Round 3 Review – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
As per usual, the 2020 National Premier Leagues 3 NSW competition lived up to expectation as we look back at what was another breath-taking weekend.
Inter Lions fell 1-0 to Bankstown United at Valentine Sports Park No.2 in the early kick off on Saturday; Dunbar Rovers played out a 1-1 draw against Central Coast United at Heffron Park; Sydney University registered a 2-1 victory against Stanmore Hawks at VSP #3; Gladesville Ryde Magic secured a 1-0 win away to Bankstown City on Sunday while Dulwich Hill put four unanswered goals past Rydalmere Lions at VSP #2.
Football NSW made the trip to Lynwood Park on Saturday night to see two NPL 3 newcomers go head to head as Macarthur Rams faced off against Canterbury Bankstown.
MACARTHUR RAMS FC – CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN FC 4-1
It was goals galore at Lynwood Park as Macarthur Rams triumphed 4-1 against Canterbury Bankstown in an entertaining affair on Saturday night.
Macarthur’s experience shone through as they overcame a youthful Berries outfit which failed to make the most of their opportunities in the final third.
That being said, the visitors were the first to strike in this contest, as they opened the scoring on six minutes via the boot of Andre Guzman after a defensive mix up from the Rams.
The Bankstown winger intercepted Chris Barbera’s back pass before placing the ball past Rams’ custodian Jacob Madden.
The hosts quickly found their rhythm after going behind and almost drew level in the 20th minute after Sam Onana’s strike was denied by some handy goalkeeping from Enol Suarez.
Onana’s effort acted as a warning shot for what was to come after he restored parity for his side two minutes later, when he slid his shot past Suarez after being played in by Craig Cooley’s nifty flick pass.
Bankstown did not let their heads drop after the Rams drew level and had a fantastic opening on the half hour mark to restore their lead as Brent Flavin got the better of the Macarthur shot stopper, but was unable to find the back of the net as his effort sailed wide.
The Rams were the next to threaten, this time via skipper Mark Symington as his long-distance belter stung Suarez’ palms after they regained possession in Berries’ half thanks to Bailey Brooker’s interception.
Symington’s next test for the Bankstown shot stopper soon after, proved successful as he popped up with his side’s second in the 40th minute.
Symington’s perfectly timed run into the opposition’s 18-yard-box made it easy work for the Rams captain as he headed home Mitchell Brooker’s tempting ball into the box.
The home side held onto their lead until the break and a pump up from coach Jason Breton, must have got them raring to go for the second half, as they scored their third within a minute of the restart.
It was Symington with his second on 46 minutes after his inch perfect strike from just outside the penalty area, hit the bottom corner of the right-hand post before nestling in the back of the visitors’ goal.
Berries remained persistent and almost reduced the deficit on the 50th minute mark after some slick interplay between Lucas Miquel and Guzman led to a last-ditch goal line clearance from Rams’ Michael Martin.
Once again, the visitors were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal after they gave away a penalty on 62 minutes after Andrija Mandic brought down Onana.
The Macarthur veteran dusted himself off before stepping up to convert the spot kick, to put his side 4-1 up.
The sizeable lead meant that Breton’s men could take their foot off the pedal as they looked to consolidate the three points, however that did not stop substitute, Matias Paz, from attempting to steal the show.
The target man almost scored what would have been the goal of the game after he attempted an audacious strike from just past halfway after seeing Suarez off his line.
Luckily for Suarez, he was able to save himself from embarrassment as he got fingertips to the effort to ensure that it did not make its way into the back of the net.
That just about brought the night’s action to a close, as the Rams’ secured their maiden victory of the campaign whilst it will be back to the drawing board for Wally Savor’s Berries after they suffered a second consecutive defeat.
Sydney University await Macarthur next round as they prepare to play at Lynwood for the second week running while Bankstown’s next task will be a home game against Stanmore at the Crest.
Match Stats
National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s
Round 2
Saturday, March 14, 2020
Lynwood Park
MACARTHUR RAMS FC 4 (Onana 22’, 62’ pen., Symington 40’, 46’)
CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN FC 1 (Guzman 6’)
MACARTHUR RAMS FC; 1.J.Madden(gk), 2.C.Cooley, 4.C.Rogers, 7.M.Brooker, 10.B.Cornish, 11.S.Onana Awono(9.M.Paz 68’), 12.B.Simpson(19.F.Sosa 65’), 13.B.Brooker(8.D.Mugridge 67’), 14.M.Symington(c), 15.C.Barbera, 16.M.Martin.
Substitutions Not Used – 5.B.Durrant, 20.J.Hilton.
Yellow Cards – 7.M.Brooker 31’, 13.B.Brooker 33’.
Red Cards – Nil.
CANTERBURY BANKSTOWN FC; 1.E.Ordonez Suarez(gk), 2.K.Nicolaou(18.S.Georgiou 85’), 3.D.Dascal, 5.L.Mailey, 7.A.Guzman, 8.J.Gersbach, 13.B.Flavin, 15.J.Mcmenamie, 16.N.Andricopoulos(11.K.Pereira 70’), 19.A.Mandic(12.J.Bradshaw 63’), 37.L.Miquel.
Substitutions Not Used – 14.G.Cerasoli, 40.A.Cerasoli.
Yellow Cards – 5.L.Mailey 19’.
Red Cards – Nil.
Inter Lions FC – Bankstown United FC 0-1
Bankstown United posted their first victory of the season as they edged out Inter Lions 1-0 at VSP #2 on Saturday night.
Bankstown dominated for large periods of the encounter with Dalibor Malesevic and Kallie Bangura wreaking havoc down the wings.
Inter worked their way into the contest in the second half and were dangerous from set pieces however they were thwarted by Ayman Hill, the United shot stopper was in formidable form between the sticks.
The match winner arrived with 10 minutes remaining as Alex Salgueira tapped in Bangura’s brilliant cross at the back post.
United’s Scott Belgre will be hoping to record back-to-back wins when they meet Rydalmere next round while Gladesville awaits Inter next Sunday at Christie Park.
Dunbar Rovers FC – Central Coast United FC 1-1
Dunbar Rovers and Central Coast United could not be split as they drew 1-1 at Heffron Park on Saturday night.
Central Coast opened the scoring from the penalty spot after captain Daniel McFarlane converted his spot kick in the 23rd minute.
The Pirates were awarded the penalty after Adam Woodbine was brought down by a clumsy tackle from Dunbar’s Aram Tayebi.
Rovers replied shortly after the restart as Conor Earley scored his second of the season with a signature left footed strike from just outside the 18-yard-box on 51 minutes.
Dunbar’s next match sees them go head to head against Dulwich Hill at VSP while the Pirates return to Pluim Park as they prepare to host Bankstown City.
Stanmore Hawks FC – Sydney University SFC 1-2
Sydney University secured a 2-1 victory against Stanmore Hawks at VSP #3 on Saturday night.
The visitors were first to strike in this contest thanks to a sublime free kick from Panayoti Gotsis on 32 minutes.
The free kick was given after Stanmore goalkeeper Nick Carosi handballed outside his area as he attempted to stop Kyle Sarigiannis, who was through on goal.
Hawks replied ten minutes after the break via the boot of Conor Quilligan after the attacking midfielder pounced on a loose ball in the penalty area.
Jack Lapi scored the decisive goal of the evening in the 64th minute after he headed home an inch perfect free kick into the box.
Uni will be looking to build upon their win when they travel to the Rams next Saturday, whilst Stanmore will be looking to kickstart their season away to Berries.
Bankstown City FC – Gladesville Ryde Magic 0-1
One goal proved to be the difference at Jensen Park on Sunday night as Gladesville Ryde Magic collected all three points against Bankstown City in what was a derby of all sorts with a few players playing against their ex-clubs.
A Harris Gaitatzis penalty in the first half proved to be the telling moment in the contest as the visitors held on to record their first win of the campaign.
Gaitatzis now has three goals in his first two appearances for Magic and is sharing number one spot in the goals department with Rams captain Symington.
Magic’s next test sees them host Inter Lions on Sunday while Bankstown make the trip up the M1 as they prepare to do battle with the Pirates.
Rydalmere Lions FC – Dulwich Hill FC 0-4
Dulwich Hill put Rydalmere to the sword as they ran out 4-0 winners in their fixture at VSP #2 on Sunday night.
The first of Dulwich Hill’s goals arrived from Peter Crevani after he got a second bite of the cherry when his free kick bundled against the wall before falling kindly for him.
Daniel Fornito doubled the visitors lead with his curling effort from the edge of the area after being picked out by Alex Vellar’s first time pass.
Dully struck again early in the second half, again via Fornito as his strike nestled into the top left corner of the hosts goal.
The game was put to bed by Tai Smith as he capped off some skillful footwork in the box with an equally impressive side foot finish.
Next up for Rydalmere is an away fixture against Bankstown United while Dulwich Hill will play out of VSP for a third consecutive weekend when they meet Dunbar.
-By NPL 3 NSW Men’s Chief Writer Samuel Greco Schwartz (Twitter handle: @SamuelGS97)
