Round 27 Review – League Two Men’s
The Newcastle Jets won the 2024 Football NSW League Two Men’s title and secured promotion to the League One Men’s competition for 2025, while the Premiers’ potential full unbeaten season drew another week closer to reality in Round 27.
Elsewhere, in the Match of the Round, Bankstown United FC took another step towards finishing in the all-important promotion-playoff spot of 2nd on the ladder after their away win over Sydney University SFC.
Saturday, 3rd August 2024
Match of the Round: Sydney University SFC 0-2 Bankstown United FC
Bankstown United FC ensured they were in the prime position to take 2nd this season after goals in either half gave them a 2-0 away win over Sydney University SFC as they completed the perfect league double.
It was an intense start to the match with strong defending from both sides early, with the first shot of the match coming in the 12th minute from a corner for Bankstown’s Daniel Slane, where his shot went over the goal.
Bankstown had earned multiple corners to start the match and made one of them count in the 14th minute – A ball from the right from Marie Gauthier found the league’s top goal scorer in Mitchell Cross, who rose the highest in the middle of the box and looped a headed effort into the back of the net for his 30th goal of the season to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The goal for Cross put him five goals ahead of his nearest rival for the Golden Boot in Yuki Kanai.
In the following twenty minutes, a quiet period of the match followed, with the only attempt from either side being a shot which went wide from Bankstown.
In the 33rd minute, a mistake from University goalkeeper, Jasper Sarkies, saw Cross receive the ball; however, he could not direct a strong enough shot on goal as the University defence cleared his effort away.
Bankstown had a shot from Corey Freeman tipped behind for a corner, before a header from a corner for University went over the goal to end the half, with Bankstown in the lead at 1-0 at half-time following a tense first half.
In the 15 minutes following half-time, Bankstown had the next three chances, with a volley from Gauthier which went wide right, a shot low and hard by Freeman saved well by Sarkies and a header just wide from Freeman.
University had their first shot of the half in the 71st minute when substitute Caelan Hinckson shot an effort just wide left from outside the box, before Bankstown took advantage shortly after.
In the 74th minute, a corner from Gauthier was headed up into the air before it fell to Bankstown’s Harry Stavris, who looped a header over Sarkies and into the back of the net to double Bankstown’s lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
Bankstown almost added a third goal in the 80th minute when Gauthier got on the end of a cutback from the left, but his shot was saved at point-blank range by Sarkies for a corner.
University ramped up the pressure in the final ten minutes, with a chip from Sami Mrabet caught, a volley from Mrabet which went over the bar and a one-on-one chance to Peter Zervos which he could not take.
In the sixth minute of added time, Bankstown were reduced to ten men when Tyron Geany was shown a second yellow card for time-wasting.
Seconds later, the referee blew the whistle to signal full-time – Bankstown had taken another step towards their dream of promotion with a 2-0 away win over University.
Speaking post-match, Bankstown Head Coach Luke McGuire gave praise to his whole team, especially to their top goal scorer in Mitchell Cross.
“When we were in the State League, I think he would have scored close to or more than this but being in this league and under this much pressure it is quite an achievement.”
With three matches to go this season, McGuire said his team will stay focused on the task at hand heading into the final stage of the season.
“You do not take any team for granted… we are not taking any game for granted.”
The loss for University was their third in a row and saw them stay in 14th on 14 points, two ahead of last-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic, while the win for Bankstown saw them tighten their grip on 2nd, now on 54 points, five ahead of both 3rd-placed Mounties Wanderers FC, who have a match in hand, and 4th-placed Inner West Hawks FC.
University will hope to bounce back and avoid last-place when they host 13th-placed Prospect United SC in Round 28, while Bankstown will look to move one step closer to the promotion play-off when they travel to face the 9th-placed Granville Rage.
Sydney University SFC 0
Bankstown United FC 2 (Mitchell Cross 14’; Harry Stavris 74’; Tyron Geany 90+6’ red card)
South Coast Flame FC 5-2 Granville Rage
South Coast Flame FC won their first match in three weeks in emphatic fashion after their 5-2 home win over Granville Rage.
The Flame started the match brightly, with an early chance to Genki Iwata which went wide before they made their early possession count.
In the 16th minute, Samuel Alston slid Namito Tsuchiya in behind, who squared the ball to Iwata in the middle – he curled a shot into the back of the net to give the Flame the early 1-0 lead.
The Rage’s Jad Moussa had a shot from outside the box go wide shortly after before the Flame doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.
A corner floated to the back post was headed across goal by Jason Pappas to Alexander Alston, who flicked the ball beyond Rage goalkeeper, Branko Vodakovic, and into the back of the net to give the Flame a 2-0 advantage.
One minute later, the Rage’s Timothy Trainor had a shot which had beaten Flame goalkeeper Jordan Bruce, but his shot was cleared off the line by Alexander Alston.
The Flame stepped up the heat in the 41st minute when Iwata dispossessed a Rage defender deep into the attacking third and chipped Vidakovic to give the Flame a 3-0 lead at half-time.
The hosts continued their momentum after the break, with back-to-back chances to Michael Trajkovski which just went wide of the target, with the Rage having made four changes at half-time.
Trajkovski made no mistake in the 54th minute, however, after he got on the end of some clever work from Iwata, who cut the ball back to him, and slotted the ball home for a 4-0 Flame lead.
Two minutes later, Trajkovski had a double after some nice work from Tsuchiya saw him play a ball to Trajkovski, who finished the chance to give the Flame a 5-0 lead before the hour mark.
The Rage pulled a goal back in the 60th minute through substitute Asmir Kadric, who scored from just inside the box to get the Rage on the board at 5-1 down.
Kadric had another chance for the Rage two minutes later but could not direct his shot on target.
Jyden Harb and Ryan Chard both had chances late for the Flame but were unable to find the back of the net before the Rage grabbed another consolation goal in the 88th minute.
Substitute Timothy Borg-Williams got on the end of a cross from Ante Tomic and headed the ball home to make the final score read 5-2.
The win for the Flame saw them stay in 5th on 45 points, while the loss for the Rage saw them drop from 8th to 9th on 32 points.
The Flame will hope to continue on their way to a strong end to the season when they travel to face 10th-placed Camden Tigers FC next week, while the Rage will hope to end their three-match losing streak and have their say on the promotion race when they host 2nd-placed Bankstown United FC.
South Coast Flame FC 5 (Genki Iwata 16’, 41’; Alexander Alston 23’; Michael Trajkovski 54’, 56’)
Granville Rage 2 (Asmir Kadric 60’; Timothy Borg-Williams 88’)
Parramatta FC 2-0 Hurstville FC
An early goal and a late goal sealed the match for Parramatta FC in their 2-0 home win over a ten-man Hurstville FC in what was a tight contest.
Parramatta controlled possession to start the match and capitalised in the 6th minute when Harry Sutherland made a run up the field and threaded a ball in behind down the left before the ball was cut back to Bret Sibanda in the middle, who slotted the ball home to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
Both teams created chances in the first half, but Parramatta had a golden chance to take a 2-0 lead in the 17th minute when Hurstville’s Stephan Perak fouled Parramatta’s Marco Sama in the box for a penalty – Sama stepped up but had his penalty attempt saved by Hurstville goalkeeper Michael Rutherford, before a follow-up shot was deflected past the left post for a goal kick.
1-0 down at half-time, Hurstville started the second half strongly but could not convert their chances, while Parramatta looked to counter.
Hurstville had a big chance when Jacob Botic was played a ball from the left across goal, but his shot just went past the left post.
The match changed late when Hurstville substitute Juan Da Silva was shown a red card for a studs-up slide tackle.
From there, the match opened up and Parramatta secured the win in the 88th minute when a long ball over the top found substitute Bo Hyun Chun, who chipped Rutherford from 25 yards to seal the three points for Parramatta in a 2-0 win.
The win for Parramatta was their third in a row and their fourth from their past five matches as their strong end to the season continued, as they rose from 9th to 8th on the ladder, while the loss for Hurstville was their first in five weeks as they stayed in 7th.
Parramatta will hope to win a fourth-straight match when they travel to face 12th-placed Hawkesbury City FC next week, while Hurstville will hope to bounce back and have their say on the promotion race when they travel to face 3rd-placed Mounties Wanderers FC.
Parramatta FC 2 (Bret Sibanda 6’; Bo Hyun Chun 86’)
Hurstville FC 0 (Juan Da Silva 80’ red card)
Hawkesbury City FC 2-5 Central Coast United FC
A hat-trick hero helped Central Coast United FC continue their strong end to the season in a 5-2 comeback away win over Hawkesbury City FC.
The Hawks started the match strongly and capitalised in the 16th minute when Harry Drew made the most of a failed clearance from the Pirates and slotted the ball home to give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, the Hawks doubled their lead when Vincent D’Ermilio scored from the top of the box to give the Hawks a 2-0 advantage.
Central Coast grabbed a goal back in the 43rd minute when Cade Mapu scored his 10th goal of the season after he got on the end of a free-kick to make the score read 2-1 to Hawkesbury at the break.
After half-time, however, the Pirates got right back into the contest with a goal to Daniel Mcfarlane in the 49th minute, who levelled the match at 2-2, while Hawkesbury had a change at the back to start the half.
The Pirates took the lead for the first time in the match in the 56th minute when Mcfarlane grabbed his second, before Michael Singh added a fourth for the visitors five minutes later.
Mcfarlane completed his hat-trick in the 84th minute to give Central Coast a 5-2 comeback win over the Hawks.
The loss for Hawkesbury saw them drop from 11th to 12th on the ladder, while the win for Central Coast was their fourth in a row and saw them guarantee at least a 6th-placed finish this season, while they stayed just one point behind 5th-placed South Coast Flame FC.
Hawkesbury City will hope to bounce back in the battle of the hawks next week when they host 8th-placed Parramatta FC, while Central Coast United will look to continue their charge for a top five finish when they host 11th-placed Fraser Park FC.
Hawkesbury City FC 2 (Harry Drew 16’; Vincent D’Ermilio 26’)
Central Coast United FC 5 (Cade Mapu 43’; Daniel Mcfarlane 49’, 56’, 84’; Michael Singh 61’)
Prospect United SC 1-1 Fraser Park FC
Prospect United SC held off a comeback from Fraser Park with both sides reduced to ten men in the contest in a 1-1 draw.
Fraser Park started the match with more possession, but it was Prospect who struck first on the counter through Jacob Micallef in the 29th minute with a first-time shot in the box at the near post to give the hosts a 1-0 lead at half-time.
Youssef Badr had a chance for Prospect from 35 yards when he spotted Fraser Park goalkeeper Amaro Ferreira off his line, but his effort went wide.
One minute later in the 55th minute, Fraser Park equalised when a mix up at the back saw Prospect goalkeeper Thomas Sutton hit the ball into the side of Fraser Park’s Francis Mcalpine’s boot, which sent the ball into the back of the net to level the match at 1-1.
Sutton was sent off in the 59th minute when he fouled Mcalpine as the last defender, outside the box, which meant Prospect had to play the rest of the match with ten men.
Prospect created chances with ten men, with Shaan Birring having three headers which went over the bar from corners, as well as chances to Reo Hirose and Mason Vuki, with their shots saved and shot wide, respectively.
The visitors created chances, themselves, but were also unable to find the goal with the man advantage.
Fraser Park were reduced to ten men, themselves, in the fourth minute of stoppage time when goal scorer Mcalpine was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge.
In the end, neither side could find the winner as the match finished in a 1-1 draw.
The draw for Prospect saw them stay in 13th place on 25 points, while the draw for Fraser Park saw them drop from 10th to 11th on 27 points.
Prospect will hope to end their six-match winless streak when they travel to face 14th-placed Sydney University SFC next week, while Fraser Park will hope to end their own five-match winless streak when they travel to take on 6th-placed Central Coast United FC.
Prospect United SC 1 (Jacob Micallef 29’; Thomas Sutton 59’ red card)
Fraser Park FC 1 (Francis Mcalpine 55’, 90+4’ red card)
Camden Tigers FC 4-1 Gladesville Ryde Magic
Camden Tigers FC won back-to-back matches for the first time since Round Eight after they came from behind to grab a 4-1 home win over Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Gladesville took the early lead in the 5th minute when Hugo Delhommelle scored to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Camden struck back in the 16th minute when Avisai Vunisasaro found the back of the net to level the match at 1-1 at half-time.
Vunisasaro completed his double after half-time in the 49th minute to give Camden the lead for the first time in the match at 2-1.
Seven minutes later, Andrew Head scored to give Camden a 3-1 lead.
Half-time substitute Bailey Simpson gave Camden a commanding 4-1 lead in the 67th minute to wrap up the 4-1 win.
Gladesville goalkeeper Nicolas Carr made some big saves to prevent Camden from scoring more in a match where they utilised many under-18’s and under-20’s players and had 21 shots to Gladesville’s 11.
The win for Camden saw them rise from 12th to 10th on the ladder as they took another positive step forward, while the loss for Gladesville saw them go eight matches without a win as they stayed in last-place, two points behind 14th-placed Sydney University SFC.
Camden will hope to close the gap to the three teams above them when they host 5th-placed South Coast Flame FC next week, while Gladesville will hope to cause a major upset when they travel to face this season’s Premiers, the Newcastle Jets.
Camden Tigers FC 4 (Avisai Vunisasaro 16’, 49’; Andrew Head 56’; Bailey Simpson 67’)
Gladesville Ryde Magic 1 (Hugo Delhommelle 5’)
Sunday, 4th August 2024
Newcastle Jets 5-3 Inner West Hawks FC
The Newcastle Jets wrapped up the 2024 League Two Men’s title, kept their unbeaten season going and secured promotion to the League One Men’s competition for 2025 in style after a come-from-behind 5-3 win over Inner West Hawks FC, who had their own promotion hopes damaged.
The Hawks had the early advantage in the all-important match when Takuma Hirano was fouled in the penalty area in the 10th minute – he stepped up and dispatched the spot-kick to give the Hawks an early 1-0 lead away.
Newcastle struck back one minute later when a cross into the Hawks’ box was not dealt with, which left Wil Southcombe with an open goal, which he accepted to level the match at 1-1.
Five minutes later, Xavier Bertoncello continued his strong season for the Jets when he got on the end of a ball played in behind the Hawks’ defence and slotted the ball home to give the Jets a 2-1 lead early.
Bertoncello scored his 14th goal of the season in the 28th minute to give the Jets a 3-1 lead and took them one step closer to the ultimate glory.
Alex Nunes all-but sealed the win in the first half in the 38th minute when he scored his 10th goal of the season to give the Jets a 4-1 lead.
The Hawks hit back straight away, however, in the 40th minute when Takuma Hirano played Peter Yannopoulos in behind the Jets defence before he slotted the ball home to make the score read 4-2 at half-time.
The Hawks had chances to Hirano, Hesan Soufi and Peter Phillips but were unable to convert them to get themselves back into the match.
With 21 shots to the Jets and 24 shots to the Hawks in a match full of action, the Jets wrapped up the victory in the 63rd minute when Nunes completed his double from a corner to give the Jets a 5-2 lead.
The Hawks scored a consolation goal in the 70th minute when Hirano converted from the penalty spot once again, but the Hawks were unable to find more goals from there as the Jets took out the victory, 5-3.
The win for the Jets ensured they became Premiers with three rounds remaining and secured promotion to the League One Men’s competition for 2025, with their full unbeaten season just three matches away from becoming a reality.
The loss for the Hawks, meanwhile, saw them stay in 4th place and saw them drop to five points behind 2nd-placed Bankstown United FC as their own promotion hopes took a big hit.
The Jets will celebrate winning the league and securing promotion before they look to continue their unbeaten season when they host last-placed Gladesville Ryde Magic next week, while the Hawks have a bye in Round 28.
Newcastle Jets 5 (Wil Southcombe 11’; Xavier Bertoncello 16’, 28’; Alex Nunes 38’, 63’)
Inner West Hawks FC 3 (Takuma Hirano 10’ pen, 70’ pen; Peter Yannopoulos 40’)
Mounties Wanderers FC had a bye in Round 27 and stayed in 3rd place.
By Football New South Wales League Two Men’s Reporter, Dylan Costa (@_dylancosta)
