Round 10 Review – League Two Men’s
Round Ten of Football NSW League Two Men’s had everything you could ask for including a tense derby, two late equalisers, red-cards, penalties and 28 goals.
Our Match of the Round saw Bankstown City take the bragging rights in the local derby, as they put five past Bankstown United.
There was plenty of action around the league with Sydney University and Central Coast playing out an interesting draw, Dunbar pulling off a late comeback against Gladesville Ryde, with Rydalmere doing the same against Dulwich Hill.
Canterbury Bankstown added to Inner West Hawks poor start to the season, as Inter Lions pulled off an incredible late comeback against Macarthur Rams.
Match of the Round: Bankstown City FC 5-0 Bankstown United FC
It was a demolition derby at Jensen Park, with Bankstown City walking away with bragging rights in a five-goal victory over local rivals Bankstown United.
After a relatively even start to the game, City found its groove in attack and went ahead courtesy of a clinical first-half double from Tai Smith.
Captain Nikola Todoroski secured an eight minute brace in the second-half, shortly before Dimi Petratos sealed the impressive result.
Smith found himself with the first real chance of the game, turning his defender and finding an open avenue at goal that fell straight into the arms of Jordan Bruce.
United’s SAP came out in numbers and camped themselves behind Jair Fernandez’s goal, in an attempt to put the City shot-stopper off his game.
With an electric atmosphere starting to set at Jensen Park, Smith gave the home fans more reason to cheer, after capping off a stellar solo run with a neat finish at the front post in the 11th minute
The side’s went back and forth in a rapid fashion, pushing the limit in attack and lifting the intensity of the match.
Smith doubled City’s lead in the 35th minute, after a perfect cross from Ante Tomic picked him out at the back post for a near open header.
United came agonisingly close to answering back, but were denied when Fernandez made a world-class double save from Sean Robertson.
With a fast-paced opening 45 minutes behind them, City entered the break up 2-0.
United started the second-half looking more likely to score, with Emilio Martinez coming close with his curling effort, only being denied by an out-stretched Fernandez.
Jordan Bruce kept his side in the contest with an outstanding save from a one-on-one chance with Dimi Petratos, as the momentum began to swing back in the favour of City.
City found a third goal through Todoroski, as the skipper capped off a brilliant solo run with an emphatic finish.
The finish was matched by an emotional celebration from Todoroski, who received a yellow card for ripping his shirt off and throwing it into the crowd.
With the momentum firmly in their corner, City capitalised with Todoroski getting a second, after a perfect ball from Petratos sent the captain through on goal.
The skipper powered the ball past Bruce into the back of the net, but this time he calmy recognised his previous booking and kept his shirt on.
Just five minutes later City bagged another goal, this time it was Petratos who finished off his own solo run with a powerful finish.
To United’s credit, they kept pushing hard in attack and asked some questions of the City defence, however the determined City defence showcased plenty of resilience in holding out the visitors.
Bruce sensationally denied City of a sixth, with a spectacular goal-bound shot from Daniel Geroski palmed away by the United keeper.
Bankstown City regained bragging rights in an emphatic fashion and continued to put pressure on the top-two sides with the win on Saturday night.
Bankstown United coach, Scott Belgre admitted his disappointment in the result and how it will affect his side’s remainder of the season.
“It was another disappointing result, the Lions were clinical tonight, I thought we deserved a goal and could of gone into the break one down, but the second half was one-way traffic,” he said
“It was a big night for our club with all our SAP in attendance, we let ourselves and all the supporters down, every game for us is now a finals game and that will be our mentality for the remainder of the season.”
Bankstown City captain, Nikola Todoroski was elated with the result and is hopeful that they can bring the confidence into a tough Australia Cup tie mid-week.
“We controlled it [the game] from start to finish, being 2-0 up they had to change the way they played, which opened up space for us and we punished them,” he said
“It was a perfect game plan from us and it’s unfortunate from them, but that’s life and I’m happy that we got the three points today.
“It was a derby game, but for us it was just another game, all week we didn’t emphasis it so we were relaxed heading into the game, keeping a clean sheet and scoring five goals will give us confidence and hopefully we can take that into our Australia Cup game.”
Sydney University SFC 2-2 Central Coast United FC
Sydney University have fought back from a two-goal deficit to salvage a draw against Central Coast United.
The visitors got on the board in the opening minutes, after Daniel McFarlane perfectly setup Tom Lyons.
After having his car break down on the way to the game, Yuki Morikawa was determined to find the back of the net and doubled his side’s lead in the 22nd minute.
Uni answered back minutes later, after a great bit of teamwork found Peter Crevani through on goal, where he made no mistakes.
The side’s continued to go back and forth in search of a result, but it was the home side who took the advantage.
Jay Hirschowitz poked his chance home from close range, as Uni’s pressure in the latter stages of the game finally paid off.
United will feel this one got away from them, as they missed a golden chance to leapfrog Gladesville Ryde into 8th place.
Uni will move onto the matchup with the Magic next week, as Central Coast host Inter Lions.
Dunbar Rovers FC 4-4 Gladesville Ryde Magic
For the second time in three weeks Gladesville Ryde have played out a thrilling 4-4 draw, with Dunbar levelling the score in the final minute of regular time.
It was the battle of the captains, with Aram Tayebi and Michael Gaitatzis, both securing critical hat-tricks for their teams.
Tayebi opened the scoring in the 8th minute after converting from a cross, but it was the Gaitatzis brothers who got the Magic in the lead.
Chris Gaitatzis levelled the score after heading in a free-kick, moments before Michael Gaitatzis capitalised on a defensive lapse and sent the visitors into an unprecedented lead.
In a wild turn of events, Dunbar equalised through Jackson Fredericks just minutes later, with three goals being scored in a four minute period.
The Magic found themselves back in the lead on the brink of halftime, after Nicholas Drummond perfectly setup Michael Gaitatzis for a first-half double.
The action continued into the second-half, with Tayebi seizing a perfect through ball to level the scores once again.
Michael Gaitatzis secured a deserved hat-trick in the 70th minute, after possession swung the Magic’s way through a brilliant tackle from Aaron Khan, turning into a counter attack that was finished off Gaitatzis.
A late surge from Dunbar called the Magic defence into action and they were ultimately broken down in the final minute of the game, as Tayebi levelled the game with the hat-trick of his own.
In an eventful game, it seemed the draw was a fair result, with both sides having their chance to breakaway with the result.
The Magic will now move onto an interesting matchup with Sydney Uni on Sunday, as Dunbar entertain the Berries at Fraser Park.
Dulwich Hill FC 2-2 Rydalmere Lions FC
Dulwich Hill and Rydalmere have played out an entertaining 2-2 draw, with all four goals coming in the opening half.
The hosts controlled the majority of the first-half and were rewarded in the 10th minute, when Goncalo Paradanta picked out the top corner.
Rydalmere began to find their footing and were rewarded a penalty in the 23rd minute with Matthew West stepping up for the visitors.
Ryan Wood stood tall denying the first effort, but with a ruling from the linesman the penalty was retaken and West couldn’t be denied a second time.
The equaliser seemed to only spur on the hosts, as they quickly found themselves back in the lead through the in-form Daniel Fornito.
The first-half had one more twist to it, with Ahmad Taleb capitalising on a defence lapse from the hosts to send the side’s into the break level.
Dulwich Hill continued in its pursuit for goals in the second-half, only to be denied by the goal frame and some solid defence from Rydalmere.
The visitors were given a golden opportunity to steal the win when West stepped up for a second penalty of the game, his paneka effort narrowly clipped the crossbar and went over.
Rydalmere had a final chance to secure the win, but were denied by a determined Wood in goals and were forced to share the points.
Dulwich Hill now prepare for a potential finals matchup with Bankstown City, as Rydalmere turn their attention to a top of the table blockbuster clash with Inter.
Canterbury Bankstown FC 3-0 Inner West Hawks FC
Canterbury Bankstown have secured their fifth win in six games, winning by three goals with ten-men over Inner West Hawks.
The Hawks started off the game in a promising manner and were given a massive advantage when Justin Ivanovic was sent off in the 22nd minute.
However, the Berries lifted their game with ten-men and started to put the Hawks on the backfoot.
The hosts persistence paid off in the 32nd minute, when Bonmyeong Koo converted from a counter-attack.
The Berries were forced to surrender possession being down a man, but this didn’t seem to affect their attack as they doubled the lead through Luca Trinco.
The Hawks found themselves in attacking areas, but were unable to convert and give themselves a much needed goal.
With Sidhya Malhotra given a second-yellow and both sides down to ten-men, the Berries secured a three goal victory, with Shaqil Ali finishing off a defensive error.
The Berries’ win moves them closer to a finals berth and with the makeup game with the Magic rescheduled, they’ll be able to rest more players throughout the season.
The Hawks now face Bankstown United in Round 11, as the Berries prepare for a mid-week cup tie before a matchup with Dunbar Rovers.
Inter Lions FC 2-2 Macarthur Rams FC
Inter Lions have pulled off a stellar late-comeback, scoring two goals in the final moments of the game to salvage a draw with Macarthur Rams.
The Rams came out with a point to prove early in the game, with Christian Torelli opening the scoring in the 4th minute.
Inter controlled the majority of the first-half, looking likely to level proceedings if not for a valiant Rams defence.
The hosts came out of the blocks flying in the second-half, being denied on a few occasions before forcing the visitors into conceding seven corners.
The Rams regained their footing in the game through Michael Osei-Adomako, after he finished a rapid counter-attack.
With the seconds ticking away, the Lions were determined to find a way back into the game and were given a lifeline when the league’s top scorer Ollie Green converted a penalty.
On the following kick off, Inter quickly secured possession and sensationally levelled the game, with Green getting a double after heading home a cross.
The Rams were in disbelief, but managed to get a goal back in the final seconds of the game, only for it to be ruled out for a handball in the build-up.
It was a thrilling end to the game and one that would leave both side’s disappointed at not having a win.
The Rams return home to face Rydalmere in Round 11, as Inter also have to face Rydalmere in a makeup game on Tuesday.
By Football NSW Men’s League Two Writer, Dominic Criniti @DominicCriniti
