Round 7 Review – League One Men’s
Round Seven of the Football NSW League One Men’s competition brought thrills and spills with plenty to talk about nearly two months into the season.
In Our pick of the weekends action, Northern Tigers continued their unbeaten start of the season, Bonnyrigg came back from a perilous position, Sam Perre surely scored the goal of the season and Blacktown Spartans sprung and upset over second placed Central Coast Mariners.
NWS Spirit FC 2 (Darko 60’ 68’) v Northern Tigers FC 3 (Adeli 13’, Brown 20’, Kawaguchi 67’)
The streak lives! Northern Tigers continued on their unbeaten ways overcoming a brave NWS Spirit outfit to open the round.
Adam Hett’s men put on a clinic in front of goal, capitalizing on the chances they created. Shervin Adeli opened the scoring from the spot, which was followed ten minutes later by Alexander Brown, before Hiyori Kawaguchi sealed the victory in the second half.
For NWS Spirit, they won’t be too disheartened in defeat putting in a good performance though they fell agonizingly short on the scoresheet, Richie Darko the beneficiary with a second half brace.
Cliché I know, but this really was a game of two halves. The visitors controlling the majority of the first picking up where they left off last weekend.
Rewarded for their dominance in the thirteenth minutes via the penalty spot. Hiyori Kawaguchi brought down in the area before Shervin Adeli stepped up to the spot and tucked the ball away into the bottom left corner.
Tigers looked in the mood for goals and their second came from *checks notes* Ally Browns right foot (well, that’s new!). Northern Tigers working the ball in from the right for Shervin Adeli to tee up the midfielder just outside the area. His shot taking a touch off the post on its way in.
At the other end, we have to take you back to before the first goal for their best opportunity five minutes in. Michael Konestabo finding Geoffry Lino inside the area who forced a sharp save from Elliot Carwardine.
Back to where we were though, it was Tigers in firm control however as they limited chances defensively while creating some of their own.
It was a different story after the break as the hosts spurred on by a good crowd wrestled themselves back into the match.
They themselves rewarded with a goal to cut the deficit to one on the hour mark. Kota Odakura whipping in a trademark set piece delivery which couldn’t be cleared before Richie Darko showed a wonderful bit of skill to set up his shot with one foot before finishing with the other. Volleying into the net from close range.
That deficit was doubled five minutes later though as the Tigers awoke to find their third. Hiyori Kawaguchi with a tremendous finish inside the box after the hosts couldn’t clear a Ally Brown cross from the right. Kawaguchi with a swinging right foot on the half volley finding the left side of the net to restore their two goal buffer.
Time to pull out one more cliché in this report, “You’re most vulnerable to concede after you score”. And that proved the case once again as the Spirit found another less than a minute after Kawaguchi’s goal. Richie Darko finishing from around the penalty spot after Jake Burte did the hard work in the build up chasing down a ball on the right wing.
Unfortunately for the hosts though, time ran out before they could find the net again with Corey Kavanagh going the closest with two minutes remaining.
NWS Spirit take to the road next weekend travelling to Penshurst Park for a meeting with St George City. While Northern Tigers travel up the motorway to face Central Coast Mariners.
St George FC 1 (Mcgowan 10’) v Mounties Wanderers FC 2 (Imola 22, Perre 83’)
A Sam Perre wonder goal was the difference as Mounties Wanderers secured their third win on the bounce over St George FC.
Perre struck from inside the centre circle to break the deadlock after Carlo Imola earlier found the equalizer twenty minutes in. For St George, it’s the third week in a row in which they have taken the lead and been pegged back. Jay Mcgowan scored for them ten minutes into the fixture.
From the start, Perre was looking a threat for the visitors as he registered the first shot on target inside five minutes. Combining with Carlo Imola in the build up before a left footed strike forced Ryan Norval into a diving save.
The early stages saw action at either end, Harry Jones having a chance for the hosts, Daniel Sadaka making a save down to his left to deny him.
And it was the Saints to open the scoring through a wonderful effort from Jay Mcgowan. Mcgowan retrieving a Harry Jones ball forward before cutting onto his right inside the area and finishing into the far bottom corner via the post.
As they have done in recent weeks, Mounties Wanderers were looking dangerous with their organized high press and their first goal came twenty-two minutes in when Tony Spaseski intercepted the ball in midfield, found Perre with a pass forward who laid it off to Carlo Imola. Imola hitting a rocket into the top right corner of the net. A goal which was followed by a Bruno Pivato effort soon after.
The game continued in a similar fashion leading into the break with the Mounties having the better off the last twenty minutes of the first half.
After the break, Brad Bartels was first to test one of the keepers forcing Ryan Norval into a save at his near post ten minutes in. While Anthony Morabito had a shot deflected wide at the other end a few minutes after.
St George keeper Ryan Norval had to be alert once again on seventy minutes, denying Dimos Vlanchos after Brad Bartels put a dangerous delivery into the area.
As time ticked away, it was going to take a moment of brilliance to win the match and that came from the aforementioned Sam Perre who took things into his own hands winning the ball on halfway before composing himself and launching a shot from inside the centre circle which satisfyingly didn’t bounce before crossing the goal line.
St George FC host Hills United next weekend, while Mounties Wanderers welcome Blacktown Spartans.
Hills United FC 3 (Giovenali 63’, Ellem 87’, Lattuga 90+3’) v Hakoah FC 1 (Demetriou 90’)
Seven rounds in, Hills United secured their first win of the season at the expense of Hakoah FC at Blacktown City Sports Centre.
After neither side were able to find the net in the opening hour, there was a goal avalanche late with three goals scored after the 85th minute. Wade Giovenali opened the scores after the hour mark before Darcy Ellem and Jacob Lattuga scored for the hosts. While James Demetriou reduced the deficit to one before his side conceded late.
The visitors opened the game in terms of chances ten minutes in. Jordan Koton having two chances in the one play, the latter of which saw a left footed effort goes wide of the target.
At the other end, it took twenty-three minutes for Hills to have a shot on target registered through Thomas Makko who took the ball into the area before his right footed effort was saved.
Where the match lacked a clear cut chance, it made up for in half chances with both teams playing out an even fixture, Hakoah perhaps edging it.
With the introduction of a few substitutes, the game opened up with a few chances in succession. Connor Early went close for the visitors, a right footed effort from outside the area finding the near side netting with Shaun Catlin out of his goal.
While Jacob Lattuga forced a spectacular save from Nikolas Loe at the other end with his effort soon after. The resulting corner, seeing the games first goal through Wade Giovenali. Giovenali on the spot to receive a Daine Merrin near post flick on in the six yard box, slotting it home high into the net.
Hakoah went looking for an equalizer and Luiz Lobo forced Catlin into a save at the near post seventy four minutes in.
Hills were the one to score next though when Darcy Ellem controlled a deflection from a Vincent D’Ermilio shot before slotting it home into the bottom right corner of the net to double their advantage.
The hosts were made to sweat though with James Demetriou sneaking a shot from range past Catlin at the near post into injury time.
However, it was Hills United’s night with a couple of youngsters combining for the third. D’Ermilio and Jacob Latuga the players in question, D’Ermilio leading the counter before Lattuga finished it off.
Hills United will be looking for three straight victories (cup included) when they travel to Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre next weekend, while Hakoah host Western Sydney Wanderers.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2 (Badolato 15‘, Natta 41‘) v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 2 (Peterson 74‘. Kadric 90+2‘)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles came back from two goals down to share the points with Western Sydney Wanderers, Saturday evening.
After a slow start, Abbas Saad’s team would have a good case for the three points having been on the front foot for large periods of the final hour. Aaron Peterson found the net for his fifth of the season before Asmir Kadric equalized in injury time.
The Wanderers on the other hand, started the game brilliantly but fell away over the course of the ninety minutes. A red card to Alex Bonetig with a half hour remaining ended up costing them dearly after Alex Badolato and Mark Natta gave them a two goal lead.
As mentioned above, the home side came out of the blocks fast scoring within the first quarter hour. Alex Badolato on hand with a side footed finish after Daniel Wilmering and Jakov Malbasa combined from their right hand side of attack.
That goal seemed to wake up the visitors as they began to take control of the contest. And that’s why the visitors would’ve been disappointed with conceding the next goal. Daniel Wilmering again playing a part in his sides second in which he picked up the scraps following a short corner routine before finding Mark Natta at the back post who headed into the right side netting for their second goal.
This was followed by a couple of chances at the other end where Aaron Peterson and Asmir Kadric went close.
If the Wanderers weren’t feeling pressure enough in the first half, their job got a lot harder on the hour mark with Alex Bonetig’s dismissal. With Bonnyrigg then creating a series of chances for the remainder, the first few coming five minutes later.
The goal was to come with just over fifteen minutes remaining through Peterson. Sean Eve whipping in a cross to the back post which was headed across the face by Radovan Pavicevic for Peterson to tap home from close range.
From there, the equalizer seemed inevitable although they had to wait to stoppage time to get it. Asmir Kadric with a lovely one touch finish after Brandon Stojcevski delivered a cross in from the right, the cross taking a touch on the way through to him.
The Wanderers will be looking to break their slump when they travel to Hensley Athletic next weekend. While Bonnyrigg host SD Raiders in a local derby on their turf.
Blacktown Spartans FC 2 (Gonzalez 17’, Lamberton 72’) v Central Coast Mariners FC 0
This is why you don’t predict anything in this league! Blacktown Spartans stunned Central Coast Mariners to record there second victory of the season, Saturday evening.
Goals either side of the half time break to Emmanuel Gonzalez and Hamish Lamberton were enough to see the hosts prevailed in a physical contest.
Fresh off a good performance in the cup, the Spartans were in a confident mood early on, creating the first big chance of the game ten minutes in when Manni Gonzalez released on the left by Hamish Lamberton. Gonzalez then able to gallop into the area before his effort went over the top right hand corner.
At the other end, the Mariners looked to respond with a chance of their own. Nikola Skataric combining with Jordan Segreto who strayed offside. Followed by a Dean Larson effort from a well worked set-piece.
But it was the Spartans who were to take the lead, Gonzalez heading home after he found some room outside his defender. Suley Bangura with the assist from the right after Lamberton held the ball up well in the buildup.
Despite the Mariners holding a lot of the ball and territorial position, it was the Spartans creating the chances. Keith Buckley saw his effort saved onto the post by Mariner’s keeper Lawrence Caruso in a clear cut chance before the half hour.
The Mariners continued to try and get it in the attacking third but were largely ineffectual before the half time whistle.
That all seemed to change after the break with a couple of quick fire chances for the visitors. The first coming on the back of a scrappy build up. Nikola Skataric picking up the ball inside the opposition area before a left footed strike tested Spartans keeper Hugh Brown. While Lachlan Bayliss saw a freekick effort of his own saved nine minutes into the half.
But with a player such as Hamish Lamberton at the other end, they were always in danger of conceding a second and potentially fatal goal. And that came to pass with under twenty minutes left, Suley Bangura again with the assist sliding in Lamberton beyond the Mariners defense, Lamberton’s shot taking a touch off Caruso’s glove on the way in.
Mariners continued to search for a goal to bring themselves back into it but were ultimately unsuccessful.
Blacktown Spartans take to the road with some confidence against Mounties Wanderers, while Central Coast Mariners host the Northern Tigers next Sunday at Pluim.
St George City 3 (Morfitis 37’, German 74’, Arditti 90+3’) v SD Raiders FC 1 (Serhal 59’)
St George City secured their third victory at Penshurst Park in nine days overcoming SD Raiders in a thrilling fixture on Monday night.
Goals to Jordan Morfitis, Damian Germain and Christopher Arditti cancelled out a Charles Abou Serhal equalizer early in the second half.
The game started with a clear-cut chance for the Raiders, Nark Cindric going through the home sides defense which opened up for him, Cindric forcing the first of a few good saves from Mackenzie Syron.
At the other end, Jakub Prajza had the best chance for the hosts after a trademark Troy Danaskos cross found the midfielder outside his marker at the back post. Unfortunately, though, he couldn’t control his shot on goal which flew over the bar.
As happens in a high tempo fixture, both sides were probably guilty of turning the ball over in midfield at certain points. Which led to a Charles Abou Serhal shot from range, a shot which drew a save from Syron. Followed twenty minutes later by Franco Maya with a long range effort meeting the same fate.
But it was the hosts to take the lead, a minute after Maya’s chance. The deadly duo of Nathan Roberts and Jordan Morfitis combining. Roberts delivering into a good position at the far post for Morfitis to sneak in at his markers blindside to finish from close range.
After a poor run of form, the Raiders needed to hit back after the break, and they did so six minutes into the half. Charles Abou Serhal producing another special goal receiving it from the left wing before a long range left footed drive found the net.
It was City’s turn to try and hit back, as Nathan Roberts combined with Saracino with a give and go before his shot is saved/blocked by either Aleksik or James Markovic retreating.
With the game opening up, St George City took the opportunity to score a second, a swift counterattack down the left seeing Troy Danaskos find Nathan Roberts further up field. Roberts then playing a contender for pass of the season to Damian German who scored his second in as many league games.
Looking for an equalizer Daniel Bittar went closest with five minutes left, the dynamic wide man volleying inches wide of the target and thought he had a winner with six minutes remaining only to be denied by the offside flag.
The hosts then capped off their win with a late sealer, Christopher Arditti adding a third after Joshua Keremelevski found him with a cross field ball in the lead up.
St George City host NWS Spirit FC next weekend. While SD Raiders have a local derby against Bonnyrigg to look forward too.
By FNSW League One Men’s Reporter Justin Smith
