Round 2 Review – League One Men’s
Even at this early stage, the stakes in the Football NSW League One Men’s competition have never been higher as evidenced by a round two where every goal counted for something in a competition as unpredictable as ever.
Highlighting this weekend is a sensational seven goals for Western Sydney Wanderers, an impressive bounce back win from Blacktown Spartans and a couple of high scoring draws in Sydney’s south and north-west respectively.
Northern Tigers FC 0 v St George City 0
Northern Tigers and St George City shared the points in a tight and tense affair at North Turramurra Recreation Ground, Saturday night.
The first half of this one almost resembled an attack vs defense training drill with Northern Tigers holding possession for large periods of the first half. Though it has to be said that not much of it was causing the City camp any worry.
In a half where chances were hard earned. Joe Fox and Ollie Scott had the hosts best chances, with Scott coming closest after a Hirori Kawaguchi ball in from the left on the 35th minute mark. While Joshua Keremelevski nearly reached a flick on header in the box late in the half for the visitors.
St George City’s best period of the game then came in the twenty minutes after the break. With their chances falling the way of Reuben Awaritefe and Joshua Keremelevski. Awaritefe through his threat in the air, heading separate chances to the left and right of the target.
While Keremelevski found himself beyond the Tigers defense just after the hour mark. His shot hitting the side netting after Paolo Mitry played him through.
The last couple of chances for the match fell to the same player for the hosts in Ally Brown who couldn’t find the target on both occasions. The first coming after Ollie Wiggin isolated his marker on the left before cutting it back to Brown’s feet.
Before the second came from a set piece on 86 minutes. A corner misread by City keeper Mackenzie Syron which left Brown to have a chance at the back post, the midfielder unable to get his body around it before shooting off target.
But it was a night where both sides defenses shone over their attacking counterparts with City defenders Nicholas Kalergou and Matthew Keremelevski in particular impressing on the night.
Both sides walk away from the contest with a more than respectable four points from a possible six. With Northern Tigers taking to the road for the first time in 2022 next week, while St George City host their first game at Penshurst Park against Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 7 (Swibel 9’ 25’ 50’, Rose 27’, Triantis 79’, Kovarik OG 84’, Badolato 90’) v Hills United FC 1 (Merrin 34’)
In what is now becoming a weekly tradition, League One Men’s saw another blowout score line as Western Sydney Wanderers ran all over a sorry Hills United side at Wanderers Football Park.
With the Wanderers holding a formidable home record at Wanderers Football Park, it was always going to be a tough task for the visitors. Mind you not many would have tipped a six-goal margin with Jordi Swibel, Connor Rose, Nectarios Triantis, and Alex Badolato all finding the net. Daine Merrin scoring the consolation goal for the visitors.
After the visitors withstood the early pressure put on them by the hosts, they finally cracked 15 minutes in. Jordi Swibel breaking the deadlock with a poachers finish inside the area, Lopane slipping him in behind.
Swibel then picked up his second 10 minutes later. Although he didn’t seem to know much about it, Aiden Mostofi playing a role with a delightful cross from the left, which found Swibel in the six-yard box to turn it home.
Two became three within a few minutes, Connor Rose reacting quickest to finish after an initial Mostofi shot from outside the area was saved into his path.
Hills would respond before the break from the penalty spot with Daine Merrin stepping up, sending it straight down the middle. This after the referee found a handball in the box after a poor defensive clearance.
After being outplayed in the first 45, Hills then would change their shape going into the second half. However, with that comes a risk that things will in fact backfire, as they did in this one. Western Sydney Wanderers finding the back of the net another four times in the second period.
Goal number one of the four coming through Jordi Swibel, who once again found himself in the right place, right time after a Dean Pelekanos shot was saved by Shaun Catlin into his path. Swibel picking up s hat-trick on the night and his fifth goal of the season.
The scoring then settled for the next half hour or so, and you know it’s a good night for the WSW academy side when they score from a set piece, Isaac Hovar finding Nectarios Triantis at the near post with his diving header sneaking in at the far post.
Five then turned into six and then seven through an Own Goal before Alex Badolato found the seventh in added time with a cheeky chip to round things off. Jesper Webber and Jordi Swibel playing a role in a swift counter, with Swibel picking up the assist.
Western Sydney Wanderers travel to Penshurst Park to face off with St George City next weekend, while Hills United will look to stage a Spartan like rebound when they play host to Northern Tigers.
SD Raiders FC 4 (Figon 39’ 48’, Cindric 65’, Chianese 85’) v St George FC 1 (Hasegawa 77’)
What a difference an inform striker makes! SD Raiders claimed victory over St George FC in a high tempo affair with Jordan Figon playing a starring role with two goals and an assist. While Mark Cindric and Noah Chianese also found the net for the hosts.
For St George FC, they had enough chances to match it with their hosts, but apart from a Yu Hasegawa finish on 75 minutes, they were unable to find a way past Mario Aleksik.
Both sides started this one at 100 miles an hour, exchanging attacks in the opening fifteen minutes. The most notable of which saw Mark Cindric go closest after recovering a Charles Abou Serhal cross which was whipped across the face of goal.
While at the other end. Harry Jones had the pick of the Saints chances, finding space beyond the SD Raiders defense after being played in from a right back position. His effort going over the bar into the carpark.
St George continued to mount pressure on the SD Raiders defense but much like their game against Hakoah last weekend, they just struggled to get that decisive shot away when doing so.
And they were punished before the break, Milan Parenta decisively beating his marker before playing Jordan Figon through, who showed his class slipping it between the legs of the opposing keeper on its way in.
That lead was extended shortly after the resumption, Jordan Figon doubling the lead and his tally. Mark Cindric this time playing him through. Figon then taking it past the keeper before finishing under defensive pressure.
St George looked to hit back and they oh so nearly did, being denied by the outstretched foot of Mario Aleksik to deny a stretching Cam Philpot just after fifty minutes.
But at this point it was SD Raiders who were creating the more chances and they made it three on 65 minutes. Figon turning provider unselfishly squaring it to Mark Cindric after attracting the keeper’s attention. Cindric powerfully finishing from inside the area.
Although, I think there would be no arguments when I suggest that St George FC deserved a goal from this one despite being three goals down. And they would’ve been dreaming of a comeback on 75 minutes when Cam Philpot slipped in Yu Hasegawa who finished past Aleksik at the near post.
Those dreams however were snuffed out with five minutes left. Noah Chianese putting an exclamation mark on the victory with an outrageous volley from distance on the counter. Game, set, match.
SD Raiders host NWS Spirit next weekend, while St George FC return home to host Blacktown Spartans.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 2 (Peterson 15’, Sfiligoi 90’) v Central Coast Mariners FC 2 (Bayliss 45’, Larson 84’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Central Coast Mariners had to settle for a point after a pulsating back and forth clash in Sydney’s West.
Excuse the cliché, but this very much was a game of two halves with the hosts creating chance after chance in the first half before a late penalty brought the visitors back into the match. Aaron Peterson and Zac Sfiligoi found the net for the Eagles, while Central Coast Mariners scored through Lachlan Bayliss and Dean Larson.
So, at this point I’m going to ask you to go watch Bonnyrigg’s opener. Alright, now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about it because it could well be the goal of the season. Aaron Peterson scoring a memorable goal from well outside the area with a first-time (No look?) finish after receiving the ball from Jack Kuipers on the right on 15 minutes.
From that point till stoppage time in the first half, the hosts looked irresistible mounting several excursions into the Mariners box. The most notable seeing veteran centre back Goran Subara hit the crossbar from a corner and Anthony Gauthier missing a one-on-one opportunity with his weaker foot.
And if you don’t take your chances… you know what happens next. With the young Mariners landing a counter punch before the break. Jackson Khoury brought down in the area by Subara before Lachlan Bayliss converted from the spot, as coolly as you like.
In complete contrast to the first half, it was the away side who came out the better of the two sides after the break. With Lachlan Bayliss proving to be a constant nuisance to the Bonnyrigg back line. Playing a part in his side winning a free kick just before the hour mark in which Sasha Kuzevski forced Bonnyrigg shot stopper James Chronopoulos to palm it over the bar. Before going close himself, his effort dribbling wide right of the target ten minutes later.
So, when they scored with five minutes left through a Dean Larson header from a set piece, they would have thought they’d done enough to take home three points.
But that wasn’t to be as despite being on the back foot, Bonnyrigg never quite went away, with Mun-Soo Gil almost scoring a go ahead before the Mariners took the lead. And in true League One Men’s fashion, they found a stoppage time equalizer through Zac Sfiligoi who soared above the crowd to give them a share of the points.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles make a cross city journey to face Hakoah FC next weekend. While Central Coast Mariners host Mounties Wanderers back at Pluim Park.
Mounties Wanderers FC 2 (Bartels 24‘, Spaseski 82‘) v Hakoah FC 2 (Lobo 67‘, Spyrakis 71’)
Good for the neutral, not so good for those supporting either side. In an eerily similar game to the one mentioned above, Mounties Wanderers and Hakoah FC entertained those gathered at Valentine Sports Park in one of the two later kick offs, Saturday night
Mounties both took the lead in the first half via goalscoring machine? Brad Bartels and equalized later on through Tony Spaseski. While Luiz Lobo and Yianni Spyrakis found the back of the net for the visitors.
In contrast to some games across the weekend, it took a while for this game to get motoring in terms of chances. Having to wait till the 18th minute before a shot on target was registered. That coming in Hakoah’s favour, in the form of a Luiz Lobo free kick which was comfortably saved by Mountie’s keeper Daniel Sadaka.
In response, Mounties scored the first goal of the game in the 23rd minute, Brad Bartels the scorer picking up his second of the season. This one coming from a corner delivered to the back post by Matthew Self. Bartels making the late run and finishing emphatically with the head.
In response, Hakoah finished the half strong with a number of significant chances towards the end of the first half, both falling to George Tuson-Firth on starting debut.
Having created the majority of chances in the opening half, Hakoah continued to mount pressure in the opening stages of the second half. Lobo once again proving a nuisance, the attacker striking across the face of goal within a minute of the restart.
However, they had to wait till the 67th minute of the match, as if they were waiting for people to switch over from the 7pm kick offs. The goal coming from the penalty spot, converted by Luiz Lobo after Jordan Koton made an instant Impact off the bench, brought down just inside the area.
With momentum behind them, Hakoah then made it two, four minutes later. Yianni Spyrakis hitting a left footed volley from inside the area into the bottom right corner of the goal. Joseph Roddy with the assist, showing tenacity in retrieving the ball before playing it in.
Now it was the Mounties turn to chase the game, and they were able to grab a late equalizer. Tony Spaseski finding himself in the right place at the right time, finishing after a corner from the left was headed down to his feet.
With little time remaining, neither side were then able to find the winner, Daniel Alessi coming closest for the visitors forcing Sadaka to make the save.
NWS Spirit FC 0 v Blacktown Spartans FC 1 (Gonzalez 50’)
And last but not least. Blacktown Spartans bounced back from their round one defeat in positive fashion, coming out on top of NWS Spirit at Christie Park.
Spartans were brave in defense, keeping their shape at the back before finding a goal on the counter through Emmanuel Gonzalez and holding on from there.
It didn’t take long for the games pattern to emerge. With Spirit holding possession in non-threatening areas while Spartans were happy to sit back and wait for their opportunity on the break, with no lack of attacking outlets.
Spirit went close very early, with a corner resulting in a good old-fashioned goal-mouth scramble but unfortunately for them they couldn’t find the decisive touch to give them a lead.
The game was crying out for an opener. And it was looking likely to come from the visitors who grew into the match as time ticked on. Gonzalez picking up his first goal at his new club after a few prior efforts were saved/went wide. Picking up a loose pass as Spirit were looking to play out from the back and finishing from outside the 18-yard box into the bottom right.
At the other end, Spirit were getting into more advanced positions in their periods off possession, with Odakura firing over the bar before e the half time whistle.
Before they had the ball in the net soon after the visitors go ahead goal, but unfortunately for them Konestabo strayed into an offside position. Konestabo then again had a chance in the 65th minute, his effort forcing Hugh Brown into a save low down.
With time running out. The Spirit had a couple more opportunities on goal, Konestabo firing over the bar from a narrow angle on the cusp of injury time after the ball in was headed down. Before Richie Darko, stretched desperately to beat Hugh Brown to the ball resulting in a foul.
However, it must be said at this point that the visiting Spartans saw out the game expertly, holding firm at the back, while frustrating Spirit in getting the ball into the front third.
Despite last weekend’s result, the Spartans will look to build on three positive halves of football going into their game against St George FC. While Spirit face the tough task of stopping an in-form SD Raiders side.
Finally, a big thanks to Eric Subijano who wrote the Round two preview last week. Just not sure I’m going to trust him predicting things again.
-By Football NSW League One Men’s reporter Justin Smith
