Round 10 Review – League One Men’s
Round 10 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition saw multiple teams make their moves as we motor past a third of the season.
In our match of the round, Hakoah dispatched of Bonnyrigg White Eagles to keep pace with the top two who both won. While at the other end, Macarthur Rams and Dulwich Hill secured important victories.
Match of the Round: Hakoah FC 3-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Hakoah FC took out an important victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles in our match of the round at Hensley Athletic.
An important win which sees them keep pace with the top two sides, it was the second time they got the better of the visitors in the space of a week.
Their first opportunity coming inside five minutes with Gabriel Antoniades trying his luck from distance, his shot fumbled by Luke Turnbull before it was scrambled away for a corner.
While Bonnyrigg looked most dangerous in transition, their opening shot coming through Samuel Gallaway on the underlap, Gallaway’s shot from a narrow angle saved by Nikolas Loe at his near post.
Hakoah responding soon after with the first goal of the game, Jayden Tran setting in motion a counter attack down the right which saw Samuel Shepherd cut the ball back dangerously, a deflection off a Bonnyrigg defender falling to the feet of Tran who finished low with his left foot.
That goal the first of a one-two punch in the space of five minutes for the hosts. The second coming from a corner on the right which found Cam Philpot at the back post who headed across goal for Samuel Shepherd to finish from close range.
Bonnyrigg’s first chance of note since conceding falling to Stefan Nikolic who hit his shot from outside the area straight at the goalkeeper in the 25th minute.
Firmly in control of the fixture, Hakoah were still looking the more threatening of the two sides with a few half chances falling their way across the next ten minutes. Both sides keen to explore the space beyond the opposition’s defense throughout the first half.
Emmanuel Gonzalez having the next visitors chance, his header saved comfortably just after the 40th minute. A set piece shortly after just escaping Tristan Vidic at the far post.
A pattern of play which continued into the second half with the hosts looking comfortable with their lead. The early stages played predominantly in their attacking half.
Bonnyrigg responding with perhaps their best chance of the game in the 57th minute, a patient spell of possession resulting in a dangerous Daniel Bittar cross which couldn’t be turned in.
Which seemed to wake up their hosts with Nicholas Drummond denied by a good save by Luke Turnbull a couple minutes later.
Hakoah adding their third seconds later, Jayden Tran whipping in a lovely ball from the right wing which was headed home by Cam Philpot from close range just past the hour.
Bonnyrigg then creating a few chances which saw Stefan Dubocanin head over the bar before Mason Versi had a crack from long range, saved by Nikolas Loe. And another through Christian Torelli in the final five minutes.
The result a dominant one for the hosts which kept them in touch with the two sides above, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles find themselves in 14th place after nine games.
Hakoah FC 3 (Tran 18’, Shepherd 22’, Philpot 61’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Elsewhere:
Bulls FC Academy 6-0 Inter Lions
In probably the most eye opening of the results across the weekend, Bulls FC Academy were ruthless in overcoming Inter Lions in the early Saturday kick off.
A performance which the hosts have been threatening to produce, they took the game out of the visitors reach in the first half before adding a further two goals later on in the second half.
Four of their goals came in the opening fifteen minutes, the hosts inspired after a good week of training and maybe some motivation from our preview. Abdelelah Faisal opening the scoring from the spot in the third minute before Mason Wells made it two after six minutes. Flynn Madden and Faisal then adding two further goals before the quarter hour.
Firmly in control, the hosts were able to contain an Inter Lions side who responded well, threatening in particular from the set piece.
Bulls FC Academy adding two further goals in the second half with Faisal completing his hat-trick before Michael Krslovic added the sixth goal.
Bulls FC Academy 6 (Faisal 3’ 16’ 60’, Wells 6’, Madden 9’, Krlslovic 82’)
Inter Lions 0
Rydalmere Lions 1-2 Macarthur Rams
Macarthur Rams gave themselves further breathing room from the danger zone with a 2-1 victory over Rydalmere Lions away from home.
Coming from behind, the Rams scored twice in the final 15 minutes for their third victory of the season as they moved 5 points clear of the bottom two.
After a cagey first half which saw few chances test either goalkeeper, the game opened up after the hosts found their first goal. Rydalmere keeper Harry Aquilina doing well to initiate a counter attack for his side in which Marcus Lal threaded a ball through to Tom Ruperto who finished with a precise right-footed strike.
Needing to change the course of the game, the Rams coaching staff turned to their bench and they were rewarded with the comeback victory. One substitute in John Fahmi setting up the equaliser with a free-kick which Paul Soravia volley the ball home.
Before Leandro Guzman found the winner with three minutes remaining. Their bench making a noticeable impact on the night.
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Ruperto 54’)
Macarthur Rams 2 (Soravia 78’, Guzman 87’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5-3 UNSW FC
Two late goals saw Mt Druitt Town Rangers claim another win in round ten action against UNSW FC at Popondetta Park.
A game not short of entertainment throughout, it saw both teams come from behind at different points before a clinical Mt Druitt Town Rangers had the final say late in this one.
The Rangers found themselves behind early in this one a free scoring first half, Kevin Lopes scoring the opener for the visitors. The hosts then fighting back to equalise and take the lead on two occasions, Andre Martins scoring their first in the 19th minute before Garang Awac and John Roberts scored their second and third. Jack Fulton earlier bringing it back to 2-2.
A pivotal moment in the second half coming when Dylan Niski saved the first of two penalties for the visitors, while the second of which saw Jack Fulton level the game going into injury time.
Good teams find a way to win though and the hosts then scored twice in injury time, Andre Martins scoring the go-ahead to make it 4-3 from a set piece before Charles Mendy sealed the result with a fifth for his side.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers winning their 9th game of the season sitting comfortably at the top of the table while UNSW find themselves in a crowded mid-table. UNSW coach Gabe Knowles noted post-game that he was “proud of his sides efforts at a difficult place to play.”
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5 (Martins 19’ 94’. Awac 31’, Roberts 45’, Mendy 95’)
UNSW FC 3 (Lopes 10’, Fulton 34’ 86’)
Dulwich Hill 3-2 Nepean FC
Dulwich Hill picked up back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a home victory over Nepean FC at Arlington Oval.
A win that has moved them into 9th position on the table, the hosts scored three unanswered goals during this one to take away the three points. The defeat leaving Nepean in the bottom two, five points from safety.
Creating plenty of chances throughout, that didn’t stop the visitors taking a surprise lead in the first half. An own goal giving them the lead in the 26th minute.
That didn’t keep the hosts down for long though with an equaliser coming before the half time whistle. Emmanuel Zervas adding his 8th goal in as many starts in the 42nd minute.
The momentum from that continuing into the second half with Mark Younes scoring a great scissor kick within minutes of the restart. Goncalo Paradanta later adding an important third goal as it turns out with Mitchell King scoring the visitors second at the other end. Both teams reduced to ten in injury time.
Dulwich Hill 3 (Zervas 42’, Younes 47’, Paradanta 81’)
Nepean FC 2 (Younes OG 26’, King 87’)
Dunbar Rovers 1-2 SD Raiders
SD Raiders broke their scoring drought and took away three points in their contest with Dunbar Rovers at Fraser Park.
Having not scored in their previous four games, the visitors broke through in the first half before adding to their lead early in the second. Dunbar making things interesting with a goal of their own with 20 minutes remaining.
In saying that, the visitors made the game more difficult than it needed to be with Michael Figuera standing up when his side needed him.
Riley Cox-Barlow scoring their first goal in the 19th minute from just inside the 18-yard box. Cox-Barlow taking his chance after a few were left wanting earlier in this one. That single goal margin holding till half time.
Their second goal coming soon after they saw one of their players sent off in Rocco Fragale. Justin Chan Frias scoring from close range.
However, from there on, it was a nervy final half hour with plenty of pressure applied, Samuel Tzanakes scoring the goal to bring it back to 2-1. SD Raiders coach Goran Ljuboja praising the efforts of Daniel Kelly in particular who played the final ten minutes despite doing his MCL.
Dunbar Rovers 1 (S.Tzanakes 70’)
SD Raiders 2 (Cox Barlow 16’, Chan Frias 53’)
Northern Tigers 0-1 Blacktown Spartans
Said it before, I’ll say it again, there’s something so satisfying about a 1-0 win away from home. Blacktown Spartans taking away the spoils from a hard-fought contest against Northern Tigers.
A valuable win considering they had a few starters missing, the Spartans took the lead early in this one before seeing the game out under significant pressure in the second half.
The visitors started well in this one with Aedon Kyra having a 1v1 opportunity deflected wide by the Tigers defense. Suleyman Bangura having their next opportunity soon after with a stinging shot.
Spartans taking their chance at the third time of asking with a swift counter attack. Daniel Araujo combining with Aedon Kyra who slipped through a ball into the path of Bangura who made no mistake with the finish.
That score unchanged leading into the break. Will Di Martino having the Spartans best chance of the second half. While the hosts applied plenty of pressure in the final 20 minutes, Spartans holding on despite being reduced to ten.
Northern TIgers 0
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Bangura 6’)
Bankstown City 1-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Bankstown City and Canterbury Bankstown shared the spoils in their local derby fixture in Friday night action.
A game in which both sides defences stood tall, a draw was probably a fair result after the 90 minutes at Jensen Park. Both sides restricted to half chances in the opening 45 minutes before both goals came in the second half.
Bankstown City noticeably improving with the ball at their feet after the resumption, breaking through five minutes into the second half. A good team build up allowing Rhett Desilva to tun and finish well to put his side in the lead.
To their credit however, the visitors were resilient against their more fancied opposition and they found an equaliser through Bonmyeong Koo four minutes later with a great goal from outside the area.
The hosts then pushing for another go-ahead for the remainder of this one let down by their final ball.
Bankstown City 1 (Desilva 51’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Koo 54’)
By Justin Smith
