19.D.Hudap 73’.

Red Cards – Nil

 

Hawkesbury City FC – Inter Lions 4-4

The fans at David Bertenshaw Field were treated to a real goal fest on Saturday evening, with Hawkesbury City and Inter Lions sharing the spoils in an 8-goal extravaganza.

Inter came out firing in the opening stanza, and managed to get themselves out to lead 3-0 just before the break.

Nicholas Paras got things going with a 25 yard cracker, before Nathan Scicchitano doubled the visitors advantage soon after.

Veteran Domenic Di Mento then got on the end of a Inter counter attack, converting from close range following a cross by Fikret Berisha, stretching Inter’s lead to 3-0.

Kyle Walker gave Hawkesbury some hope with a far post header on 40 minutes before the referee called for oranges.

Hawkesbury’s Dean Bertenshaw rallied his troops during the half time interval, changing his formation with great effect as the Hawks showed determination and grit to claw their way back in to the contest.

But they allowed Inter to snatch another goal before they executed their Houdini act, with Zac Ribeiro taking advantage of good lead up work by Paras to make it 4-1 to Inter.

With the local fans on their feet and getting behind their team, Majid Eslami began the come back when he converted a low cross in to the penalty area, before Alexander Murrell seized on a spillage by the Inter goal keeper to bring the score to within one.

Daniel Morsillo then brought the house down, sneaking between two Inter defenders to slot home the equaliser. In fact, Morsillo had a the chance to win it late on, his effort cleared off the line to give the two sides a share of the spoils.

Hawkesbury City remain in 10th spot on the ladder, despite moving to 29 points, whilst Inter Lions climb to 37 points courtesy of the draw, hanging grimly to 6th position, just a single point ahead of Camden Tigers, three ahead of Dulwich Hill, and five ahead of Dunbar with two matches remaining before the final series.

 

Parramatta FC – Granville Rage 2-2

The local derby at Melita Stadium on Saturday night finished all square, with Parramatta FC and Granville Rage sharing a four goal stalemate.

Granville edged themselves in front with a goal on the half hour mark, before Sheldon Tweedie equalised for Parramatta five minutes in to the second half.

The home fans were out of their seats in the 65th minute when Victor Anyimba put Parramatta in front 2-1, but the Rage roared back to equalise in the 75th minute.

The point keeps the two sides four points apart, with Parramatta 12th on 19 points, and Granville Rage four points behind on 15, in 13th spot.

 

Stanmore Hawks – Bankstown City 5-2                                                                           

Stanmore Hawks extended their lead at the top of the National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition to five points following their 5-2 drubbing of second placed Bankstown City Lions on Saturday night at Arlington Oval.

With just two rounds remaining in the competition proper, Stanmore have one hand firmly on the Premiership trophy, and could clinch the title in next week’s penultimate match against Sydney University.

The Hawks edged in front on 7 minutes when Peter Yannopoulos converted neatly from a cutback across the face of goal, but Bankstown City worked their way back in to the contest, eventually drawing level in the 34th minute, Lawrence Hanna converting a spotkick by sending Stanmore keeper, Nicholas Carosi, the wrong way.

Just as the first half was coming to an end, Jovan Blagojevic struck to send Stanmore in to the sheds 2-1 to the good.

For the opening twenty minutes of the second half, the match – and in fact, the season – hung in the balance, with the Lions needing an equaliser if they were to keep their title hopes alive.

But Stanmore had other ideas, striking on 67 and 71 minutes to effectively end the game as a contest.

Ante Tomic clipped a goal in the final minute to reduce the deficit for Bankstown, but it was scant consolation for the visitors, with Blagojevic converting a penalty of his own in injury time, nabbing his hatrick and in the process extending the result to 5-2 in favour of Stanmore Hawks.

The loss sees Bankstown City remain on 51 points, although they are hanging on to 2nd position via goal difference ahead of SD Raiders. Both sides, however, are now 5 points adrift of Stanmore Hawks who are on 56 points, and can clinch the Premiership next weekend with a victory against Sydney University.

 

Bankstown United – Dulwich Hill 2-2

Dulwich Hill kept their slim final hopes alive with a 2-2 draw against Bankstown United at Jensen Park on Saturday night.

The first half proved an arm wrestle without many clear chances at either end, although Bankstown’s Matthew Trotter and Alejandro Salgueria both threatened with shots from distance.

Dulwich Hill broke the deadlock on 55 minutes, and it came via a Nathan Sansom header, the Dully defender rising at the back stick to nod home after a second ball cross from a corner.

But it didn’t take long for Bankstown United to restore parity, with Lachlan Willmore heading home after meeting a Mitchell Cross delivery with a late run at the far post.

United had their tails up at this point and were very unlucky not to edge their noses in front. Bankstown’s top marksman, Mitchell Cross, cracked a volley that was parried incredibly by the Dully gloveman, and moments later cleared the Dully cross bar with a back post header after a fantastic cross by Matthew Sadler.

Dully didn’t sit back themselves, and had a couple of good chances with shots from both Nathan Sansom and Peter Crevani flashing across the face of Bankstown goalposts.

The contest wasn’t over just yet, with more drama unfolding as the teams moved in to injury time.

Peter Crevani had been a threat all night, and the Dully flanker was fouled inside the Bankstown penalty area in the 91st minute to give the visitors a lifeline. Crevani picked himself up, dusted himself off, and slotted the penalty to give Dulwich Hill what looked like a welcome three points.

However Bankstown United weren’t finished just yet, and a slick passing movement from the kick off lead to Dalibor Malesevic being put in to space behind the Dully defence. Malesevic put in a delicious ball across the Dully six yard box, and Kallie Bangura gobbled up the opportunity, striking home an equaliser to send the home fans in to raptures.

The 2-2 draw keeps both sides in the finals mix with just two rounds to go. Bankstown United move to 39 points, and are in 5th position, 5 in front of their match day opponents, and with Inter Lions and Camden Tigers now both within a victory beneath them.

Dulwich Hill are in 8th spot on 34 points, just 3 behind 6th placed Inter Lions, and still in the hunt for a coveted position in the top six.

 

Camden Tigers – Western NSW Mariners 9-0

Camden Tigers well and truly flexed their muscles in an annihilation of the Western NSW Mariners on Saturday evening, winning 9-0 in front of their fans at Ron Dine Stadium.

The damage was done in a blistering opening 20 minutes or so where the Tigers raced to a 4-0 lead, before extending it to an even half dozen before the half time break.

Mitchell McLintock made it 11 goals in 13 matches when he struck a double on 14 and 16 minutes, before Mitchell Brooker made it 3-0 in the 19th.

Dean Mugridge then helped himself to a hatrick before half time, scoring on 21, 35 and 40 minutes, to end the match as a contest.

There were no more goals until the final ten minutes, when Mugridge netted his 4th and his team’s 7th in the 80th, before Daniel Martinez snatched a late double to take the score line out to 9-0.

The WNSW Mariners remain in bottom spot on 8 points, and are now one goal shy of conceding an even hundred following this demise at Ron Dine Stadium.

The win and subsequent three points lifts Camden Tigers to 36 points on the competition ladder in 7th position, and they are now just one point behind Inter Lions who are currently occupying that sixth and final semi-final position with two rounds proper remaining.

 

Sydney University – SD Raiders FC 0-1

Anthony Proia struck his 25th goal of a fruitful 2019 season to give SD Raiders all the spoils in a 1-0 away victory over Sydney University on Saturday night.

The loss keeps Sydney University languishing in 11th position on 25 points.

The victory and subsequent three points moves SD Raiders to 51 points on the ladder, joining Bankstown City Lions but remaining 3rd on goal differential.