Round 22 Review – League Two Men’s
In a showing of the competition’s strength and unpredictability, no side completed the league double in Round Twenty-Two of the Football New South Wales League Two Men’s season.
The Match of the Round this week saw a long-range goal, a red card, and a sublime free-kick as Inner West Hawks FC and Camden Tigers FC drew.
Earlier, the high-flying Bankstown United FC continued their rise against the falling South Coast Flame FC, before Sydney University SFC overcame Prospect United SC, while Hawkesbury City FC won strongly away against Hurstville FC.
Elsewhere, late drama saw Gladesville Ryde Magic earn a draw at home to Nepean FC, UNSW FC continued their title charge in style away to Fraser Park FC, while the Western Rage picked up an important derby win at home to Parramatta FC.
The Newcastle Jets had a bye this round.
Saturday, 1st July 2023
Match of the Round: Inner West Hawks FC 1-1 Camden Tigers FC
A chipped goal, a red card and a sublime free-kick were all on show as Inner West Hawks FC and Camden Tigers FC played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Arlington Oval.
The Tigers started the match strong and utilised quick ball movement to get at the Hawks a few times early in the match.
However, they conceded the first goal in the match in the 9th minute through Hawks forward Peter Yannopoulos.
He got in behind on a Hawks counterattack following a ball played in for him over the top by Hesan Soufi and chipped Camden goalkeeper Evan Martin from about 25 yards from goal to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead in the match.
The Hawks saw a vulnerability in the Tigers on the counter and changed their formation to contain the Tigers right and left back.
However, the Tigers remained positive and kept attacking the Hawks and created a few chances through the middle and put crosses into the box but were unable to convert.
Brendan Lane headed a ball down for Jayden Russell who scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside in the buildup.
In the 33rd minute, a double save from Hawks goalkeeper Shunsuke Sugiura off two Brendan Lane shots kept the Hawks in the contest.
The first save was from a shot from inside the box but the second was a miraculous save; it was a reflex stop from point-blank range off the rebound as the score remained 1-0 to the Tigers.
In the final ten minutes of the half, the Tigers’ Matthew Lane floated a dangerous ball into the box, but it evaded the heads of the Camden attackers.
In the 40th minute, Camden’s Jayden Russell had a snap-shot from a swivel which floated into the arms of Sugiura.
The last action of the first half saw a corner delivered in by Russell for the Tigers; the ball found a Camden head and sailed just wide of the right-hand post.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead into half-time; their strong play in the second half of the opening period was continued in the second half with attacking intent.
Three minutes into the second half, Camden attacked straight away from a throw-in; the ball found a Tigers attacker who shot at the near post and forced a strong reaction save from Sugiura.
A minute later, strong tackling from Camden kept Peter Phillips from getting in behind.
The strong Hawks defence blocked a few Camden shots, while at the other end Yannopoulos was released down the right and in behind but his square ball to Hesan Soufi saw the latter’s shot saved.
A header was sent wide a minute later by the Hawks, while Camden had a tame header at the other end which was collected by Sugiura as the match entered the final 30 minutes.
In the 68th minute, the Tigers launched on a counter and a bounced shot almost fell into the path of an oncoming Tigers before Sugiura claimed the ball.
The Tigers had the better of the match in the second half and looked to press high up the pitch to win the ball back and force mistake from the Hawks.
They created chances and in the 71st minute had a corner swung in which found Liam Gregory; he had two shots at the near post both saved and blocked away for another corner.
The Tigers had pace to burn up front and used it on many occasions to try and get in behind the Hawks’ defence.
Camden tried intricate passing in and around the Hawks’ box to find an avenue to goal, but the final touch was missing, while they also tried their luck from range.
However, the turning point in the match came in the 78th minute.
Hawks substitute Keysar Ahmed Abdi was sent off with a straight red card after he flew into a tackle when trying to win a loose ball; he missed the ball and collected Camden’s Bailey Simpson, instead.
From the resulting free-kick, 25 yards out from goal, aligned with the goal ‘D’, a spectacular goal occurred for the Tigers.
Aiden Quigley stepped up and launched a right-footed shot direct from the free kick towards goal; the ball flew over the wall and into the top-right corner of the goal in a spectacular fashion.
Camden pulled the score back level; their play in the second half finally had beat the Hawks with a goal.
The Tigers continued to attack against the ten men of the Hawks and had another tame shot which was collected by Sugiura.
The Tigers beat the Hawks’ high press to attack; a free flowing second half saw an end-to-end battle in an entertaining display from both sides.
Neither side could fashion a chance in regulation time following in a tense finish to the match.
In stoppage time, a Hawks low cross into the box was unable to find a Hawks attacker before it was cleared away.
Both sides had a chance in stoppage time, but neither side was able to find the goal that would win them the match in an entertaining 1-1 draw that had it all.
The point meant the Hawks went six matches unbeaten kept them in 12th as the teams around them won their matches, while the point also kept the Tigers in 10th but moved them to within three points of Hurstville FC and South Coast Flame FC ahead of them.
Speaking post-match, Inner West Hawks head coach Bill Condoleon gave credit to the Tigers for the way they approached the match with their physicality.
“That was the toughest game we have played since I have been in charge.”
Ahead at half-time, Condoleon said he knew where the Tigers would hurt them.
“We went to a four-man midfield, shut down the wide areas.”
The Hawks are undefeated in the second half of the season and will hope to continue that next week.
“The team is finding an identity, we are gritty, we are working hard for each other, the atmosphere in the dressing room is good and positive… we are just going to keep going.”
Camden Tigers assistant coach Geoff Norton said he was disappointed to not come away with the three points given how his side played.
“We got the point, we will take it, but [we are] disappointed not to get the three points.”
He said for his side to improve, there is one thing they can do.
“Keep pressing for 90 minutes – pressing game, ball speed, but do it for 90 minutes.”
As for the aim for the Tigers for here, Norton said he wants his side to finish the year strong.
“The aim is to finish the year strong, keep playing as we are right now and then improving for next year.”
Inner West Hawks FC will hope to go seven matches unbeaten as they travel to face promotion-chasing Nepean FC next week, while the Tigers will hope to build on their powerful performance as they host the struggling South Coast Flame FC next week.
South Coast Flame FC 2-4 Bankstown United FC
South Coast Flame FC fell to a tenth match without a win, while Bankstown United FC picked up a fourth win from their past five matches after a come-from-behind 4-2 victory away from home at Sir Ian McLennan Oval.
The Flame started very strongly in Matthew Mazevski’s 100th match for the club, the first Flame player to hit that milestone, and he was the man who broke the deadlock early.
Following a Flame ball into the box and a blocked shot in the 4th minute, Mazevski was on hand and slotted home the rebound from about eight yards into the bottom-right corner.
The Flame were up for the match given their circumstances, but their celebrations lasted all of 60 seconds before Bankstown fired back.
A Bankstown ball through midfield led to a blocked shot before the rebound found Alex Salgueira who scored from about six yards out to level the match at 1-1 in the 5th minute.
Both sides went at it early; Bankstown won the ball while the Flame’s Adam Voloder shot wide on nine minutes.
Mitchell Cross had a chance for Bankstown at the other end minutes later from a Corey Freeman cross, but Cross’ header went over the crossbar.
Bankstown’s pressure told in the 23rd minute when they won the ball around halfway and played a ball wide to Freeman on the right, who crossed the ball into the box for Cross.
Cross headed home to give Bankstown a 2-1 lead in the first half.
A minute later, Alexander Alston squared a ball to Voloder but good Bankstown defending kept him out, while at the other end Cross headed an effort onto the crossbar.
Cross hit the post with another effort with his foot as Bankstown kept the Flame in their own half.
The Bankstown pressure told once again in the 42nd minute when Freeman broke down the right flank and crossed the ball to Cross.
He beat his man after he received the ball on the edge of the 18-yard-box and scored from around the penalty spot to give Bankstown a 3-1 lead.
However, the action in the first half kept going as in stoppage time, Bankstown found a fourth goal.
Mitchell Edmunds beat his man and played Salgueira in down the left; he got to the byline and crossed the ball into the box onto the penalty spot where Edmunds was waiting; he scored to give Bankstown a 4-1 half-time lead.
A frantic first half with five goals meant the second half was much tighter; the Flame changed their system and played more direct in the second half as they looked to get back into the contest.
In the 58th minute, the change for the Flame gave them a lifeline after a Voloder volley found James Baldacchino, who headed in to reduce the deficit to two goals.
However; the match petered out from there with few chances; Bankstown only had a few half-chances in the second half and a few offside chances.
Voloder forced a strong save from Evans in the 63rd minute, while Jay De Gouveia dragged a shot wide for the Flame eight minutes later.
However, the damage was done by Bankstown in the first half, who came away with an important 4-2 victory to avenge their 3-1 loss against the Flame earlier this season.
The loss moved the Flame to ten matches without a win in 8th-place, while Bankstown’s strong form continued as they moved up from 7th to 5th.
South Coast Flame FC will hope to end their winless streak next week away to Camden Tigers FC, while Bankstown will hope to continue their rise against a bogey side in Gladesville Ryde Magic, who they have not beaten in over five years, in a crucial 4th vs 5th clash.
Sydney University SFC 2-1 Prospect United SC
Sydney University won back-to-back matches for the first time this season and moved to six matches unbeaten as they overcame Prospect United SC in a tough encounter at the Sydney University Football Ground.
With James Reed away representing Australia in Futsal and Marc Xargayo making his Uni debut, Uni wanted to continue their good form at home.
However, the club’s injury curse continued early in the match when Jackson Fredericks was forced from the field with a leg injury in the 12th minute.
Despite this, the first half was quite even, and Prospect took the lead just before half-time, in the 41st minute, through a James Pelletier first-time strike after good combination play in the box.
Following the break, Prospect had a chance to double their lead through Tallon Zahra in the 46th minute but could not take advantage of it.
However, Uni kept pushing Prospect and were rewarded early with a goal to Brett Wilson in the 48th minute after he took a strong shot from a Xargayo cross as Uni levelled the match.
Ten minutes later, Wilson was played in behind and chipped Prospect goalkeeper, Jackson Jarnet, from 25 yards to give Uni a 2-1 lead in a quick second-half turnaround.
Prospect were down to ten men for the final 19 minutes plus stoppage time after Jarnet was sent off by the referee in the 71st minute after he brought a Uni player down.
Prospect opened up and threw men forward as they searched for the late equaliser, but despite three more good chances could not find another goal.
Meanwhile, Uni could not take advantage of their chances against the ten men, but their defence also held strong as they came away with an important 2-1 win to avenge their 2-1 defeat against Prospect earlier this season.
The victory kept Uni in 11th but moved them to within a point of Camden Tigers FC, while the loss moved Prospect down to 6th with a match in hand.
Sydney University will hope to move to seven matches unbeaten as they take on Parramatta FC away from home, while Prospect have a catch-up match against Fraser Park FC on Tuesday, 4th July at 8pm at William Lawson Reserve, before they take on ladder-leaders UNSW FC in Round Twenty-Three.
Hurstville FC 2-4 Hawkesbury City FC
Hurstville FC fell to back-to-back defeats for the first time since Round Six, while Hawkesbury City FC picked up back-to-back wins for the first time this season in a 4-2 away triumph at Penshurst Park.
In a fast and open match, a makeshift back four was hurt early as Hurstville went down in the 6th minute from a Hawkesbury free kick, which was headed in by Ryan Faulkner.
However, Hurstville pushed Hawkesbury back before an error at the back led to a counter-attacking goal for the Hawks’ Vincent D’Ermilio.
Hurstville had a lot of the ball and many chances in the first half; Jesse Gagro had two one-on-ones he was unable to convert as Hawkesbury goalkeeper Craig Morley saved well, while Jesse Gagro also hit the post off a counter.
Hurstville captain Paul Gagro had a free kick which was also saved as they trailed 0-2 at half-time.
The hosts continued their fight in the second half as a Julian Bittar free kick hit the post and rebounded to Stephan Perak, who finished the rebound.
Hurstville looked to pin the Hawks back, but another defensive error saw the Hawks go up the other end and score once again in a rapid counterattack through D’Ermilio, who scored his second goal.
The hosts had plenty of chances but could not convert; Paul Gagro hit the crossbar with a header, Jacob Botic slipped and missed a header from close range, and they had more blocked shots.
Hawkesbury countered late and in the 83rd minute won the ball up the pitch through Zachary Reardon, who played D’Ermilio in behind.
He picked up his hat-trick with a strong first-time finish to give the Hawks a 4-1 lead late in the match.
The hosts pulled a goal back in the 85th minute from a Paul Gagro corner, while Andre Guzman slotted home, but it was too little, too late.
Despite creating more chances in this match than any other this season, Hurstville were unable to convert them, while Hawkesbury created chances and were clinical with their attempts as they came away with a 4-2 away victory.
Hawkesbury avenged their 3-0 home loss against Hurstville from earlier this season; the loss for Hurstville kept them in 9th, while the win moved Hawkesbury another spot up the ladder into 13th.
Hurstville FC will hope to rest up and be fit to have a charge late in the season following their bye next week, while Hawkesbury City FC will hope to build off back-to-back wins as they host Fraser Park FC next week.
Gladesville Ryde Magic 2-2 Nepean FC
Last-kick drama saw Gladesville Ryde Magic escape with a 2-2 draw to Nepean FC at Christie Park in a crucial result for both sides’ push towards the top two.
New Magic signing Joshua Sarina became the Magic’s fourth goalkeeper in three weeks, while they called upon Aaron Khan and Majid Eslami to come out of retirement and play as the Magic looked to push on despite injuries.
The Magic utilised diagonal balls early with David Ustimenko’s speed up front to hurt Nepean by creating space for other attackers, but the Nepean defence held tight.
Sarina kept the scores level in the 30th minute with a strong save for the Magic, while Yusuf Amini won the ball and shot on target at the other end, but Nepean goalkeeper Luke Cotton made a strong save to keep the match scoreless.
However, Nepean controlled a lot of the first half and found the opening goal in the match in the 44th minute.
A mistake in the Magic defence saw Nepean pass the ball to an unmarked Andre Cavallaro in the box, who slotted the ball home to give Nepean a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Following the break, a double save from Cotton kept the Magic out but, in the 57th minute, left-back Amini was sent off for the Magic as they had to adjust and play with ten men for the rest of the match.
Nepean capitalised on their extra man advantage in the 82nd minute when a long-range left-footed shot from Lachlan Sepping found the back of the net; Nepean had a 2-0 lead late.
However, the Magic pushed for goals after this despite being a man down and had a chance to score through Adrian Johnathan, who shot his effort over the bar.
Ustimenko had been moved from the left flank to the right as the Magic continued to push.
Nepean were patient in attack but unable to add a third goal, while Ustimenko had another chance for the Magic at the other end but could not score.
Then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Eslami scored to bring the deficit back to one goal as the Magic created a lifeline late.
There was more late drama with the final kick of the match; 18-year-old Christopher Guyot scored off the inside of the post to equalise the match at 2-2, which is how the match ended.
The result ensured Nepean did not do the league double over the Magic; the point kept the Magic three points off Nepean ahead of them and four off the Newcastle Jets, while Nepean moved to within one point of the Jets.
Gladesville Ryde Magic will hope to hold off the competition behind them as they host Bankstown United FC next week, while Nepean FC will hope to move into the top two as they host Inner West Hawks FC next week.
Fraser Park FC 0-4 UNSW FC
Fraser Park FC fell to a first loss in four matches against a clinical and ruthless UNSW FC at home; the hosts continued their charge towards being League Two Premiers with a first victory in four matches and avenged their 3-0 loss to Fraser Park from earlier in the season.
UNSW opened the scoring early in the 14th through a Kevin Lopes penalty; the league-leading goal scorer made no mistake as he continued his fine season.
The visitors’ quality in the final third was on display as Max Mcalpine scored from an Emilio Vinci cross to give UNSW a 2-0 lead in the 22nd minute.
Just five minutes later, UNSW’s ruthless and clinical nature continued as they scored a third goal, this time through a Keeghan Burke one-on-one finish after he was played in by Lopes.
The visitors showed their quality in the final third and Fraser Park had no response in attack as the visitors took a 3-0 lead into half-time.
Following the break, UNSW added a fourth goal in the 63rd minute through Lopes, who scored a double; he beat Fraser Park goalkeeper Patrick Ferrara in a one-on-one to give UNSW a fourth goal in the match.
A strong defensive performance from UNSW captain Luke Burke and fellow defender Peter Prandalos repelled Fraser Park all night, who were unable to find a way past the UNSW defence, as the visitors came away 4-0 winners.
The loss moved Fraser Park down to 7th place, while the win extended UNSW’s lead at the top of the table to five points over the Newcastle Jets.
Fraser Park FC will hope to respond next week as they travel to face Hawkesbury City FC, while UNSW FC will hope to continue their title charge with eight rounds left in the season as they host Prospect United SC next week.
Western Rage 2-0 Parramatta FC
The Western Rage responded to back-to-back defeats and avenged their 5-1 loss to Parramatta earlier this season with a strong 2-0 win in the Western Sydney derby over Parramatta FC.
The Rage started the match on top against the two banks of four that Parramatta applied in defence.
The Rage dominated possession in the first half, while Parramatta had a few half-chances but could not convert in a battle of limited chances as the match was scoreless at half-time.
There were no saves made in the first half, which showed how tight the contest was, while Parramatta made two first-half changes.
Parramatta hit their counterattacks well in the first half and had the better of proceedings but were unable to fashion a chance at a goal.
The Rage made two changes at half-time in hopes of breaking down Parramatta, who had a shot which landed on top of the goal net in the second half.
Jason Najdovski was one of those half-time substitutes for the Rage and he had an impact early.
Najdovski picked up the ball in between the lines and put in an outside of the foot ball for 22-year-old Timothy Borg-Williams, who had moved from his position out wide to be the central striker.
He got into a one-on-one position with Parramatta goalkeeper, Jameson Hinwood, and smashed the ball with his left foot into the left side of the goal to give the Rage a 1-0 lead after 63 minutes.
The Rage took control from there and had more possession, while they also won the ball high up the field; meanwhile, Parramatta looked to counter in a different second half to the first.
Parramatta had used up all their substitutes earlier in the half and played the remainder of the match with injured players on the field; the Rage controlled the match from there and looked to play around Parramatta.
Their dominance was rewarded with another goal in the 71st minute.
A ball in behind for Najdovski led to a one-on-one shot from him, which deflected off a Parramatta player and back to him.
With three defenders against him, he took another shot which ricocheted to Borg-Williams, who was free and tapped the ball into the back of the net to give the Rage a 2-0 lead.
In a learning curve for the Rage, they learned how to control the match and used a smart gameplan as Parramatta’s chances were limited.
In a derby battle with lots of hard hits, tackles and fouls, the Rage came out on top and picked up an important 2-0 win over the side just above them on the ladder.
The win for the Rage moved them to within a point of Parramatta FC as they look to climb off the bottom of the ladder, while Parramatta fell from 13th to 14th on the ladder as they suffered a sixth-straight loss.
The Western Rage face a tough challenge in the title-chasing Newcastle Jets away from home next week, while Parramatta FC host Sydney University SFC in Round Twenty-Three.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Writer, Dylan Costa @_dylancosta
