Round 22 Review – League One Men’s
Round 22 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition was a good one for three of the top four sides as we enter the final two months of the season.
Yes, Canterbury Bankstown, Bonnyrigg White Eagles and St George FC all narrowed the gap to Hills United above them. While elsewhere, Mounties Wanderers made a big move towards safety with a victory Sunday afternoon.
Macarthur Rams FC 0-2 Rydalmere Lions FC
Two quickfire goals in the second half saw Rydalmere Lions walk away with a victory over Macarthur Rams in our round 22 match of the round.
Aside from that period early in the second half, it was a close game with both sides having chances at either end. However, it was Jacob Chidiac to step up with a brace in the second half to give Rydalmere the points.
The first notable chance of the game saw a goal ruled out for the hosts. Anthony Proia just a second too late with a cutback from the byline which Daniel Bittar tapped home. There were no complaints from the hosts however, so it remained scoreless.
Matthew Barkho following it up seconds later, an Anthony Proia flicking the ball into his path. Barkho taking it towards goal before Rydalmere keeper Charles Samushonga came up with a sharp save.
Samushonga called upon once again in the 12th minute of action. A long throw leading to a Daniel Bittar shot which was saved at the near post.
While Rydalmere had their first chance of note in the 18th minute. A move from back to front seeing Alistair Mckie play a lovely ball from deep to Aidan Taouil who was denied by a save from Seiya Miyamoto in the Macarthur net.
The match then settled down with both sides wrestling to gain control of it over the next 20 minutes or so. A spell broken by an ambitious Daniel Bittar effort with the keeper out of his goal, his strike going wide left of the target.
Despite a positive half from the hosts, the game was changed with two quick goals for visitors Rydalmere Lions early in the second half.
A quick break leading to the visitors first goal, two minutes after the resumption. Ahmad Taleb picking the ball up in an attacking midfield position before feeding Jacob Chidiac to his left. Chidiac making no mistake with the finish past the keeper into the far side of the net.
That was where the Rams were struggling early in the second half. Rydalmere winning the ball in central midfield two minutes later.
Mitchell Gibbs with the pre-assist sliding in Taleb who took it to the right byline before squaring it to Chidiac who made no mistake with a finish inside the six-yard box. 2-0 Rydalmere.
Naturally then, it was on the Rams to get themselves back into it putting pressure on their visitors in the remaining half hour.
Their best chances falling for Daniel Bittar with a shot over the bar in the 62nd minute. Before Matthew Barkho nearly made things very interesting with ten minutes left. Christian Torrelli finding him on the edge of the area, Barkho denied by a good save from the keeper.
While Rydalmere also had a few chances before full time, they move on to play Bonnyrigg White Eagles next weekend. While Macarthur Rams host Hills United next weekend.
Macarthur Rams FC 0
Rydalmere Lions FC 2 (Jacob Chidiac 47’ 50’)
Elsewhere:
Hills United FC 1 (Nicolai Muller 18’) v Northern Tigers 2 (Kai Denton 85’, Matthew West* 89’)
Northern Tigers became the first side to take three points from Hills United at home with a late comeback giving them victory.
With a hint of good fortune at times, Adam Hett’s side kept the deficit to one before finding a way to claim victory late on with Kai Denton and Matthew West both finding the back of the net.
The one that got away, Hills United played some of their best football in the opening half but couldn’t find that second goal to give them insurance. Nicolai Muller gave them the lead in the first half from close range.
As mentioned above, Hills United were deserving of their lead for most of the contest. Nicolai Muller scoring the opener 18 minutes in after a Samuel O’Connor shot was initially saved.
While the second half saw three golden opportunities for a second with Mitchell Smith, Darcey Ellem and Muller all going close.
And as happens in football, they were punished late on with the Tigers staging a late comeback. Kai Denton converting a penalty in the 85th minute, before Matthew West got the last touch after a scramble in the box for the second.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 3 (Emmanuel Gonzalez 34’, Zac Sfiligoi 66’, Stefan Nikolic 82’) v SD Raiders FC 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles pushed their recent woes to one side with an emphatic derby victory over SD Raiders at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
Coming into the contest after two defeats in as many weeks, they put on a show for the home crowd showing some resilience on the pitch. Emmanuel Gonzalez opened the scoring after the half hour before Zac Sfiligoi and Stefan Nikolic added a second and third late on.
One point in their last four games has seen the SD Raiders slip behind the top four sides. Sitting on 36 points after 22 rounds, they’ll need some good fortune to come back into the top two race.
It was a dominant victory for the hosts who could have had more on the night, hitting the woodwork multiple times throughout.
They did manage to score three goals though. The first finished by who else but Mani Gonzalez on the end of some very good passing on 34 minutes.
The second from the set piece. A Mason Versi corner finished with a strong Zac Sfiligoi in the 64th minute. Before Stefan Nikolic added an exclamation mark to the victory in the final ten minutes.
Blacktown Spartans FC 0 v Canterbury Bankstown FC 3 (Joel Beattie 10’ 62’, Jairo Torne Fernandez 32’)
Canterbury Bankstown FC planted their flag on Blacktown Football Park with a 3-0 victory over Blacktown Spartans.
The form side of the competition with their fifth straight victory, Canterbury Bankstown have played themselves into a great position approaching the final 8 rounds. Joel Beattie picked up a brace on the night with a Jairo Torne Fernandez goal sandwiched in between.
It’s a second straight defeat for Blacktown Spartans who are firmly placed in mid-table, they pushed to get themselves back into the game in second half but walked away without a goal.
Starting off with the traditional arm-wrestle for control. Canterbury Bankstown found a goal in the 10th minute. Joel Beattie reacting first to open the scoring after a Jake Bradshaw shot couldn’t be dealt with.
The goal allowing the visitors to sit back and absorb pressure until the half hour. Berries adding a second through Jairo Torne Fernandez, the in-form attacker pouncing on the end of a Joel Beattie flick on slotting it under the keeper.
Down by two goals, Spartans then began to throw caution to the wind in the second half which brought open space for the visitors to explore on the break. Beattie completing his brace running onto a through ball for the third and final goal.
Mounties Wanderers FC 3 (Matthew Self 48’, Anthony Vastag 57’, Kuot Maliet 67’) v Dulwich Hill FC 2 (Jonathan Green 80’, Alexander Nicolosi 90’)
Mounties Wanderers survived a late scare in their fixture with Dulwich Hill to notch back-to-back victories for the first time in 2023.
With their second straight victory, Mounties Wanderers move to within a point of Dunbar Rovers above them. After withstanding pressure in the first half, Matthew Self, Anthony Vastag and new acquisition Kuot Maliet all found the back of the net in a 20-minute period.
A slow start to the second half proved a little too costly for Dulwich Hill in this one. They were brave afterwards scoring two goals in the final ten minutes through Jonathan Green and Alexander Nicolosi.
Although the floodgates didn’t open till the second half, both sides hit the post at either end in an end-to-end contest.
The hosts then took it to another level. Winning the ball in midfield, before getting it forward to Matthew Self who opened the scoring in the 47th minute.
With momentum behind them, Anthony Vastag grabbed the second ten minutes later, curling it into the far side of the net from the top of the box. Their final goal more of an individual effort, Kuot Maliet beating his defender before slotting it home.
From there, the visitors fought leaving their coach proud at the efforts with eight players missing with injury. But they couldn’t quite reel their hosts back in despite goals to Jonathan Green and Alexander Nicolosi, one of which was a penalty.
Bankstown City FC 2 (Jordan Morfitis 58’, Asmir Kadric 68’) v Central Coast United FC 0
Bankstown City made it two victories in their last three games triumphing over a sorry Central Coast United at Jensen Park.
Two goals in the second half gave them the victory with both Jordan Morfitis and new signing Asmir Kadric finding the back of the net in a fifteen-minute period.
The wait for another Central Coast United victory continues after defeat in this one. Sitting on 11 points after 22 rounds, they turn their focus onto Dunbar Rovers next weekend searching for that elusive victory.
In a game of few chances, the result came down a few moments in the second half which fell the way of the hosts. The first goal coming from the spot, Jordan Morfitis finishing that one. Before Asmir Kadric added a second ten minutes later with a nice finish.
A result well earnt for Bankstown City after showing more energy in defense on the night and they will be hoping to build on it next time out.
St George FC 1 (Harry Jones 69’) v Dunbar Rovers FC 0
Back-to-back wins for the first time since April, St George FC edged out Dunbar Rovers at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre to keep in touch with the top three.
It was a good night for the three chasing sides in the premiership race. St George finding a crucial goal through Harry Jones in the second half to claim victory.
They were made to work hard for the points though with Dunbar Rovers giving them a late scare in the fixture. Walking away frustrated, they turn their attention to an important game with Central Coast United next weekend.
The first half was a frustrating one for the hosts who couldn’t break through a resilient Dunbar side despite their best efforts. Whereas the visitors did threaten on occasion through set pieces.
However, the game did break open with a goal midway through the second half. New signing Jesse Spang laying the ball off to Harry Jones to break the deadlock.
From there, Dunbar began to throw everything at their hosts and on another night could have come away with a point, but it wasn’t to be as the Saints keep their place one point behind second.
Inter Lions FC 2 (Stephen Athanaseris 47’, Thomas Quilligan 95’) v Hakoah FC 2 (Ben Fuchs 39’ 44’)
We’ve seen this story before, Inter Lions left it late to steal a point from their clash with Hakoah FC, Saturday evening.
The hosts had to come back from two goals down at half time in the fixture. Stephen Athanaseris with their first goal early in the second half before Thomas Quilligan came up with another important contribution in added time.
It was one of those frustrating games for Hakoah FC. Sitting with a two-goal lead at the break courtesy of a Ben Fuchs brace, they conceded a second goal with the last kick of the game for their second straight away draw.
Summed up as a game of two halves, Hakoah emerged with the lead after the first period. Ben Fuchs scoring the first in the 39th minute after turning his defender and placing it into the bottom corner.
A second Hakoah goal added five minutes later. Once again from Fuchs who volleyed it home from the edge of the area from a cleared corner.
However, the deficit was halved when Stephen Athanaseris caught the opposition keeper out with a cross or shot depending on who you ask. 2-1 Hakoah at the break.
After a disappointing first half, Inter bounced back in the second creating multiple opportunities to level things. It was looking to be a frustrating night right up until Thomas Quilligan headed home a Daniel Georgievski cross deep into stoppage time.
By Justin Smith
