Round 6 Review – NPL 2 NSW Men’s
It’s beginning to feel like winter.
And as we look for things to keep us warm, we need to look no further than round seven of the National Premier Leagues 2 NSW Men’s competition as the action heats up.
This week, our match of the round took us too Wanderers Football Park for a thrilling clash between Western Sydney Wanderers and Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Whilst elsewhere, an upset at Christie Park caught the eye, St George FC notched up their first win and Northern Tigers scored their second first half goal of the season.
Match of the round: Western Sydney Wanderers FC 3 (Badolato 14’, Constable 61’, Auglah 74’) v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 2 (Miller 13’, Darko 64)
Western Sydney Wanderers continued their winning ways with a gritty victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Wanderers Football Park.
It is a confidence building result for the Wanderers who played the last half hour with ten men. Alexander Badolato scored the equalizer prior to half time before Lochlan Constable and Ali Auglah found the net after the break.
In contrast, Bonnyrigg White Eagles will be disappointed that they did not take advantage of the extra man. Ray Miller opened the scoring on the day before Richard Darko scored in the second half.
Played in blustery conditions, the first quarter of an hour was played in frantic fashion. Both teams trading attacks in an end-to-end contest. And as such, it did not take long for the first chance to come about, Ali Auglah engaging the keeper before squaring the ball to Alex Badolato whose effort was cleared off the line.
However, it was the visitors who opened the scoring through Ray Miller. Miller scoring an unlikely free-kick goal from distance. The Ball landing between the hosts defensive line and goalkeeper before taking a nick off the post into the net.
You know the saying; you are most vulnerable when you have just scored. Well, that was the case in this one, an immediate response coming for the hosts. Jarrod Carluccio splitting the defense before squaring it to Alex Badolato to finish.
Twenty minutes in, you would normally expect things to settle down a bit. But that was far from true in this one, both sides having chances of their own before the break. But this is a 500-word report so excuse us for skipping a few.
The commencement of the second half saw Bonnyrigg have their best period of the match. Ray Miller and Aidan Taouil going close in quick fashion. And that looked set to continue when Nectarios Triantis saw red with thirty minutes left.
But in reality, the opposite happened. Wanderers were galvanized by the sending off, scoring a second just two minutes later. An attack going left to right across the field before Carluccio found Lochlan Constable to finish in the middle.
But their lead didn’t last long either, Bonnyrigg hitting back in quick fashion through Richard Darko who equalized the scores once again.
However, it was the Wanderers who were to strike the decisive blow and it came from the penalty spot. Ali Auglah stepping up to blast the ball into bottom right corner of the net.
Content with the lead, the Wanderers solidified their defense and just about held their visitors out who went close on numerous occasions. Most notably through Darko and Radovan Pavicevic.
Western Sydney Wanderers travel to face St George City next weekend. While Bonnyrigg host NWS Spirit FC.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 18. Oliver Kalac, 3. Phillip Cancar, 4. Mohamed Al Taay, 7. Jarrod Carluccio, 9. Ali Auglah (19. Joel Bertolissio), 11. Lochlan Constable, 12. Nectarios Triantis, 14. Alessandro Lopane (14. Peter Grozos), 17. George Daniel, 23. Kosta Grozos (10. Reuben Awaritefe), 29. Alex Badolato (15. Alexander Bonetig).
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 22. Stefan Giglio, 2. Jack Kuipers, 3. David Vrankovic, 7. Richard Darko, 10. Aidan Taouil (23. Judah Cleur), 11. Asmir Kadric (9. Radovan Pavicevic), 12. Kuot Maliet (19. Aaron Peterson), 13. James Mckenzie (14. James Mckenzie), 15. Raymond Miller (4. Hiyori Kawaguchi), 17. Robert Eremugo, 18. Mun-soo Gil.
NWS Spirit FC 1 (Lino 20’) v Blacktown Spartans 2 (Carle 15’, Ireland 72’)
Upset of the season so far? Blacktown Spartans breached fortress Christie Park with a victory over NWS Spirit FC, Saturday night.
The visitors were patient in waiting for their opportunities and took them efficiently. Andre Carle opened the scoring for the visitors before Mason Ireland scored the match winner deep into the second half.
It was an uncharacteristic off night for the home side who struggled to play their game. Goffry Lino found the net for them in a rare moment of joy for them.
Early on, you would not know Blacktown Spartans were coming off a loss midweek to Central Coast Mariners. The visitors starting in positive fashion. And they were rewarded for that when Andre Carle made a near post run from a corner to open the scoring.
The Spirit were quick to respond, and scored a typical Spirit goal, Lino scoring from close range inside the six-yard box.
Despite that, Spirit struggled to settle into their game and were made to pay with twenty minutes remaining. A high press catching the home side at the back. Mason Ireland capitalizing with a memorable finish with less than twenty minutes remaining.
NWS Spirit FC face Bonnyrigg next week, while Spartans host Hakoah in our match of the round.
Hills United FC 0 v Central Coast Mariners FC 1 (Tsekenis 72’)
Central Coast Mariners edged out Hills United in a tight contest at Lily Holmes Stadium, Saturday night.
After last weeks defeat to NWS Spirit FC, Central Coast Mariners have responded in the best way possible gaining six points out of a possible six from two trips to Sydney. Damian Tsekenis scoring the winner just after the 70th minute.
Hills United will look back on the fixture as an opportunity missed, perhaps deserving of at least a point.
In a tight contest, both sides had their chances in the first half. Hills United through Jordan Parfait. While James Bayliss went closest for the visitors.
The second half saw Hills United come out strong with a few guilt edged chances falling their way. Those chances falling to Parfait, Glenn Kelshaw and Duncan Stewart.
And they were made to pay through you guessed it, Damian Tsekenis who bagged his ninth of the season.
The home side responded well but were unable to find an equalizer.
Hills United play Mounties next weekend. While the Mariners face a grand final rematch against Northern Tigers.
Northern Tigers FC 5 (Brown 32’ 56’, Lobb 60’, Scott 71’, Hodgson 84’) v SD Raiders FC 0
Speaking of, Northern Tigers scored a first half goal! And claimed victory over SD Raiders FC at North Turramurra Recreation area.
Alexander Brown scored the first two goals of the match before Jamie Lobb, Oliver Scott and Will Hodgson also got themselves on the scoresheet.
For SD Raiders, it was a night to forget after the floodgates were opened early in the second half.
Coming into the game, the Tigers had only scored once in the opening half this season (NWS Spirit, round two). However, they had no such problems in this one. Alex Brown finishing after the Tigers pressed a mistake out of their visitors around the half hour mark.
Brown then doubled his tally ten minutes into the second half. Jamie Lobb then appropriately lobbed the keeper for the third. Will Hodgson cut inside from the left for the fourth and Will Hodgson scored a tap in for the fifth and final goal.
Next week, Northern Tigers travel up the M1 for a grand final rematch against Central Coast Mariners. SD Raiders face St George.
Hakoah FC v St George City
One for the purists. Hakoah FC welcomed St George City to Hensley Athletic field. Yet ultimately, both sides had to settle for a draw.
Hakoah as the home side found themselves playing with the majority of possession against the visitors who were happy to sit in a low block before fancying their chances on the counter. They had Zac Sapsford to thank for their equalizer mid-way through the second half.
St George City have both reason to be pleased and disappointed. Pleased cause they took a point off a strong Hakoah team. Disappointed cause they let a lead slip.
And the first goal came from exactly that, Paolo Mitry scoring from outside the box with a tidy finish. A lead of which they held going into the half time.
Not having much luck in the front third. Hakoah coach Luka Hrzina went to his bench for a spark. And it paid off. Yianni Spyrakis finding Zac Sapsford for the equalizer. Do not recognize the name? That’s because his come from their 20’s outfit.
Mounties Wanderers FC 1 (Manno 14’) v St George FC 3 (Stojcevski 40’ 90’, Morabito 51’)
Broken their duck. St George FC claimed their first victory of the season over Mounties Wanderers in the late game, Sunday night.
But there were a few nervy moments beforehand, conceding an early goal before Brandon Stojcevski picked up a brace with an Anthony Morabito goal sandwiched in between.
For Mounties, the disappointment was clear following the full-time whistle. Nathan Manno found the net early in the first half.
And that goal came from nowhere, the hosts withstanding some pressure before mounting their first attack which ended with a sweet right footed shot finding the far side netting.
The goal seemed to give the visitors confidence. Adrian Vranic, Mark Moric and Franco Scarcella having chances soon after.
All the while, you sensed the visitors just needed that one goal to break their drought. And it came five minutes before the half through Stojcevski who was one of three St George players who reacted quickly from a Harrick Sinspraseuth save.
At this point it is time for a player mention as St George captain Bradley Bartels came out of the break inspired. Playing a crucial role in the visitors second, squaring the ball to a on rushing Morabito to finish from close range.
Two then became three in injury time, Bartels again involved in the buildup releasing Stojcevski for his second of the game.
St George FC will be looking to make it two from two when they face SD Raiders next weekend. While Mounties welcome Hills in their round seven clash.
By NPL2 Men’s Reporter Justin Smith (Twitter: @smiththejustin)
