Round 6 Review – NPL 3 NSW Men’s
Another weekend and another breathtaking round of high-octane football in the National Premier Leagues 3 NSW Men’s competition as we review all the action from around the grounds.
Dulwich Hill’s ascendency is showing no signs of slowing down after they tore apart their nearest challengers, Gladesville Ryde Magic. Sydney University are fast becoming one of the form sides in the competition after they celebrated two wins on the bounce while Bankstown United are making a habit of scoring late winners.
Bankstown United FC – Central Coast United FC 3-2
Another last gasp goal saw Bankstown United seal all three points, with Central Coast their latest victim as they secured a 3-2 win at Jensen Park.
Both sides were clearly playing under the mantra – attack is the best form of defence.
The opening 25 minutes saw both teams trade blows with United’s Corey Freeman first to come close for his side when he missed a great chance at the back post after being picked out by Kallie Bangura.
The Pirates’ Josh Swadling was denied by Bankstown shot stopper Blake Tuxford only minutes later however that was not the case soon after when the Central Coast striker found the back of the net with a 25-yard piledriver.
United enjoyed the best possible start to the second stanza with Freeman getting his name on the scoresheet after just 60 seconds as his shot deflected into the visitors’ goal.
However, a plucky Central Coast were back at it again as they restored their lead via an exquisite Jack Ragen effort on the edge of the 18-yard-box.
United’s never say die attitude saw them once again peg back the scoring, this time through Bangura as he converted Dalibor Malesevic’s cross at the back post in the 72nd minute.
The crucial deciding goal arrived in quite contentious circumstances in the dying moments of injury time when Mitch Edmunds was adjudged to have been brought down in the box.
It was none other than Mitch Cross who stepped up to take the resulting spot kick to put the rubber stamp on his side’s third win of the campaign.
High-flying Bankstown can now look forward to an away fixture at Magic while the Pirates will be back at Pluim Park to welcome Macarthur.
Dulwich Hill FC – Gladesville Ryde Magic 4-0
Dulwich Hill posted an emphatic 4-0 victory against Gladesville Ryde Magic at Arlington Oval on Saturday night.
It was none other than Anthony Foti who popped up with his side’s first of the evening when he scored from close range on the half hour mark.
The hosts are clearly a team who are enjoying their football and that was clear to see as they doubled their lead. The build up for their second began well into their half with Johnny Koch who teed up Alex Nicolosi for the all-important goal.
Dully continued where they left off after the break with a Daniel Fornito volley making it three to the good before a Nathan Sansom header wrapped up the scoring.
The home side’s standout start to the season sees them claim outright first on the ladder with 13 points to their name.
They travel to Heffron Park next weekend to take on a resurgent Dunbar while Magic take on an undefeated Bankstown United at Christie Park.
Macarthur Rams FC – Bankstown City FC 3-4
Bankstown City were on the right end of a seven goal thriller against Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park on Saturday night.
It was the away fans who went into half time the happier of the two sets of spectators, with a bullet header from Antonio Farkas giving the visitors the slim advantage.
Bankstown doubled their lead after the interval courtesy of Tai Smith when he slotted home after going one on one with Rams shot stopper Stevan Savicic.
It was Nikola Todoroski who weighed in with his side’s third of the contest.
His first originating from Chris Triantis who laid the ball off for him as he curled the ball into the top corner.
Macarthur were then able to pull one back immediately after the restart before Todoroski came to the rescue once again as he put his side 4-1 up with a one touch finish.
However, the home side were not going to give up that easily as they returned fire with a quick double to make for a tense finale.
A fourth goal for the Rams did not eventuate as they drop down to seventh in the standings ahead of their long-haul trip to the Pirates next weekend.
Fourth placed Bankstown will be targeting four wins on the bounce when they return to Jensen Park to face off against Canterbury Bankstown.
Inter Lions FC – Dunbar Rovers FC 2-3
Dunbar Rovers posted their first three points of the season after they saw off Inter Lions 3-2 in a tense battle at Majors Bay Reserve on Saturday night.
It was the visitors who struck first on this occasion via Micaiah Te Rata on 15 minutes.
Inter returned fire around 20 minutes later thanks to Owen Duke who slotted the ball into Rovers’ goal after being picked out by Meco Tripodi’s piercing through ball.
A couple of astute substitutions by John Theo paid dividends for the hosts as they went ahead for the first time in the contest through Sam Armson after he was played in by Fikiret Berisha.
With 20 minutes remaining in the contest, Dunbar were able to level the scoring via Fox Bengtsson who finished off a slick counterattacking move for his side.
The winning goal arrived with five minutes left with Aram Tayebi on hand to rifle it home following a comedy of defensive errors.
Next up for the Rovers will be a home clash against leaders Dully while a crucial battle at the bottom of the table pits Inter against the Hawks.
Rydalmere Lions FC – Inner West Hawks FC 3-0
In a result that was true to the form book – Rydalmere Lions dispatched of Inner West Hawks 3-0.
A long range Matt West strike put Gavin Rae’s side ahead early on but the Hawks were able to keep them at bay for the remainder of the half.
The second half was a different story with the hosts scoring twice within a 15 minute period to swing them match well and truly in their favour.
It was Jake Chidiac who scored the brace for the Lions on this occasion with both goals forming from some excellent build up play.
The Hawks tried their best to break down the Lions but, in the end, they were unable to find the back of the net as they fell to their fifth straight defeat.
The Inner West club will be hoping for better fortunes when they host fellow strugglers Inter Lions next round while second placed Rydalmere head to Camperdown to take on an in-form Sydney Uni side.
Canterbury Bankstown FC – Sydney University SFC 0-1
It was all smiles in the Sydney University camp after they edged out Canterbury Bankstown 1-0 at the Crest on Saturday night.
The ‘students’ had the lion’s share of possession in the first half with their breakthrough arriving by the boot of James Reed on the 30 minute mark as he volleyed home Peter Crevani’s inch-perfect cross.
A second half revival for Berries saw them camped out in Uni’s half for almost the entire 45 minutes however they were unable to break down an extremely stubborn Uni defence.
That being said, a golden opportunity did fall to Shaquil Ali who header rattled the crossbar before dropping kindly for the Uni shot stopper in the dying stages of the encounter.
That’s now back-to-back victories as well as consecutive clean sheets for Uni as they jump into eighth place on the ladder.
Their credentials will be given a stern review when they host Rydalmere next time out while life for the Berries doesn’t get much better as they meet Bankstown City.
RESCHEDULED FIXTURE: Dunbar Rovers FC – Bankstown United FC 1-2
Bankstown United ran out 2-1 winners against Dunbar Rovers in their rescheduled fixture at Jensen Park on Wednesday night.
A quite even first half saw both sides create chances of their own with United coming close through Mitch Cross whose header cannoned into the post from six yards out on the quarter hour mark.
Scott Belgre’s men came out firing after the break and were soon ahead thanks to Kallie Bangura after Dunbar failed to clean their lines following Eros Bergamin’s bullet of an effort.
It did not take long for Dunbar to restore parity with Aram Tayebi chipping Bankstown’s Blake Tuxford.
The fixture appeared destined to end all square until Mitch Edmunds came up with the goods in second half injury time as he poked home a loose ball in the penalty area.
-By NPL 3 NSW Men’s Chief Writer Samuel Greco Schwartz (Twitter handle: @SamuelGS97)
