Round 1 Review – NPL 4 NSW Men’s
Football is Back! And eventually the goals flowed in round one of this Rebooted NPL 4 Men’s competition.
We headed out to Seymour Shaw Park to catch what proved to be a close encounter, whilst Nepean came from behind to defeat Hawkesbury. Western NSW got a rare victory on the road, South Coast Flame showed improvement v UNSW and finally Parramatta FC secured local bragging rights over Granville Rage.
Hurstville FC v Prospect United SC
Ah, nice try world! But not even a tight 0-0 draw in freezing conditions could wipe the smiles off the gathered faces as football returned on Saturday Night.
And there was not a lot in this one as Hurstville FC hosted Prospect United SC. In a competitive fixture, clear cut chances were few and far between and when they did happen, both goalkeepers made some crucial saves.
The game started in open fashion with each side creating a rare open play chance. Stephen Vukovic would prove to be a nuisance all night for the hosts defense, as he played a give and go with Cristian Martinez before letting fly with his left foot, the ball sailing over the bar.
Hurstville FC looked to respond, and shortly after a quick counter attack down the right caught the visitors napping, unfortunately the ball into the middle couldn’t find a teammate.
And it was down the right, the hosts looked most comfortable with Paul Gagro creating one or two chances of his own.
For the visitors, Cristian Martinez looked lively and on twenty minutes he found space down the right-hand channel before squaring the ball to an on-rushing Simon Zahra whose effort was blocked before it could trouble the home sides goal.
Indeed, it was the visitors who created the next few chances, with a few sloppy mistakes from the Hurstville backline leading to the best chance of the half. Stephen Vukovic once again involved, controlling a ball in from the right before forcing Matthew Massarotto into a tidy save to his right.
That save seemed to lift the home side who created a chance of their own. A Paul Gagro corner from the left finding the head of Aleks Trenoski, his effort scrambled away on the line as it headed for the bottom left corner.
The second half started off as a cagey affair. And the constant fouls and changes really did not help either team grab the ascendency which in turn meant fewer chances.
Ten minutes into the half, Prospect were first to create a shot, a deep free kick finding Matthew Morosin at the back post, his powerful effort missing to the left of the goal.
Then a stoppage came, and any momentum the visitors had seemed to vanish. And Paul Gagro so nearly capitalized with a free kick from wide right missing everyone before nearly sneaking in at the far post.
Gagro now playing in a more central role, was again influential in the next chance which saw several attackers get a touch before Paul found an extra man in Jaefar Al Khulaifawi free down the left. Al Khulaifawi then forcing Prospect United shot stopper Mario Farias into a save from point blank range.
Once again though the momentum shifted, and the visitors had the last few chances to secure the three points. As the game went on, Gabriel Gomes was becoming more of a nuisance from set pieces. A warning shot from Gomes saw his header cleared off the line as it headed for the bottom right.
Before another header, this time directly from a corner rattled the crossbar with just minutes remaining.
It was not to be though, and both sides begin the reboot with a point each. Hurstville FC travel to face UNSW FC next week, whilst Prospect United SC host Fraser Park.
Match Stats
Hurstville FC: 0
Prospect United SC: 0
Saturday 18th July 2020
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: L. VIllarroel
Assistant Referees: G. Roberts, E.Perry.
Hurstville FC: 1. Matthew Massarotto, 3. Davide Gritti, 4. Daniel Maras, 6. Edoardo Panizzari (11. Jaefar Al Khulaifawi),9. Jesse Gagro, 10. Paul Gagro, 12. Daniel Kocina (20. Elvir Catovic), 17. Aleks Trenoski, 18. Julian Bittar (15. Costandi Fallas), 21. Caleb Bartier (8. Dario Borovickic), 50. Stephan Perak.
Subs Not Used: 19. Yianni Nioplias, 22. Trystan Singh
Prospect United SC: 1. Mario Farias, 3. Liam Polinsky, 4. David Moriera Muller, 5. Matthew Morosin (25. Jade Jonsson), 6. Daniel Mihajlovic, 7. Nicholas Valjak (13. Bryce Maxwell), 8. Kwangmook Lim, 9. Stephen Vukovic, 10. Cristian Gerardo Leiva Martinez, 17. Andrew Cotton, 19. Simon Zahra (14. Rocco Romeo)
Subs: 2. Jack Wrighton, 11. Liam Higgins, 12. Alexander Gorgievski
Elsewhere:
Nepean FC 2-1 Hawkesbury City FC
Late drama, whether it be a late winner, or a clear-cut chance skied over the bar. Late drama has to be top of any list of things we’ve missed about football. And there was plenty of it at Cook Park as Nepean hosted Hawkesbury City. So, let’s jump straight into it.
In a tough physical game, it was the visitors Hawkesbury City who took the lead. And it was Kwadwo Boamah Addai who found himself in the right spot after Callum Elliott contributed heavily in the buildup.
However just when you thought it would be another frustrating night for the home side, luck turned in their direction (with a good slice of effort involved as well). Capitalizing on a defensive blunder, Mitchell Mclintock equalized with ten minutes to go.
With momentum on their side, Nepean then were able to get a winner at the death with Mclintock collecting a clearance before scoring a runaway goal to secure three points for the hosts.
Camden Tigers 0-1 Western NSW FC
Well, Western NSW FC were close to taking the three points home the first time these sides met months ago. And they weren’t going to let another chance go by this time narrowly beating Camden Tigers on Saturday night.
The first half was a tale of two sides getting the ball into good areas yet lacking the composure to finish of their chances. Camden on the one hand, hit both the post and crossbar, whilst Daniel Baumgartner had the best of Western NSW’s chances.
Much like the first half, both sides were able to create chances of their own, Camden hitting the post once again whilst also seeing a ball cleared off the line. Whilst Western NSW were able to convert a chance with 15 minutes to go which decided the match. A Daniel Baumgartner free kick found Paul Long who rose highest to sneak a header in at the far post.
Western NSW coach Mark Rooke wanted to pay special tribute to young keeper Jordan Bruce who stepped in when required and made several good saves.
South Coast Flame 0-0 UNSW FC
A potentially serious injury to UNSW FC attacker Nima Beik (adding to an already hefty injury toll) put a dampener on proceedings as South Coast Flame and UNSW FC clashed at Ian Mcclennan Park. Apart from that, the clash was a win for defensive solidarity, as the hosts showed signs of progress when compared to their clash earlier this year.
Despite having sustained periods of possession in the first half, UNSW FC struggled to produce the final ball. Chances of note for the students came through Beik, his effort from an angle forcing Flame keeper Matt White into a save. Before a Keeghan Burke struck a free kick, which hit the inside of the post before being scrambled away.
Perhaps motivated by a George Kulcsar, it was South Coast Flame who created more chances after the break. A Matt Mazevski shot forced UNSW keeper Connor Winn into a strong save to his left. The Flames best chance of the game came with twenty minutes left, Louis Connell delivered a dangerous cross which marginally missed the outstretched leg of Hiroaki Ushijima.
The last chance of the game came at the other end though, when a superb cross from the left found Kevin Lopes in the middle, his free header failing to trouble White.
Parramatta FC 4-1 Granville Rage.
So, this is where all the goals went! Parramatta FC were ruthless in front of goal as they saw Granville Rage at Melita stadium.
Despite an even start to the match with the visitors controlling possession, it was Parramatta who found themselves two goals up by the half hour mark. The hosts were clinical as both striker Clement Waoci and Ali Dulleh found the back of the net.
Two goals turned into three come the second half, when captain Chris Godoy rose highest to meet a corner and stuck the ball into the back of the net for the pick of the home sides goals.
Not to be out done, Granville Rage came back into the contest, well in terms of creating chances that is. And they were rewarded with a goal of their own, Rylan Sadler scoring the pick of the goals with a left footed volley.
However, any hope of a come back was quickly extinguished when Gabriel Gomes added a fourth to the home sides tally.
By Justin Smith (Twitter: @smiththejustin)
(Photo by Pedro Garcia Photography)
