Round 16 Review – League One Men’s
The second half of the season started with a bang in the FNSW League One Men’s competition with plenty of action across the grounds Saturday night.
In our match of the round, Inter Lions came back from a goal down to overcome Rydalmere Lions, while elsewhere Mounties Wanderers secured an important win at the bottom of the competition and Hills United continued their winning streak.
That and more in this weeks review below.
Match of the Round: Rydalmere Lions FC 1-2 Inter Lions FC
It’s becoming quite the habit, Inter Lions scored two goals in as many minutes to claim victory over Rydalmere Lions in our round 16 match of the round.
Definitely a game of two halves, the hosts were on top for the majority of the first period with an early goal for Aidan Taouil setting them on their way.
However, a couple of tactical tweaks and personnel changes saw the momentum swing in the second half with Inter Lions scoring through Oliver Green and Nicholas Paras late in the second half.
The hosts didn’t need a second invitation to open the scoring with their goal coming inside ten minutes. A superb one at that, Aidan Taouil striking the ball first time into the top right-hand corner from about 20 yards.
From that point on, Rydalmere were playing as a confident side with a few chances to make it two or three before the break.
Most notable of which saw Dillan Kahale combine with Aiden Taouil around the 20th minute mark. Taouil unable to steer his shot past Anthony Costa in the visiting net who made a point blank save before it was cleared away.
This after Kahale had a half chance of his own seconds earlier which came to a similar fate.
While at the other end, Inter Lions nearly had an unlikely first half equaliser. A corner from the right making its way through to the back post with Oliver Green unable to steer home on the half hour.
Rydalmere finishing the half in terms of chances in the 44th minute. Aiden Taouil turning provider finding Ahmad Taleb who couldn’t put it past Costa once again.
As the visitors needed a response, the second half saw a more open game which both sides exchanging chances.
Inter Lions having their first real chance to equalise in the 53rd minute with Owen Duke denied by some desperate Rydalmere defense, Giuseppe Tilio playing a part in the lead up.
Rydalmere responding with a chance to make it a two-goal advantage seven minutes later. Ahmad Taleb showing some tricky feet inside the area before kissing the near post with his effort on goal.
You got the sense there was still something to come and that little bit of luck fell the way of the visitors in the 80th minute. A penalty given to them after Fikret Berisha snuck in from behind his marker. Oliver Green stepping up to apply the finish sending the keeper the wrong way.
A one-two punch completed just seconds later through a Nicholas Paras free kick. His freekick from the top right corner of the box sneaking in at the far post. With the keeper unable to deny him unsighted.
Rydalmere then did have a chance to equalise through Mitchell Gibbs whose shot from distance on the right forced a good save from Costa at the near post as it headed goalwards.
Inter Lions were able to hold on though moving up to sixth position with the victory. While Rydalmere will ponder how they didn’t get something after a good performance.
Rydalmere Lions FC 1 (Aidan Taouil 9’)
Inter Lions FC 2 (Oliver Green 80’, Nicholas Paras 82’)
Elsewhere:
Hills United FC 2 (Mitchell Smith 70’, Wade Giovenali 94’) v Bankstown City FC 0
Top of the table and feeling fine, Hills United extended their unbeaten streak to eleven games with a two-goal victory over Bankstown City.
It’s a run which has taken Luke Casserly’s side to a six-point advantage at the top of the table with a game in hand. Mitchell Smith broke the deadlock with another goal this season before Wade Giovenali sealed things late in injury time.
Prior to that goal it was an even game with Bankstown City taking it to the competition leaders, with Hills United keeper Ryan Wood making some crucial saves.
One of which came in the first half, Wood denying one of the Moric brothers in a one-on-one opportunity.
As good teams do though, Hills found a way back into it in the second half. Mitchell Smith and Nicolai Muller both going close after the resumption.
The game finally seeing a breakthrough just after the 70th minute. Substitute Wade Giovenali picking up an assist and a goal. First teeing up Mitchell Smith for the first goal, before adding his name to the scoresheet after Jordan Lane provided a great cross for Giovenali to finish deep into injury time to make it two.
It’s a result which perhaps didn’t reflect the performance for Bankstown City and if they keep performing like that, they’ll trouble a lot of teams in the second half of the season.
While for Hills, the question now is who can break the streak with confidence flowing through the group.
Mounties Wanderers FC 2 (Anthony Windsor 15’, Bruno Pivato 55’) v Central Coast United FC 1 (Kyle Johnson 22’)
Mounties Wanderers picked up three crucial points in their meeting with fellow strugglers Central Coast United at Cook Park.
Bouncing back after back-to-back defeats, the three points see Mounties Wanderers within a point of escaping the bottom two. They found the back of the net through goals to Anthony Windsor and Bruno Pivato.
A couple of key absences were going to make it difficult for Central Coast United and despite a valiant effort they ultimately couldn’t avoid defeat. Kyle Johnson scored their goal in the 22nd minute of the contest.
An even contest with plenty of chances coming at either end particularly on transition, Mounties opened the scoring on the quarter hour. The ball worked left to right before Asmir Kadric beat his man and found Anthony Windsor to finish off into the bottom corner.
As I said, an even game and Central Coast United struck back shortly after. A cleared corner falling to Kyle Johnson who finished spectacularly the ball hitting the post before going in. A scoreline which remained until half time.
Bruno Pivato scoring the decisive goal for Mounties in the second half after an inside out ball through from Jesse Spang. A lead which they then held on to despite coming under pressure.
Mounties move to 13 points, one behind Dunbar above them while Central Coast United sit last on ten points.
Canterbury Bankstown FC 3 (Brendon Mandizvidza 37’, Stefan Dubocanin 72’, Jairo Torne Fernandez 94’) v Hakoah FC 1 (Cam Philpot 58’)
Canterbury Bankstown FC picked up a second consecutive victory avenging their round one defeat against Hakoah FC.
If you remember back to round one, Canterbury Bankstown felt they deserved more from the first meeting between these two and they proved their point here. Brendon Mandizvidza opened the scoring in the first half before Stefan Dubocanin and Jairo Torne Fernandez wrapped things up later.
The fourth consecutive defeat for Hakoah FC who have conceded three goals in their past four games. Cam Philpot found the back of the net in the second half but they couldn’t keep pace in the late stages of the fixture.
It was a tight opening in this one with neither side able to crack the opponents defense until the 25th minute. Brendon Mandividza giving the hosts the lead after Joel Beattie laid the ball off to him inside the area.
A similar pattern maintained till the second half where Hakoah FC got a goal back through Cam Philpot from the spot.
Both sides then searched for a winner which came for the hosts with 20 minutes remaining. Stefan Dubocanin smashing the ball home after Hakoah failed to clear their lines.
A third goal added for Wally Savour’s side in added time. Jairo Torne Fernandez scoring into an empty net as the visitors chased a winner.
The win moving Canterbury Bankstown into fifth position while Hakoah sit 9 points behind them in 12th place.
Macarthur Rams FC 2 (Daniel Bittar 7’ 23’) v St George FC 1 (Shunta Nakamura 31’)
We’ve been here before; Macarthur Rams secured a 2-1 victory over St George FC for the second time this season.
After emphasising the importance of a good start after last weekend, Macarthur Rams found the back of the net twice before a response, both through Daniel Bittar who picked up a brace.
Their opponents St George FC perhaps have a right to feel hard done by at the final whistle. Shunta Nakamura found the back of the next soon after the half hour before an equaliser was chalked off in the second half when they thought they had the equaliser.
It was a hard-fought victory for Macarthur Rams who took the early lead before defending their lead by any means necessary late on. That lead coming on the back of two great finishes from Daniel Bittar in the early stages.
For St George FC, it was a game in which they took their time getting going but when they did, they were able to break through via Shunta Nakamura.
Unfortunately for them however, they couldn’t crack a crowded defense in front of them in the remainder of the fixture.
St George still hold onto second position after the weekends action while Macarthur Rams give themselves some breathing room to the bottom two sitting in eleventh on 20 points.
SD Raiders FC 5 (Scott Cusick 15’ 69’, Lucca Cervo 26’, Mihael Marcic 36’, Riley Cox-Barlow 57’) v Dunbar Rovers FC 0
Goran Ljuboja’s SD Raiders picked up a third victory on the spin in style with a five-goal rout of Dunbar Rovers at Ernie Smith.
They now stand equal top of goalscoring table with 37 goals in their 16 fixtures. Scott Cusick bookended the goals with the 1st and 5th while Lucca Cervo, Mihael Marcic and Riley Cox-Barlow also found the back of the net.
Dunbar Rovers will be keen to move on from this one as soon as possible, They remain in 14th position ahead of a fixture with Dulwich Hill next weekend.
The hosts were clinical in the first half racing out to a three-goal lead by the break. Scott Cusick opening the score with a goal on 15 minutes. Cusick tapping home after a Lucca Cervo cut back.
Cervo then going on to score the second, a quick exchange of passing seeing Noah Chianese find him. Cervo finishing from inside the area.
A superb first half finished off with a Mihael Marcic goal ten minutes later, Marcic finishing after a cross came in from the right.
The victory made sure of with a further couple of goals in the second half to Riley Cox-Barlow and Cusick again both coming on the counterattack.
While a late Dunbar Rovers penalty hit the post in the final stages. SD Raiders sit in third position after the weekends results while Dunbar sit just above the bottom two in fourteenth.
Dulwich Hill FC 0 v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1 (Emmanuel Gonzalez 65’)
Pay no attention to the scoreline here, Bonnyrigg White Eagles triumphed in an entertaining clash with Dulwich Hill.
Maintaining their good run of form, the result is the visitors fourth straight victory with a game in hand which could see them move to second position. Emmanuel Gonzalez scored the games solitary goal in a game where they picked up their third clean sheet of the season.
Despite coming out of the game with nothing, it’s another result which will encourage Dulwich Hill. They had their chances in the contest and will take confidence into next weeks game with Dunbar Rovers.
In a game after which both sides remarked how they could’ve had more goals, it was a surprise to all that this finished with just the one goal.
Dulwich Hill had their chances either side of half time with Emmanuel Zervas having an opportunity hit the bar in the first half. Before Mark Younes, Thomas Tranberg and Zerva had further one on one opportunities in the second half.
While Bonnyrigg for their part felt they had the better of the game for the most part. Emmanuel Gonzalez finding the breakthrough from the right wing with a cross/shot.
Bonnyrigg next host Macarthur Rams while Dulwich Hill make the short trip to face Dunbar away from home.
Blacktown Spartans FC 2 (Daniel Durkin 90’, Jovan Blagojevic 92’) v Northern Tigers FC 2 (Kai Denton 18’, Rhys Williams 76’)
Two late late goals secured a point for Blacktown Spartans in their meeting with Northern Tigers at Blacktown Football Park.
There were positives and negatives for Blacktown Spartans after the game. A surge in the second half hour saw them claim a point with their goals coming courtesy of Daniel Durkin and Jovan Blagojevic.
It’s a bit of a heartbreaker for Northern Tigers who haven’t claimed a victory in their last five. They held a lead right up until the 89th minute through goals to Kai Denton and Rhys Williams but couldn’t hold on.
After a good start in the opening 20 minutes, Blacktown Spartans found themselves behind soon after. Kai Denton finding the back of the net with a clinical finish after Shervin Adeli provided the assist.
A lead which was doubled after the break. The Tigers striking from the set piece, Rhys Williams turning home a Dean Evans corner from the left.
Credit to their hosts however, they never gave up. Stepping up the intensity in the final half hour rewarded with a few goals in the final stages. Daniel Durkin with the first before Jovan Blagojevic added a second. While Emmanuel Dolo also had a opportunity which was denied on the line earlier.
Blacktown Spartans sit in 7th position on 26 points after 16 rounds while Northern Tigers sit six points behind them in 10th.
By Justin Smith
