Round 22 Review – League One Men’s
After a premiership race that came right down to the final day with four teams finishing within three points of each, Central Coast Mariners secured the League One Men’s premiership with the final game of the season, Sunday afternoon.
It sets up a thrilling finals series with four clubs coming in with no losses in their past five fixtures. So buckle up and get ready to enjoy the finals, a just reward after finally completing a season!
Central Coast Mariners FC 4 (Segreto 19’ 71’, Duncan 46’, Skataric 70’) v St George FC 0
Central Coast Mariners claimed the 2022 Premiership with a victory over St George FC on a sunny afternoon at Pluim Park.
After stumbling midweek against the Spartans, the Mariners scored three in the second half to take them past their visitors with Jordan Segreto, Ben Duncan, and Nikola Skataric all finding the net for the hosts.
Having been on the back foot for much of the opening ten minutes, St George were first to have a clear cut opportunity in the contest. Isaac Danzo with a point blank effort saved by Marko Bulic in the hosts net after Harry Jones and Anthony Morabito played a part in the buildup.
However, it was the Mariners to take the lead in the match settling any nerves in the contest on 18 minutes. Jordan Segreto cashing in after Stefan Nikolic found him with a delightful cross field through ball, Segreto finishing calmly.
The Saints weren’t letting their hosts run away with it though as they continued to pressure the Mariners goal at the other end, Morabito the latest to have a chance just after the 20th minute.
While Harry McCarthy and Nicholas Duarte combined at the other end for the Mariners next chance, Duarte hitting the crossbar with his left footed strike before the 40th minute.
Coming out from the break, the Mariners were two up within 13 seconds of the referee’s whistle. Ben Duncan scoring with his 6th touch of the game to double the advantage, with Cameron Windust and Jordan Segreto playing a part in the lead up.
Although the Saints kept knocking, it was the Mariners day. The Two advantage became three later on in the half through Nikola Skataric. Skataric getting the final touch inside the box from close range after a scintillating Jackson Khoury run down the left.
And the icing was put on the cake a minute later, Lachie Bayliss this time picking out Jordan Segreto with a through ball for Segreto to finish.
The Mariners will have a week off after claiming the premiership before their next game in week two of the finals.
While the season comes to an end for St George FC, a side who have improved throughout and we can’t wait to see what’s next in 2023. Finally, a quick shoutout to Saints legend Jacob Bandur who took to the field for the last time in this one before moving into the club’s coaching ranks.
St George City 2 (Awaritefe 47‘ 70‘) v Hills United FC 0
A second half Reuben Awaritefe secured St George City a home final as they rounded out the regular season with a victory over Hills United.
The hosts took a little while to get their goalscoring motor going (something which definitely wasn’t a problem at the Bonnyrigg festival) before they found their opener early in the second half, while Hills United kept them accountable in an even first half.
City kicked of the game in terms of chances with a couple falling their way in the opening stages, the first of which saw Jakub Prajza in a dangerous position but unable to get enough purchase on his effort.
At the other end, Hills grew into the contest before Tyson Savas had their notable chance before the 20th minute, combining with Jordan Parfait before sending his effort over the target.
And it was oh so nearly the visitors to open the scoring. Mackenzie Syron making an acrobatic diving stop to deny Oliver Kovarik who hit it sweetly from just outside the area. Followed soon after by a long range Wade Giovenali shot which drew another save (this one more comfortable).
With one last shot falling at either end before the half concluded, Roberts from the free-kick at one end, Savas with another at the other end.
The game needed a goal, and it came early in the second half. Tarik Ercan floating a ball over the visitor’s defense for Paolo Mitry to run in behind, Mitry taking it to the byline before opting for power on his cross into the middle, Awaritefe getting the final touch inside the six yard box.
A goal to the good, Damian German nearly doubled the lead a few minutes later, his effort just going beyond the top corner. Mitry following that with what was so nearly a wonder goal in plenty of space a fair way out, his effort hitting the underside of the crossbar before bouncing out.
However, as much as they tried, they couldn’t find a second despite multiple endeavors forward. Awaritefe nearly adding a second to his tally halfway through the second half denied by sharp Ricardo Rizzo save after a Damian German lay off.
Rizzo wasn’t going to deny City’s second though on 69 minutes. Troy Danaskos playing the role of provider setting up Awaritefe for the tap in at close range to give them a two goal advantage.
St George City enter the finals with a double chance finishing in 2nd place. While the campaign comes to an end for Hills United who didn’t score a point away from home.
Blacktown Spartans FC 1 (Gonzalez 25‘) v Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2 (Badolato 16‘, Sapsford 67‘)
Western Sydney Wanderers secured a top three position and as such a double chance in the finals with a narrow victory over Blacktown Spartans.
As you would expect from the young Wanderers, they opened the game having long periods of possession before springing into action through Jarrod Carluccio who broke down the right to the byline, before squaring it to Zac Sapsford who couldn’t get to it before the desperate defense.
While at the other end, Lamberton was proving to be a nuisance for the Wanderers defense, shooting wide left on eight minutes before nearly setting up Gonzalez shortly after. Gonzalez unable to control his finish with just the keeper to beat.
Fresh off a call up to the young Socceroos talent identification camp, a former tree in Alex Badolato opened the scoring for the visitors finishing powerfully after arriving into the area, Connor Rose with the assist after breaking down the line down the left. Which was shortly followed by another Wanderers chance to Jarrod Carluccio.
Still the Spartans were looking dangerous though with Lamberton and Gonzalez combining for their equalizer. Gonzalez finishing from close range to level things up on top of the golden boot with his 13th goal of the season.
In an end to end game, the Wanderers were still having the clearer cut chances, Zac Sapsford next up with five minutes left in the half putting his effort just wide of the right hand facing post after taking the ball into the area.
After opening the scoring in the first half, Alex Badolato was the first to kick the second half off in terms of chances, using his chest to control the ball before his volley had Hugh Brown scrambling to make the save.
Indeed, the Wanderers were piling on the pressure and it only seemed a matter of time. As such their second came in the 68th minute, Dean Pelekanos putting through a wonderful ball from a central right position under pressure. Sapsford timing his run well before heading home for his 7th in 7.
However, the lead almost was cut back again with a quarter hour left, Hamish Lamberton and Emmanuel Gonzalez forcing a crucial double save from another Wanderers player in the young Socceroos id camp Jack Warshawsky.
Western Sydney Wanderers head into the finals next weekend to face St George City, while Blacktown Spartans finish their season in 8th position although they may still have a game with Bonnyrigg to come.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 4 (Peterson 9‘ 19‘ 84‘, Jez 92‘) v Northern Tigers FC 1 (Adeli 64‘)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles secured a season double over Northern Tigers with a R22 victory at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
Finishing the season in style, Aaron Peterson secured a hat-trick to bring his tally to 11 for the season, while Maksim Jez and Shervin Adeli found the net at either end to make up the five goals.
Playing with some freedom in potentially their last game of the season, Bonnyrigg opened the scoring in just the 9th minute. Aaron Peterson scoring his ninth goal of the season with a close range header after last weeks hero Maksim Jez found him with a ball in from the left.
A lead which was doubled ten minutes later with the hosts second. Radovan Pavicevic floating in a ball from the right which found Jez at the back post, Jez’s header hitting the base of the post before the ball fell to Peterson finished from close range.
At the other end, the Tigers were looking most dangerous when Alexander Brown or Kai Denton were involved.
After a disappointing first half by their standards, Tigers began the second half the better of the two sides to open the second half, going close ten minutes into the second half. Jamie Lobb picking out Kai Denton with his corner, Denton’s header hitting the crossbar before being cleared.
And they got the reward they deserved for their start to the second half. Shervin Adeli scoring a remarkable goal from just outside the area, switching the ball to his left foot with close control before picking out the bottom left corner just after the hour to half the deficit. Bailey Rule with the assist.
With ten minutes remaining in the fixture, the game was there for the taking and Radovan Pavicevic was next to have a clear cut chance for the hosts forcing Tonu Liiband into a save.
It was the hosts to take it though with Aaron Peterson completing his hat-trick. Pavicevic finding him with a superb cross field pass for Peterson to run onto and slip underneath the keeper for his 11th of the season.
Finally, the night was capped off with a Maksim Jez goal to seal things into extra time. Jez on the end of another Pavicevic ball through for the fourth goal.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles have a couple of catch up fixtures which could be played in the near future. While Northern Tigers head into an elimination final next weekend.
Hakoah FC 4 (Tuson-Firth 12’, Lobo 15’, Earley 46’, Regan OG 70’) v SD Raiders FC 0
Hakoah FC said goodbye to their coach Luka Hrzina in the best fashion possible with a dominant win over SD Raiders, Saturday evening.
A quickfire double a third of the way into the first half set them on their way early before they scored a further two to seal the victory.
The hosts showed no signs of struggling to get things going, with Yianni Spyrakis firing over the bar inside three minutes. Followed soon after by Luiz Lobo hitting the left facing post with a header from Conor Earley’s delivery.
While SD Raiders came the closest, they had come so far in the 11th minute. Daniel Walsh skying his left footed effort over the bar after James Letta headed down a corner.
The goal was to follow shortly after that, a through ball releasing Lobo down the right before he squared the ball across the face for George Tuson-Firth to finish at the back post.
One became two soon after. Luiz Lobo setting in and finishing an attacking motion forward three minutes later. Lobo picking the ball up from Spyrakis before Tuson-Firth and Cox got touches in the buildup, Cox releasing Lobo beyond the defense for a right footed finish.
While SD Raiders went even closer a quarter into the match, Noah Chianese having his header cleared off the line by Mitchell Knight to deny them their first.
A favour which was returned soon after, Anthony Costa the unlucky soul for Hakoah as his effort was denied by Nicholas Kambouris.
The third was coming though and it arrived just before half time in cheeky fashion. Conor Earley channeling his inner Kaka stepping up to take a free kick on the right wing, curling it past the keeper at the near post to give them a three goal lead going into the break.
SD Raiders were proving dangerous from the set-piece despite being down by three goals. Sebastian Malfara going close on two separate occasions in as many minutes, firstly forcing Nikolas Loe to tip it over the bar from a free-kick, before the resulting corner led to him having an effort cleared off the line near the hour mark.
The three goal hill then became a steep climb with Hakoah’s fourth of the evening. Dominic Cox once again playing a pivotal role in the buildup before James Demetriou slipped in Tuson Firth who was beaten by a retreating Zander Regan who sent it into his own net.
Hakoah finish the season in 6th position on 30 points, while SD Raiders brings the curtain down on their season in the midst of a six game losing streak sitting in 11th.
By League One Men’s writer Justin Smith
