Round 4 Review – League One Men’s
The last of three rounds in the last seven days, Round 4 of the FNSW League One Men’s delivered eight winners and eight losers across our full slate of fixtures.
In our match of the round, Inter Lions edged out Nepean FC at Majors Bay Reserve. While elsewhere, Blacktown Spartans produced a memorable performance against Bonnyrigg White Eagles and our top two continued their winning ways.
Match of the round: Inter Lions 1-0 Nepean FC
Inter Lions bounced back from their midweek disappointment with a valuable three points claiming a 1-0 victory over Nepean FC.
The hosts opened the scoring early in this one with a third minute goal before seeing the game out well against the newly promoted side.
It was the perfect start for Inter Lions in this one, with a goal in just the third minute of play. Owen Duke finding Fikret Berisha with a crossfield ball from left to right. Berisha finishing in spectacular fashion with a stunning volley from the top right corner of the box.
The early concession stinging the visitors who were struggling to work the ball into the final third in the opening ten minutes. Proceedings settling down at either end, Berisha with the next shot in the 14th minutes which was comfortably saved.
Inter having all the chances early with Ahmad Taleb not getting enough contact on his header on 17 minutes, the cross coming in from the right where the Lions were experiencing some joy.
Nepean’s chances also dealt a blow with an injury to Edward Stewart after the concession of the goal. The visitors first shot coming through Daunte Cervo in the 25th minute, a low shot going across the face of goal.
And signs were there that Nepean were beginning to feel more comfortable, though their efforts were all from outside the area with Matthew Crossley trying his luck in the 31st minute.
Inter next up to have a chance and a good one at that with Oliver Green sending Fikret Berisha through in the 35th minute. Berisha denied by the foot of the Nepean goalkeeper Justin Biega.
The second half saw a renewed intensity of the hosts and they nearly doubled their lead three minutes in. Oliver Green slipping through Jack Green whose shot was turned around the right facing post. While a well worked set piece resulted in a shot at the back post off balance as the lions pushed for a second.
While things weren’t clicking for the visitors once again going forward as the clock ticked past the hour mark. There best chance of the second half coming from a cut back on the right byline with no one home to finish as the ball rolled across the area in the 72nd minute.
Lachlan Sepping following that up with a long range shot which was deflected just wide of the right post. Nepean finding the back of the net in the 81st minute but a foul in the build up denied them the equaliser.
Nepean unable to find an equaliser late against a disciplined Inter Lions defense. Inter next face Bonnyrigg White Eagles while Nepean FC host Bulls FC Academy next weekend.
Inter Lions 1 (Berisha 3’)
Nepean FC 0
Elsewhere
Blacktown Spartans 4-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
In perhaps our most shocking result of the weekend, Blacktown Spartans walked away with a dominant victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Blacktown Football Park.
The second Spartans victory of the season, the three points moved them up to 5th spot on the table while Bonnyrigg find themselves in 13th with just one victory to their name.
Aside from the first 20 minutes of this one, it was the Spartans who dominated proceedings on their home turf.
Suleyman Bangura giving them the lead in the 34th minute of this one, a great finish on the end of some quick build up play from Aedon Kyra and Riley Chapple.
The lead doubled two minutes into the second half in similar fashion, Bangura doubling his tally on 47 minutes.
Spartans putting the game to bed before the hour mark through the unlikely source of captain Peter Pelekanos. Pelekanos applying a strikers finish from a cut back into the top right corner. A fourth coming late in the piece with Jamie Percevski heading home from a corner, though it may have taken a touch off a Bonnyrigg defender.
A couple of chances late on nearly seeing the scoreline blow out more. Ben Rollison very pleased with the performance and clean sheet. They face Hakoah next weekend.
While there’s a lot of reflecting to do from a Bonnyrigg perspective ahead of a clash with Inter Lions next weekend.
Blacktown Spartans 4 (Bangura 34’ 47’, Pelekanos 57’, Percevski 86’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
SD Raiders 0-2 Bankstown City
Fourth times a charm, Bankstown City secured a much needed 2-0 victory over SD Raiders away from home.
After three tough results, it’s an important victory for Bankstown City as they look to set up their season. The victory seeing them climb 12th position ahead of round five.
Indeed, there’s an argument to make that results haven’t reflected the performance levels for the visitors on this occasion and they scored two goals after the 75th minute to win this one.
The first coming through Chris Payne from a far post header in the 76th minute before the cherry was put on top in injury time with Rhett Desilva scoring from halfway. Their coach crediting his defense for a disciplined performance at the back which laid the foundation for victory.
Another loss for SD Raiders at home, they will be keen to ensure this doesn’t become a habit. They created a few chances but couldn’t break down the hosts. They face Dulwich Hill next weekend while Bankstown City host UNSW FC.
SD Raiders 0
Bankstown City 2 (Payne 76’, Desilva 91’)
Macarthur Rams 0-2 Hakoah FC
Hakoah FC continue to build their momentum with a 2-0 victory over Macarthur Rams away from home, Saturday evening.
After a late kick off due to the floodlights turning off, Hakoah took control on the scoreboard in the first ten minutes to continue their unbeaten start to the season. Luck just not going the way of the hosts early this season as they continue to search for their first win.
As mentioned, it was a great start for the visitors early in this one with a goal in the 8th minute. Nick Tooley opening the scoring at the back post after Nicholas Drummond beat his man on the left and delivered in a cross to find him.
From there, the Rams responded well with a couple of chances drawing good saves from Nikolas Loe. Most notably a Connor Spurway effort which was saved by Loe’s fingertips. Whilst Hakoah threated on transition.
A second Hakoah goal added by Drummond in the 71st minute to double their advantage after a good 25 minutes to start the second half. While Macarthur Rams pushed late to bring the scores back.
Macarthur Rams next face Mt Druitt Town Rangers while Hakoah next face Blacktown Spartans, both sides travelling for those fixtures.
Macarthur Rams 0 ()
Hakoah FC 2 (Tooley 8’, Drummond 71’)
Bulls FC Academy 1-0 Dunbar Rovers
Bulls FC Academy walked away from their match with Dunbar Rovers with a crucial three points overcoming a determined Dunbar Rovers side.
It was tough going for both sides in this one given the gruelling schedule, but Bulls FC Academy emerged victorious for their fourth consecutive win.
The first half saw the hosts control the more of possession without creating many clear-cut chances against a stubborn Dunbar Rovers defense.
However, some changes at the break allowed the young academy with plenty of depth to find the all-important goal.
Said goal coming halfway through the half. Joel Bertolissio scoring a rocket with his first touch of the game. The goal coming attacking set-piece, Bertolissio scoring with his weaker foot.
While at the other end, Oliver Jones and Adrian Knez did a good job keeping the visitors at bay.
The key moment from there coming when Alexander Robinson made a crucial save from an ambitious Daisuke Yamaguchi effort from halfway, Robinson coming in clutch for the hosts in the last two games.
Post game, Dunbar coach Christian Soares also wanted us to mention Gustavo Bigoto who made his first-grade debut at age 16 in defense.
Dunbar face Rydalmere Lions next up while Bulls FC academy are next in action against Nepean FC.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Bertolissio 66’)
Dunbar Rovers 0
Dulwich Hill 0-1 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Like Bulls FC academy, Mt Druitt Town Rangers continued their own winning streak with a 1-0 victory over Dulwich Hill at Arlington Oval.
It’s a third clean sheet in four games for Andy Montgomery’s side as they claimed the hard-fought victory. They moved the ball around well throughout creating some good chances, denied a second goal by some superb saves.
Charles Mendy providing the crucial moment finishing through the keepers’ legs in the 20th minute for the three points.
It’s been a tough couple of fixtures coming up against the top two for Dulwich Hill. Missing a few players, they started well in this one creating a couple of chances but couldn’t quite match their opponents on the night despite pushing for an equaliser late on.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers next face Macarthur Rams while Dulwich Hill take on SD Raiders at the same venue next weekend.
Dulwich Hill 0 ()
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Mendy 20’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1-0 Rydalmere Lions
Canterbury Bankstown made it two victories in a row edging out Rydalmere Lions at Jensen Park, Saturday evening.
Gaining their second win at home, they found the winner early in the second half in a physical contest from the penalty spot.
The game started at a high tempo with end-to-end action throughout the first half, both sides settling for a 0-0 scoreline at half time.
Canterbury Bankstown’s winner coming from the spot five minutes into the second half. Bonmyeong Koo adjudged to have been brought down in the area. Tiago Kawano making no mistake with a cooly converted penalty.
As the visitors then chased the game, there were chances in the final stages at either end however the score remained unchanged with the Berries prevailing. Rydalmere coach Anthony Harb noting his happiness with his side’s performance post-game.
They next face Dunbar Rovers at home while Canterbury Bankstown make the trip up to North Turramurra.
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Kawano 50’)
Rydalmere Lions 0
UNSW FC 0-1 Northern Tigers
Finally in our review, Northern Tigers kept a clean sheet in their victory over UNSW FC at the village green.
Against a tough opponent, a second half Olivier-Beltran Woodward goal proved the difference between the two sides. The Tigers sitting on 10 points after four games with three wins and a draw.
After an even first half, Beltran-Woodward was on hand to finish from close range after Oliver Scott found him with a cross from the right. The Tigers doing well to hold on in the final fifteen minutes.
From a UNSW perspective, it was an encouraging performance against a fancied side in the competition. Down on numbers currently, there’s enough good from it to take into next weekend.
They face Bankstown City next Friday night. While Northern Tigers host Canterbury Bankstown.
UNSW FC 0
Northern Tigers 1 (Beltran-Woodward 74’)
