Round 8 Review – League One Men’s
The Easter long weekend was a good one for our top two sides in the Football NSW League One Men’s competition who picked up big round 8 victories.
While elsewhere an epic took place at Rydalmere Park, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Bankstown City picked up important wins.
Match of the Round: Bulls FC Academy v Canterbury Bankstown
A rampaging Bulls FC Academy side claimed a decisive 6-1 victory over Canterbury Bankstown in our round 8 match of the round.
After the visitors sent a couple of early cross into their area, the hosts were quick to find their stride in this one, producing football throughout the first half which was easy on the eye.
Attacker Abdelelah Faisal having a chance from either side of the attacking area in the opening ten minutes, the second of which forced Robert Fanella into a save around his right post.
Bulls FC Academy taking the lead shortly after in the 13th minute. Flynn Madden picking up the ball on the right and driving to the edge of the area. Madden with plenty of time unleashing a shot into the top right corner.
One goal becoming two just under ten minutes later, Faisal getting their second goal after going close earlier. Faisal finishing after a through ball from Madden who turned provider.
The hosts in control then had a few opportunities following that but it was the visitors who would score next.
A series of set pieces causing the young Bulls worry before Christopher Katsaros found the back of the net. Katsaros scoring from long-range placing the ball into the bottom right corner after evading a defender after the half hour.
Berries finishing the half well which hurt all the more when they conceded a goal on the brink of half time at the other end.
Bulls applying a high press which saw Frans Deli pick up the ball in the final third before finding Faisal to his left. His shot from inside the box finding the far bottom corner in first half injury time.
That momentum continuing into the second half, the hosts adding a fourth goal two minutes after the resumption.
Abdelelah Faisal completing his hat-trick with perhaps the pick of his goals with a superb finish from the right side of the box. Lachlan Macdonald with the assist from an inverted position on the right.
That goal putting the game beyond doubt really however the Bulls weren’t finished showing off their proficient attack. Scoring again before the hour through Oliver Jones with a left footed strike past the keeper from the top of the box.
While the most threatening player at the other end was Brendon Mandizvidza who came off the bench on the hour. Though Taiga Kawano nearly scored a spectacular goal in the 67th minute from long range.
Bulls adding a sixth goal with less than five minutes of regulation left, Michael Krslovic scoring an easy tap in from close range, another assist coming from Flynn Madden at the byline.
The hosts picking up their sixth win of the season which puts them in outright second, while Canterbury Bankstown sit nine points below them in 11th.
Bulls FC Academy 6 (Madden 13’, Faisal 22’ 46’ 47’, Jones 59’, Krslovic 86’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Katsaros 32’)
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers 0-4 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Competition leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers claimed a convincing victory over Northern Tigers away from home, Friday afternoon.
Giving themselves a five-point gap over Northern Tigers who sit in equal third, it’s the first time this season that the Town Rangers have won by more than one goal.
The action in this one came in the second half after a tight first half in which Hiyori Kawaguchi had the pick of the chances for the hosts.
Visiting coach Andy Montgomery opting to make a few changes which paid off positively after the break. John Roberts opening their account with a stunning goal in the 55th minute which was followed soon after with their second. That one seeing Andre Martins chipping the keeper after a nice through ball to find him.
Mt Druitt making it three goals within ten minutes in the 64th minute with Garang Awac joining in on the action before Andre Martins completed his brace in the 73rd minute rising above multiple defenders to finish with his head.
An emphatic win, Mt Druitt Town Rangers next face Canterbury Bankstown while Northern Tigers take to the road to take on Inter Lions.
Northern Tigers 0
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4 (Roberts 55’, Martins 58’ 73’, Awac 64’)
Rydalmere Lions 4-5 Hakoah FC
Hakoah FC claimed an epic Good Friday victory over Rydalmere Lions at Rydalmere Park to keep their unbeaten start alive.
Three goals early in the second half proved to be the difference for the visitors with the hosts unable to peg them back, a second half red card not helping the Rydalmere cause.
An open fixture throughout, both sides entertained those who had made the trek out to Sydney’s West. Rydalmere taking an early lead in this one through a Marcus Lal goal in the 17th minute.
Hakoah responding on the half hour at the other end. Nick Drummond combining with Cam Philpot for the goal, with Philpot scoring his fourth goal of the season to take us to the 1-1 half time scoreline.
Philpot claiming the second of his brace with the next goal of the game finishing off a great team move to make it 2-1. Rydalmere responding in kind with their second a few minutes later through Dillan Kahale.
The visitors were on top during this period however and they scored the next two goals to take control of proceedings. Samuel Shepherd finding the back of the next before the hour, Nicholas Drummond then added their fourth.
However, Rydalmere wouldn’t lay down and despite a red card to goal scorer Kahale, they were able to pick up another couple of goals on the night to bring it back to a goal difference on two occasions. The first through Marcus Lal from the penalty spot before Ethan Elcham scored in injury time.
An earlier Nicholas Tooley goal in the 77th minute proving crucial for the visitors who came away with a 5-4 win on the road.
Rydalmere Lions 4 (Lal 17’ 74’, Kahale 54’ Elcham 93’)
Hakoah FC 5 (Philpot 30’ 50’, Shepherd 58’, Drummond 65’, Tooley 77’)
Macarthur Rams 1-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bonnyrigg White Eagles continued their turn around in form with a victory over Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park, Saturday evening.
Their second victory in a row, the visitors will return home next weekend in good spirits for their first home game of the season. While it’s a fifth loss of the campaign for the Rams who remain without a win at Lynwood Park this season.
Despite the victory, Bonnyrigg coach Brian Brown did note how tough the Rams made the game for them throughout. They got out to a two-goal lead in the first half with both goals scored by Mason Versi, Maksim Jez winning the penalty for the first.
However, it was a costly night on the injury front with two substitutions made in the opening 20 minutes and another at half time. Christian Torrelli scoring an important goal after the hour to ensure victory despite a Maksim Jez red card.
For Macarthur Rams, they have reason to be encouraged after this one. They had multiple chances in the opening half hour without reward before the game turned into an arm wrestle. Michael Martin scoring in the 56th minute. However, some defensive errors ended up costing them dearly on the night in a game they created more chances.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Martin 56’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 (Versi 30’ 38, Torrelli 63’)
Inter Lions 3-1 Dunbar Rovers
Inter Lions snapped their winless run with a two-goal victory over Dunbar Rovers at Majors Bay Reserve.
After three games without a victory, their return home was a welcome one walking away with a 3-1 victory with two goals in the final twenty minutes.
Weathering a positive start from the visitors in this one, Inter Lions had a couple of good chances as the half went on before finding their opener in the 41st minute. A Fikret Berisha piledriver into the top right corner opening their account, the assist coming from captain Sam Armson.
Threatening throughout this one, Daisuke Yamaguchi came up with a response for the visitors perhaps against the run of play in the second half. Yamaguchi once again finding the back of the net from a set piece.
It was a couple of Inter substitutes which turned the game though both combining for the Lions second. JJ Morfitis playing the role of provider on the break finding Daniel Georgievski to convert for their second before Ahmad Taleb converted from the spot five minutes later for to ensure the victory.
Inter Lions 3 (Berisha 42’, Georgievski 70’, Taleb 76’)
Dunbar Rovers 1 (Yamaguchi 60’)
Nepean FC 0-1 Blacktown Spartans
Blacktown Spartans took three points from a hard-fought battle with Nepean FC at Cook Park, Friday evening.
Always a tough venue to visit as an away side, a second half penalty ensured that the Spartans walked away with the three points for the third time this season.
The Spartans spent most of the first half in control of possession with Nepean opting to make their moves in transition. Aedon Kyra having a couple of chances of note, while Will DiMartino and Daniel Araujo also had opportunities to break the deadlock.
However, they did not have such control when they scored the goal, Nepean showing improvement after the break with a good ten-minute spell. However, the decisive moment came when Suleyman Bangura was brought down inside the box, Aedon Kyra converting the penalty in the halfway through the second half.
Nepean pushing for an equaliser from that point but the Spartans defense led by Jamie Percevski stood firm for the three points.
Nepean FC 0
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Kyra 67’)
SD Raiders 0-0 UNSW FC
SD Raiders and UNSW FC couldn’t be separated Saturday night playing out a 0-0 draw at Valentine Sports Park.
A match in which the hosts perhaps had the better of in terms of chances but could not break through with both sides having a goal ruled out either side of half time. Draw probably a fair result for both sides after the 90 minutes.
UNSW’s best chance of the first half coming from Keeghan Burke who drew a good save from Mario Aleksik before the follow up hit the post. While SD Raiders had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half and missed several opportunities from close range.
SD Raiders having the better of the game though the students nearly got the result in the final stages. UNSW face Macarthur Rams next weekend while SD Raiders travel north to take on Blacktown Spartans next Friday.
SD Raiders 0
UNSW FC 0
Bankstown City 2-1 Dulwich Hill
Bankstown City capped off a big day for the club with a come from behind 2-1 victory over Dulwich Hill at Jensen Park.
This one kicked off with plenty of intensity with both sides creating chances in the first half despite going into the break scoreless.
A Dulwich Hill goal four minutes into the second half opening the game up as they attempted to spoil the party. Who else but Emmanuel Zervas the scorer once again for the visitors.
After missing out on a victory late in this same game last season against SD Raiders, Bankstown City were in no mood to let this one slip despite falling behind scoring two goals in quick succession around the hour mark.
Shun Maeta scoring a great goal to equalise on the hour from 25 yards out with his left foot. Before a winner came courtesy of Mabior Garang who found the back of the net for his seventh goal of the campaign.
The win moving Bankstown City into the top five after eight games while Dulwich Hill sit in 15th position still searching for their second win of the campaign.
Bankstown City 2 (Maeta 63’, Garang 67’)
Dulwich Hill 1 (Zervas 50’)
By Justin Smith
