Round 6 Review – League One Men’s
The goals flowed in round six of the FNSW League One Men’s competition with five games finishing with five goals across an action-packed weekend.
Our match of the round saw a dominant victory for UNSW FC while two sides won their first game of the season elsewhere.
Match of the Round: UNSW FC 4-1 Rydalmere Lions
UNSW FC bounced back from back-to-back defeats with a dominant victory over Rydalmere Lions, Saturday evening.
The students impressed with an A grade performance at their Village Green home playing some good football in the process.
It was a fast start from the students who nearly opened the scoring early, a Mitchell Mattison shot from the left wing hitting the crossbar in the 8th minute of play.
While Rydalmere were perhaps struggling to adjust to a fast-playing surface at the Village Green. Their opening effort coming from Marcus Lal in the 2nd minute.
UNSW rewarded for their start with a beautiful team goal soon after. Jack Fulton controlling the ball with his chest into the path of Kevin Lopes who cut the ball across to Sean Wood who finished inside the six-yard area.
The home side continuing to threaten with a few follow up efforts with Kevin Lopes particularly busy in the final third. While Rydalmere were starting to play themselves into it at the other end with Tom Ruperto having an effort in the 23rd minute blocked.
Kevin Lopes then hitting the post with a deflected shot across goal from the right, Sean Wood with a inside out ball in the lead up in the 27th minute.
Rydalmere’s best chance of the half coming soon after. UNSW failing to clear their lines working it out from the back with Marcus Lal unable to capitalise from a narrow angle inside the box. The student’s good value for their 1-0 half time lead.
UNSW doubling that lead 44 seconds into the second half. An early set piece causing all sorts of problems for Rydalmere, Lopes having two efforts in the space of ten seconds. Firstly, drawing a save from the Lions shot stopper before he scored with his second effort from close range, Jack Fulton heading a ball across the face to him.
While Rydalmere responded with a couple of long-range efforts in the early stage of the second half.
It was definitely looking like it would be UNSW’s night though and they added a third goal around the hour mark. Emilio Vinci the provider this time with a lovely ball into the area for Mitchell Mattison to finish with his head. 3-0.
Rydalmere were to add an element of doubt before the 72nd minute though, a lovely header from Marcus Lal finding the back of the net, the in-swinging ball coming in from the left wing.
UNSW sealing the game with a goal in the 80th minute. Gabriel Lopez (who was brilliant throughout) releasing Keeghan Burke with a ball from central midfield. Burke beating the offside trap and finishing in composed fashion.
The students next take on Nepean FC in a round one catch up midweek, while Rydalmere Lions face Mt Druitt Town Rangers at home in round seven action.
UNSW FC 4 (Woods 11’, Lopes 46’, Mattison 61’, Burke 80’)
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Lal 73’)
Elsewhere
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2-1 Nepean FC
Mt Druitt Town Rangers made it six victories in a row overcoming Nepean FC in a local derby at Popondetta Park, Friday evening.
Maintaining their perfect record, they have now built a five-point gap over Bulls FC Academy in third position.
Key to this victory was the start they made in both halves with two early goals in either of them allowing them to play from in front.
Andre Martins scoring in the opening minute for his fourth goal of the season in six starts. Which drew a response from the visitors on the quarter hour through Andre Cavallaro. That score holding till half time.
The difference in this one proving to be a Charles Mendy penalty in the 51st minute who also scored his fourth of the season. The Town Rangers losing Bailey Jacobs to a late red card in the 94th minute.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers next face Rydalmere Lions next weekend, while Nepean FC have a midweek task ahead of them against UNSW FC in a round one catch up fixture.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Martins 10’, Mendy 51’)
Nepean FC 1 (Cavallaro 15’)
Hakoah FC 3-3 Inter Lions
Hakoah FC came from behind twice to share the points with Inter Lions at Hensley Athletic, Sunday afternoon.
Both sides exchanging four goals in the final half hour, the hosts will potentially be happier following a back-and-forth fixture.
Hakoah opened the scoring in this one after six minutes. Gabriel Antoniades on the end of a team goal worked down the left wing after Sam Sheperd missed an opportunity earlier.
For the most part however, it was Inter Lions in the ascendency with multiple chances coming before their equaliser on 16 minutes. Alex Beccera rising highest to head home from a corner.
A scoreline which held until a frantic twenty minutes towards the end. Inter Lions making it 2-1 through Ben Morrison after Ahmad Taleb and Nicholas Paras contributed to the build-up. Before Hakoah equalised from the spot via Cam Philpot.
Inter Lions going ahead once again with three minutes left through Ahmad Taleb but Hakoah kept fighting and found another goal in the last minute. Mitchell Knight the scorer of that one, Hakoah’s fourth draw of the season
Hakoah FC 3 (Antoniades 5’, Philpot 83’, Knight 90’)
Inter Lions 3 (Becerra 15’, Morrison 69’, Taleb 88’)
Dulwich Hill 2-3 Northern Tigers
A slow start ended up costing Dulwich Hill who fell to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Northern Tigers, Saturday evening.
Indeed, the hosts just couldn’t peg back the Tigers who roared out to a two-goal advantage at half time, a Shervin Adeli goal in the second half proving the difference between the two sides.
As mentioned above, it was a good start from the visitors who took control of the fixture from the outset. Hiyori Kawaguchi scoring their first goal in the 5th minute. Kawaguchi curling the ball into the far corner from inside the box.
A lead which was doubled after the half hour, Ahmed Sweedan the scorer with a calm finish after combining with Olivier Beltran Woodward.
The hosts did respond with a much better performance after the break, Emmanuel Zervas cutting the deficit to one goal in the 56th minute with a headed finish.
However, Shervin Adeli restored the two-goal advantage with a bit of magic. Controlling it with his chest before a swivel and volleyed finish into the back of the net.
Dulwich Hill making them sweat for the victory with another goal from Emmanuel Zervas who this time scored with a low drilled shot.
Five straight victories for the Tigers who next face Bulls FC Academy, while Dulwich Hill take on Macarthur Rams next up.
Dulwich Hill 2 (Zervas 56’ 78’)
Northern Tigers 3 (Kawaguchi 5’, A.Sweedan 34’, Adeli 69’)
SD Raiders 0-1 Macarthur Rams
Saturday night was a good night for two sides who came into round six winless, Macarthur Rams the first of which securing a valuable win away from home against SD Raiders.
The Rams finding the decisive goal in the final five minutes of regulation to take their first three points of the season on the road.
It was the Raiders who started the contest the better of the two sides with Thomas Santarossa and Judah Cleur both having chances in the opening three minutes. However, the Rams held on with their desperate defence and goalkeeper Seiya Miyamoto to thank. Rams coming into the match after the half hour mark.
The visitors winning a penalty early in the second half which saw Mario Aleksik come up big to deny Anthony Proia the opener. That just the start of a thrilling second half with action at either end of the pitch.
An eventual winner falling the Rams way in the 85th minute, a clearance from the Raiders only making its way to John Fahmi on the edge of the area who slid a ball into Darian Daghero. Daghero making no mistake with a drilled finish into the bottom left corner for the winner.
The victory a big relief for Macarthur Rams who will be hoping this turns their fortunes around, while SD Raiders next face Hakoah FC next Sunday.
SD Raiders 0
Macarthur Rams 1 (Daghero 87’)
Dunbar Rovers 3-2 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
While later that night, Dunbar Rovers also broke their season duck with a 3-2 victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Fraser Park.
The victory seeing Christian Soares’ side jump above their opponents on the table after six rounds, a Jeremy Siarakas goal in the 88th minute proving the difference.
A much-needed win for the hosts, they saw a two-goal lead slip away before finally applying the final blow with two minutes of injury time remaining. Their first coming through Daisuke Yamaguchi around the half hour mark with an effort from outside the box.
Before Paul Gautier doubled their advantage, a great run seeing him beat four defenders before playing it past the keeper.
Bonnyrigg hitting back with a goal of their own two minutes later. Brad Bartels the scorer in the 51st minute with his first goal of the season. Ryan Attard the scorer of the visitors second thirteen minutes later to bring it back to 2-2.
A scoreline which remained until Dunbar found a winner in the 88th minute. Jeremy Siarakas coming off the bench to score thee winner from the edge of the area.
Dunbar next facing Bankstown City at home next weekend, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles look ahead to a trip to Nepean in round seven action.
Dunbar Rovers 3 (Yamaguchi 31’, Gautier 49’, Siarakis 88’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Bartels 51’, Attard 64’)
Bulls FC Academy 1-4 Bankstown City
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, never attempt to predict this division! Bankstown City providing another upset in getting the better of a highflying Bulls FC Academy side.
Continuing their rise up the division, the visitors scored three second half goals before the 80th minute to put the game beyond doubt at Sydney United Sports Centre.
It turned out to be a learning experience for the young Bulls who struggled to contain a Bankstown City with a more direct approach. The first goal for the visitors coming in the 11th minute through captain Nikola Djordjevic who headed home from a Shun Maeta corner.
Bulls struggling at the other end to create clear cut chances despite having plenty of promise in build-up play.
While credit also must go to the Bankstown City defense who absorbed plenty of pressure early in the second half before they doubled their lead. Mabior Garang heading home from an early Bradie Smith cross.
Garang going on to score a hat-trick breaking through the defense for his second and combining with Luke Okuda for his sides fourth. Luke Sterjovski scoring a consolation goal for the Bulls in the 84th minute.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Sterjovski 84’)
Bankstown City 4 (Djordjevic 11’, Garang 69’ 76’ 79’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1-1 Blacktown Spartans
A ten-man Canterbury Bankstown fought valiantly for a point against Blacktown Spartans at Jensen Park, Saturday night.
The hosts were forced to hang tough in the contest after a red card to James Ralston in the 26th minute. With the Spartans frustrated not to walk away with the three points after the game.
Spartans having a couple of chances in the first couple of minutes of this one, with the Berries keeper Robert Fanella saving a point-blank effort after 90 seconds. However, the absence of Aedon Kyra would prove costly for the visitors who struggled to apply the final touch.
Canterbury Bankstown taking a surprise lead on the hour mark, Brendon Mandizvidza running onto a through ball before finishing from an acute angle.
However, they couldn’t hold on with the Spartans eventually breaking through in the 85th minute. Angus Chance scoring the equaliser for his side for a share of the points.
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Mandizvidza 60’)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Chance 86’)
By Justin Smith
