Round 14 Review – League One Men’s
Approaching the halfway mark of the season, there were signs that every game is going to be competitive from here on out after round 14 in the Football NSW League One Men’s competition.
Yes, its no longer a surprising sight to see the bottom six sides picking up points and being competitive with some important results occurring around the grounds.
While a Tom Whiteside goal in our match of the round was one for the highlight reel as his side prevailed over Mounties Wanderers.
Match of the Round: Mounties Wanderers FC 2-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC
Bonnyrigg White Eagles soared up the table up with their second victory in a week over Mounties Wanderers at Cook Park, Sunday afternoon.
They had to do it the hard way after going into the break down a goal but they took flight and never landed with three second half goals through Radovan Pavicevic, Emmanuel Gonzalez and an unforgettable Tom Whiteside goal.
Earlier however, Mounties Wanderers did show why results have improved recently, matching it with their visitors in the first half before making them a bit nervous late. Bruno Pivato opened their account before Shun Maeta scored a goal in the final ten minutes.
The first half saw a few momentum changes throughout with both sides playing some enterprising football.
However, it took till the 19th minute for the first clear cut chance to come about. Maksim Jez unable to find the target from close range after controlling the ball from a flick on, Brad Bartels with the long throw.
Speaking of, Bartels soon followed up with a one-on-one opportunity, unfortunately for him though, Thomas Sutton in the Mounties goal was up to the task.
Bonnyrigg going on to have another couple of good chances through Tom Whiteside and Radovan Pavicevic before the momentum swung with ten minutes remaining in the half.
Mounties for their part looking threatening in attack through the combination of Shun Maeta, Jesse Spang and Bruno Pivato. Pivato missing their first major chance of the game in the 36th minute.
A miss he soon made up for a minute later. Some lovely passing football finding Matthew Self on the left who drew a save from Luke Turnbull. The keeper palming it into the path of Bruno Pivato who made no mistake rolling it into the bottom left corner. The lead holding going into the sheds.
Where the first half proved a somewhat even affair, the second saw a different story play out with Bonnyrigg White Eagles striking back in style.
Signalling their intent with multiple box entries early in the second period, Gonzalez going closest hitting the side netting, the ball making its way to him left to right.
Their reward coming in the 58th minute, Gonzalez playing a role with a cross from the right-side allowing Radovan Pavicevic to apply a one-touch finish, controlling the ball with his chest before swinging his right foot at it and finding the back of the net.
Confidence was certainly flowing and their second goal won’t be forgotten quickly. Tom Whiteside producing something special with his strike in the 64th minute. Whiteside spotting the keeper off his line, striking the ball sweetly from a quickly taken free kick on halfway which sailed into the bottom corner.
Emmanuel Gonzalez then adding a third five minutes later from the penalty spot. Sending the keeper the wrong way with a composed finish.
Like the first half, Mounties were to finish the stronger of the two sides and pulled a goal back in the 81st. Jesse Spang scrambling the ball from a central position into the path of Shun Maeta who finished into the bottom left corner.
The hosts nearly equalising with three minutes left from Anthony Windsor free kick. Windsor rolling his effort under the wall with Luke Turnbull palming his effort onto the post for a corner.
Bonnyrigg were to hold on though and they next face Hills United in a match of the round blockbuster next weekend. While Mounties Wanderers face St George FC away from home.
Mounties Wanderers FC 2 (Bruno Pivato 37’, Shun Maeta 81’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 3 (Radovan Pavicevic 58’, Tom Whiteside 64’, Emmanuel Gonzalez 69’)
Elsewhere:
Inter Lions FC 0 v Dunbar Rovers FC 2 (Olivier Beltran-Woodward 37’ 67’)
Dunbar Rovers jumped off the bottom of the table and consigned Inter Lions to their second consecutive defeat in the process.
In what was described as a good performance with and without the ball, striker Olivier Beltran-Woodward picked up a brace either side of half time for the visitors.
While for Inter Lions, they couldn’t take the chances when they had them despite controlling possession for large periods of the fixture.
The hosts did manage to get in behind their opposition on a few occasions but were often met by a well-disciplined Dunbar side who got numbers back in defence.
Dunbar Rovers taking the lead with eight minutes remaining in the first half. A free-kick in their own half flicked on into the path of Beltran-Woodward who isolated his marker before finding the top corner via the post.
After the break, it continued in a similar fashion with the hosts controlling possession and having their chances while Dunbar threatened on the break.
The clincher coming with a little over 20 minutes left, a counterattack resulting in a penalty at the other end. Beltran-Woodward making no mistake from the spot.
Dunbar Rovers move off the bottom into 14th place and face Blacktown Spartans next. While Inter Lions drop to 8th ahead of a cup tie with Wollongong Olympic Tuesday evening.
Hills United FC 3 (Mitchell Smith 30’ 34’, Nicolai Muller 39’) v Hakoah FC 2 (Samuel Young 3’, Nicholas Tooley 62’)
Three goals in the space of ten minutes ensured Hills United another home victory over Hakoah FC at Landen Stadium.
After falling behind early in the piece, Luke Casserly’s side responded well with a brace to Mitchell Smith and a Nicolai Muller penalty putting them up 3-1 at the break. The hosts then holding on defending very well in the late stages.
In contrast, the result sees Hakoah FC slip down to 11th position on the table. They took the lead early and put their hosts under pressure with a second after the break however they weren’t able to find a third.
The visitors got off to the best start possible with a second minute goal to Samuel Young scoring his tenth goal of the season after an energetic start from the visitors.
Hills United slowly clawed their way back into the contest though and were rewarded with three quick goals. Mitchell Smith grabbing a brace and the club’s internal man of the match. Before Nicolai Muller added a third goal from the spot.
And despite not scoring a fourth on the night, Hills then had their best period of proceedings early in the second half.
However, a goal out of pretty much nothing swung the momentum back to the visitors. Nicholas Tooley finding their second goal to bring them within a goal with half an hour to play. However, they couldn’t add a third with the hosts defending well in the final half hour to come away with the spoils.
Bankstown City FC 3 (Jonathan Grozdanovski 8’ 47’, Adrian Valenti 11’) v Canterbury Bankstown FC 0
An emphatic first half performance proved enough for Bankstown City to take away Jensen Park bragging rights with victory over Canterbury Bankstown.
It’s a most welcome result for Bankstown City who had struggled to put teams away in recent times. Two Jonathan Grozdanovski goals came either side of an Adrian Valenti strike in the first half.
A game which was very much decided early on, Canterbury Bankstown did manage to respond in the second half, but the game was beyond them by that point.
Creating a habit of scoring early goals, Bankstown City did so again with a goal nine minutes in. Matthew Moric finding Jonathan Grozdanovski with his corner from the left. Grozdanovski heading home from outside the six-yard box.
However, what wasn’t to script was a second and third goal in which they added in quick fashion. The second coming after a Nikola Todoroski effort which was saved into the path of Adrian Valenti who finished with power from the left side of the box.
The third through another set piece with Moric this time finding Grozdanovski at the back post towards the end of the half. A defender on the line just unable to deny him.
After four changes at halftime, there was an improved showing from the visitors after the break who only threatened from range in the opening stanza. However, they just couldn’t find a way to goal with the score remaining the same come full time.
Bankstown City next meet Northern Tigers away from home, while Canterbury Bankstown host Macarthur Rams.
Macarthur Rams FC 0 v Blacktown Spartans FC 2 (Franco Scarcella 4’, Christian Nascimben 7’)
Blacktown Spartans capped off a memorable week with their third victory in the space of seven days, this time getting the better of Macarthur Rams.
Having made the trip up to Central Coast midweek, the Spartans continued the momentum in this one with two goals in the opening ten minutes courtesy of Franco Scarcella and Christian Nascimben.
While Macarthur Rams did manage to play their way into the game, they paid the ultimate price for conceding early. They’ll look to improve from the start next week Canterbury Bankstown.
You know when a coach tells you in youth football that you have to be on from the get-go. Well this fixture proved that true with the only two goals coming early.
The first goal coming through Franco Scarcella who scored a header from close range, a pinpoint cross coming in from the right wing. Before you would almost be forgiven for seeing double, a similar build up finding Christian Nascimben who scored with a well place shot from inside the area, the ball dropping too him between the 18-yard box and penalty spot.
From there, Macarthur found their feet able to create a few chances before the break including a Christian Torrelli one-on-one but still went into the sheds two goals down.
The break halting the Rams momentum a bit as they had limited opportunities in the second period. Spartans doing well to see out the game.
With the victory, Blacktown Spartans move to within two points of second place with Dunbar Rovers next up. While Macarthur Rams travel to face Canterbury Bankstown.
SD Raiders 3 (Mark Cindric 19’, James Letta 60’, Lucca Cervo 80’) v Northern Tigers FC 1 (Shervin Adeli 30’)
Quickly becoming the most unpredictable side in the division, SD Raiders triumphed over Northern Tigers at Ernie Smith Reserve to move into fifth position.
The hosts were more organised in how they went about things compared to last weekend and were just a bit more clinical in front of goal. Mark Cindric opened the scoring before James Letta and Lucca Cervo joined him on the scoresheet.
In a case of a red card coming at the wrong time, Northern Tigers were reduced to ten early in the second half with the scores level at that point courtesy of a Shervin Adeli goal. From there it was a struggle however as they drop to 9th on the table.
There wasn’t much in this one as it played out in tight fashion in the opening half. Mark Cindric opening the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute with a nice turn and finish.
Before Northern Tigers struck back, Shervin Adeli scoring a stunning volley from 30 metres out in a goal described to us as a ‘worldie’.
Unfortunately for the visitors though Cole Mutton was sent off early in the second half putting them on the back foot.
With James Letta putting his side into the lead on the hour mark before Lucca Cervo added a third with Riley Cox Barlow playing a part in that one to give them a 3-1 victory.
Rydalmere Lions FC 2 (Aidan Taouil 41’, Dillan Kahale 73’) v Central Coast United FC 2 (Marcus Sparacino 3’, Zac Pezzutto 76’)
Rydalmere Lions and Central Coast United shared the spoils in an entertaining clash at Rydalmere Park, Saturday evening.
Having come from behind with two goals, Rydalmere perhaps will be the more disappointed of the two sides. Aidan Taouil picked up their first before Dillan Kahale grabbed the second.
The game got off to the best possible start for the visitors who found the net first and last in the fixture through Marcus Sparacino and Zac Pezzutto. They’ll be happy with the point away from home before returning to Pluim next weekend.
As mentioned above, the visitors got off to a flyer. Zac Pezzutto drawing a goal line clearance before it fell to Marcus Sparacino whose shot was too powerful to be denied from outside the area.
A lead which they held up until just before the break, Ahmad Taleb latching onto a direct ball before beating a defender one-on-one and cutting it back to Aidan Taouil for the finish.
Rydalmere then adding a second with under 20 minutes left, Mitchell Gibbs with the assist finding Dillan Kahale with a great cross.
They didn’t hold that lead for long though with the Pirates scoring their second. Zac Pezzutto heading home at the near post from a set piece. Josh Swadling with the ball into the near post.
Central Coast United return home next weekend with a Inter Lions challenge awaiting them, while Rydalmere take on SD Raiders.
Dulwich Hill FC 1 (Daniel Fornito 30’) v St George FC 1 (Harry Jones 86’)
A late Harry Jones goal meant that Dulwich Hill had to wait for their fifth victory of the season as St George FC rescued a point.
It’s a confidence building result for Dulwich Hill who could have come away with more from the fixture. Daniel Fornito found the back of the net in the first half, the goal nearly turning out to be the winner.
It was looking like a frustrating evening for the visitors before they found the back of the net. They put their hosts under sustained pressure in the second half and were rewarded with a point.
It was a fixture where one side had the chances, the other had the possession for a long period of the match.
Dulwich Hill taking a surprise lead in an even game on the half hour. Daniel Fornito once again the scorer for the hosts, swivelling past his marker before sliding it past the keeper. A few follow up chances then coming before half time.
At the other end, St George were being frustrated by the lack of a final pass to break the defense.
Sitting in a low block, Dulwich Hill were resilient in the second half however the pressure eventually told. A passing move from the back capped off with a great finish from Harry Jones five minutes remaining. The game then finishing with the sides sharing the points.
Round 13 result: Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 4 (Mark Rodic 51’, Emmanuel Gonzalez 57’, Maksim Jez 61’, Ryan Attard 77’) v Inter Lions 1 (Sam Armson 34’)
By Justin Smith
