Round 25 Review – League One Men’s
It was wild and it was windy in FNSW League One Men’s round 25 action across Friday and Saturday night.
Our match of the round saw Dulwich Hill take away an important three points to give them breathing room over the bottom two. While our top three sides all dropped points on a crazy Saturday night.
Let’s check out the review below.
Match of the Round: Nepean FC 0-5 Dulwich Hill
Dulwich Hill picked up their first win in eight games and extended the woes of Nepean FC with a 5-0 victory at Cook Park, Saturday evening.
Taking control in the first ten minutes, the visitors finished the job in the second half to pick up the blow out victory.
Start as you mean to go on, Dulwich Hill took control of this one early with a goal in the 8th minute. Miciah Te Rata scoring the opener from their third set piece of the contest, Te Rata doing a good job to head home from a Domenico Tripodi corner falling backwards.
Things going quickly from bad to worse for the hosts conceding a penalty less than a minute later. A keeper clearance charged down before Daniel Paodoani was brought down by said keeper. Domenico Tripodi stepping up to convert the penalty into the left side of the net. A two goal lead which stood into the second half.
That didn’t mean either team didn’t have opportunities in the remainder of the first half with Nepean sending multiple balls into the attacking area over the next quarter hour.
Their most notable chance of the first half coming from a Andre Cavallaro shot which narrowly missed wide left after cutting in from the left. Nepean for the most part struggling to create in the front third while Dulwich Hill were doing well to make life difficult for their hosts in midfield.
While Dulwich Hill had their opportunity to stretch the lead to three when Mark Younes sent a ball across the face.
Potentially Nepean’s first shot on target coming five minutes into the second half. A long ball forward from the back seeing Darcy Ellem combine with Matthew Crossley who sent the ball back to Ellem, Ellem unable to slot it past Jerome Narayan in the Dully net.
A miss which would prove more costly soon after, Dulwich Hill scoring their third in the 54th minute. Tripodi once again involved with the ball through to Mark Younes who had his shot saved before Daniel Padoani slotted the rebound home.
If there was any doubt about the final result, those doubts would be extinguished in the 72nd minute. Harry Browell finishing emphatically into the Nepean net to make it 4-0 in favour of the visitors.
That score-line further extended with a goal for Liam Spiropoulos inside the final ten minutes, his goal coming after the ball was delivered in from the left wing.
A big win for the visitors, they now move six points clear of Dunbar Rovers below them in 15th, while Nepean look set to fight it out with the Rovers to feature in the playoff.
Nepean FC 0
Dulwich Hill 5 (Te Rata 8’, Tripodi 10’, Padoani 55’, Browell 72’, Spiropoulos 82’)
Elsewhere:
UNSW FC 3-2 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
UNSW FC dealt Mt Druitt Town Rangers premiership hopes a blow with a 3-2 victory at the Village Green, Saturday night.
Proving once again a tough team to face, the students took the lead three times in this one with a Matias Da Silva Santos goal in the final ten minutes separating the sides.
They opened the scoring in the first half through Alexander Malfara not long after the tenth minute of play. Malfara with a lovely right footed volley around his body on the end of a cross from the right wing.
The visitors hitting back before the break through none other than Andre Martins who headed home inside the six yard box for the equaliser.
However the hosts would lead at the break through Gabriel Lopez who continues to find the back of the net for UNSW. His late arrival into the box opening up the Town Rangers defence before a touch and finish into the bottom right.
A lead which stood until the final ten minutes, Andre Martins making no mistake from the spot for his brace. Before Matias Da Silva Santos struck a blow to their title hopes. Cutting in from the left side before his curled effort was unfurled into the top right corner with just under ten to go.
UNSW FC next host Canterbury Bankstown while it’s another tough task for Mt Druitt Town Rangers against Inter Lions next weekend.
UNSW FC 3 (Malfara 12’, Lopez 45’, Da Silva Santos 82’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Martins 35’ 79’)
Inter Lions 3-0 Bulls FC Academy
A weekend of shocks indeed, Inter Lions scored a big win against competition leaders Bulls FC Academy at Majors Bay Reserve.
Now if only their season started this week! The hosts showing their midweek 5-0 result over Bonnyrigg White Eagles was now fluke with a three goal win here.
The first half saw the visitors hold a lot of the ball without causing any threat to the hosts defence. Their best chance of the half coming when a free-kick shaved the post on it’s way out.
While perhaps the most important moment of the game came late in the first half, Inter applying a high press which resulted in the ball falling to Lachlan Everett who dispatched his finish into the back of the net.
Chasing the game, there was a renewed urgency from the Bulls but they were to be frustrated throughout. Inter adding a second and third in the final 20 minutes. A delightful through ball by Nicholas Paras opening up an opportunity for Giuseppe Tilio to add their second.
Before Ollie Green added their third with his head after Nicholas Paras and Owen Duke played a role in that lead up.
The result the first slip up in a while for Craig Noone’s side while Inter Lions will have plenty of confidence heading into their match with Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Inter Lions 3 (Everett 45’, Tilio 72’, Green 77’)
Bulls FC Academy 0
SD Raiders 2-1 Dunbar Rovers
Establishing themselves as the in form team in the competition, SD Raiders secured their fifth straight triumph over Dunbar Rovers at Ernie Smith Reserve
It was hard fought however against a Dunbar side in desperate need of points, goals for Mihael Marcic and Noah Chianese enough to claim the spoils.
After being denied by a couple of reflex stops from Dunbar keeper Benjamin Wrigley, the hosts broke through in the opening ten minutes. Mihael Marcic converting his chance inside the six yard box to put the Raiders in control.
Dunbar unable to really challenge the hosts which their efforts limited to long range. SD Raiders adding their second after the hour through Noah Chianese from just inside the 18 yard box.
Overall though, it wasn’t a great performance from the hosts and Dunbar began to play their way into things in the final half hour. Mondo Kagami scoring their goal in the 72nd minute to half the deficit. Rovers unable to break through again despite pinning the hosts in their final third.
Results elsewhere mean Dunbar Rovers game next weekend against Macarthur Rams is a big one. While SD Raiders will need to step up against Bulls FC Academy.
SD Raiders 2 (Marcic 9’, Chianese 61’)
Dunbar Rovers 1 (Kagami 72’)
Canterbury Bankstown 0-3 Bankstown City
Bankstown City returned to winning ways with a derby victory over a struggling Canterbury Bankstown at Jensen Park.
Condemning the Berries to their fifth straight defeat, Chris Payne was a key contributor to the hosts victory as they ran away with the game in the second half.
The first half of this one wasn’t much to write home about with the “hosts” perhaps edging proceedings. Time ticking on before Bankstown City broke the deadlock with a quarter of the contest remaining.
Jonathan Grozdanovski breaking the deadlock just in time under heavy pressure from the Canterbury Bankstown keeper.
A lead which they doubled a few minutes later, Rhett Desilva adding their second to put the game beyond doubt. Before he turned provider for Chris Payne who found the back of the net himself with just over ten minutes remaining.
Bankstown City have the chance to put a dent in the top two hopes of Hakoah next weekend, while Canterbury Bankstown take the trip to the Village Green in round 26 action.
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Bankstown City 3 (Grozdanovski 72’, Desilva 75’, Payne 80’)
Blacktown Spartans 2-0 Northern Tigers
Bouncing back from a round 24 defeat, Blacktown Spartans picked up a 2-0 win over Northern Tigers on their home turf.
Scoring two second half goals through Aedon Kyra and Suleyman Bangura, Ben Rollison’s side picked up their fourth straight home victory.
After last weeks hefty defeat, a good start was imperative for the Spartans and for the most part, they delivered creating the better chances in the opening period while Tigers were a threat on the counter.
Ben Rollison’s side opening their account four minutes into the second half courtesy of Aedon Kyra, the assist coming from Demitrius Kigeya. Spartans putting the game to bed with fifteen minutes left with Suleyman Bangura scoring. The hosts having even more chances to blow out the scoreline which weren’t taken.
Blacktown Spartans next take on an in form Rydalmere, while Northern Tigers host Dulwich Hill back at home next weekend.
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Kyra 49’, Bangura 76’)
Northern Tigers 0
Macarthur Rams 1-3 Rydalmere Lions
Rydalmere Lions have played themselves clear of the relegation fight with a victory over Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park.
On the back of a midweek win against Dunbar Rovers, Abbas Saad’s side picked up another win over a team around them with three unanswered goals before a consolation came late.
Carrying momentum from their midweek victory, Rydalmere opened their account early on. Jihad Alsayed rounding the keeper and scoring into an open net after they won the ball from a high press.
Another defensive mistake giving the visitors a second on the quarter hour, Robert Eremugo heading home from a set piece. The Lion’s in control going into the sheds for half time.
Then came a Macarthur Rams response as they threw numbers forward chasing the game. Rydalmere taking advantage with Alsayed taking the ball forward from halfway before cutting it back to Isaac Cunningham who finished home.
Rams continuing to press getting a late consolation through Emmanuel Gonzalez who kept up his own scoring run.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Gonzalez 95’)
Rydalmere Lions 3 (Alsayed 6’, Eremugo 15’, Cunningham 67’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0-0 Hakoah FC
A key result in the top two race, Bonnyrigg White Eagles held Hakoah FC to a scoreless draw at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
After a big defeat midweek, Bonnyrigg were able to close up shop in this one securing a point from a game they would have gone into as underdogs.
While it’s a disappointing result for Hakoah FC who had the opportunity to pull the gap to second to a single result.
They next take on Bankstown City in a top four clash next weekend, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles take on Dulwich Hill in round 26 action.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Hakoah FC 0
Round 20 Result
Dunbar Rovers 3 (S.Tzanakes 23’, Howe 30’, Nicolosi 54’) defeated by Rydalmere Lions 4 (Kahale 12’, Eremugo 22’, 80’, Alsayed 62’)
By Justin Smith
