Round 9 Review – League Two Men’s
Round Nine of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season saw competitive battles across the state, where each match was a close encounter.
The Match of the Round saw Fraser Park FC come away with a tight win over Sydney University SFC, while earlier Prospect United SC came out winners away to Hawkesbury City FC.
Meanwhile, Parramatta FC won their third-consecutive match as they beat Inner Wesst Hawks FC, UNSW FC moved four points clear at the top as they defeated the Western Rage, while Hurstville FC won back-to-back matches as they beat Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Elsewhere, Camden Tigers FC responded to last week’s defeat with a win over Nepean FC, while later, South Coast Flame FC grabbed an important victory away over the Newcastle Jets.
Bankstown United FC had a bye this round.
Saturday 1st April, 2023
Match of the Round: Fraser Park FC 1-0 Sydney University SFC
Fraser Park FC claimed a third-successive victory as they came away with an important 1-0 win at home over Sydney University SFC.
Jethro Thornton missed the match for University through his three-match suspension, while their captain Liam Thomas missed the match through illness.
18-year-old Nicholas Sugiharto made his first-graded debut for University in the match.
University had a free kick in the second minute which they looked to utilise, but the ball into the box fizzed across all the players and out for a goal kick.
It was a midfield scrap to start the match as neither side could create any chances.
Shu Torihara attempted an audacious scissor kick in the 8th minute from a cross, which deflected off a University player and into the arms of Jasper Sarkies in the University goal.
A minute later, a sharp save down low to Fraser Park’s Nikola Bratic’s right kept the scores level.
Just after the ten-minute mark, Austin Gallagher had a shot from outside the box off a corner for University, but it was saved down low to Bratic’s left.
Fraser Park hit on the counter a minute later as Sarkies was forced into a sharp near post save down low to his left.
Both goalkeepers were vocal in commanding their sides from the back, in defence and attack.
University attempted some long shots to no luck as the half moved along.
Both sides looked to press from the front, while University also held a high line as they looked to force mistakes from Fraser Park and hit on the counter from the press.
In the 22nd minute, Lazar Drakulovic won the ball in his own half for Fraser Park and dribbled past a few defenders.
The end of the play saw him played in behind off a deflected ball as he shot a strong effort into the arms of Sarkies.
A few minutes later, Alexander Nicolosi found himself in space in the box before his strong right-footed shot flew wide of the left-hand post.
The midfield battle continued as both sides fought to win the ball.
The want to win the ball up the field from both sides was evident, even as the half wore on.
Four minutes before half-time, University had two attempts within thirty seconds as back-to-back efforts were saved by the goalkeeper and went wide, respectively.
University had the chances late in the half as another attempt flew into Bratic’s arms as the sides entered the sheds level at half-time, 0-0.
The planes flew closely overhead as the trains rolled by past the ground as the sides made their way out for the second half.
Fraser Park had the first chance two minutes into the second half as a shot flew over the crossbar.
Both sides looked to play through the high press as they looked to create space and chances down the field, rather than launching long balls to their forward players.
In the 50th minute, Nicolosi shot on the half-turn from distance as his strong effort flew over the crossbar.
A few minutes later, James Reed found space in the box for a header for University but was unable to find the target.
Bratic yelled words of encouragement to fire up his side as the match wore on.
In the 57th minute, Reed fell in the box as calls for a University penalty were waved away by the referee.
Sarkies rushed out well a minute later to deny a Fraser Park attacker as a ball was played in behind.
Fraser Park continued to apply the pressure in the first fifteen minutes of the second half, as Nicolosi got on the end of a free kick before his shot was saved by Sarkies.
Torihara found space down the left flank in the 60th minute as he danced his way around defenders in the box before he cut inside onto his right foot.
His strong effort was saved well by Sarkies, who had strong hands in the University goal.
Fraser Park gained control of the match in the second half to this point as they had more field position, more possession and set pieces.
However, from there, the match slowed down as University gained prolonged periods of possession for the next eight minutes, while Fraser Park defended strongly.
The match slowed as many set pieces, from throw-ins to corners, occurred.
However, just as University enjoyed this period of possession, Fraser Park hit on the counterattack.
Fraser Park worked their way down the field through substitute Dominic Siu, who received the ball on the right after a cross-field ball found him.
This attack happened three minutes after Siu had come off the bench as he drove into the box and down the by-line.
He beat his defender and tried to cut inside, then cut outside to go around his defender before he put a cross into the box.
Sarkies palmed the cross away as it fell to the feet of Fraser Park substitute Samuel Shepherd; he fired the ball into the back of the net off the rebound to give Fraser Park a 1-0 lead.
The match had no notable chances for the next eight minutes as both sides looked to settle into what they needed to do in the match.
In the 76th minute, University had a free kick which went through bodies before it was claimed down low by Bratic for Fraser Park.
Both sides defended stoutly throughout the match, from the attackers through to the defenders, in a match of high energy.
Fraser Park had the pace to threaten on the counter throughout the match, while they also defended well in wide areas to prevent University from getting into the box.
Fraser Park hit effectively on the break as they fired shots at Sarkies.
In the 89th minute, Drakulovic got in behind before his shot was saved late as the match entered the crucial final minutes.
In the second minute of stoppage time, University had a free kick and sent their goalkeeper into the box for it; however, it was floated over the crossbar by their captain, Daniel Barrett.
That was the last meaningful action of the match as Fraser Park claimed an important 1-0 victory at home.
Speaking post-match, Fraser Park FC head coach Alex Araujo said he was pleased his side found a way to win despite not being at their best.
“Sometimes if you want to be a team that challenges for the top, you have just got to find a way to win even if you are not playing at your best and I thought we did enough today to get the three points,” Araujo said.
Araujo had praise for his whole squad, particularly the substitutes who came on and made a difference.
“The difference was the guys that came on for us, made a difference and got us the win.”
Fraser Park are on a three-match winning streak and will hope to continue that form going forward.
“Yeah, look, obviously winning keeps everybody happy; the confidence is high and hopefully we can get a win on Tuesday against the Northern Tigers in our cup game.”
Fraser Park FC are next in action on Tuesday 4th April in the fourth round of the preliminaries of the Australia Cup, as they play host to Northern Tigers FC for a spot in the next round.
Sydney University SFC head coach Robert Fleming said he is looking for some consistency in his young squad with all the injuries and absentees they have.
“The squad has around four hundred first-grade appearances across the twenty-three players… they need to learn but it’s how they react and learn and at the moment, we’re not understanding game time,” Fleming said.
After they conceded the goal, Fleming said it was difficult to make any changes to his side given the lack of players they have available currently.
“We’ve got ten fit first-graders… that’s why we spoke during the week about, if we had to do it, we had to change shape to try and change it, because at this moment in time, we’re running low on numbers to a ridiculous level,” Fleming said.
Fleming hopes to develop his young side to learn how to put what they are doing in training into practice in a match.
“There’s a difference between implementing it in game and implementing it in training and then influencing it when you’re under pressure from someone else, who’s doing something different to you.”
Fraser Park FC will also look to build on the three back-to-back league wins as they travel to face Inner West Hawks FC next week, while Sydney University SFC will look to bounce back as they host UNSW FC in the derby in Round Ten.
Friday 31st March, 2023
Hawkesbury City FC 0-1 Prospect United SC
Hawkesbury City FC lost their fourth match in five, while Prospect bounced back from their defeat last week, as the visitors recorded a 1-0 away win.
The match was high in intensity with plenty of tackling throughout as both teams got stuck in.
It was a battle in midfield as neither team were able to create many chances throughout the match.
However, just before half-time, Prospect hit on the counterattack through Matthew Joseph.
He played the ball across to Tallon Zahra, scored a screamer from outside the box to put the visitors ahead heading into the sheds.
Hawkesbury threw everything at Prospect in their efforts to find an equaliser but the Prospect back four held strong, particularly their captain, David Muller.
Hawkesbury’s biggest chance came when substitute Gregory Kondek chipped the ball into what was an empty net, but his effort failed to hit the target.
However, the win was dampened for Prospect as in the final minute of the match, their goalkeeper Brendan Allen suffered a serious leg injury.
As he attempted to win the ball from Marco Turpeinen in a tackle, he slid and caught his own leg under himself.
Marco Turpeinen was sent off in the aftermath of the incident as Hawkesbury coach Dean Bertenshaw told the ref to blow full time before the three minutes of stoppage time had been played.
Prospect were happy with the win, but the three points were dampened by Allen’s injury, which both sides will hope is not too serious.
Hawkesbury City FC will hope to reverse their fortunes this season as they travel to face South Coast Flame FC next week, while Prospect United SC will have a week to recover as they have a bye in Round Ten.
Saturday 1st April, 2023
Parramatta FC 2-1 Inner West Hawks FC
Parramatta FC won their third match in a row as they downed Inner West Hawks FC 2-1 at Melita Stadium.
The hosts had the better of the match early, as Youssef Badr missed a one-on-one with Hawks’ goalkeeper, Shunsuke Sugiura, who kept the Hawks in the contest.
However, a few minutes later, Parramatta FC were awarded a free kick just outside the box.
Parramatta’s captain, Marco Sama, stepped up to take it, as he launched the ball into the top corner of the goal directly from the free kick to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Parramatta pushed as they missed other chances early on.
They frustrated themselves with their missed chances as they let the Hawks into the match.
The Hawks had more of the ball as the match went on as Parramatta played on the counter.
Both sides had plenty of chances as the match progressed.
Abdul Aljabery hit the post for Parramatta, while Andrew Bechara also hit the woodwork after a scramble in the box.
However, the Hawks scored the equaliser through substitute Peter Yannopoulos immediately after he came onto the field.
He scored with a header from a Marcus Apostolos cross into the box as the Hawks brought the match back level.
However, in the 80th minute, Parramatta pressed the Hawks, which led to a defensive mistake which Sama capitalised on as he intercepted a pass meant for the Hawks’ goalkeeper.
He intercepted the ball and rounded the goalkeeper before he slotted the ball home to give Parramatta the lead.
The Hawks had a chance to level the match again late, but Andre Guzman’s shot was cleared of the line by a Parramatta centre-half.
In the back-and-forth match, Parramatta picked up the important three points with the 2-1 home win over the Hawks.
Parramatta FC will look for a sixth-straight match unbeaten and a fourth-straight win as they travel to face Bankstown United FC next week, while Inner West Hawks FC will look to bounce back at home to Fraser Park FC.
UNSW FC 2-0 Western Rage
The form guide held true as UNSW FC moved four points clear at the top of the table courtesy of a 2-0 win at home to bottom-placed Western Rage.
Kevin Lopes grabbed his seventh goal for the season as he continued his form.
In the 33rd minute, he beat the Rage goalkeeper from outside the box with an attempt from twenty yards off the back of a Mathias Da Silva Santos assist.
UNSW FC headed into the sheds at half-time 1-0 up as they looked to finish the match off in the second half.
Diego Barcena received a red card for the Rage just after the hour mark as their job to get back into the match became tougher with ten men.
Then, in the 82nd minute, UNSW grabbed their second goal, and the three points were secured.
Substitute Dylan Walz scored with a strike from inside the box as UNSW FC claimed an important 2-0 win at home over the rage.
The Western Rage are next in action in the fourth round of preliminaries of the Australia Cup, as they travel to take on Canterbury Bankstown FC on Wednesday 5th April.
UNSW FC will look to push on as they travel to face Sydney University SFC in the University derby next week, while the Western Rage will be at home against Hurstville FC in Round Ten as they look for their first win of the season.
Hurstville FC 2-0 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Hurstville FC claimed back-to-back victories for the first time this season as they came away with a 2-0 home win over Gladesville Ryde Magic.
The first ten minutes of the contest was physical as both sides battled for the ball.
Then, the first opportunity of the match fell to the Magic, as Yousuf Amini attempted a left-footed strike from range, which was saved by Hurstville’s goalkeeper, Michael Rutherford, for a corner.
Following this, Hurstville started to control possession as Magic utilised long balls and tried to win second balls.
Hurstville started to look more threatening and in the 22nd minute, Hurstville attacked down the left flank through Stipe Simundic.
He slipped Mouhamed Hamdache in behind before his low cross found Jesse Gagro inside the box, who slotted the ball into the back of the net to give Hurstville a 1-0 lead.
In the 28th minute, Hurstville had a free kick just outside the box as the strike flew wide of the goal.
Both teams looked to hold the ball; the Magic were difficult to break down in defence while the Magic looked to utilise their pace in attack through long balls.
Then, in the final minute before half-time, Hamdache grabbed his brace.
Hamdache tried an audacious effort from halfway, which just flew over the top of the Magic goalkeeper and into the back of the net, as Hurstville took a 2-0 lead into half-time.
In the second half, the Magic concentrated their attack down the left-hand side of the field but the crosses into the middle were easily cleared by the Hurstville defence.
Hurstville started the second half well and had a few good chances as the Magic played long diagonal balls across the field.
Kohki Hiyaoka had a left-footed shot for the Magic which flew straight into the arms of Rutherford.
The Magic had further chances through free kicks, while Hurstville also had some good moments but were unable to convert.
Hurstville defended well to see out the match and grab an important 2-0 win over the Magic.
Hurstville FC will look to build on back-to-back victories as they travel to face the Western Rage next week, while Gladesville Ryde Magic will hope to bounce back at home to Camden Tigers FC.
Camden Tigers FC 1-0 Nepean FC
Camden Tigers FC rebounded from their loss last week as they came away with a late winner in a tight match against Nepean FC, 1-0.
The Tigers started the match brightly and created many chances in the opening 20 minutes of the match to no reward.
Then, a clumsy tackle from Andrew Head gave Nepean a penalty in the 20th minute.
The penalty was saved by Michael O’Rourke in between the sticks for the Tigers; this moment ignited the Camden players.
They created many more chances from there but were unable to find the finishing touch in the first half.
Decision making and execution in the final third were the focus for the Tigers in the second half as they continued to create chances without scoring.
Justin Biega did well in the Nepean goal to keep the scores level as he denied Nepean repeatedly.
The match looked destined for a draw until the first minute of stoppage time.
From an attacking corner, Tigers’ substitute Bayley Suters got to the ball first and headed the ball onto the crossbar.
David Scott followed through to hammer the ball into the back of the net from on the goal line with three minutes remaining in injury time.
Nepean threw everything at the Tigers but were unable to find a goal throughout the match as the resilient Tigers defence held them out.
They claimed another victory late, this time 1-0 against Nepean FC, as their charge up the ladder continued.
Camden Tigers FC will look for a fifth win in six matches as they travel to face Gladesville Ryde Magic next weekend, while Nepean FC will look to respond after back-to-back losses, and their third loss in four matches, as they host the Newcastle Jets.
Newcastle Jets 0-1 South Coast Flame FC
South Coast Flame FC recorded their first-ever win over the Newcastle Jets as they came away with a 1-0 win in the long away trip.
The first chance of the match fell to the Flame’s Jacob Gjorsevski, as his effort flew just wide of the post.
In the 11th minute, Adam Voloder had a one-on-one chance saved by Noah James.
Seven minutes later, Jay De Gouvela had a left-footed shot which was saved at the near post.
Flame captain James Baldacchino had a free header at the back post minutes later, but his effort missed.
Just before half-time, the Jets had a great chance to score after Baldacchino slipped in defence, but the shot was saved well by Seiya Miyamoto.
The sides battled hard but went into the sheds level at half-time, 0-0.
The first attack of the second half fell to the Flames’ Alexander Alston.
He beat his defender and flicked the ball to the far side of the goal to score as he gave the Flame a 1-0 lead three minutes into the second half.
Ten minutes later, the Jets had a golden chance to fire back after Peter Grozos crossed the ball into the box, but Ben Van Dorssen missed an open opportunity.
Twenty minutes out from full-time, Miyamoto fumbled the ball in the box, as James Khoury looked to capitalise, but his effort hit the crossbar from close range.
The Jets pushed for an equalising goal in the final period of the match, but the Flame defence held strong to see out a 1-0 away victory.
The Flame are enjoying the vibe amongst the squad but know there is a long way to go this season and will look to build on this performance and result.
South Coast Flame FC claimed their first clean sheet since Round One and will look to build as they host Hawkesbury City FC next week, while the Newcastle Jets will look to bounce back away to Nepean FC next week in an important first versus second clash.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
