Round 7 Review – League One Men’s
Nearly two months into the season, round 7 of the Football NSW League One Men’s competition delivered it’s usual entertainment value with a full set of Saturday fixtures.
In our match of the round, Canterbury Bankstown laid down a marker jumping to third place in the standings. While elsewhere, a couple of high scoring thrillers captured the imagination with Hakoah edging out Inter Lions and Dulwich Hill beating Mounties Wanderers with ten men.
Match of the Round: Canterbury Bankstown FC 2-1 Blacktown Spartans FC
Canterbury Bankstown FC jumped to third spot in the competition with a narrow win over Blacktown Spartans in our match of the round.
Wally Savours side scored either time of halftime through Brendon Mandizvidza and Gabriel Lobez to secure the victory while Jovan Blagojevic equalised for the visitors in the second half.
The game started off at a frantic pace which either side exchanging final third entries in the early stages of the fixture.
Spartans enjoying a fair chunk of possession in the opening quarter hour with Canterbury Bankstown happy to sit back and counter. Spartans best chance of the period coming on 17 minutes, Emmanuel Dolo with an adventurous run before finding Daniel Durkin. Durkin’s effort missing wide right.
However, the hosts began to settle around 20 minutes with a significant period of pressure resulting in a goal. Jake Bradshaw finding Brendon Mandizvidza with a pin-point delivery from the right for the opening goal, Mandizvidza giving the Spartans keeper no chance with a powerful header from close range.
That man again having a chance with a flashing effort across the face soon after, the build up coming down the left this time.
Despite holding the majority of possession, the Spartans were struggling to create meaningful chances against a well organised defense.
Canterbury Bankstown having no such trouble at the other end, Stefano Di Marino hitting his effort from the set piece over the bar before they were awarded a penalty on 37 minutes. Gabriel Lopez having his spot kick denied by Michael Figueira who saved low to his right.
Another really good chance following their way on 43 minutes, Stefan Dubocanin missing his kick from close range after James Ralston sent the ball across from the right.
Once again, the second half started in similar fashion to the first with end-to-end action early. Goalscorer Mandizvidza with the best opportunity of the early stages unable to steer the ball home at the back post, Jair Fernandez with the delivery on the left.
While Emmanuel Dolo found Daniel Durkin from the right in response just before the hour. Durkin unable to get enough contact to steer it goalward. Riley Chapple next up who went close from a free kick soon after.
The pressure telling eventually with a penalty being awarded half way through the half. Substitute Jovan Blagojevic stepping up to put it into the bottom right corner sending the keeper the wrong way after a handball in the area.
However it was Canterbury Bankstown to take the lead once again through Gabriel Lopez, Lopez heading home a corner from pin-point range. The corner coming in from Stefano Di Marino corner from the right with 15 minutes left.
Spartans then put the hosts under pressure but couldn’t find a way through in the closing stages. Wally Savour giving a special mention to Gino Cerasoli who made his return on the night.
Canterbury Bankstown FC 2 (Brendon Mandizvidza 22’, Gabriel Lopez 75’)
Blacktown Spartans FC 1 (Jovan Blagojevic 68’)
Hakoah FC 3 (Samuel Young 10’, Nicholas Tooley 15’, Ben Fuchs 89’) v Inter Lions FC 2 (Nicholas Paras 36’, Fikret Berisha 83’)
A five-goal game kicked off the round seven action with Hakoah FC scoring a 89th minute goal to give them victory over Inter Lions.
It was a memorable victory for Hakoah after Inter Lions had pulled a two-goal deficit back after conceding twice early on. The hosts finding the net through Samuel Young, Nicholas Tooley and the winner from Ben Fuchs. While Inter Lions scored their two goals through Nicholas Paras and Fikret Berisha.
Hakoah started the game in positive fashion racing out to a two goal lead in the opening 20 minutes. A slick passing move resulting in a Samuel Young goal for the first. Before a corner wasn’t dealt with, Nicholas Tooley picking up the scraps for the second.
As breaks often do, the momentum took a turn and Inter had one goal back on the half hour, Nicholas Paras hitting a free kick into the top corner to make it 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
Inter took that positivity into the second half and found another goal through Fikret Berisha who beat the offside trap before calming lobbing it over the keeper.
However Hakoah were to walk away with the chocolates, a dramatic winner coming courtesy of Ben Fuchs late after Inter were reduced to ten minutes before.
Hakoah go on to face SD Raiders next weekend while Inter host Northern Tigers.
Central Coast United FC 1 (Zac Pezzutto 16’) v Bankstown City FC 1 (Mark Moric 90’)
An injury time goal denied sent Bankstown City home with a point denying Central Coast United their second win of the season.
It was the hosts to open the scoring in style, Zac Pezzutto announcing himself to the competition with a lovely finish. The young attacker controlling a lobbed through ball before chipping it over the keeper’s head to give United the lead.
While Bankstown had a couple of chances of their own, Nikola Todoroski and James Mckenzie both having notable opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.
After the first goal, the game then settled down with the next chance falling for Central Coast United, Duncan Stewart caught in two minds after being released.
It was an improved defensive effort from the hosts who were doing a good job of keeping the ball in front of them. Going forward though, it was Pezzutto who continued to cause a threat forcing the City keeper into a save in the 55th minute.
Bankstown City were pressuring their hosts on more occasions in the second half though and they broke United hearts late, Mark Moric with the finishing touch after Jakub Prajza headed it down for him. This after a good Central Coast United chance seconds earlier.
The visitors so close to a winner when James Mckenzie was denied by a fingertip Cobe Preston save which pretty much the last kick of the game.
Central Coast United host Dunbar Rovers next weekend, while Bankstown City host Dulwich Hill.
Dulwich Hill FC 4 (Daniel Fornito 30’, Thomas Tranberg 39’, Jamie Dib 66’, Mark Younes 90’) v Mounties Wanderers FC 3 (Zander Regan 24’ 52’, Jesse Spang 70’)
Dulwich Hill secured their third victory of the season in a 7-goal thriller over Mounties Wanderers in round seven action.
Depending on who you ask, this was either a thriller or a scrappy game. However, Dulwich Hill won’t care after claiming another win, and one with ten men for over a half as well.
After a positive start from the hosts, they found themselves behind 25 minutes in, Zander Regan finishing from close range after Eijin Kishimoto headed the ball across the face.
However the hosts were undeterred and equalised soon after, Daniel Fornito converting from the spot after Thomas Tranberg was brought down. Tranberg giving them the advantage eight minutes later, a well worked build up leading to Jamie Dib playing him in.
They soon found themselves down to ten though when John Koch was sent off with a straight red card.
With the player advantage, the visitors equalised seven minutes into the second half. Zander Regan scoring his second, Asmir Kadric with the assist.
Despite being down a man, Dulwich Hill continued to create chances and the man of the moment Jamie Dib put them ahead once again 66 minutes in.
Mounties again pegging them back on 70 minutes through Jesse Spang who finished on the second attempt after an initial effort was saved.
However, Dib popped up once again with the assist for the eventual winner, finding Mark Younes to finish for the hosts victory with two minutes regulation remaining.
SD Raiders FC 3 (Mark Cindric ‘, Mihael Marcic ‘, Cooper Hanagan ‘) v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 0
SD Raiders raced out of the blocks to claim a three-goal victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Coming out of the blocks in hot form, the Raiders scored three times in the first half through Mark Cindric, Mihael Marcic and Cooper Hanagan all finding the back of the net in the opening half allowing them to manage the game well after the break.
The hosts started with intensity and opened the scoring through Mark Cindric picked up his second goal of the season.
A goal which was followed soon after by their second. Cindric turning provider holding the ball up, turning his man before feeding Mihael Marcic for the second goal.
The first half onslaught complete with the third goal, A midfield turnover by the visitors allowing the ball to be picked up and exchanged with a few sharp passes before Cooper Hannagan applied the finish..
From there, the game was described as a physical outing with the visitors never really able to get going.
SD Raiders move onto a fixture with Hakoah FC next weekend, while Bonnyrigg will be hoping a return home gives them a much needed victory.
Dunbar Rovers FC 0 v St George FC 3 (Shunta Nakamura 29’, Jay Mcgowan 41’, Alexander Malfara 83’)
St George FC solidified their spot at the top of the table with a three-goal victory over Dunbar Rovers at Fraser Park.
It was by no means an easy victory for the visitors who had trouble playing their game away from home at a tough place to play. Shunta Nakamura and Jay Mcgowan finding the net in the first half before Alexander Malfara rounded things off with a late third goal.
Starting the game well, St George opened the scoring on the half hour through Shunta Nakamura. Despite that, they struggled to settle down against a well drilled Dunbar team.
That changed however with the second goal, the Saints striking on the counter through Jay Mcgowan to double their lead going into half time.
Needing a response, Dunbar had their best period of play early in the second half but couldn’t really cause the visitors defense much trouble at all.
And the competition leaders added an exclamation mark with their third goal, Troy Danaskos involved in the build up before Alex Malfara finished off.
St George host Canterbury Bankstown next weekend in a clash between two in form sides, while Dunbar travel up the M1 to take on Central Coast United.
Northern Tigers FC 0 v Hills United FC 1 (Cameron Philp 13’)
Hills United kept pace with the competition leaders with a 1-0 away win over Northern Tigers at North Turramurra.
A third victory on the spin, Cameron Philp gave the visitors a lead inside the quarter hour before holding on for the victory over a good Northern Tigers side.
After an even quarter hour of action with the Tigers looking threatening on the set piece, the scoring was opened through Cameron Philp after Jamal Belkadi spotted him from a left-wing position.
Tigers then had a couple of really good chances before the half time break with one drawing a top class save from Hills keeper Ryan Wood.
While Hills nearly had a second when Philp squared the ball for Mitch Smith who headed over from close range.
The second half saw the Tigers pushing for an equaliser but couldn’t really threaten their visitors. Luke Casserly singling out Rainer Smahel in particular as a defensive standout. With Hills occasionally threatening on the counterattack.
Hills maintain their position in 2nd heading into next week’s fixture with Macarthur Rams. While Northern Tigers will take on Inter Lions at Major’s Bay Reserve.
Rydalmere Lions FC 2 (Timothy Wohlfiel 24’, Jacob Chidiac 73’) v Macarthur Rams 0
Rydalmere Lions got a small piece of revenge with a 2-0 victory over Macarthur Rams in Sydney’s West.
The Lions withstood an early ambush before playing their way into the fixture with Timothy Wohlfiel and Jake Chidiac finding the back of the net.
After weathering a fast start from the Rams, the Lions opened the scoring through goalscoring right back Timothy Wohlfiel who scored his second goal in as many weeks as the visitors began to tire.
The match maintaining a similar pattern of play beore they scored the second goal of the game with 20 minutes left in the fixture. Jake Chidiac scoring a wonderful individual goal cutting onto his right, beating a couple of players before applying the finish.
Following the match there was particular praise given to youngsters Issac Cunningham and Kyle Sande who both performed well, with Sande named as a potential man of the match.
Rydalmere travel to Bonnyrigg White Eagles next weekend, while Macarthur Rams have a tough assignment in Hills United.
By Justin Smith
