Round 4 Review – League One Men’s
Twenty-eight goals across 8 fixtures saw the Football NSW League One Men’s competition return to form in round 4 of the competition, Saturday night.
Blacktown Spartans stand alone atop of the standings after a victory over Dulwich Hill whereas Canterbury Bankstown, Hills, St George and Hakoah also secured notable wins.
Match of the round: Dulwich Hill FC 1 v Blacktown Spartans FC 3
Blacktown Spartans continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory over Dulwich Hill at Arlington Oval.
Aaron Pessego put the hosts up in the first half before they conceded three quickfire goals at the other end in the second half with Hyungmin Yang, Robert Eremugo and Jovan Blagojevic all finding the net within 20 minutes.
It was an encouraging start for the hosts who would have been considered underdogs going in, matching it with their fancied visitors.
Spartans were also playing their way into it and Jovan Blagojevic nearly turned a ball home after Emmanuel Dolo found him with a cross on 12 minutes.
A chance shortly followed up by the first major chance of the contest, Sam Perre skiing an effort over the bar from inside the area.
Dulwich weren’t going without a chance of their own though and Mark Younes nearly opened the scoring shortly after, a one on one effort drawing a save from Michael Figueira.
However, the majority of goalscoring opportunities were coming at the other end with Dolo next up with an effort across goal in a frantic period of the game around the quarter hour. Riley Chapple also hitting the post before 20 minutes.
The game had now settled into a pattern and Emmanuel Dolo had another effort on the half hour, his shot/cross going inches wide across the face after Sam Perre played him through.
It was the hosts who finished off the first half the stronger, a Mark Younes shot taking a deflection leading to a corner. In which captain Aaron Pessego found the net with a glancing header at the near post meeting an in-swinging corner. 1-0 to Dulwich Hill.
It gave the hosts confidence with a few half chances before and after the break. Tranberg with a head at the back post going wide left shortly into the second half.
That confidence took a hit though a few minutes later. Hyungmin Yang opening the visitors account from outside the area. Yang’s shot proving too hot for the Dulwich Hill keeper to handle to equalise.
And the turnaround was completed two minutes after that. Emmanuel Dolo setting in motion a move which saw Yang lay it off to substitute Robert Eremugo who finished off with a powerful effort inside the area. 2-1 Spartans.
A victory confirmed with 20 minutes left, William Di Martino with a ball from the top corner of the box which was flicked home by Jovan Blagojevic, kissing the post on it’s way into the net.
Dulwich Hill looking to respond nearly made things interesting in the final minute of regulation when Thomas Tranberg put the ball just over the bar from the edge of the box.
Dulwich Hill have Northern Tigers awaiting them next weekend, while Blacktown Spartans host Central Coast United.
Dulwich Hill FC 1 (Aaron Pessego 37’)
Blacktown Spartans FC 3 (Hyungmin Yang 54’, Robert Eremugo 59’, Jovan Blagojevic 73’)
Hills United FC 3 (Nathan Rayner 5’ 16’, Glen Kelshaw 88’) v SD Raiders FC 2 (Noah Chianese 10’, Mihael Marcic 15’)
Hills United edged SD Raiders in a high scoring affair at Landen Stadium, Saturday night.
Described as a competitive high-scoring fixture, the teams exchanged goals in the opening 20 minutes before Glen Kelshaw scored the decisive goal late in the piece from a free-kick.
Plenty to write about early in this one, the opener coming five minutes in, Nicolai Muller finding Nathan Rayner with a long ball for his first. However that lead didn’t last long conceding straight after that, Noah Chianese taking advantage of a slip of concentration from the hosts defense to level things.
Raiders then going on to take the lead through Mihael Marcic on the quarter hour. But as was the pattern of the game, it didn’t last long with Rayner doubling his account at the other end drawing Hills level.
From there, the fixture settled down when it came to further goals despite chances coming at both ends. Ryan Wood earning a mention from his coach for a good one v one save.
The decisive goal coming late through Hills United captain Glen Kelshaw who took advantage of a recycled piece of possession before scoring from just outside the area, killing the Raiders hopes of taking points home with two minutes left.
Hills United face Inter Lions Tuesday night, while SD Raiders host Macarthur Rams.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1 (Zac Sfiligoi 14’) v Hakoah FC 3 (Jesse Hirschowitz 16’, Nicholas Drummond 30’, Philpot 37’)
Three first half goals gave Hakoah FC an away victory over the previously undefeated Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Zac Sfiligoi opened the scoring for the hosts with a near post volley on 12 minutes giving them the lead. But they weren’t at their best in the first half and as such conceded three goals before the break.
Jesse Hirschowitz scoring the visitors first five minutes after going behind, following in a shot which was saved initially.
The goal providing a shift in momentum which was used effectively by the visitors. Nicholas Drummond scoring the second in which he placed the ball into the far bottom corner. With Cam Philpot adding the third seven minutes after that. Philpot on the end of a Hirschowitz cross from the right finishing with his head.
Compared to the first half, the second half was less eventful with both teams going toe-to-toe with each other. Bonnyrigg White Eagles are next in action away to Rydalmere, while Hakoah FC host our round five match of the round against St George FC at Hensley.
St George FC 3 (Conor Quilligan 15’ 90’, Alexander Malfara 75’) v Inter Lions FC 0
St George FC proved a bit too good for Inter Lions at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre, Saturday night with a 3-0 victory.
It was a game with few chances in it, the difference being two stunning goals from Conor Quilligan and an instant Alex Malfara impact who doubled the advantage.
Inter Lions on the other hand struggled to grab a foothold in the opening stages and despite playing their way back into it, walked away emptyhanded.
Playing against a side new to the division, the Saints were keen to stamp their authority early on. And their efforts to settle in helped by a Conor Quilligan free kick on the quarter hour. Quilligan striking like a viper from the set-piece placing his effort into the top left corner of the net.
Captain Troy Danaskos and Harry Jones nearly adding a second with respective chances inside the next 15 minutes.
Inter on the other hand were looking more settled as the half went on with Owen Duke and Lachlan Everett having a couple of half chances in the final ten minutes.
This period giving them the confidence to continue on putting pressure on their hosts with Owen Duke sending a stinging ball across the area to be saved before Nicholas Paras had an opportunity in transition from an inside right position of the penalty area. His effort over the bar.
With substitutions came a change in momentum once again and Alexander Malfara wasted no time in his first appearance for the club, doubling the Saints lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Conor Quilligan possibly bettering his first late on, with a half volley from outside the area finding the top right this time.
St George next face Hakoah FC at Hensley Athletic, while Inter Lions have a catch up round three fixture with Hills United Tuesday night.
Macarthur Rams FC 3 (Anthony Proia 18’ 45’, Dimi Petratos 83’) v Dunbar Rovers FC 0
Macarthur Rams extended Dunbar Rovers woes with a hard-fought victory at Lynwood Park.
Against a visiting side who were keen to bounce back from last week’s result, Anthony Proia continued his goalscoring form with two goals in the first half before Dimi Petratos added an exclamation mark late.
Despite the scoreline, it’s a step in the right direction for Dunbar Rovers with the main difference in the match being the quality in the final third. They’ll turn their focus to next week with an eye on further improvement.
The first two goals of the game came in similar fashion abet from different sides of the pitch with Daniel Bittar and Matthew Barkho both getting an assist each for Proia to finish off in strikers’ fashion.
Dunbar however were threatening without reward creating chances of their own while doing a good job of keeping their hosts honest.
Dimi Petratos adding a sealer with 7 minutes left, a high press leading to a chipped finish from 25 yards to round things out.
Central Coast United FC 0 v Northern Tigers FC 4 (Scott Browning 11’, Kai Denton 56’ 59’ 62’)
A five-minute Kai Denton hat-trick highlighted the Northern Tigers victory over Central Coast United at Central Coast Sports College.
Described by Tigers coach Adam Hett as their best performance of the season so far, an early goal to Scott Browning gave them the foundation to build in the contest. With Kai Denton then scoring three quick goals in and around the hour mark.
As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Scott Browning opened the scoring on 11 minutes, a near post flick on from a long throw giving them the advantage. An advantage which remained till halftime.
After which, Kai Denton stole the headlines with his hat-trick. His forward runs causing the hosts all sorts of problems, all three goals scored in similar fashion. Denton now sitting on five goals from three appearances for the Tigers.
For Central Coast United, they will look to move on from this knowing where they need to get too if they want to challenge the better sides in the division. They take on Blacktown Spartans next weekend, while Northern Tigers host Mounties Wanderers Wednesday night (which you can catch on NPL.TV).
Mounties Wanderers FC 0 v Canterbury Bankstown FC 4 (Jake Bradshaw 10’ 88’, Nic Petrillo 15’, Nathan Manno 30’)
Mounties Wanderers were no match for a fast-starting Canterbury Bankstown side in Sydney’s North West.
It was a case of letting their frustrations out from previous weeks in a positive way for the visitors. They came out aggressively from minute one and their hosts couldn’t match them. Jake Bradshaw opened and concluded the scoring, his first coming from a Nathan Manno through ball before he slotted it under the keeper.
One became two for them on 15 minutes through Nic Petrillo who headed home from a corner. Nathan Manno joining him on the scoresheet on the half hour after Cian McNamara cut the ball back to him. Bradshaw adding the final goal after a great angled pass from Brendon Mandizvidza
It was a case of being caught wanting in the first half for Mounties Wanderers, they were 3-0 down before they could settle into the match and it was always going to be tough from there despite an improved second half performance.
Canterbury Bankstown next face Rydalmere Lions midweek, while Mounties Wanderers will be looking for a response against Northern Tigers, Wednesday night.
Bankstown City FC 0 v Rydalmere Lions FC 1 (Jake Chidiac 79’)
Rydalmere Lions picked up their second victory of the season away from home over Bankstown City at Jensen Park.
There’s just something oddly romantic about a one-nil victory away from home and Rydalmere pulled it off well at Jensen Park.
With a good head-to-head record against their hosts, Rydalmere perhaps had the better of the opening half creating three good opportunities. One of which saw Matthew West miss an open goal uncharacteristically.
Bankstown City needed a response and they got it after the resumption, the closest they came being a chance which hit the post in the opening ten minutes.
However used well, substitutions can change games and so it happened for Rydalmere. Dillian Kahale playing a major part in the decisive goal driving into the box from the left before sending it across for Jake Chidiac to score with a flick finish on 80 minutes.
Bankstown City kept trying for an equaliser but couldn’t find one as Rydalmere wound down the clock professionally.
Rydalmere return to the same venue Wednesday night to face Canterbury Bankstown while Bankstown City travel to take on Inter Lions next Saturday night.
By Justin Smith
