Round 3 Review – NPL 4 NSW Men’s

What a huge weekend of football we had as Round 3 of the National Premier Leagues 4 NSW Men’s competition took centre stage over the weekend.

Rydalmere Park played host to our Match of the Round as Parramatta FC faced UNSW FC while there were wins for Western NSW FC, South Coast Flame, Nepean FC and Fraser Park as Justin Smith reports.

 Parramatta FC v UNSW FC

Well it was a game that promised so much, and UNSW FC overcame a few demons in beating Parramatta FC on a cold Sunday Night at Rydalmere Park.

The students were made to wait for their eventual goal which came through Jakub Buris with ten minutes remaining on the clock.

For Parramatta FC, it was a case of not creating enough chances in the front third in the opening stanza. With a late Neram Yalda free kick being their best opportunity of the game

After a cagey start to the fixture, the first chance of the game fell to visitors. Raul Carrizo forcing a good save down to the keepers left from just outside the box.

Not to be out done, Parramatta FC created their first chance five minutes later when UNSW failed to clear their lines. Ali Dulleh just missing the ball at the back post.

The hosts continued to hold possession in the right areas but were unable to create the chances to match.

And whilst they may have had less possession, UNSW came close once again when Ian Hillier was played through one on one, only for his shot to go wide.

At the other end, the most likely threat throughout was Clement Waoci who created a few half chances for himself in the front third. Although right back Michael Fakiye also deserves a mention for the hosts after putting in some shift, anyway I digress.

Hillier and co were proving to be a handful in the attacking third, and he had the last chance of the half, a cross come shot sailing high and wide of the far corner.

After what felt like a rather lengthy half time break. The game completely changed complexion.

And most of the action was played in the UNSW attacking half.

The first chance of the second half came for UNSW. After spreading the ball wide left, Christopher Phillips was next to find Hillier whose shot from the edge of the area was skied over the bar.

As the half wore on, mistakes started to creep into both sides game. But it was UNSW FC who were looking the more likely with Jakub Buris next to go close, his right footed shot taking a deflection when it looked destined for the net.

With 15 minutes to go, it looked like a moment of brilliance was going to be required to break the deadlock, and it looked to have come through Maison Mcgeechan. His shot after a good piece of skill rattling the bar with the keeper beaten.

Now the 2019 UNSW FC response would have seen them concede at the other end, but they only came back stronger five minutes later through Buris. The midfielder finding himself free after a Mcgeechan dummy caught the attention of the defense. Buris striking it low into the bottom left corner.

A reaction was needed for Parramatta FC and you could be forgiven for thinking a equalizer was written in the stars when Neram Yelda lined up a free kick in a dangerous position. UNSW shot stopper Connor Winn is in a rich vein of form though and he was not going to let a clean sheet slip, producing a quality reaction save.

Parramatta FC: 0

UNSW FC: 1 (Buris 80’)

Elsewhere:

Western NSW FC 3-1 Hurstville FC

In our round three opener, it was Western NSW FC welcomed Hurstville FC to Proctor Park. Goals from Luke Mutton, Cameron Dejong and Damien Booth proved enough for the hosts to overcome an early Jaefar Al Khulaifawi strike.

Hurstville FC came into the clash determined to secure their first win of the season. And they looked well on their way when Al Khulaifawi was able to pounce when Jordan Bruce’s save fell into his path just five minutes into the contest. In response, Western NSW created several chances of their own before Luke Mutton equalized on 15 minutes from a set piece. Both sides then had chances to take the lead before half time, but the finish just was not there.

Re-emerging from the break, the hosts took the ascendency and were rewarded through substitute Damien Booth. Booth scoring the pick of the goals, a free-kick from 25 yards beating the visiting shot stopper. They then made sure of the victory, Cameron Dejong finding the net heading home a Ashton Arnott-Webb free-kick. Hurstville FC then went game-chasing, throwing numbers forward to try get back into the match but were unable to get past Bruce in the Western NSW goal.

South Coast Flame FC 1-0 Granville Rage

It wasn’t exactly pretty but a Jonathan Mushaba goal on the brink of half time secured three valuable points for South Coast Flame against Granville Rage.

Leading into the fixture with depleted numbers, the Flame came out the better of the two sides. Half chances fell to debutant Joel Dowling and Sandy Lowcock within the opening 25 minutes before Justin Smith spurned their best oppturtunity of the opening half hour. Just as it looked like the home side wouldn’t be rewarded for their first half performance, Mushaba managed to find the net. Lowcock was able to pounce on an errant back pass and was brought down by the visiting keeper. Seeing an advantage however, the referee allowed play to go on and Mushaba was there to finish.

Spurred on after the break, Granville Rage responded after the break and in turn, the game evened out in terms of chances. Justin Smith once again went close for the hosts, this time seeing his shot sail of the bar from close range. Whilst Anthony Gallo went close for the visitors, his shot from just outside the area catching the outside of the post. As time ticked on, the visitors piled men forward in search of an equalizer, but it wasn’t to come. The hosts claiming their first three points of the season.

Nepean FC 4-0 Prospect United SC

Don’t be fooled by the score line. Nepean FC overcame a brave Prospect United side on a chilly night in Sydney’s west. Goals to Eddie Stewart and Jack Hoban in the first half gave the home side the advantage before Mitch Mclintock and Joshua Viera rounded out the win late.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to take a lead with Stewart scoring his first of the season from a corner. This was followed shortly after with a goal to Hoban coming against the run of play. Nepean head coach Joe D’ermilio was quick to pay tribute to his keeper Thomas Hamilton afterwards, crediting him with “a number of good saves to keep the two-goal buffer”.

As Prospect’s desperation grew late on in the fixture. So did the space in behind them and Nepean FC have proven themselves clinical in closing out games this season with that man Mitch Mclintock and Joshua Viera scoring on the break.

Fraser Park FC 3-0 Hawkesbury City FC

Indeed, it was a Saturday night for home comforts, Fraser Park FC proving just too good for Hawkesbury City FC.

It did take a little while for the hosts to settle though, the first fifteen minutes saw a battle for both sides to gain control of the fixture. Past that point though, it was Fraser Park who took the ascendency and never looked back. They opened the scoring from a short corner routine (They work now? They work now!). Miki Bisceglia playing the ball to Anthony Musimeci on the edge of the box who finished in cool fashion, his shot catching the back post before finding the net. Musimeci dedicating the goal to former teammate Deklan Gilmartin.

Much of the fixture was played in the visitor’s half, but it was from a rare counter attack that the hosts doubled their advantage. Shu Torihara cutting in from the left before playing in Christian Desa who finished off a 1v1 just before the break.

With the hosts comfortable sitting on a two-goal lead, the second half saw the game even up. But as so often happens in football, a late sealer was to come. Mateo Pandolfo finding the net after cutting in from the left.

By Justin Smith (Twitter: @smiththejustin)