Round 9 Review – League One Men’s
Despite a reduced slate of games, there were plenty of goals in the FNSW League One Men’s round nine action in our six fixtures.
Highlighted by some crucial wins at the bottom of the table, Blacktown Spartans and SD Raiders also featured in our match of the round.
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans 0-0 SD Raiders
Blacktown Spartans held on for a point at home against a wasteful SD Raiders side at Blacktown Football Park, Friday evening.
In difficult conditions on a rain-soaked pitch, the visitors couldn’t quite convert their chances in the fixture while Blacktown Spartans had a few opportunities to steal all three points.
The tone in this one was set early with a Mihael Marcic shot in the opening 60 seconds turned around the post by Spartans shot-stopper Jacob Madden.
Madden once again called into action after ten minutes, his fisted clearance from a dangerous cross falling to Justin Chan Frias who volleyed over the bar from inside the area.
Chan Frias once again involved in their third notable chance of the game, his corner finding Yohatan Sebhatu at the back post who couldn’t quite connect with his shot before the ball was headed off the line.
At the other end, Aedon Kyra was busy in the opening twenty minutes but it was Christian Nascimben who had the pick of the hosts chances in the 27th minute. His shot from outside the area drawing a good save from Michael Figueira as it was headed for the top corner.
The best chance of the first half falling the Raiders way in the closing stages of the half, first half substitute Thomas Santarossa finding Riley Cox-Barlow with his cross from the left wing. Cox-Barlow unable to steer it home at the near post.
Aedon Kyra having the final chance of the half at the over end, the Spartans striker not getting enough power on his header from the set piece.
Opting to find an answer in their attack, Goran Ljuboja opted to bring on Judah Cleur at the break and it nearly paid off. Cleur heading just over the bar in the 48th minute after a near post flick on found it’s way to him, Mihael Marcic with the ball across.
Cleur denied once again after the hour this time by Jacob Madden who saved a drilled effort at the near post. Cleur’s shot coming in from the left.
While the best Spartans chance of the evening followed five minutes after that as the clocked ticked past the 69th minute. Michael Figueira denying Suleyman Bangura with a good save before a follow up from Aedon Kyra couldn’t find the target.
SD Raiders having their last chance of the contest from a set piece at the other end through Jairo Torne Fernandez who missed the target by inches from a freekick.
Before Spartans had a good finish to this one with a couple of chances from a corner. Both Paolo Bonanni and Peter Pelekanos heading wide and over the bar respectively.
The result seeing the sides both sit in midtable with the Spartans a point above the SD Raiders after nine games.
Blacktown Spartans 0
SD Raiders 0
Elsewhere
Bankstown City 3-0 Rydalmere Lions
Bankstown City continued their charge up the table with a victory over Rydalmere Lions at a sodden Jensen Park, Friday night.
Entering the top four for the first time this season, the hosts scored twice in the final twenty minutes to secure the victory.
The difference in this one could well have been how both teams handled the difficult conditions and as such the host prevailed. Mabior Garang scoring their first goal ten minutes in with a headed finish.
Despite the hour plus gap between goals, there were chances for the scoreline to change before Garang grabbed his second goal. The striker beating a couple of defenders before blasting the ball into the bottom right corner.
The third and final goal of the game following a few minutes later. A well worked team move leading to a Chris Payne finish with less than fifteen minutes left.
A win which sees Bankstown City enter the top four while Rydalmere Lions sit six points below them in tenth position.
Bankstown City 3 (Garang 10’ 72’, Payne 76’)
Rydalmere Lions 0
Inter Lions 3-1 Northern Tigers
Inter Lions made it back-to-back 3-1 home victories with a win over Northern Tigers at Majors Bay Reserve, Saturday night.
Drawing themselves to within two points of their beaten opponents, they will be hoping to use this as a springboard going forward, while it’s a third straight defeat for the Tigers who are losing pace with the top two.
The visitors in this one started the better of the two sides with Zac Waddell missing a close-range opportunity early. However, the visitors opened the scoring with an unlikely goal from a deflected shot. Daniel Georgievski with the initial effort with the goal credited to Ahmad Taleb.
That goal turning the momentum of proceedings and Jordan Morfitis added their second a couple minutes later. Morfitis tapping home from close range following a parried shot.
Inter adding a third to their tally in the 67th minute through Taleb who was found by a lovely Lachlan Everett through ball.
Northern Tigers response almost immediate through captain Shervin Adeli calmly slotting into the host’s net. Tigers then continuing to hold the momentum with three good chances to bring the game back but the hosts held out for the win.
Inter Lions 3 (Taleb 33’ 69’, Morfitis 35’)
Northern Tigers 1 (Adeli 69’)
UNSW FC 2-3 Macarthur Rams
New coach bounce! Macarthur Rams jumped off the bottom of the table with a 3-2 victory over UNSW FC at the Village Green.
After a turbulent week which saw the club part ways with Darren Jones, the Rams outscored their hosts in the first half before holding on to a goal advantage.
The action in this once came in the first half with three goals before the half hour. Mihael Martin scoring the opener for the Rams three minutes in.
However, the host responded well overturning that lead through goals to both Kevin Lopes and Sean Woods before the 25th minute.
Macarthur Rams scoring two quick goals of their own around the half hour to walk away with the three points. Darian Daghero and Anthony Proia both finding the back of the net.
Whereas the second half was notable firstly for a red card to Peter Prandalos and secondly, a penalty save from Nicholas Croucher which denied the visitors a fourth.
UNSW next take on Mt Druitt Town Rangers away from home while Rydalmere Lions await the Rams in round ten action.
UNSW FC 2 (Lopes 14’, Woods 24’)
Macarthur Rams 3 (Martin 3’, Daghero 29’, Proia 30’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3-2 Canterbury Bankstown
Competition leaders Mt Druitt Town Rangers came from behind to overcome Canterbury Bankstown in a physical contest at Popondetta Park.
Bouncing back from a surprise defeat last time out, an Andre Martins brace gave Andy Montgomery’s side the three points for their eighth victory of the campaign.
Both sides started this one positively with the hosts missing two chances before Canterbury Bankstown opened the scoring. Marco Turpeinen finding the back of the net after finding space outside his marker.
The hosts bringing it back level before the break through an Andre Martins goal after the Berries keeper couldn’t control a high ball.
Town Rangers adding their second to complete the turnaround once again through Andre Martins who scored with a well struck shot. Before Cooper Coskerie added their third with ten minutes left.
That last goal important as Canterbury Bankstown then pushed to come back into the game. Bonmyeong Koo scoring a consolation with less than five minutes of regulation left. The Berries pushing for an equalizer late without reward with Mt Druitt Town Rangers taking out a 3-2 victory.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Martins 39’ 54’, Coskerie 81’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Turpinen 28’, Koo 86’)
Dulwich Hill 4-1 Dunbar Rovers
Dulwich Hill secured three vital points at home against Dunbar Rovers with a 4-1 victory giving them their second win of the season.
A crucial win at the bottom of the table, they were made to fight for the result having been reduced to ten late in the first half.
Having felt hard done by in recent weeks, Dulwich Hill were the better side in the first half of this one. Taking the lead on the half hour via an own goal as a defender headed backwards past a keeper committed to coming out.
A lead which was doubled soon after, Daniel Fornito scoring from the spot on 33 minutes. A spanner was placed in the works however when they were reduced to ten before the break.
The visitors were unable to capitalize despite their player advantage with the hosts pulling out to a four-goal lead. Fornito with his second penalty conversion of the night before Emmanuel Zervas added the fourth goal to continue his scoring form.
Dunbar scoring their only goal of the night through Reece Berelowitz shortly after, though it would only prove consolation after a disappointing night for the visitors.
Dulwich Hill 4 (Own goal 30’, Fornito 33’ 39’, Zervas 69’)
Dunbar Rovers 1 (Berelowitz 70’)
Nepean FC v Hakoah FC and Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Bulls FC Academy postponed to a later date.
By Justin Smith
