Round 27 Review – League One Men’s
There’s life in the top two race yet after round 27 of the Football NSW League One Men’s competition this weekend.
Both top two sides dropping points, Bankstown City could have the opportunity to sneak into the top two if results go there way. While Dulwich Hill and Inter Lions met in our match of the round.
Match of the Round: Dulwich Hill 0-0 Inter Lions
Dulwich Hill and Inter Lions shared the spoils in our match of the round at Arlington Oval Saturday evening.
A clash of styles in this one, Dulwich Hill quickly settled into a passing rhythm in the opening five minutes while Inter looked to break forward at speed.
Dulwich Hill creating their first half chance of the game in the 9th minute. Jamison Power sending a cross into the area which took a touch off Jake Bradshaw out for a goal kick.
While Inter Lions had their first effort on goal just after the 12th minute. Lachlan Everett picking the ball up outside the area before his right footed effort destined for the bottom left corner was saved by Jerome Narayan around the post. Narayan recently called up to the Fiji National Team.
Most efforts were restricted to range though as both sides wrestled for control. Everett having his second shot of the match in the 20th minute which was comfortably saved. Dulwich Hill responding in kind seconds late through Jake Bradshaw who fired wide with a powerful effort.
Inter Lions seeming the more likely to trouble the back of the net as the clock ticked past the half hour. Speaking of, how do we feel about scoreboard clocks counting down? I’m not a fan.
It’s at this point we should credit both defences in this one who were proving hard to break down at either end. The teams going into the break scoreless, can’t imagine the XG being particularly high in this one either.
Inter Lions seeming the more likely to trouble the back of the net as the clock ticked past the half hour. Speaking of, how do we feel about scoreboard clocks counting down? I’m not a fan.
A game of few chances up until this point, it made an early chance for Inter Lions and Oliver Green that little bit more frustrating after the resumption. Green heading wide after a cross came in from the left.
Green denied once again in the opening ten minutes of the second half after a high press forced a turnover. Green’s shot saved well by Narayan down to his right from a Giuseppe Tilio cut back. Tilio the next to have a shot in this period as the visitors looked the most likely.
However that momentum was halted by the sending off of Oliver Green before the hour for a lunging challenge. The resulting free kick seeing Dulwich Hill have a good opportunity on goal, a header across the face causing trouble before Dylan Lamour couldn’t turn it goal wards.
Inter Lions having a good period following their red card with a couple of half chances, their intensity frustrating the visitors.
However, Dully’s best chance soon came in the 74th minute. A cross from the left finding the towering presence of Mark Younes at the back post who couldn’t steer his header on target.
The hosts unable to find a way through to capitalise on their player advantage, both teams sharing a well earned point.
Dulwich Hill remain in 13th position with a tough task against Rydalmere next weekend. While Inter Lions have a midweek catch up against Nepean FC this Wednesday night.
Dulwich Hill 0
Inter Lions 0
Elsewhere
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2-2 Blacktown Spartans
Mt Druitt Town Rangers were denied the chance to extend a gap further at the top by a Blacktown Spartans equaliser in the final ten minutes of regulation.
Another result which proves that three points isn’t a given in this league, the result sees the Town Rangers extend their advantage to three points.
A hard fought fixture, sharing the points was probably the fairest result here with both sides creating good opportunities. Mt Druitt taking the lead in the 34th minute who was fed by Daniel Wong who broke forward in transition.
That lead standing until the 53rd minute when Joseph Hatem equalised slotting home for a deserved equaliser. However the hosts would then retake the lead through Daniel Wong who scored spectacularly from outside the area. Before the visitors drew level via a late deflected own goal in the games final stages.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers visit Hakoah FC in a big game next weekend, while Blacktown Spartans face another away trip to Macarthur Rams next weekend.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2 (Martins 34’, Wong 71’)
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Hatem 53’, Whiteside OG 84’)
Rydalmere Lions 5-2 Bulls FC Academy
Rydalmere Lions continued their free-scoring ways with a 5-2 victory over Bulls FC Academy at Rydalmere Park.
Scoring eleven goals in their last two games, they dealt another blow to the premiership hopes of Bulls FC Academy with this victory.
The hosts stunned their opponents with their start racing out to a three goal lead in the opening half hour. Robert Eremugo scoring their first in the 16th minute before Isaac Cunningham and Jihad Alsayed joined him in finding the back of the net. Bulls struggling to match their intensity. A lifeline given to them when Flynn Madden converted a free kick from the edge of the box late in the first half.
Indeed it was the start of each half where the game was won, Robert Eremugo sealing his brace in the 56th minnute. The hosts then content to sit back and let the visitors try to play their way through. Zane Helweh scoring the Bulls second in the 80th minute before Dillan Kahale scored on the break deep into injury time.
Rydalmere Lions picking up their fifth straight result while Bulls FC Academy lost their third straight game.
Rydalmere Lions 5 (Eremugo 16’ 56’, Cunningham 17’, Alsayed 26’, Kahale 94’)
Bulls FC Academy 2 ()
Hakoah FC 2-3 UNSW FC
Hakoah FC missed a big opportunity to make up ground on the top two going down 3-2 in a local derby against UNSW FC at Hensley Athletic.
Securing a season double over the hosts, UNSW picked up their fourth straight victory as they make a late season charge up the table. The result also seeing Hakoah slip down to fourth place, winless in their last three.
Looking to play spoiler on the night, UNSW took the lead after the 25th minute, a quick transition releasing Matias Da Silva Santos on the right whose cross to the back point was met by Jeremy Cox who finished well from close range.
The visitors adding a second five minutes later, Jeremy Cox found in a central area who touch through the legs of a Hakoah defender found Sean Woods who who slotted it into the bottom right corner.
That lead lasting almost a half hour before Cam Philpot opened the hosts tally. Philpot heading home past the keeper after a cross in from the right. Their equaliser coming in similar circumstances, a low cross this time touched home from inside the six yard box.
There would be a final twist in the tail though with the students breaking the hosts hearts, Sean Woods scoring his second with a lovely first time finish from just outside the area, Corby Fowler with the assist on that one.
Hakoah FC 2 (Philpot 57’ 84’)
UNSW FC 3 (Cox 26’, Woods 30’ 85’)
Bankstown City 1-0 Nepean FC
Don’t count them out just yet! Bankstown City climbed into third with a narrow victory over Nepean FC at Jensen Park.
Three points taking them to within five points of a playoff spot, they still need results to go there way but they still have an outside chance of post season football.
The hosts didn’t have it all their own way against a disciplined Nepean side in defence. Bankstown City having to wait until the 35th minute to find the goal which separated the sides. Rhett Desilva scoring another crucial goal for the club after linking with Jonathan Grozdanovski on the left wing.
City’s tenth clean sheet of the season, they move on to a big game next weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles away from home, while Nepean have a big midweek game to look forward too against Inter Lions as they look to jump off the bottom.
Bankstown City 1 (Desilva 35’)
Nepean FC 0
SD Raiders 3-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
SD Raiders had a night to remember securing a derby victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles in style, Saturday evening.
Their seventh straight win, it’s a tad unfortunate for them that the season is coming to a close, the result a turnaround of the first round match up between the two.
They started this one in fine form having two opportunities cleared off the line before they scored their go ahead goal before the tenth minute. Charlie Ragg on the spot to finish after a save was parried into his path.
Continuing to create chances, they found their second in the 26th minute, Noah Chianese converting a cross at the back post to double their advantage. A one sided first half concluded with another Charlie Ragg goal with a couple minutes remaining, Ragg finishing from outside the area low into the net.
In contrast to the first half, Bonnyrigg White Eagles inspired after the break putting multiple balls into the attacking area. Finally finding their goal with just over five minutes left to Stefan Nikolic. That goal waking the Raiders up who had the chance to add a fourth from the spot, Luke Turnbull making the save to keep things respectable.
SD Raiders 3 (Ragg 8’ 43’, Chianese 26’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Nikolic 84’)
Northern Tigers 2-3 Macarthur Rams
Perhaps the most important result of the weekend, Macarthur Rams picked up a round 27 win over Northern Tigers to steer themselves clear of trouble in the competition.
A see-sawing fixture, they scored three goals in just over an hour before holding on for three crucial points which should ensure survival for the club.
This one came to life late in the first half with a Macarthur Rams goal opening the game up. That goal scored by Paul Soravia who picked up his second goal of the season in the 37th minute before Northern Tigers hit back from the spot a minute before the break.
Two goals in the third quarter of this one enough for Rams to walk away with a breakthrough win. Jacob Esposito putting them ahead seven minutes into the second half before Connor Spurway added their third after the hour. Kai Denton scoring a consolation with ten minutes remaining to half the advantage.
Macarthur Rams next face Blacktown Spartans back at home next weekend while Northern Tigers make the trip to Fraser Park in R28 action.
Northern Tigers 2 (Denton 44’ 81’)
Macarthur Rams 3 (Soravia 37’, Esposito 52’, Spurway 62’)
Dunbar Rovers 0-0 Canterbury Bankstown
Canterbury Bankstown halted their losing streak with a scoreless draw away from home against Dunbar Rovers.
With results not in their favour elsewhere, avoiding the relegation playoff looks a tough ask for Dunbar with a big game against Nepean FC approaching in a couple of weeks.
Two sides who have struggled to find the back of the net in recent times, they couldn’t be separated despite their best efforts.
Dunbar Rovers now three points above Nepean next face Northern Tigers next weekend, while Canterbury Bankstown could have a big say in their fate when they take on Nepean FC next weekend.
Dunbar Rovers 0
Canterbury Bankstown 0
By Justin Smith
