Round 4 Review – NPL 2 NSW Men’s
The National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s competition had a weekend for home comforts, with three teams winning on their own patch. We also have a new league leader, but that’s unlikely to be the last lead change in this unpredictable division.
Central Coast Mariners 3 (Michael Katsoulis 14’, Jordan Smylie 15’ 84’) Northern Tigers 2 (Ally Brown 55’, Nicholas Drummond 61’)
Pluim Park is definitely the place to go for entertainment! After eleven goals last weekend, spectators were treated to a seesawing contest on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers had the first chance as Ollie Wiggin raced onto Sam Wilson’s through pass, Luca Meggetto making a good one on one save. However, Central Coast were the ones to strike first when Dan Hall intercepted the ball and set up Michael Katsoulis, who blasted low into the net for his fourth goal in four games. The Mariners then doubled their lead a minute later through Jordan Smylie, the former Tiger racing onto a wonderful through ball from Louis Khoury and finishing well. There were good chances at both ends as halftime approached, Smylie prodded wide from a Matthew Hatch cross, and Ally Brown shot over from the edge of the area.
Smylie almost scored again soon after the restart from Gideon Arok’s knockdown, but William Foristal made a vital block on the goal line. Events then swung in the Tigers favour as the visitors scored twice in six minutes to level the scores. The deficit was halved when Jordan Ferrier got on the end of a cross from fellow Tigers fullback Sam Wilson, putting it on a silver platter for Brown to score. Ferrier would also create the equaliser, collecting the loose ball after a Wiggin effort was blocked by Damian Tsekenis and crossing for Nicholas Drummond to score with a fine near post header.
Wiggin could have completed the comeback midway through the second period when Wilson picked him out at a set piece, but he headed over and the miss was to prove costly. Six minutes remained when Smylie grabbed his second to win the match, sweeping the ball into the bottom corner after exchanging passes with Hatch.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Jack Armson 42’, Ray Miller 43’) St George City FA 0
A pair of goals just before halftime took Bonnyrigg to their second win of the season.
White Eagles forward Asmir Kadric was the first player to have a clear sight of goal when he received a pass from Bradie Smith, but he shot over under pressure from Tomi Romic and Dominic Brischetto. City defender Stephen Athanaseris then did well to make a block after Ray Miller set up Richie Darko. Both goalkeepers were kept busy as Stefan Giglio rushed off his line to deny Joshua Keremelevski and Romic made an excellent low save from Darko.
City would have a decent spell with both Nathan Roberts and Hiten Satoh flashing long range efforts over the crossbar. However, with halftime approaching the hosts struck twice. Jack Armson opened the scoring with a clinical left footed shot after good work from Mun-Soo Gil and Aaron Peterson, then it was 2-0 just over 60 seconds later as Kadric and Peterson linked on the counter, star club captain Ray Miller finishing from an acute angle.
City came out for the second half with renewed purpose and new signing Jacob Gjorsevski had a couple of chances, one of which was saved well by Giglio. However, Bonnyrigg soon regained control, with both Kadric and Hiyori Kawaguchi threatening from the edge of the area. They could have even added to their tally in the closing stages, but Romic made good saves from Kadric and Aidan Taouil.
NWS Spirit FC 3 (Duncan Stewart 45+1’, Louis Bozanic 73’, Andy Robertson 82’) SD Raiders 1 (Anthony Proia 61’)
Spirit FC bounced back from last week’s defeat to record their third home victory of the season.
The Raiders were close to scoring early on as Jack Greenwood dove full length to keep out a Matias Toro Suazo header. At the other end, Spirit marksman Duncan Stewart was denied by a goal line clearance from James Letta. A stalemate began to develop as the Raiders defended well against Spirit’s combination play, however the deadlock was broken in first half stoppage time when Michael Konestabo charged into the area and won a penalty. Stewart stepped up and placed the spot kick into the top corner to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
It was the visitors who started the second period brightly, and the Raiders won a number of set pieces in dangerous positions, while Noah Chianese also tested Greenwood from outside the area. Nick Carle’s side would be rewarded for their play just after the hour mark when Adrian Valenti released Anthony Proia, the striker sending a shot through the goalkeeper’s legs for the equaliser.
Spirit responded well and regained the lead inside the final 20 minutes: Stewart sprinted onto a Jacob Harris pass and squared the ball for Louis Bozanic to score from close range. Greenwood would be called upon again to save from Raiders substitute Daniel Marjanovic, before the home side sealed victory with eight minutes remaining. Stewart was involved again as he linked with Emilio Manos to find Andy Robertson, who scored to cap off an energetic performance.
St George FC 1 (Mani Gonzalez 59’) Blacktown Spartans 1 (Connor Eldridge 73’)
The Saints and the Spartans shared the points on a windswept and rain-soaked evening in Rooty Hill.
Two of the Spartans goalscorers from last week combined in the opening minutes as Connor Eldridge found Mason Ireland, who forced a save from Saints shotstopper Jacob Botic. St George FC then had a couple of opportunities in quick succession – Mani Gonzalez headed straight at Mitchell Evans, and Hussein Akil shot wide from 20 yards out.
Following a ten minute delay due to lighting issues, the players understandably took some time to get back into the flow of the game. Towards the end of the opening stanza, Botic saved from both Ireland and Eldridge, while Gonzalez couldn’t beat the wall from a free kick in first half stoppage time.
The game was being played at a good pace despite the difficult conditions, and this continued after the break. Early in the second half, Eldridge won the ball high up the field and was through on goal, but put his effort wide. Instead it was the Saints who drew first blood: Gonzalez sent a first time shot rocketing into the net after Hussein Akil’s free kick was blocked.
Blacktown Spartans equalised with just over a quarter of an hour remaining as Eldridge turned the ball home following a scramble in the six yard box. Bruno Pivato then had two chances in the space of a minute to put the Saints back in front, and substitute Paolo Mitry went even closer when he hit the crossbar from long range. The game’s last chance fell the way of Lachlan Rose, Botic making an acrobatic save to keep him out.
Postponed: Hills United v Newcastle Jets
Bye: Hakoah Sydney City East
By Eric Subijano (@eric_subijano)
