Round 15 Review – League One Men’s
With the halfway mark of the season upon us, the Football NSW League One Men’s competition continues to thrill and surprise us with round 15 played out Saturday night.
Although our match of the round was washed out, seven games saw plenty of excitement as things begin to heat up on field.
Check out our review below.
Hakoah FC 0 v Dulwich Hill FC 3 (Goncalo Paradanta 14’, Mark Younes 40’, Emmanuel Zervas 54’)
Dulwich Hill extended their unbeaten streak to four with a victory over Hakoah FC away from home, Saturday evening.
It’s an impressive run of results for Tony Valavanis’ side who move into 12th position, with three of them coming against existing sides in the division.
Goncalo Paradanta found the back of net before the quarter hour before Mark Younes and Emmanuel Zervas joined him in and around the half time.
In contrast, it was a disappointing performance and result for Hakoah who couldn’t back up last weekend’s effort, they find themselves in 11th position at the halfway point of the season.
We’ve talked about how important it is to get the first goal at Hensley Athletic and Dulwich Hill did just that inside fifteen minutes. A nice interchange of passes allowing Goncalo Paradanta to finish.
A lead which was doubled before the break. Some pressure up field resulting in a goal for Mark Younes who grabbed his third goal of the season.
The exclamation mark of a memorable day added in the second half, Emmanuel Zervas latching on to a Dylan Lamour cross to make it three.
Dulwich Hill host Bonnyrigg White Eagles next weekend in an enticing R16 matchup, while Hakoah travel to Jensen Park to face Canterbury Bankstown.
Central Coast United FC 1 (Adam Woodbine 63’) v Inter Lions FC 3 (Daniel Georgievski 34’, Owen Duke 70’, Oliver Green 74’)
After potentially spending more time travelling then on a football field this week, Inter Lions secured a two-goal victory over Central Coast United at Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreational Complex.
After a midweek cup win over Wollongong Olympic away from home, Inter controlled the majority of the contest with Daniel Georgievski, Owen Duke and Nicholas Paras all finding the back of the net.
It could have been oh so different though with Central Coast United missing an early chance but that remains a “what if” moment although Adam Woodbine did find the back of the net after the hour mark.
The hosts enjoyed their best periods of the match early in either half and should have taken the lead in the opening 20 minutes. Anthony Costa denying them the opener with Adam Woodbine through on goal.
Inter Lions had the better of proceedings as the half went on though and they opened the scoring through Daniel Georgievski who found the top left corner over the wall on 36 minutes.
Central Coast United weren’t going to go away though and Zac Pezzutto set up Adam Woodbine for the equaliser on 63 minutes. Woodbine dinking it over the keeper after a well weighted through ball.
Unfortunately for them though, Inter Lions retook the ascendency over the next five minutes and an offside call only further inspired them to claim victory. Owen Duke claiming his rightful goal smashing the ball into the bottom corner after combining with Nicholas Paras.
Paras then going on to add a third goal giving Inter Lions the victory. They face Rydalmere Lions in next week’s match of the round, while Central Coast United travel to Sydney’s South-West for a massive clash at the bottom of the table against Mounties Wanderers.
Canterbury Bankstown FC 2 (Joel Beattie 26’, Sebastian Pena OG 74’) v Macarthur Rams FC 0
Canterbury Bankstown bounced back from their round 14 defeat overcoming Macarthur Rams in round 15 action.
Sitting in 6th position at the turn of the season, it’s safe to say that Canterbury Bankstown have surprised a few with their first half of the season. They found a goal either side of half time for the victory.
After a round thirteen victory, two losses have seen Macarthur Rams slip to 13th position. However, there are signs of improvement since the coaching change as they look ahead to the second half of the campaign.
The first half can best be described as an arm wrestle as both sides chased the all-important first goal of the game. Hosts Canterbury Bankstown breaking through on 26 minutes, Joel Beattie finishing with a glancing header from a Jake Bradshaw cross.
After the break, the hosts looked a bit more certain in the fixture and were rewarded with a second with just over 15 minutes remaining. This despite some creative tactical instructions from the Macarthur coaching staff which included water bottles.
Anyway, back to the goal, Brendon Mandizvidza playing a key role with a ball across the face which was turned home by a Macarthur defender.
The Berries having a late chance through Cian McNamara which hit the crossbar. They turn their attention to Hakoah FC next weekend. While Macarthur Rams host St George FC.
Northern Tigers FC 2 (Cole Mutton 57’, Luca Kmet 89’) v Bankstown City FC 4 (Nikola Todoroski 38’, Jeffrey Issa 63’, Jordan Morfitis 81’, Taeu Chang 93’)
The type of game we love in this competition. Bankstown City and Northern Tigers played out a thriller with the visitors picking up the spoils at North Turramurra.
It’s the performance which coach Sasha Tirovski has been calling for in recent times, his side rewarded for their efforts with a two-goal victory finding the net through four different goal scorers.
Where there’s a winner, there must be a loser and it’s becoming an all too familiar feeling for Northern Tigers who haven’t won in four league games. Cole Mutton opened their account before Luca Kmet added to it late.
As a neutral, this is the kind of game you love to write about with plenty of goals to fill out the review.
After a tight opening 35 minutes to the fixture, Bankstown City were first to find the back of the net from the set piece. Captain Nikola Todoroski heading home from a corner on the left, his header bouncing in off the crossbar.
Northern Tigers were to respond 12 minutes into the second half though setting up what would turn out to be a lively final half hour. Shervin Adeli slipping through Cole Mutton after using his body well to shield off defenders. Mutton making no mistake with a finish across goal.
Spurred into action with the concession of the goal. Bankstown City went ahead once again four minutes later. Peter Triantis playing a wonderful through ball for Jeffrey Issa who finished first time low into the bottom left.
A lead in which they doubled in the 81st minute. Substitute Jordan Morfitis doing superbly to finish at the back post from a Carlo Imola cross.
Northern Tigers then halving that deficit with a minute left in regulation, Luca Kmet turning the ball home from around the penalty spot with a cross coming in from the right.
However, it was Bankstown’s day and they added the sealer in added time. Jordan Morfitis turning provider for Taeu Chang to wrap things up for their fifth win of the season.
SD Raiders FC 3 (Mark Cindric 8’ 22’ 79’) v Rydalmere Lions FC 0
SD Raiders jumped up to third place with a comfortable victory over Rydalmere Lions at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Quashing fears of a slide in results akin to that of 2022, Goran Ljuboja’s side have back-to-back victories with Mark Cindric the star with a hat-trick on the night.
Three games without a victory, the question now becomes whether this is a blip in the road or a full-on pothole for Rydalmere Lions. After parting ways with their coach a fortnight ago, they’ll want to return to winning ways sooner rather than later.
In conditions not contusive to playing nice football, a direct approach by the hosts was rewarded with two early goals setting them up for victory before an exclamation mark was added later.
The first goals came in similar fashion, Sebastian Malfara setting up the first with a cross into the area for Cindric to finish.
Before Thomas Todd set up the second a quarter hour later, Cindric again providing the header.
For the most part however, the sides had an equal share of possession though Mario Aleksik had to be on guard for the visitors to deny them on more occasions.
Needing to get back into the match, Rydalmere were able to put the hosts under significant pressure to no avail, Cindric adding his third with just over ten minutes left after Noah Chianese cut the ball back to him.
St George FC 4 (Jay Mcgowan 13’, Troy Danaskos 32’, Anthony Morabito 35’, Shunta Nakamura 39’) v Mounties Wanderers FC 1 (Haider Haider 53’)
Don’t write them off just yet, St George FC snapped a three-game winless run with a victory over Mounties Wanderers in Sydney’s South.
The Saints were rampant in the first half racing out to a four-goal lead before holding their lead in the second half. Four different goal scorers found the back of the net with the victory giving them with breathing room over the chasing pack once more.
A team of extremes, Mounties Wanderers now find themselves in 15th place, four points behind the team above. With teams around them improving, it’s crucial they find a consistency in the second half of the season.
Mounties Wanderers came into the fixture in an aggressive mindset doing a good job of disrupting their hosts in the opening stages.
Unfortunately for them however, St George were able to settle into their rhythm from that point forward. Rewarded with a Jay Mcgowan goal in the 13th minute.
Before captain Troy Danaskos, Anthony Morabito and Shunta Nakamura all found the net in a ten-minute period after the half hour.
The second period once again saw the Wanderers mount a response of sorts finding a consolation in the 53rd minute through substitute Haider Haider.
St George FC have a score to settle when they travel to Macarthur next weekend while Central Coast United await Mounties Wanderers at home.
Dunbar Rovers FC 2 (Olivier Beltran-Woodward 42’, Lucas Brandow Vidal 80’) v Blacktown Spartans FC 1 (Christian Nascimben 30’)
Three results in a row, Dunbar Rovers gave themselves some breathing room over the bottom two with victory over Blacktown Spartans.
It’s an impressive result for Dunbar who moved to 14 points at the turn of the season. Playing with confidence and momentum, SD Raiders await them in round 16 action. Olivier Beltran-Woodward gave them the equaliser before Lucas Brandow Vidal marked his return from injury with a winner.
Another example of the unpredictably of the competition, Blacktown Spartans did take the lead in this one through Christian Nascimben. However, the pivotal moment came in the second half with Anthony Younis picking up a second yellow.
The first half saw the Spartans in control for the most part, rewarded with the goal to Nascimben on the half hour. However a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal proved costly later on.
Dunbar Rovers finding the back of the net to respond before half-time, Peter Crevani setting up Olivier Beltran-Woodward who obliged with a nice header.
The game took a turn however with Anthony Younis sent off for a second bookable offense giving their hosts a golden opportunity for a winner.
One which came with nine minutes remaining. Lucas Brandow Vidal coming back from long-term injury with the winner after dribbling inside the box before placing it in the bottom corner. A moment which will provide a boost to the whole club going forward.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC v Hills United washed out. Stay tuned for update on the FNSW competitions page.
By Justin Smith
