Round 4 Review – League One Men’s
After four rounds of the Football NSW League One Men’s competition, every team but one has tasted victory.
With a staggering eight teams within three points of each other, lets review round four of the competition where every game is apparently treated like it’s match of the round.
Highlighting this week’s action, we have three high-scoring affairs, a first win for a competition favourite and plenty of high-quality team goals.
St George City 2 (Saracino 20’, German 31’) v Hakoah FC 3 (Cox 28‘, Lobo 45‘ 68‘)
Winning streaks are there to be broken, just ask the Undertaker at Wrestlemania. So as such St George City have finally been defeated at home (their last defeat coming in August 2020, Northern Tigers) by a dogged Hakoah FC.
The first chance of the game fell to the visitors. Jordan Koton making a good run down the right before finding James Demetriou with his cross. Demetriou getting a shot off which was desperately blocked.
As both teams were feeling each other out in a tactical battle, you got the sense this one needed a goal to open things up. And that goal came on twenty minutes. A miscommunication in Hakoah’s defenses handing Antonio Saracino the chance to open the scores into an open net.
As much as City were ahead on the scoreboard, it felt as if Hakoah were still edging the contest. And they were rewarded on 28 minutes, Dominic Cox scoring his first of the season after a long throw caused chaos in the box.
Once again however, it was St George City to take the lead, Saracino winning a penalty after breaking the line, Tom Alston on club debut bringing him down. Damian German converting from the spot to restore their lead.
St George City were now looking the stronger of the sides, which of course meant that Hakoah FC were next to score. Perennial set-piece specialist Luiz Lobo scoring with a free kick just before the break, his free kick finding it’s way around the wall, bouncing right where the keeper doesn’t want it to bounce before sneaking in at the near post.
Anyone associated with football will tell you that when it comes to contests like this, it will come down to certain moments. One of which fell to Luiz Lobo from the penalty spot on sixty-eight minutes. Lobo using his experience to put the ball past the hosts keeper giving his side the lead for the first time on the night.
From there on in, the visitors showed good game management to see out the fixture creating a few chances of their own. Most notable of which saw Lobo go close with another free kick which Syron saved acrobatically and a Daniel Alessi header from point blank drawing another quality save.
While City came closest when Jay Jay Morfitis and Reuben Awaritefe had a couple of shots in succession blocked.
St George City face St George FC in a round five derby next weekend, While Hakoah host their first home game of the season against Central Coast Mariners.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1 (Gauthier 74’) v Hills United FC 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles scored their first victory of the season with a hard fought victory over Hills United, Saturday night.
The hosts piled on the pressure and were rewarded with a quality team goal with fifteen minutes left. Hills United on the other hand can take some positives from the performance which an improved defensive effort away from home.
Both sides accumulated a few half chances, without really testing either keeper in the opening ten minutes. Parfait perhaps going closest for the visitors after Darcy Ellem slipped him through, Parfait’s shot going wide right of the target.
While at the other end, Marie Gauthier sent a ball across the face of goal soon after, but a teammate wasn’t in position to finish off. Gauthier was proving to be a headache for the visiting defense with only an Eoin Montford challenge denying him an opportunity of a shot in the 23rd minute after Asmir Kadric played him through.
Bonnyrigg were starting to find their grove at home, and they nearly opened the scoring with eight minutes to go in the half. A ball in from the right headed down by Kadric to the feet of Sean Eve who effort was defected before Shaun Catlin tipped it round the post.
The first opportunity of note in the second period fell to Aaron Peterson from a Sean Eve free kick on the right. Peterson’s header going narrowly wide of the right post.
Looking to change the course of the game, Brian “Bomber” Brown looked to his bench and it oh so nearly paid off with the introduction of Adolph Koudakpo. Koudakpo forcing Bonnyrigg keeper James Chronopoulos into a sharp save after picking the ball up in the attacking half.
But the goal was to come at the other end through Marie Gauthier who finished off a slick passing move which saw Brandon Stojcevski square it to his feet around the penalty spot. Gauthiers shot kissing the post on the way in with fifteen minutes remaining.
In response Hills United threw caution to the wind but were ultimately unsuccessful against an experienced Bonnyrigg outfit.
Bonnyrigg will be looking to make it two from two when they face NWS Spirit next weekend, while Hills will be eyeing a first win of the season when they host Blacktown Spartans.
Northern Tigers FC 2 (Brown 30‘, Scott 82‘) v St George FC 1 (Morabito 69‘)
Northern Tigers and St George FC played out a thrilling three goal affair at North Turramurra, Sunday night.
In a contest where both sides wrestled for control, Northern Tigers ultimately got the pin with a late Ollie Scott winner after Ally Brown opened the scoring early. St George FC on the other hand showed their youthfulness isn’t a weakness, taking it to one of the competition favourites rewarded with an Anthony Morabito goal.
The opening stanza of this one saw both sides produce a flurry of chances. Firstly, from St George with Jayden Anevski and Cam Philpot both having efforts on goal in the opening ten minutes. Then from the Tigers who created the best chance of the early stages, Olliver Scott unable to steer his volley home after breaking through the line to get on the end of a Rhys Williams ball.
After their early scare, the Tigers set about doing their work and they created the next chance of note in the 24th minute. A lovely cross from Bailey Rule finding fellow wing back Hiyori Kawaguchi at the back post who forced a reaction stop from Saints keeper Andrew Di Blasio. Rule then following up a few minutes later, finding space in behind on the right going deep into the box before forcing Di Blasio into another save.
At this point, it seemed only a matter of time before the Tigers opened the scoring and sure enough it came on the half hour mark. Kawaguchi delivering a looping ball from the left which found Ally Brown in the area who caught it sweetly powering it home from inside the area.
Mark Milligan’s side needed a reaction and to their credit, it did come. With an extended period of territorial position, yet they were unable to create a clear cut chance
Once again, the Saints started the second half with a point to prove with Harry Jones, Cam Philpot and Anthony Morabito having early chances for the visitors. Morabito with the pick of them forcing some panic in the Tigers backline, Kawaguchi clearing away.
After a respectful showing in matching, it with their hosts, the visitors got their reward halfway through the second half, through a wonderfully worked team goal with plenty of one touch passes. Ended with Declan Sheldon finding Morabito with a low cross into the near post, Morabito side footing it into the goal with his right.
Perhaps it was cruel on them then when the hosts found their winner. Ollie Scott finally finding the net with a free header from another great ball into the area from Hiyori Kawaguchi on the left eighty-two minutes in.
Northern Tigers travel across town to face Western Sydney Wanderers next Sunday. While St George FC host a derby against St George City.
NWS Spirit FC 0 v Central Coast Mariners FC 0
A youthful Central Coast Mariners held NWS Spirit to a goalless draw at Christie Park in Sydney’s Northwest.
The hosts put their visitors under significant pressure for the opening half hour of the contest. While the visiting Mariners had a good period coming out of the break but largely have Patrick Beach to thank for the point, Beach making several high quality saves to dampen the Spirit.
As mentioned above, the Spirit came out all guns blazing. An early chance falling to Michael Konestabo who was found in the centre by Geoffry Lino on the right hand side. Konestabo forcing Beach into a great save from point blank range.
Beach would be called upon again a couple of times around the 20th minute. Firstly, through a Grant Cornwell who was able to follow up a head down from a corner with a left footed strike at the edge of the area which travelled through a sea of legs before Beach somehow got his glove to tip it round the post.
And then two minutes later where he denied Konestabo, his right footed strike forcing Beach into a save low down to his right, Richard Darko with the cross into the box.
Around the half hour mark, the game began to settle as the Spirit continued to choke their opposition with their press.
That all changed just before the half time break with the Mariners first opportunity of note falling to Lachlan Bayliss who couldn’t get enough purchase on his goal bound effort after Jakob Cresnar found him with his cross from the left.
Second half, it was the Mariners who started the better of the two sides creating two quick chances in succession with Nikola Skataric and Lachlan Bayliss having their efforts saved by Spirit keeper or going over the bar.
As the minutes ticked on, the hosts regained control of the match. Richie Darko with a few opportunities before substitute Jesse Spang being a constant presence late for the Spirit.
The closest they would come however was the crossbar, which was hit when Kota Odakura and Musashi Kokubo combined from a set piece. Although it would be amiss to not mention Patrick Beach again who denied Darko.
NWS Spirit host Bonnyrigg White Eagles next weekend, while Central Coast Mariners will face another tough away fixture against Hakoah FC.
Blacktown Spartans FC 2 (Ireland 72’, Lamberton 91’) v SD Raiders FC 2 (Chianese 4’, Cindric 68’)
Blacktown Spartans produced a memorable two goal comeback to salvage a point against SD Raiders at Blacktown Football Park.
Earliest goal of the season so far? Sd Raiders started in the best fashion possible after last weeks defeat to Spirit opening the scores inside four minutes. Noah Chianese the scorer with Mark Cindric providing the assist in a scintillating counterattack.
And they nearly made it two soon after, Charles Abou Serhal forcing Spartan’s keeper Hugh Brown into a good stop just after five minutes.
Coming back from suspension, Suleyman Bangura was the first Spartans player to force Mario Aleksik into doing some work at the other end with a cross-cum-shot effort from the right side after combining with Joel Beattie in the buildup.
This chance followed up in quick succession with their best effort so far, a high press forcing an error at the back resulting in Hamish Lamberton combining with Mason Ireland whose shot forced Aleksik into a save.
Lamberton and Ireland combined again soon after. Lamberton from the right centering it to Ireland in the box who could put enough power on his right footed half volley.
But it was at the other end where the first half ended in terms of chances, a ball in from the right wing finding the head of Noah Chianese who flicked it goalward with his head from the edge of the area. Brown forced to tip it over the bar.
The second half started with either side not willing to give an inch in a tense midfield battle. The lack of goalmouth chances broken through Noah Chianese who forced the Spartans keeper to tip it round the bar on the hour mark.
While the Raiders keeper was made to work for the first time in the half on 66 minutes, Lamberton forcing him into a near post save which he held comfortably. Followed soon after by a trickier save from a Mason Ireland shot.
But it was to be at the other end where the next goal came, Mark Cindric notching up his fourth goal of the campaign after combining with Daniel Bittar in the lead up. Cindric unleashing a powerful low left footed effort into the bottom right corner.
Two goal down, the Spartans needed a response, and it didn’t take long to come. Mason Ireland making the most of a kind deflection on a Jack Hutchings cross from the left to power it home from close range. 1-2.
Before Hamish Lamberton stepped up to give the hosts an equalizer just into injury time. A corner from the right sitting up for him before he finished through a sea of legs to level things up.
Andy Montgomery’s men travel to Hills United next time out looking to return to the winner’s circle. While SD Raiders face Mounties Wanderers at Valentine Sports Park.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 5 (Badolato 23‘ 59‘, Antonis 40‘, Lopane 42‘ Mostofi 62’) v Mounties Wanderers FC 2 (Bartels 55’ 70’)
In the style of Nick Kutnjak on commentary, I’m going to give you a peak behind the curtain of being a football writer. When you get as many goals as this one, you can just describe the goals and you’ve reached the usual word count.
Western Sydney Wanderers continued their lethal form in front of goals with a three goal victory over Mounties Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park.
The scoring was opened on twenty-three minutes through Alexander Badolato for the hosts. This coming shortly after Bruno Pivato had a chance at the other end. Jordi Swibel, combining with Dean Pelekanos who laid it off for Badolato who nestled the ball into the far bottom corner of the net.
One became two goals with five minutes remaining in the half, Aiden Mostofi breaking through the line on the left before sliding it low across the area for George Antonis to finish off. Antonis scoring his first of the season leaving the Mounties keeper no chance.
And the first half pain wasn’t over for Mounties, a third coming before the break. Alessandro Lopane providing something special after a short corner routine (see… short corners do work), Pelekanos with the assist. Although if were honest, it was all Lopane with a rocket into the top right corner of the net. There’s something about Nikola Pozder calling screamers this season after Aaron Peterson’s effort a few weeks back.
At this point, you would be forgiven for thinking this could get ugly but credit to the Mounties, they hung in there after the breaking matching their hosts on the scoreboard in the second half. Starting with a goal on fifty-five minutes through proven goal-scorer Brad Bartels who pounced on a lazy pass in midfield before finishing at the near post.
Hopes of a comeback were short-lived though as the Western Sydney Wanderers scored twice in three minutes for the second time in the fixture. Firstly, through Alex Badolato who scored his second of the afternoon after an Isaac Hovar cross wasn’t dealt with in the middle. Badolato smashing it home.
Before Aiden Mostofi gave Connor Rose’s cross the reward it deserved sending the ball into the back of the net. Rose making an inspired run down the right hand side before whipping the ball in from the byline.
Mounties Wanderers then responded to make the score line a little more respectable with another goal seventy minutes in. Brad Bartels given the chance to double his tally after their hosts were caught out with another early press, Sam Perre with the assist.
Western Sydney Wanderers host Northern Tigers in an early season top of the table showdown next Sunday. While Mounties Wanderers face SD Raiders at Valentine Sports Park.
By FNSW League One Men’s reporter Justin Smith
