Round 10 Review – League Three Men’s
Another thrilling round of League Three Men’s competition has concluded, with a gargantuan 19 goals scored in four matches.
Hurstville FC came out on top in a crunch clash against Nepean FC, going top of the table with Hawkesbury City drawing 2-2 with Camden Tigers.
Meanwhile, Parramatta FC defeated Western Rage 5-2, while South Coast Flame extended their good run of form with their third win in four games, defeating Fraser Park.
Prospect United’s match against Newcastle Jets was washed out.
Hurstville FC 3 – 2 Nepean FC
Hurstville FC has defeated Nepean FC in a crucial match in the top four race, with the home side now leading the table.
Nepean started the game strongly, having the majority of the ball, with Hurstville forming their attacks predominately off transitions.
Nepean looked dangerous off set pieces and had a good chance to open the scoring, but Hurstville goalkeeper Matthew Massarotto made a good save.
However, it was Hurstville who opened the scoring through Michael Kotzambasis, who received the ball outside the box after clever interplay between Yianni Nioplias and Jesse Gagro, before slotting the ball home into the bottom conrer.
Six minutes after the break, Christopher Bascur netted for Nepean FC, capatalising on a scramble off a corner to level the scores.
Just two minutes later, Nepean took the lead, with Jack Hoban getting in behind Hurstville’s defence and finishing clinically.
Hurstville began to work their way back into the match, and eventually equalised through Paul Gagro, with the club captain scoring off a freekick, whipping a shot towards the far post.
Julian Bittar found the winner in the 77th minute for Hurstville, scoring a screamer, picking up the ball on the edge of the box and driving a shot into the top corner.
Overall, the match was a fiery game, played at a high intensity.
Hurstville captain Paul Gagro wanted to credit his side for coming from behind to secure the three points.
“Nepean are a good side and you can see why they are winning games,” he said.
“Ultimately it was a battle and we fought very hard to get the win.”
Hurstville will have a week off for round 11, with Nepean hosting South Coast Flame at Cook Park.
Western Rage 2 – 5 Parramatta FC
Parramatta FC has defeated Western Rage 5-2 away from home to secure their second victory of the season.
Parramatta opened the scoring in the 17th minute through Santiago Rodriguez, before Marko Jez doubled the away side’s advantage three minutes later.
The goals then flew through in an action-packed second half, with Giuseppe Camera halving Western Rage’s deficit, before Allie Jayee made it 3-1 for Parramatta, again three minutes after the first goal of the half.
Alessandro Tolomeo made it interesting by clawing the score back to 3-2, but Parramatta FC held on strongly before wrapping up the match with two goals in the space of four minutes.
It was Rodriguez who netted in the 76th and 80th minute, finishing the match with a hattrick for his side.
Next, Western Rage will look towards a match against Newcastle Jets on Sunday in the Hunter Valley, whlile Parramatta will host Fraser Park at Melita Stadium.
Camden Tigers 2 – 2 Hawkesbury City
Camden Tigers and Hawkesbury City played out a 2-2 draw at Lynwood Park on Saturday night, with Hawkesbury dropping down to second in an exhilarating title race.
Hawkesbury opened the scoring in the 9th minute, with Marco Turpeinen following in a rebounded shot off the post from Gafa to convert for his side.
Nine minutes later, Camden equaliser through Bailey Simpson, with Jordan Cracknell making a weaving run through Hawkesbury’s defence, before playing a low cross to Simpson, who smashed a left footed shot across goal towards the far post.
In the second half, it was once again Hawkesbury who struck first, converting from a freekick on the right-hand side of the field.
Camden struggled to clear a delivery into the box, and Daniel Morsillo finished calmly with his left foot to send Hawkesbury into the ascendensy.
The home side weren’t giving up, however, and came back into the match, winning a penalty and converting the rebound through Tyler Bromham-Fuller, after the original shot was saved by Hawkesbury goalkeeper Daniel Schwarzer.
Both sides looked to push for a third, but the scores remained even at the final whistle.
Camden Tigers will next look towards a match against UNSW on Friday night, while Hawkesbury will host Prospect United the next day at David Betenshaw Field.
South Coast Flame 2 – 1 Fraser Park
To conclude the weekend matches, South Coast Flame made it three wins in four with a victory over Fraser Park.
There was drama to begin the fixtures, with the home side creating good opportunities before Fraser Park found the back of the net through Christopher Babaian.
However, the goal was disallowed as the freekick was indirect, and with Fraser left perplexed by the decision, South Coast Flame went down their attacking end and opened the scoring, with Jack Balmforth playing in a cross to Zander Alston, who made no mistake in finishing from close range to strike first for his side.
South Coast Flame doubled their advantage in the 21st minute, with a long diagonal ball from Matt Mazevski finding Zander Alston’s feet, before Alston ran in behind Fraser’s defence.
Alston squared the ball to find Cody Waller, who headed the ball into an open net.
In the 34th minute, Lorenzo Fattori from Fraser went on a mazy run, before being brought down outside the penalty area.
From the following free-kick, the ball hit a hand in South Coast’s wall, and Fraser earnt themselves a penalty, with Shu Torihara converting.
A red card to Fraser diminished their performance in the second half, with South Coast Flame gaining the three points for the third time in three home matches.
Next, South Coast Flame will face Nepean away, while Fraser Park will play Parramatta FC at Melita Stadium.
Washout reschedule: Prospect United vs Newcastle Jets
Bye: UNSW FC
By Football NSW League 3 Men’s Reporter, Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
