Round 2 Review – League Three Men’s
The Football NSW League Three Men’s competition has continued in style, with three one-goal victories and the solitary 8-0 match.
Newcastle Jets remain on the top of the table on goal difference, while Hurstville FC and Hawkesbury have also won their opening two matches.
Meanwhile, there are seven sides in the competition still chasing a first win of the season, albeit with only two having played two games in the two rounds – four others have only played one while Nepean FC hasn’t yet kicked off their campaign.
Fraser Park 0 – 8 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets has continued their rampant form, putting eight past Fraser Park to make it twelve goals in two games.
The Jets opened the scoring in the 5th minute, with a clever burst down the right side of the field from Adam Zervas ending in a fantastic low ball delivered into the box.
Following a scramble, the ball was forced over the line by Mason Fernandez.
The Jets had a fantastic chance to make it 2-0 two minutes later, with Archie Goodwin latching onto a through ball in behind – the striker however was unable to convert.
However, Goodwin did just that a minute later, again using his pace to get in behind and converting with a clinical finish around the right side of the goalkeeper Patrick Ferrara.
Fraser Park was barely able to leave their own half in the opening ten minutes, with Newcastle Jets compressing their pitch with their intense counter-pressing to keep territorial dominance over their opponents.
The Jets waere finding immense success in drawing a press from Fraser Park, before attacking with pace and precision through the lines, looking to heighten the line of their opponent’s defence before releasing Goodwin in behind.
The youthful striker was thriving off the long balls in behind Fraser’s defence and had another chance to make it three for his side, but a chipped volley agonisingly bounced wide in a short-range one on one.
The chances kept flowing as the Jets continued to mount pressure, with a freekick from Blake Archbold grazing off the crossbar.
Meanwhile, the Jets were blazing in a press of their own, cutting passing angles cleverly to force long balls from Fraser Park.
Newcastle Jets made it 3-0 in the 31s minute, after a one-two between Zervas and Archbold saw the former in behind, who again played a measured low ball across the box in behind Fraser Park’s defence, from which Goodwin capitalised with a left-footed strike.
The Jets continued their flying form, increasing the margin to four goals just three minutes later; after a freekick from Will Ingram hit the post and found the feet of Nic Kacev, who converted clinically from close range.
Fraser Park remained dangerous on quick attacking moments, showing positive signs from the 35th minute.
They hit the post off a guided header through Shu Torihara with seven minutes to play, but the chance was offside.
The hosts stretched the play well through their fullbacks to escape Newcastle’s press but wasn’t found on a regular basis to trouble their opponents.
The Jets, while not as dominant in the closing ten minutes of the first half, managed to convert a 5th goal, with Goodwin winning himself a penalty, and converting clinically, blasting the ball into the bottom left corner to earn himself a hattrick within the first 45 minutes of play.
After the resumption of play to begin the second half, Newcastle continued to dominate and create opportunities, adding to their tally in the 60th minute, with a pinpoint low ball again across the face of goal from just outside the box finding Josh Benson, who tapped the ball home.
The next ten minutes became relatively subdued, with Fraser Park’s defence holding strong against Newcastle’s raid of attacks.
However, there remained a breaking point for the home side, with Newcastle extending their lead to seven goals in the 73rd minute.
After a mazy dribble from Lachlan West, the midfielder found Goodwin with a pinpoint pass at the far post – the striker converted the open goal increasing his tally to four for the match.
Again, the goal was proceeded by a quieter ten-minute affair, where Newcastle retained possession in search of an opening.
And in a carbon copy of the period of play, a goal came for the Jets after their patient build-up, with Finn Toddhunter striking home a left-footed thunderbolt from outside the box.
Newcastle Jets continued their domination to see out the match, sustaining their excellent start to the season, having scored twelve goals in two games so far while being yet to concede.
Meanwhile, Fraser Park will look to bounce back on Saturday against Camden Tigers, who are also yet to win this campaign.
Hurstville FC 2 – 1 UNSW FC
Hurstville FC has edged out UNSW FC in a tight affair, grabbing their second win in as many games to start the season strongly.
The home side began as the stronger team in the first 15 minutes, but UNSW wrestled their way back into the match, controlling possession.
It was the away team who opened the scoring in the 25th minute, with a cutback from Matias Da Silva Santos finding the feet of Nima Beik, who finished, following an error from Hurstville’s defence.
However, Hurstville levelled the score ten minutes later, after a freekick from Paul Gagro found Jacob Botic, who headed the ball into the back of the net.
Botic made it a brace for himself and created a lead for his side in the 40th minute, with Hurstville capitalising on another set-piece with a guided freekick into the top corner.
The second half didn’t see any addition to the scores, with both sides unable to capitalise on chances, and the game ended in victory to Hurstville.
Camden Tigers 1 – 2 Prospect United
Prospect United have opened their season with a win over Camden Tigers away from home.
United opened the scoring in the 5th minute after a suboptimal midfield press from Camden Tigers saw an unmarked player in the centre of the box.
Luka Zepina brought down the ball well and slotted it home, into the bottom corner.
Camden began to come into the game after the 15th minute, and the home side capitalised with a goal from Jarred Morley, following after a neat passage of play down the right flank.
Prospect dominated in the second half with the youngster Praneet Singh scoring on his debut in the 66th minute to put his side in front.
With ten minutes late, Camden was given a golden opportunity to equalise from the penalty spot following a foul from a Tigers cross, but Prospect goalkeeper Adriano Cerasoli made a double save to secure the three points for United.
Western Rage 0 – 1 Hawkesbury City
Hawkesbury City has joined Hurstville, Prospect and Newcastle as the only side to have won all their games this campaign, having prevailed by the solitary goal away to Western Rage.
The Rage moved the ball well to begin the match, with Hawkesbury settling into their rhythm after 15 minutes of play.
Hawkesbury created chances aplenty, but couldn’t find the elusive opening goal, with Rage also having their moments in front of goal.
But just as it was looking to be ‘one of those nights’ for both sides, an outstanding 20-yard free-kick from former A-League star Predrag Bojic opened the scoring for the home side.
The Rage threw everything at the game after the concession, with the majority of their chances coming in the last ten minutes.
The final kick of the game came through bated breath, with Rage striker Nico Benjamin striking the ball over the bar to the sound of the final whistle.
Parramatta FC vs South Coast Flame – Postponed (washed out)
Bye: Nepean FC
-By Football NSW League 3 Men’s Reporter, Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
