Round 19 Review – League One Men’s
Bringing an end to a big week of action, round 19 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition saw all top four sides take maximum points from their respective fixtures.
While our match of the round also saw Northern Tigers take an important three points over a midtable opponent. That and more in our review below.
Match of the Round: Northern Tigers 1-0 UNSW FC
Northern Tigers returned to the pitch with a 1-0 victory over UNSW FC in our match of the round at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
Back in the starting side and on the scoresheet, a Kai Denton goal in the first half was all that separated the two sides in a tight contest.
The first big chance of this one fell to the visitors just after the clock ticked past six minutes. A switch of play releasing Jeremy Cox out on their right flank. Cox delivering a dangerous ball which fell to Jack Fulton, the striker putting his effort over the crossbar from inside the area.
While the first chance for Northern Tigers came five minutes later. Kai Denton pouncing on a headed clearance before his effort from outside the area drew a good save from Charles Samushonga as the ball header for the top right corner..
It was proving a tight match up between two well matched sides with UNSW perhaps shading the possession stakes. Northern Tigers having their next opportunity through Olivier Beltran-Woodward who fired just wide with his shot taking a deflection 20 minutes in.
Tigers having the more opportunities at this point with Denton also seeing his shot deflected a few minutes later. Their territorial advantage shown in the corner count with 8 of them coming in the opening 25 minutes.
The opening goal coming with just before the half hour. Kai Denton finishing from close range after a build up down the left which saw Ethan Oliver find him with a cross.
Beltran-Woodward denied shortly after his effort from inside the box saved after he turned a defender inside out. UNSW rounding out their first half in terms of chances through Jeremy Cox whose run forward ended with him picking out the keeper with his shot in the 41st minute. While Denton and Ally Brown both had chances to extend the lead in the final stages of the first half..
Coming out for the second half, UNSW were doing a better job at keeping posession further up the field and Jeremy Cox nearly snuck in for a goal in the 52nd minute. Getting outside his marker before a shot under pressure went wide.
However the visitors were struggling to break down a well organised Northern Tigers defence who were superb throughout. Indeed both sides were defending well in the second half.
An important moment in the fixture being the send off of Jack Fulton reducing the visitors to ten with over 20 minutes left.
The closest the visitors came to an equaliser being a chance in the 80th minute. A dangerous Keeghan Burke cross falling centimetres beyond the lunging Kevin Lopes at the back post. While Tigers substitute Ahmed Sweedan sent a dangerous ball across the face at the other end soon after.
A tense final ten minutes bringing to an end the fixture. Northern Tigers move to within a point of their visitors and next face Bonnyrigg White Eagles. While UNSW take on Bankstown City at home next Saturday.
Northern Tigers 1 (Denton 29’)
UNSW FC 0
Elsewhere
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3-1 Dulwich Hill
Mt Druitt Town Rangers made it three wins in a week with a 3-1 victory over Dulwich Hill at Popondetta Park, Saturday evening.
Described as a fantastic performance from start to finish, they put away any doubts following their second half showing against Bankstown City midweek, Andre Martins once again starring with a hat trick.
They opened their account ten minutes in. Ivan Sunjic launching a quick counter with a pass to Cooper Coskerie to the right. Coskerie beating his marker before delivering a great cross to Andre Martins to finish.
A lead which was doubled in the 23rd minute. This time coming from some neat passing in a tight area. Daniel Wong finding Garang Awac who cut the ball back for Martins. Martins then faking a shot before taking it around the keeper and applying the finish from close range.
Martins capping off his hat-trick with a chipped finish over the keeper with Anthony Gallo playing a key role in setting that goal up.
A Daniel Fornito goal with ten minutes left a rare highlight for Dulwich Hill on a tough night. On 14 points, they face SD Raiders next weekend, while Mt Druitt Town Rangers visit Macarthur Rams.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3 (Martins 10’ 23’ 54’)
Dulwich Hill 1 (Fornito 79’)
Dunbar Rovers 1-4 Bulls FC Academy
Lesson learnt? Bulls FC Academy put four goals past Dunbar Rovers to return to winning ways after their slip up midweek..
A textbook victory for the visitors, they were in control of this one throughout with a good start to this one setting the tone.
Speaking of, Dean Bosnjak opened their account after 13 minutes to set them on their way. A lead which stood till five minutes before halftime with Dunbar Rovers scoring from the second phase following a set piece. Bailey Stevens the scorer of that.
Bulls FC Academy then restoring their lead once again before the break, Mason Wells scoring his seventh goal of the season. The academy side never looking back from there with Lachlan Macdonald adding their third in the 65th minute.
Before Gidas Gomwikezwa scored his first goal in the first team after a prolific first half of the season for the 20’s side. Bulls academy coaching staff post game wanting to mention the performances of Dean Bosnjak who set the tone in the first half and Daanish Awaz who stood out in defence.
They sit in second position with their next game against Nepean. While it’s a big game for Dunbar midweek against the same opposition.
Dunbar Rovers 1 (Bosnjak 13’, Wells 44’, Macdonald 65’, Gomwikezwa 76’)
Bulls FC Academy 4 (Stevens 40’)
Hakoah FC 3-2 Macarthur Rams
We’ve seen this script before… Hakoah FC edged past Macarthur Rams with an injury time goal at Hensley Athletic.
A closer contest than the table suggests, both sides exchanged goals throughout this one before Jayden Tran scored in the 96th minute.
Hakoah perhaps edged things in the opening half hour and went ahead soon after, Paul Araullo finding the back of the net with Rams keeper Seiya Miyamoto just unable to prevent it. A lead which was short lived before Richard Shoueiki converted a penalty, William Provino winning the penalty.
That score line holding until halfway through the second half by which point the Rams were down to ten men with Aaron Green picking up a second yellow.
Hakoah retaking the lead with Jayden Tran’s first goal of the contest coming from a header inside the six yard area. Rams were courageous though and grabbed an equaliser in the 83rd minute with John Fahmi rocketing home a left footed volley.
They were to be denied a share of the points though in heartbreaking fashion, Jayden Tran finding the winner with a neat dribble and finish deep into injury time. There’s positives for both sides to take from this one with Hakoah next taking on Blacktown Spartans while Macarthur Rams host Mt Druitt Town Rangers next weekend.
Hakoah FC 3 (Araullo 31’, Tran 68’ 95’)
Macarthur Rams 2 (Shoueiki 34’, Fahmi 83’)
Bankstown City 1-0 SD Raiders
They all count! Bankstown City had to do it the hard way with a single goal victory over SD Raiders at Jensen Park.
An important result in terms of keeping pace with the teams above, an early goal saw them walk away with the narrow victory.
That goal not giving anyone time to settle, a frantic opening to a frantic half. Chris Payne scoring on his second attempt after the Lions broke down the right. His initial shot blocked before he slotted the second attempt home.
In need of a response, SD Raiders were in control of possession for the remainder of the first half without really troubling the hosts.
Bankstown City were to come away with the victory though after a more composed performance after the break. They face UNSW FC next weekend, while SD Raiders host Dulwich Hill.
Bankstown City 1 (Payne 1’)
SD Raiders 0
Rydalmere Lions 1-1 Canterbury Bankstown
A ten man Rydalmere Lions side held Canterbury Bankstown to a score draw at Rydalmere Park, Saturday evening.
A particularly frustrating result for the visitors after a similar result midweek, it was Rydalmere Lions the happier of the two sides with a point.
This one didn’t have a chance to settle before the hosts were reduced to ten six minutes in. Marcus Sparachino sent off for a last man challenge.
From there it was Canterbury Bankstown in the ascendancy while Rydalmere sat back and looked to strike on the counter. The visitors opening their account before the break through Marco Turpeinen scoring on the rebound after Gino Cerasoli hit the woodwork.
The match continuing in the same pattern after the break, Rydalmere did manage to bring things level early in the second half when Isaac Cunningham found the bottom corner with his header.
A few good chances for the likes of Cerasoli, Turpeinen and Thomas Nicholas all somehow not finding the back of the net for the visitors who put the hosts under considerable pressure.
Canterbury Bankstown next face Northern Tigers while Rydalmere take the trip to Fraser Park to face Dunbar in round 20 action.
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Turpeinen 41’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Cunningham 52’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-1 Blacktown Spartans
Finally in a rare Sunday evening kick off in the competition, Bonnyrigg White Eagles came from behind to take a 1-1 result from their fixture with Blacktown Spartans.
On a slow and heavy pitch, the best opportunities in this one came in transitions, a 94th minute equaliser meaning both sides share the spoils.
Perhaps having the better of the two sides in the first half, the Spartans were a bit disappointed to go into the break level. However that soon changed with an early go ahead goal for the visitors through Angus Chance, with Daniel Araujo picking up the assist.
However the game turned with 20 minutes to go and it was now the hosts turn to apply pressure. Spurred on by the home crowd, they found the equaliser in added time through a rare goal to Sam Gallaway.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles will play their round 18 catchup with Northern Tigers Wednesday night. While Blacktown Spartans have another tough trip on the horizon to Hensley Athletic.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Chance 47’)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Gallaway 94’)
Nepean FC v Inter Lions washed out, stay tuned for fixturre updates on the FNSW competitions site.
By Justin Smith
