Round 16 Review – League Three Men’s
Another mammoth round of League Three Men’s competition has come to its conclusion, with everything to play for in the last six rounds.
UNSW FC continued their impressive run of form with a 4-0 victory over Fraser Park to secure back to back wins by four goal margins, while Newcastle Jets defeated Nepean FC to remain in the race for the top spot on the ladder.
On the Saturday, Prospect United increased their pressure on the incumbent top four with a 2-1 victory over Western Rage, while Hawkesbury City defeated Hurstville FC 3-1 in a crucial top of the table clash.
UNSW FC 4 – 0 Fraser Park
UNSW FC have moved into third place after defeating Fraser Park impressively on Friday night, to jointly-open round 16 of League Three Men’s.
UNSW opened the scoring early in the match, with Gabriele Trinco finding the back of the net with a good, volleyed finish after capitalising on a bouncing ball to sneak a shot inside the near post.
Following the opening goal, the home side continued to press high in an effort to win the ball and saw a shot from Dylan Walz stray wide of the post after winning the ball well in their attacking third.
UNSW continued to sustain pressure within the opening period of the match with a couple of corners threatening Fraser’s goal.
After a sustained period of build-up, a positive run from Walz saw a disguised cutback find Aswin Adinanto on the edge of the box – the midfielder was unable to find the target with a placed shot.
A minute later, Matias Da Silva Santos received the ball on an attacking transition and glided past his marker, before narrowly missing the top right corner with a curled shot from the right flank.
The chances continued to flow for UNSW, with a high ball from Luke Burke seeing Da Silva Santos latch onto a headed flick on from Kevin Lopes.
Da Silva Santos struck a shot purely and powerfully, and his near post effort required a good save from Patrick Ferrara.
UNSW’s midfield three, consisting of a deeper lying player and two more advanced, rotated fluidly into different areas of the field in order to make space and to pick up the ball from the defensive line.
They often looked to make high intensity vertical runs in behind in order to open up space in between the lines, with the forward player coming from a higher position to take up the space vacated by the decoy runner to receive the ball.
Consequently, they also looked to use the opposite strategy when looking to play more directly in behind, sensing the free attacking run and playing a longer ball to attack the space beyond Fraser’s defence.
In another chance, Da Silva Santos found space in between the lines and after delaying play cleverly, released the onrushing Adinanto in behind with a well-weighted ball.
The midfielder did well to take the ball around the goalkeeper but couldn’t fashion a clinical shot while off balance from an acute angle.
Fraser, meanwhile, struggled to get on the ball in the first half as they adopted what was in general a 3-5-2 system.
They created a good chance towards the end of the first half with right-wing back Ishmael Koroma receiving the ball in behind and striking over the bar from a decent position inside the box.
The away side attempted to play out from the back and found their most success playing through the flanks to go around UNSW’s block, with their wingbacks crucial to their chance creation in the first half.
Off a cutback, Jp Tchethce pivoted and struck a threatening effort from just outside the box, but his shot went over the bar.
In the second half, Fraser started brightly, and had multiple shots to open the second stanza.
UNSW struggled to find the same tempo in their domination in at the beginning of the second stanza as they did in the first forty five minutes, with Fraser having more ball as the away side looked to exploit the open space on transitions.
Da Silva Santos went on a brilliant slaloming run for UNSW as he glided past multiple opponents before striking a purely hit shot into the crossbar, with the winger almost finishing a brilliant solo goal.
UNSW began to work their way into the game well as the second half wore on, with a good period of sustained possession leading to a chance to strike on the edge of the box, but Keeghan Burke couldn’t get his head over his shot.
Da Silva Santos remained dangerous throughout the second stanza, usually picking up the ball close to the touchline with space to run inside towards his marker and produce a decisive action as he moved towards the edge of the box, although he was also adept in taking the ball down the line, around the defender.
The winger found the back of the net with a well tucked finish after some strong play from Lopes on the right flank to hold up the ball and find a good cross.
UNSW continued to entertain in their passing game as they found the back of the net a couple of minutes later with a strong, sweeping passing move that began from the defensive line.
Lopes converted with a powerful header after a good overlapping run and cross from Callum Fitzpatrick from the heart of midfield.
For Fraser, Tchethce was released in behind after a good incisive pass from Shu Torihara, but the former couldn’t convert as he attempted a shot towards the near post.
UNSW scored another fantastic team goal with the home side playing fluidly through Fraser before converting with a good finish from Nima Beik.
UNSW will next take on Nepean FC on Friday, while Fraser Park will host Western Rage the next night.
Nepean FC 0 – 2 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets have moved up to second on the League Three Men’s ladder to continue their chase for first place.
The Jets opened the scoring through Xavier Bertoncello after Taylan Unal closed down a misplaced backpass from Nepean’s defence.
A red card hindered the home side, and despite having chances to equalise, they were caught out towards the end of the match with Unal headering home after some good build-up from Angus Muddle on the right flank.
Newcastle coach Ric Marchioli was proud of his sides performance, stating “the past week for us was about the response to setbacks, bravery and conviction in what we do and who we are and how that determines your success, so in tricky conditions away from home it was pleasing to see such a powerful response from a group of young men.”
Nepean will next face UNSW on Friday night, while the Jets will take on Camden Tigers on Thursday.
Parramatta FC 1 – 2 Prospect United
Prospect United have continued to mount pressure on the current top four with a 2-1 victory over Parramatta FC away from home on Saturday night.
Prospect opened the scoring early through a penalty from David Muller, after Luka Zepina was brought down in the box.
Tong Muorwal equalised the scores for Parramatta after capatalising on a rebound to strike from close range.
However, captain Muller found a brace to guide Prospect to three points in the 85th minute, as he curled in a freekick from outside the box to secure a vital victory for the away side.
Parramatta will next take on Hurstville FC on Saturday night, while Prospect will face South Coast Flame earlier that day.
Hawkesbury City 3 – 1 Hurstville FC
Hawkesbury have remained on top of the League Three Men’s ladder comfortably with a win over Hurstville FC in a first vs second clash on Saturday night to conclude the round.
The game was fast paced as both sides had chances to find an opener, but it was the home side that struck first, with Marco Turpeinen converting with a good spin and shot that found the bottom left corner to open the scoring for Hawkesbury.
They doubled their lead with Gregory Kondek getting on the end of a rebound before halftime, with Hurstville left to lament the errors that led to the two goals as they went inot the sheds at halftime.
In the 57th minute, Michael Kotzambasis won and converted a penalty to bring Hurstville back into the match, but they couldn’t find the back of the net as they remained in search of an equaliser.
Late into the game, Hawkesbury added a third on an attacking transition, with Harry Drew getting himself on the scoresheet to secure the three points for his side.
Hurstville will take on Parramatta FC next Saturday as they look to get their form back on track, while Hawkesbury will take on Newcastle Jets in a match that could decide who finishes atop of the table at the end of the campaign.
Abandoned: Western Rage vs Camden Tigers
By Football NSW League 3 Men’s Reporter, Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
