Round 5 Review – NPL 2 NSW Men’s

The latest round of the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s competition provided almost non-stop drama.

There were eleven goals and two penalty saves … and that’s just what happened after the 70th minute!

With action like this, you’ll want to stay to the very end if you’re watching any game in this division.

Newcastle Jets 4 (Bailey Wells 13’, Blake Archbold 16’, Kosta Petratos 72’, Jack Simmons 82’) Central Coast Mariners 4 (Matthew Cahill 22’ 41’ 77’, Harry McCarthy 37’)

The first ever NPL 2 NSW Men’s version of the F3 Derby was certainly one to remember as Newcastle and Central Coast combined for eight goals in Lake Macquarie.

The hosts started brightly, with Bailey Wells and Jack Simmons forcing early saves from Mariners goalkeeper Luca Meggetto. Newcastle’s positive play was rewarded on 13 minutes as Blake Archbold and Kosta Petratos linked to release Wells, who made it 1-0 with a neat dinked finish. The Jets were flying, and doubled their advantage when Simmons teed up Archbold for a 20 yard strike which found the bottom corner.

As we’ve seen this season, no two goal lead is safe when Central Coast are playing. It was 2-1 after Jordan Smylie found Matthew Hatch’s overlapping run, with the energetic left back crossing for Matthew Cahill to head home. Hatch also set up the equaliser – this time Harry McCarthy was the beneficiary of Hatch’s crossing. McCarthy then turned provider by chipping the ball over the top to pick out Cahill’s run, and the striker obliged by sliding the ball past Noah James. Archbold could have equalised just before halftime when he got on the end of a Maki Petratos ball, but he volleyed wide.

There was a scramble following a Mariners corner early in the second stanza, but given the nature of the opening 45 minutes the game perhaps understandably cooled off. However, a Derby was never likely to stay that way, and events sprang back to life in the final 20 minutes. Kosta Petratos made it 3-3 with a smart diving header after a Bailey Wells cross wasn’t properly cleared, but then he almost immediately became the villain, getting dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Central Coast took advantage of the extra player straight away, and it was a double hat trick! Bradley Tapp and Damian Tsekenis combined to release Hatch, who then crossed for Cahill to poke the ball home – Hatch’s third assist and Cahill’s third goal of the afternoon. The game’s final twist came eight minutes from the end of normal time as lively Jets winger Lucas Mauragis won a penalty. Simmons kept his head from the spot, sending Meggetto the wrong way for the eighth goal of an extraordinary match.

There could even have been more goals: Mauragis headed over from a Simmons set piece, while Michael Katsoulis, Tsekenis and Cahill all missed the target in the dying minutes.

Hills United 2 (Wade Giovenali 22’, Bradley Robertson 31’) NWS Spirit FC 5 (Duncan Stewart 15’ 45’, Louis Bozanic 67’ 90+3’, Kota Odakura 76’)

Spirit FC are back on top of the ladder after a convincing performance at Lily Homes Stadium.

Despite early Hills pressure, it was the visitors who struck first. Duncan Stewart showed nice vision to find Andy Robertson in space on the left side, then the striker continued his run to meet Robertson’s cross at the near post and stab the ball past Jordan Geddes. United didn’t take long to respond, drawing level seven minutes later. Any side with the speedy pair of Daniel Fogarty and Joshua Mbakwe will always be dangerous on the counter, and it was those two plus Jacob Basden who linked well to provide Wade Giovenali with an easy finish. Fogarty was involved again on the half hour as he won a penalty: Bradley Robertson sent the spot kick straight down the middle to put Hills 2-1 up. However, the teams would go into the dressing sheds on equal terms after a mistake from Geddes on the stroke of halftime allowed Stewart to finish into an empty net.

The second half could possibly have been called The Michael Konestabo Show as the Spirit attacker ran riot, creating three goals. Spirit took a 3-2 lead midway through the second half when Konestabo played a perfectly timed pass to beat the Hills offside trap – Louis Bozanic kept his head to round the keeper and score. David Perkovic’s men made it four on 77 minutes as Konestabo’s left wing cross was tucked away by Kota Odakura.

Hills could have had a lifeline with five minutes remaining when Fogarty won his second penalty of the afternoon, but this time Jack Greenwood stood tall to save both a penalty and the follow up attempt from Bradley Robertson. Instead it was the away side who scored again as Konestabo got the better of multiple defenders and although his first cross was blocked, he was able to set up Bozanic for a simple finish. Spirit might even have scored more second half goals, but Andy Robertson hit the crossbar and Konestabo was desperately unlucky to see one of his shots strike the underside of the crossbar, rebound onto the post and bounce clear.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Asmir Kadric 14’ 62’) Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Dominic Cox 11’)

Bonnyrigg prevailed in a tight contest against Hakoah to record their third consecutive victory at home.

It was however the away side who drew first blood as Dominic Cox raced onto Jack Green’s long pass, beating Stefan Giglio with a lovely outside-of-the-foot strike. The White Eagles didn’t wait long to draw level: Aaron Peterson and Jack Armson combined to find Richard Darko, and when his shot was saved Asmir Kadric had the simplest of finishes from a yard out. Hakoah could have gone into halftime with the lead, but Giglio made a sharp save from Jordan Koton’s first time effort.

The ever-dangerous Armson had a great chance early in the second period when he latched onto a flick on, but he fired over under pressure from Hakoah goalkeeper Niki Loe. Ray Miller and Peterson then linked to set up Kadric for what would prove to be the winner with just under half an hour left – Kadric sprinted away and sent a low shot into the net. Loe’s next involvement was to save efforts from Armson and Kadric, while substitute Radovan Pavicevic blasted a shot wide in the closing stages.

There was late drama (in NPL 2 NSW Men’s? Surely not?) when Dominic Cox won a penalty in the 88th minute. Giglio literally saved the day for Bonnyrigg, getting his palms to a Harry Jones spot kick and ensuring his side came away with all three points.

Blacktown Spartans 2 (Connor Eldridge 84’, Andre Carle 90+3’) SD Raiders 2 (Milan Parenta 74’ 88’)

On a night where substitutes made a huge impact, the Spartans and the Raiders shared the points at Blacktown Football Park.

It was a goalless opening period, but not because of any caution shown by either team. For SD Raiders, Mathew Barkho and Matias Toro Suazo had early chances saved by Mitchell Evans. The home side’s best first half moment came when Michael Rutherford caught Lachlan Rose’s 25 yard strike, while Joshua Orchard and Nathan Separovic fired wide from long range.

Just before the half hour, Anthony Proia made a bustling run into the area and forced Evans into another stop, then couldn’t direct his follow up effort goalwards. A similar fate befell Proia’s strike partner Noah Chianese, who shot over the crossbar when a Toro Suazo cross was deflected into his path.

Orchard threatened again after the break, trying from distance and forcing Rutherford into a diving save. At the other end, Charles Abou Serhal and Barkho linked to find Proia, but Evans was able to push the shot wide. The teams were getting closer to finding the net: Mason Ireland found space just outside the area and stung Rutherford’s palms, then Daniel Bittar couldn’t beat Evans from an acute angle.

After the attacking intent shown by both sides, it was inevitable that the goals would start to flow and that’s exactly what happened in the final 20 minutes. Raiders forward Milan Parenta had only been on the field for about a minute when he received Chianese’s pass and found the bottom corner to put SD Raiders in front. However, as we have discovered over the past two seasons, when you need a goal at Blacktown Football Park there’s one player who usually answers the call. Connor Eldridge equalised with six minutes of normal time left, rising highest to head Christian Nascimben’s free kick past Rutherford.

This contest had now truly come alive as Rose and Dau Akol had chances, but it was the visitors who scored next. Alvaro Malmierca, another Raiders substitute, hit the post with a speculative effort and Parenta was in the right place to tap the ball home. Parenta would however not be the only goalscoring substitute. Andre Carle had already been denied when his fierce volley was blocked by Adrian Valenti, but there was no stopping Carle in the 93rd minute as he flung himself at Malcolm Ward’s long diagonal pass, heading the ball into the top corner.

The result preserves the Spartans’ unbeaten record, while SD Raiders finish the weekend in sixth place.

St George City FA 2 (Jason Romero 47’ 59’) Northern Tigers 3 (Ollie Wiggin 15’, Lachlan Lloyd 81’, Nick Drummond 88’)

At Arncliffe Park, Northern Tigers scored twice in the last ten minutes to grab their first victory since Round 1.

Tigers attackers Shervin Adeli and Ollie Wiggin both had chances inside the first five minutes, and the visitors made their positive start count with a goal after a quarter of an hour. Oliver Scott (making his 1st Grade debut) was the creator, finding space on the right side and playing the ball into the middle for Wiggin to score from 15 yards. Adeli and Ally Brown then threatened with shots from outside the area, while Wiggin could have scored again after breaking through the defence, but City shotstopper Tomi Romic made a good one on one save.

City’s best first half chance came when Jason Romero forced Elliot Carwardine to tip his 30 yard free kick wide. At the other end, Adeli went close but Romic was equal to his shot, and Wiggin went even closer when he hit the crossbar.

The hosts looked like a different side in the second half, levelling the scores within two minutes of the restart. Jason Romero marked his return from suspension with a typical poacher’s strike, beating his marker to volley home from a left wing cross. City then took the lead just before the hour mark: Hiten Satoh played the ball through for Romero, who kept his composure to get round Carwardine and find the open goal.

A stalemate developed as City tried to see the game out, but in a weekend packed full of late goals we always seemed destined for more goalmouth action. Nine minutes were left when Adam Hett’s side equalised – Sam Wilson crossed for Lucas Dawson and although he mishit his volley, the ball fell nicely for Lachlan Lloyd to send a first time strike past Romic. Wiggin should have netted the winner after Jamie Lobb, Dawson and Wilson combined to set him up, however it didn’t matter in the end. Scott made it a debut to remember with his second assist of the afternoon, setting up fellow youngster Nick Drummond for a breakaway goal. City had a chance in the final minute, but Jacob Gjorsevski fired over after good buildup play from Nathan Roberts and Satoh.

Bye: St George FC

By Eric Subijano (@eric_subijano)