Round 2 Review – NPL 4 NSW Men’s
It was a goal fest in a wildly entertaining Round of the National Premier Leagues 4 NSW Men’s with 21 goals scored across the six fixtures.
Amongst the Round 2 action was, Parramatta FC and Newcastle Jets finishing equal top after both sides had impressive wins, Last minute penalties for Camden Tigers and Nepean FC giving them both draws and Western Rage sharing the points with Premiers Fraser Park.
Hawkesbury City FC vs Parramatta FC
This weekend’s action kicked off with Parramatta FC taking down Hawkesbury City in a physical battle where seven cards were shown throughout the match.
Hawkesbury started off on the front-foot and had the first chance of the game in the 22nd minute when Brad Gibson capitalised off a mis-judged back pass to find himself one-on-one with Nikola Bratic who came out rapidly and made an elite save to keep the scores level.
Parramatta began to assert themselves in the game around the half hour mark, bringing a new level of physicality to the game, resulting in three early yellow cards for their players leaving them on thin ice for the remaining hour.
The opener came in the 34th minute through Milorad Cubrilo after a great spell of possession from Parramatta saw them pushing deep into the opposing half and finding their way into the box for their first of the night.
Hawkesbury almost levelled the game moments before half-time when Callum Elliott’s long range effort rattled off the post and into the path of Daniel Morsillo who saw his shot expertly saved by Bratic, sending his side into the break retaining their one goal advantage.
Shortly after the resumption of play Parramatta doubled their advantage with a brilliant header from Matthew Joseph on the back of a perfect corner from Charles Abou Serhal.
Parramatta began to control the game on the back of their second goal and were inches off having a third goal minutes later after Ali Dulleh’s open header went over the bar.
The third goal for Parramatta came through a great counter-attack which saw Adrian Epifanino go down the line, cut into the box and find Dulleh at the back post with an open net.
Hawkesbury pushed hard in injury time and were rewarded late with a penalty which was powerfully put away by Daniel Morsillo.
Match Stats
Hawkesbury City FC 1 (MORSILLO)
Parramatta FC 3 (CUBRILO, DULLEH, JOSEPH)
Nepean FC vs UNSW FC
Nepean FC secured a 2-2 draw with UNSW FC after converting a penalty in the 12th minute of injury time.
Nepean started off with a second minute goal from Ben Welch and pressured the UNSW defence in the opening period, they continued their high press and forced their opposing defence into many clinical defensive stops – highlighted by a goal line clearance of a Mitchell Mclintock’ shot from the six yard box.
UNSW bounced back from their disappointing start and began to set their mark on the game with two first half goals from Victor Anyimba and Kevin Lopes. Nepean were tested throughout the remainder of the game but were up for the challenge and managed to bag the equaliser through Welch’s strike from the penalty spot.
Both managers were disappointed to not walk away winners on the day, however couldn’t deny the positive efforts the players gave throughout the game.
Fraser Park FC vs Western Rage
Western Rage played out an eventful and surprising 1-1 draw with Fraser Park.
Fraser Park started off the game slow and struggled to find their feet in the opening half, Western Rage had their opener in the 35th minute after a long range free kick bounced off the post and was finished off by Adrian Razov giving the Rage a surprising 1-0 lead heading into the break.
It was a tale off two halves for Fraser Park who dominated the second half and sat deep into opposing territory for majority of the half, their patience paid off late in the game after a direct through ball found Cam Philpot who finished a one-on-one to save his sides spoils. Fraser Park had a large amount of chances to get a second but were held off by a valiant Western Rage defence who held on for the draw.
Camden Tigers FC vs South Coast Flame FC
In the third and final game on Saturday, Camden Tigers shared the spoils with South Coast Flame through an injury time penalty.
The Flame started off the game in a positive manner scoring in the 4th minute after Jack Balmforth’s cross found Louis Connell who neatly finished for the Flame. It was a back and forth encounter after the goal with both sides pushing for what would be the next crucial goal.
Camden dominated the second half but were unlucky to not have had a goal until the 93rd minute after Carlo Stella conceded a penalty which was converted by Andrew Head, forcing the sides to share the points.
Dean Bradley was disappointed for his side to not walk away with all the points but is happy that they now have something to build off for the upcoming fixtures.
Prospect United SC vs Western NSW FC
Prospect United kicked off Sunday’s fixtures against an injury-riddled Western NSW walking away 3-1 winners.
Western NSW were without a full-time keeper and were forced to play Bevn Foxall in goals, Prospect controlled all parts of the first half with three counter-attacking goals, they forced their opposition into an own goal for the first before Roy Romeo and Joshua Lim finished off the first half scoring.
To Western NSW’s credit they were resilient in defence and managed their first goal through Steve Long giving the guests some momentum in closing out the game. Prospect will consider themselves unlucky to not of scored more, especially in the first half.
Newcastle Jets FC vs Hurstville FC
Newcastle Jets closed out the Round 2 fixtures by putting away another five goals, this time at the expense of Hurstville FC.
Hurstville started off the game high on confidence on the back of last week’s victory over UNSW. In a wild opening half, both sides went into the break scoreless after a multitude of chances either way.
Hurstville started off the second half the better of the two, opening the scoring in the 48th minute through Jafar Al Khulaifawi, however Newcastle answered immediately moments later with Blake Archbold’s first goal.
Newcastle became clinical in the closing stages of the match scoring four un-answered goals leaving the Hurstville defence stranded on many occasions, goals from Archbold and Patrick Bond along with an own goal helped seal the Jets victory leaving them two from two to start the season.
Written by NPL 4 NSW Men’s Writer, Dominic Criniti
