Round 13 Review – League One Men’s
Round 13 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition will go down as a weekend which delivered on it’s promise which some eyebrow raising results across the weekend.
In our match of the round, Bankstown City took the spoils in a tense fixture against Bonnyrigg. While elsewhere, UNSW shocked Bulls FC Academy, Rydalmere Lions picked up an important victory and Mt Druitt Town Rangers shared the points with Hakoah.
Match of the Round: Bankstown City 1-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Bankstown City picked up bragging rights with a 1-0 victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Jensen Park.
A derby fixture with a lot on the line, it took a little while for both sides to settle into this one with much of the opening five minutes played in the middle third.
Bankstown City’s first opening coming in the 9th minute with a free-kick from deep cleared to their left wing. The follow up ball flicked on by Mabior Garang wide of the left post.
While Bonnyrigg’s front third was looking dynamic in the front third without managing an effort on goal. A Brad Bartels cross from the right byline the most dangerous the visitors looked in the opening 20 minutes.
Our first big chance of the game coming in the 23rd minute courtesy of the visitors. Bonnyrigg working the ball out to the right before a pinpoint ball was delivered to the near post. Daniel Bittar directing his header on target which was tipped over the bar by Bankstown City keeper Stevan Savicic.
The visitors perhaps in control of the game at this point getting balls into the danger area on a more regular basis.
While Bankstown City’s best effort of the half came through Chris Payne just before the 35th minute. Chris Payne picking up the ball in a dangerous position and creating space before his left footed strike low was saved by Luke Turnbull.
Momentum had well and truly switched to the hosts now with Jeffrey Issa finding the side netting with a left footed strike entering the box from the right soon after.
Jonathan Grozdanovski up next with a header going wide left of the target from a Rhett Desilva cross in the closing stages of the first half. While Ryan Attard put his effort wide at the other end from just outside the area in response.
Indeed, it was Grozdanovski who was to open the scoring with a memorable goal just after the 50th minute. A Rhett Desilva cross from the right floated to around the penalty spot. Grozdanovski with a stunning volley around his body into the bottom left corner.
As it turned out that goal would prove to be the decisive one, not that the visitors didn’t have their periods in the final 35 minutes. While the hosts had a renewed confidence.
Rhett Desilva nearly managing to go himself and double his sides lead before the hour. His effort after cutting in from the right flashing wide of the left post.
Bonnyrigg were however struggling to create in the final third of the field as was the case for long periods in this one, Daniel Bittar the only bright spark as the rain began to fall. Their next chance coming in the 73rd minute. Bittar trying to find Emmanuel Gonzalez at the near post who couldn’t sneak it in, his shot blocked.
Followed soon after by a Mason Versi shot from outside the area on his right foot which hit the back of his marker before clipping the crossbar on its way out in the 77th minute.
While the always threatening Mabior Garang flashed a shot across the face from a counter attack. Bankstown City holding out for the victory from there as the visitors’ frustrations began to get the better of them.
The result seeing Bankstown City keep pace with the teams above, while back-to-back losses for Bonnyrigg has halted their charge up the table.
Bankstown City 1 (Grozdanovski 51’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Elsewhere
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1-1 Hakoah FC
Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Hakoah FC shared the spoils in their top three clash at Popondetta Park.
A hard-fought match with both sides creating chances throughout, a draw was probably the fairest result in this one.
The games template was established in the early stages of this one with the Town Rangers front three looking dynamic while Hakoah held the more possession building up from the back. The hosts taking a goal advantage into the break through a John Roberts goal. Roberts catching the Hakoah defense napping with his strike after the half hour.
Much like the first half, the second half played out in similar fashion with both Dylan Niski and Nikolas Loe having good games in goal at either end.
But it was Cam Philpot who gave the visitors an equaliser after the hour. Philpot developing quite the habit of finding the back of the net when his side needs him. Both sides having to settle for a draw after the 90 minutes.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers next face Bulls FC Academy in next weekend’s match of the round, while Hakoah FC back up Tuesday night to face Nepean FC.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 (Roberts 33’)
Hakoah FC 1 (Philpot 65’)
Blacktown Spartans 2-1 Macarthur Rams
Blacktown Spartans picked up their sixth victory of the season prevailing over Macarthur Rams at Blacktown Football Park.
A deserved win for the hosts, they came from behind in this one to claim the three points despite being a bit wasteful in front of goal. The result bringing to an end Macarthur Rams four game unbeaten run.
The opening quarter hour of this one proved to be an even contest with Rams threatening on the counter. which led to their first goal via a set-piece which was taken quickly, Michael Martin finishing it off for his third goal of the season.
A lead which somehow stood till half time despite the hosts controlling possession. Aedon Kyra having the Spartans best chance with a header straight at the opposition keeper. Daniel Araujo with some nice work in that build up.
With an emphasis on keeping their patience in the second half, the Spartans turned the scoreline around with two goals by the 70th minute. Both scored by Aedon Kyra in the 52nd and 70th minute. The first of which included some neat lead up work before the second came from a set piece.
Spartans bouncing back from their Mt Druitt defeat last weekend in positive fashion, they face Bankstown City next weekend. While Macarthur Rams host Inter Lions on their return home.
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Kyra 52’ 70’)
Macarthur Rams 1 (Martin 19’)
UNSW FC 4-3 Bulls FC Academy
Securing back-to-back wins for the first time this season in style! UNSW FC edged Bulls FC Academy with a late goal at the Village Green.
A see-sawing game which had a bit of everything, the students kept their impressive home record in tact scoring late to take the three points. While Bulls FC Academy will look to regroup before their next match against Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
The visitors were quick out of the blocks in this one with Ariath Piol grabbing a first half brace in 36 minutes, the second of which came from the spot.
However, the game took a turn with a UNSW goal just before the break. Tom Quilligan grabbing an important goal for the students after Jeremy Cox headed the ball back across the face. The equaliser coming soon into the second half with Luke Burke heading home a Matias Da Silva Santos corner.
UNSW completing the comeback (or so they thought) with a penalty which was converted by Jack Fulton after Tom Quilligan was brought down.
Bulls FC Academy needed to bounce back and looked to their bench to make an impact, with an equaliser of their own scored with just over ten minutes left through Zane Helweh.
However, the hosts were the side to take away three points and claim their second successive top three victory, super-sub Kevin Lopes on hand to score the winner after a Sean Woods shot was saved into his path. The victory seeing them continue their climb up the table approaching the half way point of the season.
UNSW FC 4 (Quilligan 45+6’, Burke 48’, Fulton 64’, Lopes 89’)
Bulls FC Academy 3 (Piol 24’ 36’, Helweh 77’)
Inter Lions 1-0 SD Raiders
Inter Lions continued their good run of form securing a narrow victory over SD Raiders at home in round 13 action.
A deserved victory for the hosts, they started the better of the two sides claiming an early goal before some good desperation defence in the second half saw them claim the points.
It is safe to say that the SD Raiders build up to the game wasn’t ideal with sickness spreading through the group during the week. And it showed on the field with the hosts controlling the opening half hour.
Numerous opportunities falling their way before Ahmad Taleb opened the scoring two thirds into the first half. Taleb using his body well to deceive his marker before coolly finishing into the back of the net.
A lead which could have been doubled if not for the efforts of Michael Figueira in the Raiders net. While Noah Chianese had their best chance before half time with a point-blank effort drawing a save from Patrick Fouracre.
The second half of this one notable for the last-ditch defensive efforts of both sides. Inter keeping a rare clean sheet in their victory. SD Raiders coach Goran Ljuboja noting post-game that their win was deserved while lamenting a poor showing from his side.
Inter Lions 1 (Taleb 30’)
SD Raiders 0
Rydalmere Lions 2-0 Dulwich Hill
Rydalmere Lions secured a pressure relieving victory over Dulwich Hill at Rydalmere Park, Saturday evening.
Despite what the scoreline suggests, the first half was a tight one with both sides keen to give themselves some breathing room over the bottom two.
However, the difference came after the break with Rydalmere putting together a superior performance after the resumption. The introduction of Dillan Kahale, Marcus Lal and Luca Kmet proving the turning point early in the second half.
The three substitutes linking up before Marcus Lal was released on the right flank, Lal whipping in a ball which Issac Cunningham finished first time on the hour mark.
That goal giving Cunningham the confidence to push for a second which he grabbed 15 minutes later, flicking the ball past his marker on the left before finishing inside the area, a goal which sealed things. The Rydalmere coaching staff post-game praising their side for a rare clean sheet this season, something they have been working on in the lead up.
While there’s plenty for Dulwich Hill to think about going forward as they sit just four points above the bottom two in fourteenth.
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Cunningham 60’ 75’)
Dulwich Hill 0
Northern Tigers 3-0 Dunbar Rovers
Northern Tigers extended the woes of Dunbar Rovers with a comfortable 3-0 victory at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
A strong second half performance saw the hosts take the three points in this one with their three goals coming after the break. The result seeing Dunbar Rovers fall to their second straight defeat.
In terms of goal scoring, this one came to life in the second half. Northern Tigers opening their account through Ally Brown who found himself on the end of a Marley Peterson cross just before the hour mark.
The hosts a regular threat in the second half with their second coming fifteen minutes later. Lachlan Lloyd continuing his scoring form with Olivier Beltran-Woodward picking up the assist. The result put beyond doubt with a third goal with four minutes of regulation left. Through none other than Shervin Adeli who celebrated his birthday with a goal, curling it into the back of the net from the top corner of the box.
Northern Tigers solidifying their position in the top five with 23 points from their 13 games, while Dunbar remain in 15th with just one win in their 13 games.
Northern Tigers 3 (Brown 57’, Lloyd 73’, Adeli 86’)
Dunbar Rovers 0
Nepean FC 0-1 Canterbury Bankstown
An impressive first half performance saw Canterbury Bankstown prevail over Nepean FC at Jamison Park, Friday night.
We should clarify, impressive until the moment they had to take the final touch with Wally Savour’s side wasteful in the first half of this one. However, the tree points saw them pick up their sixth win of the season as they sit 7th on the ladder.
Back to the first half however a series of chances saw Marco Turpeinen and Cian McNamara hit the post, Gino Cerasoli miss a point blank header and Bonmyeong Koo miss the target from the penalty spot. While Nepean relied on their transition game to threaten, which nearly paid off on a couple of occasions.
Much to the relief of the visitors coaching staff, they were able to take the lead soon into the second half. Gino Cerasoli heading home after outjumping his marker at the far post, Patrick Savor with the delivery.
Nepean throwing men forward in the final stages unable to find a way past the Canterbury Bankstown defense who held out well.
Nepean FC 0
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Cerasoli 52’)
-By Justin Smith
