Round 4 Review – League Three Men’s
Round four of Football NSW’s League Three Men’s competition has concluded, with some tense matches leading to big results for sides as they look to build on the opening matches of the campaign.
South Coast Flame was defeated 4-1 by Hawkesbury City to open the weekend, with the match between UNSW and Newcastle Jets postponed due to weather.
In a lone kickoff on Saturday, Hurstville FC defeated Western Rage 2-0 away from home, before Parramatta FC defeated Camden Tigers 4-2 in just their second match of the season.
To end the round, Nepean FC and Prospect United couldn’t be split, drawing 1-1 on Sunday night, with Fraser Park getting a game off with a bye.
South Coast Flame 1 – 4 Hawkesbury City
Hawkesbury has continued their winning streak to begin the season, going outright top of the table (with Newcastle Jet’s match postponed), defeating South Coast Flame impressively away from home.
South Coast Flame began the match well with some quick interchanges, but Hawkesbury City held strong in their pressure.
The away side lost goalkeeper Daniel Schwarzer to injury in the 3rd minute, with Craig Morley providing a strong performance to ease the nerves.
Hawkesbury opened the scoring in the 6th minute, capitalising on a mistake from South Coast Flame’s defence.
Harry Drew capitalised on a misjudged long ball and rounded opposition goalkeeper Luke Morgan, before cutting the ball back to Marco Turpeinen to give Hawkesbury the lead.
Chances followed for both sides after the opener, with Hawkesbury nearly in again after a mix-up between the home side’s goalkeeper and defence, while Fabian Iacovelli drew a good save from Morley with a shot for South Coast Flame.
It was Hawkesbury who found the back of the net, doubling their advantage in the 27th minute with a Predrag Bojic free kick from 35 yards out finding Daniel Morsillo, who converted for his side.
After the beginning of the second half, Hawkesbury made it three through Turpeinen, who got on the end of the long ball and finished with deadly accuracy.
The away side then enlarged their margin within the last fifteen minutes, after some great leadup work by Harry Drew saw Turpeinen found for a hatrick.
South Coast Flame found a consolation goal right before the final whistle, with Jack Balmforth weaving through the Hawkesbury defence before finding Cody Waller, who finished from close range.
South Coast Flame will look to regroup with a bye next weekend, while Hawkesbury City will be on the road once again, facing Hurstville FC at Penshurst Park.
Western Rage 0 – 2 Hurstville FC
Hurstville FC has bounced back from their loss against Newcastle with a victory away over Western Rage on Saturday night.
Hurstville dominated the opening 25 minutes and found reward by going up two goals to the good early in the match.
Their opener came with good combination play down the left, which began with Jacob Ritchie.
After Michael Kotzambosis received the ball, he cut it back to find Jesse Gagro, who finished.
Hurstville doubled their advantage with a goal of a similar ilk. Pedro Almeida and Gagro again showed combined well, this time down the right flank, with the former then putting a low cross across the face of goal for Ritchie to finish.
The last fifteen minutes of the half were more even, before Western Rage went at it in the second stanza, prioritising more direct play.
Hurstville had chances to add to their tally with multiple clear cut chances, while Western Rage went close in a one on one, but couldn’t convert.
Western Rage will be looking for their first victory of the season when they travel away to Ron Dine Stadium to oppose Camden Tigers next Saturday, while Hurstville will play Hawkesbury City at home.
Parramatta FC 4 – 2 Camden Tigers
Parramatta FC has defeated Camden Tigers 4-2 in a rollercoaster match at Rydalmere Park.
The home side opened the scoring within the first five minutes through Matthew Joseph, before Jayden Russell equalised the scores for Camden Tigers after beating a defender on the left flank.
In the second half, Camden gained the lead through Blake Pearson after a well taken half volley at the back post, but their goalkeeper was sent off midway through the second half, after taking out Parramatta’s right-winger.
A few minutes later Camden conceded what coach Gary Seymour described as a “soft” goal before Parramatta went ahead to make it 3-2 through Housam Sayour against ten men, with a scramble seeing the ball trickle across the line after a free kick on the left-hand side.
Camden created chances in search of an equaliser, but it was Parramatta who added to their tally to secure the three points, with Thomas Todd capitalising on a counter-attacking opportunity to find the back of the net.
Nepean FC 1 – 1 Prospect United
Nepean FC and Prospect United have played out a tense 1-1 draw to finish round 4 of the League Three Men competition at Jamison Park.
Prospect United opened the scoring with a unique strike. A Nepean fullback went to clear possession but it rebounded off Praneet Singh from 35 yards out and found the target.
A couple of red cards added tension to the match, with a player from each team sent out of the match before Nepean equalised off a set-piece through Mitchell King.
The home side missed headed chances that could have been put away from crosses and set-pieces to the back post, but Prospect United’s defence held strong.
Prospect United had suffered injuries from their previous match against Western Rage, with a few under 18 players doubling up to play their U18’s game before featuring for the first team.
Coach Darren Camilleri was proud of his side’s performance, while his opposite number Joe D’Ermilio from Nepean credited Prospect United for a typically strong performance, stating his side was building with a good showing.
Nepean will face Newcastle Jets away from home next Sunday, with Prospect United playing Parramatta in the same slot to end next weekend’s round.
UNSW vs Newcastle Jets – Postponed
Bye: Fraser Park
By Football NSW League 3 Men’s Reporter, Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
