Round 5 Review – League Two Men’s
It was raining goals in Round Five of League Two Men’s, with 25 goals in another entertaining weekend of football.
Our match of the round took us to Christie Park which saw a thrilling two all affair between Gladesville Ryde Magic and Central Coast United.
Elsewhere, Bankstown City enjoyed a successful day back at home against Macarthur Rams, Rydalmere Lions fought hard to comeback against Bankstown United, as Dulwich Hill put on an impressive display against Inner West Hawks.
Inter Lions continued its undefeated run as they took down Dunbar Rovers, the weekend was capped off with a maiden win for Sydney University as they took down Canterbury Bankstown.
Match of the Round:
Gladesville Ryde Magic 2 vs Central Coast United FC 2
Gladesville Ryde Magic and Central Coast United shared the spoils in our round five match of the round
The first half of the match had absolutely everything. Goals, a penalty, yellow cards, red cards. Just a great advertisement for League two football! Chris Gaitatzis and Nicholas Drummond found the net for the hosts in a two goal comeback which snuffed out earlier goals to Daniel Mcfarlane and Josh Cairelli.
After a delayed kick off to the match. You could potentially forgive a stray challenge or two. Unfortunately for the hosts, such a mistake cost them a goal. Magic conceding a penalty which Daniel Mcfarlane converted on his second effort when Kiriakos Tohouroglou saved the initial attempt.
That lead was doubled just after the twentieth minute. Mcfarlane once again involved squaring it across the six yard box between the defensive line and goalkeeper. Josh Cairelli on hand to tap home from close range.
At the other end, the Magic were looking most threatening from the set piece. With an earlier chance for Aaron Anvar Khan forcing a good save. The visitors wouldn’t be so lucky a second time round though. Chris Gaitatzis heading home after a corner was headed across the face to him.
And scores would be brought back to parity before the break, a lovely interchange of passes including Michael Gaitatzis, Nicholas Drummond and Anthony Gallo resulting in a goal. Drummond credited with the last touch beyond the keeper.
After the hosts lost a man to a second yellow, the visitors looked to make the most of their man advantage. Yuki Morikawa exchanging passes with attackers in front of him before finding himself free on goal, a desperate Magic defender denying him the chance of a shot.
Despite their man disadvantage, it was Gladesville who created the best chance of the opening stages of the second half. Michael Gaitatzis finding himself one on one with the keeper. But Ferragamo stood strong in goal to deny him.
With twenty minutes remaining, you got the feeling a goal could possibly be enough for the three points and it was the hosts again who looked more likely, Panayoti Gotsis and Peter Voukidis going close in and around the 70th minute.
As time wore on and with a man advantage, Central Coast United continued to push. Thomas Lyons having the pick of the chances running onto a loose ball in the box, before hitting his shot just wide.
Ultimately though, it would end a draw with both sides unable to convert chances in the dying minutes.
Gladesville Ryde Magic host Bankstown City in an Easter Sunday fixture next Sunday. While Central Coast United welcome Dulwich Hill to Pluim Park.
Bankstown City FC 5-0 Macarthur Rams FC
Bankstown City have returned to Jensen Park with a bang, putting five goals past a ten-men Macarthur Rams side.
It was a promising start for the Rams in the opening half an hour as they began to look likely to open the scoring.
However, all of this changed in the 32nd minute, when Zubayd Allie was shown a straight red-card, leaving his side down a man in defence.
The extra-man advantage proved too much to overcome for the visitors, as City seized the momentum.
Ante Tomic converted from the penalty, before Dimi Petratos netted a goal to give the hosts a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the break.
“Captain Inspiration” Nikola Todoroski continued his good form when he looped his header in, as City looked certain to retain all three points.
The result was firmly sealed in the final minutes, as Tai Smith finished off a neatly placed cross, before Petratos converted another penalty to give himself a well-earned brace.
Although the score line didn’t reflect it, the Rams pushed hard and showed plenty of fighting spirit with a man down.
Macarthur now prepares for a clash with Dunbar, as Rydalmere face off with Inner West.
Rydalmere Lions FC 3-2 Bankstown United FC
Rydalmere remain undefeated in League Two, after a spirited comeback victory over Bankstown United at Rydalmere Park.
With the odds stacked against them heading into the game, United had a point to prove as they aimed to pull off a massive upset.
Both sides staked their claims for an opening goal in the opening half, as United were denied a goal after an offside was ruled.
United broke the game open in the second-half, blitzing the Lions defence to take a deserved two-goal lead.
Oscar Nieto Rava had the visitors ahead in the 51st minute, after a perfectly placed pass from Emilio Martinez.
Daniel Slane sensationally had United ahead by two goals in a matter of minutes, as he neatly tucked away his header at the back post.
With the game flipped on its head, United looked destined to give Rydalmere its first loss of the season.
However, with its backs against the wall Rydalmere produced one of the great comebacks in the final half hour of play.
Ahmad Taleb gave the Lions a lifeline in the 61st minute with his first, before netting a brilliant brace within ten-minutes to level proceedings.
As both teams began to search for an equaliser, the momentum. Shifted towards the hosts as they were determined to keep their perfect record intact.
With just seconds left in regular time, Dillan Kahale sent Rydalmere Park into jubilation as the Lions found a very late winner.
Although it ended in heartbreaking fashion for United, there were plenty of positives to take as they head back to Jensen Park next week to face Berries.
For Rydalmere, a match-up with Inner West awaits them in a week’s time as they look to keep the perfect start to the season going.
Dulwich Hill FC 5-0 Inner West Hawks FC
After last week’s heartbreaking loss to Macarthur, Dulwich Hill emphatically returned to the winners circle with a 5-0 victory over Inner West Hawks.
The Hawks were reeling after a tough loss to Bankstown City and saw further punishment in this outing.
Dulwich opened the scoring midway through the first-half after Jamie Dib neatly slotted one past the keeper.
It took under a minute for the hosts to double their advantage when Dib grabbed a quickfire brace.
After winning the ball back off a kick off, Conor Eldridge perfectly picked out Dib at the back post as he found himself with a near open net.
Harry Browell and Eldridge linked up for the third and fourth goal, as the pairs high-pressing paid off, with both men assisting the other.
The final goal came from 18-year-old debutant, Liam Spiropoulos, who came off the bench and headed his chance home, capping off a memorable day for the youngster.
Dulwich’s attack clicked on all levels as they enjoyed a great day in front of goals.
For the Hawks it went from bad to worse as they must move quickly and prepare for another tough matchup against Rydalmere next Saturday.
Inter Lions FC 3-1 Dunbar Rovers FC
Inter Lions have celebrated the debut of Daniel Georgievski in an impressive fashion, ending Dunbar Rovers’ undefeated start to the season after a first-half clinic.
Inter dominated the opening half, with three deserved goals that saw them enter the break with a healthy lead.
Owen Duke got the hosts off to a dream start in the 8th minute, after his goal saw Inter cash-in on a successful opening period.
As Dunbar began to find its footing in the game, it found itself in an unusual position – trailing in the first-half.
Ollie Green’s red-hot form seamlessly rolled on into this fixture as he managed a quick first-half brace – getting his sixth goal in just two games.
The dangerous attacker had Inter ahead in the 23rd minute, before capping off his spectacular night with his second in the 36th minute.
Inter entered the break up three goals, as Dunbar struggled to keep up with the rapid attack of the hosts.
The visitors gave themselves a chance on the hour mark, as Jackson Fredericks gave the Rovers a deserved goal.
As the half progressed, there were plenty of positive signs shown from Dunbar, however the tough defence of the Lions ensured they would keep its two-goal advantage.
The three-goal deficit was too much for Dunbar to overcome as they were handed their first loss of the season.
Inter’s impressive attacking form keeps their undefeated start to the season alive, as they enter next week’s matchup with Sydney Uni beaming with confidence.
Canterbury Bankstown FC 2-1 Sydney University SFC
Sydney University have gotten off the board in 2022, with a storied win over Canterbury Bankstown in the final game of round five.
Uni entered this matchup eager to get its first points and looked to dethrone a resurgent Berries side in the process.
After a tight opening period, Uni capitalised on some defensive mistakes giving them a comfortable two-goal lead.
Isaac Folkes got the visitors on the scoreboard with his finish early on, as the early high pressing began to pay off
Peter Crevani quickly extended the lead around ten minutes after, as Uni began to pounce on its limited chances to open the game.
After being down by two goals, Berries continued in its pursuit of levelling the game, however they were denied on several occasions by the post and some tidy defending from the visitors.
Nathan Manno managed to crack the Uni defence late on when he neatly tucked away his chance, giving the Berries a chance of a miraculous late comeback.
It wasn’t meant to be for the hosts, as Uni held out strongly for a 2-1 victory and built plenty of confidence from the result.
Uni now quickly turn around in five-days time in a massive clash against Inter Lions, as Berries face local rivals, Bankstown United on Saturday night
By Football NSW Men’s League Two Writers, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti and Justin Smith
