Round 26 Review – League One Men’s

Another change at the top of the table highlighted round 26 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition as we approach the final month.
Our match of the round saw Bankstown City come from behind against Hakoah, while Mt Druitt Town Rangers scored a big win over Inter Lions and Bulls FC Academy slipped up against SD Raiders.
Match of the Round: Bankstown City 2-1 Hakoah FC
Bankstown City dealt a major blow to the top two hopes of Hakoah FC with a 2-1 victory at Jensen Park, Saturday afternoon.
Narrowing the gap between these two sides down to one point in the process, the hosts found a goal early in the second half to give them the three points.
The visitors had the perfect start to this one with a goal in the 11th minute, Samuel Young picking out the bottom corner with his effort from the edge of the area to put the visitors in the lead. Young applying a finesse finish akin to what you would see in a EA Sports video game.
A lack of a final pass preventing them from taking a two goal lead as the two sides fought tooth and nail for control of this one.
While Bankstown City won a set piece at the other end in the 25th minute, Chris Payne hitting a free-kick from just outside the area which forced Nikolas Loe to palm it over the crossbar.
Indeed it was the hosts who were in control of proceedings at this point, with Nikolas Loe sweeping behind his defence to deny Jonathan Grozdanovski the chance running onto a Devante Clut through ball before the half hour.
An important moment in this one being a first half substitution of Hakoah captain Yianni Spyrakis who went off injured after 35 minutes.
Bankstown City’s equaliser coming just seconds after, the ageless Jeffrey Issa delivering a cross from the right on the overlap which was headed home by Chris Payne who beat Loe to the ball in the air at the near post.
Hakoah’s Ginjira Chiba trying his lack from long range seconds later as the visitors looked to re-establish their lead. While Devante Club hit the crossbar with a powerful effort at the other end. The hosts on top as the two sides trudged towards the sheds for the half-time break.
It was Bankstown City to seize the initiative in this one with a goal two minutes into the second half. A poor throw in from the visitors seeing them give the ball away in their own half. Rhett Desilva the beneficiary with a shot which rattled the crossbar before Jonathan Grozdanovski scored on the rebound with a sweet left footed strike
The hosts nearly adding a third around the 55th minute, Chris Payne having his curling effort saved by Loe onto the crossbar. Hakoah picking up another injury after the hour mark, the intensity of this one taking a toll on the visitors..
While Nicholas Tooley had a chance with just under 15 minutes left, Nicholas Tooley heading over the bar, their corner coming in from the right wing.
Bankstown City running down the clock well in the final stages to claim the three points, with the only real Hakoah chances coming in injury time with Behnam Ramandi and George Tuson-Firth not really troubling the hosts goal.
Bankstown City host Nepean FC next Saturday, while Hakoah host UNSW FC in round 27 action.
Bankstown City 2 (Payne 36’, Grozdanovski 47’)
Hakoah FC 1 (Young 11’)
Elsewhere
Bulls FC Academy 0-4 SD Raiders
A big result in the race for potential automatic promotion, SD Raiders showed no mercy in putting four past then competition leaders Bulls FC Academy in Sydney’s South-West.
Stretching their winning streak to six games, they scored three goals in the second half to claim the three points with Noah Chianese scoring a hat-trick.
After an even opening ten minutes, the SD Raiders found their groove shortly after. They opened their account inside the quarter hour. Noah Chianese scoring a back post header for the first of his three goals.
The visitors limiting their hosts to just two opportunities in the first half with the Raiders nearly adding a second or third.
With their opposition chasing the game, Goran Ljuboja’s side then added three goals in the final twenty minutes. The next couple of goals comiing in transition, Noah Chianese scoring his second in the 73rd minute before Sebastian Malfara converted a penalty for their third.
Noah Chianese completing his hat-trick in the 81st minute. SD Raiders showing some ruthlessness against a Bulls FC Academy side who played well in patches but couldn’t find a cutting edge.
Bulls FC Academy 0
SD Raiders 4 (Chianese 14’ 73’ 81’, Malfara 76’)
Macarthur Rams 1-1 Dunbar Rovers
Dunbar Rovers came from behind to take a point away from home against Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park.
A result which does the visitors no favours in their quest to avoid a playoff, there’s still six points between the sides with four weeks of the season remaining.
The key moment of this one came before the half hour with a penalty giving Rams the chance to take the lead. Emmanuel Gonzalez making no mistake fifth goal in four games.
A game which they couldn’t afford to drop points in, Dunbar found an equaliser before the break. Reece Berelowitz scoring in his second game since returning to the starting line up from a Daisuke Yamaguchi cross.
Both sides having chances throughout the second half with neither unable to find a breakthrough. Dunbar sitting six points behind the Rams take on Bonnyrigg, Tuesday night. While Rams make the tough trip to North Turramurra next weekend.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Gonzalez 26’)
Dunbar Rovers 1 (Berelowitz 44’)
Inter Lions 1-4 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Taking advantage of results elsewhere, Mt Druitt Town Rangers returned to the top of the table with a 4-1 victory over Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
Indeed, receiving a boost before kick off courtesy of results elsewhere, they swept aside their hosts who held an advantage early on, Marcus Lal scoring a brace on the night.
Inter Lions started this one the better of the two sides with a fantastic Nicholas Paras free-kick from just outside the area.
However to their credit, the Town Rangers responded well and took control of proceedings. Daniel Wong burying a long range shot for their equaliser 33 minutes in before Marcus Lal scored his first on his 21st birthday nonetheless. Lal combining with Charles Mendy who did some good work down the right.
Mendy going on to double their advantage with a finish from the edge of the area in the 65th minute before Lal added his second seven minutes later to complete a big performance from Andy Montgomery’s side.
They return home to face Blacktown Spartans next weekend while Inter Lions travel east to take on Dulwich Hill.
Inter Lions 1 (Paras 4’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4 (Wong 33’, Lal 43’ 72’, Mendy 65’)
Northern Tigers 4-0 Nepean FC
Northern Tigers secured their second straight victory over a bottom four side with a 4-0 win over Nepean FC.
A tough night for the visitors who saw two players and their coach sent off, three goals in the final ten minutes of the first half saw the Tigers roar to their 13th win of the season.
The Tigers opened their account in the 35th minute through Kai Denton, Denton converting from the spot after a good dribble taking the ball into the area.
A lead which was doubled five minutes later through Ally Brown, the midfield unleashing a left footed strike which found the back of the net on the end of a corner routine. That two goal lead stretched to three goals when Hiyori Kawaguchi applied a lob over the keeper, keeper Bodie Denton with the assist for that goal.
Christian Tierney scoring from close range after the 70th minute to add to the TIgers dominant victory. That goal coming after two Nepean players were sent off before the hour mark.
It doesn’t get any easier for Nepean who visit Bankstown City next weekend, while Northern Tigers host Macarthur Rams.
Northern Tigers 4 (Denton 35’, Brown 40’, Kawaguchi 42’, Tierney 74’)
Nepean FC 0
UNSW FC 4-1 Canterbury Bankstown
UNSW FC continued their hot streak with a third straight victory overcoming Canterbury Bankstown by a three goal margin at the Village Green.
The students were in control of this one throughout picking up their 12th win of the season with Jack Fulton scoring a brace.
It took the hosts 13 minutes to find their first goal, a corner from the right cleared to the edge of the area where Lachlan Hughes was waiting. Hughes hitting a sweet right footed strike into the top left corner.
UNSW making it two before the break, Jack Fulton scoring his first of the evening on the break after been released on halfway. Fulton taking it in close range before slipping it past the keeper.
That two goal advantage stretched out to three through the same outlet. This time Fulton finishing from outside the box after a build up down their left.
However there was to be a response and Canterbury Bankstown scored their first through Taiga Kawano who finished from close range after a lovely through ball. UNSW adding their fourth goal in the final minute of regulation through Mitchell Mattison who scored the pick of the goals with a sweet left footed strike on the bounce.
UNSW FC 4 (Hughes 14’, Fulton 38’ 58’, Mattison 90’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Kawano 73’)
Dulwich Hill 1-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Digging deep for their second win in the space of seven days, Dulwich Hill moved eight points clear of the bottom two with a single goal win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Condemning the visitors to their third defeat in four, Jake Bradshaw scored the all important goal ten minutes into the second half.
Missing seven players down to injury and suspension, the hosts dug deep and played with plenty of heart in this one controlling the game from start to finish. A key addition recently being that of James Duvcevski whose played a big role organising their defence.
While Liam Spiropoulos, Daniel Padoani and Domenico Tripodi also played their part in this one. The win putting them eight points clear of the bottom two ahead of their game with Inter Lions next weekend. While Bonnyrigg White Eagles could have a big say in the fight for survival when they host Dunbar Rovers, Tuesday night.
Dulwich Hill 1 (Bradshaw 54’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Rydalmere Lions 6-1 Blacktown Spartans
Finally in our review, Rydalmere Lions let their hair down with a 6-1 truimph over Blacktown Spartans at Rydalmere Park.
In some of the best form we’ve seen from them this season, they secured their third straight win to bring themselves to within two points of their opponents on the night.
Keeping it short and sharp, Rydalmere Lions played some of their best football this season while Blacktown Spartans were playing some of their worst. Lions well and truly on top from start to finish in front of a healthy crowd on their sponsors night.
Isaac Cunningham opened their account in the 28th minute before Robert Eremugo added their second before the break. Those two goals added too in the second half with Hyungmin Yang, Luca Kmet and Lachlan Lal both finding the back of the net. Eremugo also adding a second to his tally. While Daniel Kraljevic scored a consolation goal for Blacktown Spartans.
Rydalmere Lions 6 (Cunningham 28’, Eremugo 42’ 90’, Yang 57’, Kmet 69’, Lal 72’)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Kraljevic 76’)
By Justin Smith