Round 17 Review – League One Men’s
A super Saturday of action turned into a soaked Saturday of action in the League One Men’s competition with just two fixtures taking place in round seventeen.
Still though, we came away with plenty to talk about with Central Coast Mariners returning to the summit and Mounties Wanderers breaking their losing streak.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 0 v Central Coast Mariners FC 2 (Hong 13‘, McCarthy 55‘)
Central Coast Mariners returned to the top of the table with a streak breaking victory over Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park.
Goals either side of half time to Joshua Hong and Harry McCarthyyy saw the visitors take away three points despite coming under significant pressure from their hosts.
Having played out a seven goal thriller earlier this season, it came as no surprise that both teams had a chance to open the scoring early on. The Wanderers through Zac Sapsford who forced Lawrence Caruso to tip it round the post after Connor Rose found him with a cross.
Before the Mariners countered with a chance of their own, Ezra Palombini leading their charge forward before finding Dor Jok to his right, Jok’s shot saved by Jack Gibson in the host’s net.
It was a flowing game of football with both sides controlling different parts of the opening half.
Central Coast Mariners going first with a Stefan Nikolic chance which hit the crossbar after he tried an audacious chip from close range on ten minutes which was soon followed by the opener.
A deep free-kick on the left allowing Sasha Kuzevski to float in a wonderful ball to the far post which was headed in by Joshua Hong across the face of goal, Hong the Mariners 15th different scorer this season.
In response, Western Sydney Wanderers picked up a few chances of their own ten minutes after that. George Antonis up first with an effort from distance going high and wide before both Aiden Mostofi and Connor Rose sent dangerous balls from either side of the pitch.
Goalkeepers were understandably finding it tough handling a slippery ball, so it’s lucky then that Aidan Simmons was there to step up. Firstly, denying Nikolic with a goal line clearance before backing it up with a satisfying slide tackle to deny Harry McCarthy the chance, twenty six minutes in.
After that, the teams seemingly took a breath, still exchanging half chances and periods of control before the break with the Mariners perhaps edging the game on the field.
Coming out from the break motivated to bring the game back, the Wanderers put the visitors under pressure. With Gianni Di Pizio firing over an early warning shot.
However their best chance was to follow five minutes into the half, George Antonis shooting just over the top right corner from inside the area, Yohann D’Souza finding him well after making his way forward on the left.
The Mariners needed a response and it came immediately, Kuzevski with another trademark run down the right before squaring it to Nikolic who drew a save from the keeper.
Chances were coming thick and fast now, with Di Pizio having another shot for the hosts soon after that, heading over from a set piece.
It was the Mariners who were to double their advantage though, Harry McCarthyyy picking up the scraps from an earlier burst forward before composing himself and chipping the keeper in style from the top corner of the box on fifty five minutes.
While Lawrence Caruso denied Alex Badolato at the other end from a shot which took a deflection from outside the area.
Western Sydney continued to pressure their visitors as they looked for a way back, A poor turnover from their visitors allowing Allesandro Lopane to square the ball to Zac Sapsford who couldn’t put it past Lawrence Caruso who was desperate to make up for his error.
Aiden Simmons following up with a shot that caught the crossbar with his left footed effort from the short corner. Allesandro Lopane following that with another shot which produced another save from Caruso, the Wanderers well and truly on top with ten minutes left.
However they just couldn’t find a way past the Mariners defense who held on for their eighth clean sheet of the season while nearly extending their lead at the other end through Jackson Khoury.
Central Coast Mariners host Blacktown Spartans next weekend, while Western Sydney Wanderers face Bonnyrigg in round 18 action.
Hills United FC 0 v Mounties Wanderers FC 1 (Farkas 23‘)
Mounties Wanderers snapped their losing streak with a hard fought victory over Hills United at Blacktown City Sports Centre.
Yes, it’s been a long time between drinks for this Mounties side who hadn’t won in their last eight attempts. Antonio Farkas picked up the crucial goal with from a first half set piece which led them to victory.
For Hills United, they are now left nine points adrift at the bottom with five rounds to play, Matias Toro Suazo and Vincent D’Ermilio went closest for them.
After a start which saw both sides struggle to get ahold of the conditions, Mounties Wanderers created their first chance thirteen minutes in. Paul Apostolopoulos bursting down the right before cutting it back to Anthony Proia whose shot went fizzing wide of the left post.
The visitors were putting pressure on their hosts, with several close calls as the hosts looked to work it out from the back.
And they had their reward a quarter into the match, successive corners resulting in the opener for Farkas. Bruno Pivato picking him out with a corner from the left.
Proia next with a chance putting the ball in the back of the net before the offside flag was raised.
While Hills United created their best opportunity of the game in the 34th minute, Matias Toro Suazo using his body well in the attacking area before his tame effort was saved by Daniel Sadaka.
But the action was mainly at the other end with Proia and Sam Perre both having chances after the 35th minute, Proia’s forcing Riccardo Rizzo into a save.
Yet despite their dominance, Hills nearly went into the break with parity having a couple of chances with a minute left in regulation. The best seeing Cameron Philp ball from the right headed centrally by Daine Merrin who combined with Toro Suazo heading just over the top left corner.
Like they did in the first half, Mounties once again opened the second half in terms of chances with Sam Perre’s shot from a long throw deflected wide.
While Toro Suazo continued to be the Hills main threat with an early shot on target inside five minutes.
Hills continued to put pressure on their visitors with multiple balls into the opposition area however they struggled to really test Sadaka in net. While Sam Perre had a go at the other end, his curling effort looking goal bound for a second there.
The best chance of the second half up to that point fell to Vincent D’Ermilio though as the young attacker found himself through on goal, however he was unable to beat Sadaka who held his ground well.
While Brad Bartels nearly gave Mounties a bit of breathing room with minutes remaining, his effort going wide from a narrow angle.
Hills United face Hakoah next weekend, while Mounties host St George FC.
Blacktown Spartans v St George City, SD Raiders v Northern Tigers, St George FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles and NWS Spirit v Hakoah FC were all washed out. Stay tuned for rescheduled dates.
By FNSW League One Men’s writer Justin Smith
