Round 29 Review – League One Men’s
A week to go and there’s all to play for in the promotion/relegation race in the FNSW League One Men’s competition after Round 29 action.
Both clashes at either end of the table finished level while elsewhere Blacktown Spartans, Rydalmere Lions and UNSW FC secured big wins.
Match of the Round: Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0-0 Bulls FC Academy
Mt Druitt Town Rangers held Bulls FC Academy to a draw in our match of the round at Popondetta Park.
A result which puts them in the drivers seat approaching the final round, they played the game on their terms for much of the second half.
With a decent crowd assembled for a potential title decider, the first big chance of the game fell to the visitors, some neat play down the left seeing Oliver Randazzo have an effort from the edge of the area which was claimed by Dylan Niski.
While Mt Druitt Town Rangers followed soon after with a good chance of their own. Daniel Wong picking up a ball in the final third before firing over the bar marginally.
Both sides defences kept busy in the early stages of this one with the hosts looking the more threatening approaching the quarter hour. An audacious effort from Andre Martins nearly catching Bulls keeper Robinson off his line around this time.
The hosts given a good opportunity from the set piece after the 20th minute after Robinson over stepped his mark outside his area. Andre Martins effort on goal deflected over the bar.
For the most part, the respective defences were on top, the hosts led by Tom Whiteside and Adrian Delmoni, while Bulls FC Academy’s Sebastian Krslovic and Oliver Jones were perhaps the busier of the opening half hour.
Bulls finally creating another chance of note approaching the 40th minute, Dean Bosnjak turning his defender to go through on goal, the attacker denied by a smart one-on-one save by Dylan Niski. Flynn Madden following up soon after when his shot flashed across the face of goal approaching injury time.
Chances at a premium continuing into the second half with both sides competing well. The most likely either side looked being the hosts from the set piece.
Which made a set piece for Bulls with 25 minutes left more critical, however there was no way through a well organised Town Rangers defence.
While Mt Druitt Town Rangers nearly found the goal to send them up, Andre Martins having his header across goal in the 75th minute cleared off the line before a dangerous delivery was cleared by a scrambling defence soon after.
The hosts having the better chances at this point with another Martins cross put over the bar by Daniel Wong at the back post.
However Bulls FC Academy went oh so close to a winner in the last minute of regulation through Flynn Madden. Madden hitting the base of the left post with his first time effort.
A renewed urgency seeing Bulls continue to search for the decisive goal until the final whistle. They will face Hakoah FC next weekend, while Mt Druitt Town Rangers host Dunbar Rovers with a draw all they need for promotion back to the top flight.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0
Bulls FC Academy 0
Elsewhere
Nepean FC 1-1 Dunbar Rovers
It was tense, it was hard fought, it was everything you expected this one to be as Nepean FC drew with Dunbar Rovers at Valentine Sports Park.
A result which takes it to the final day, Dunbar Rovers took the lead in this with a little under 20 minutes to go before Nepean FC hit back in quick fashion soon after.
There was a good tempo to this one in the early stages as both sides created opportunities in the opening five minutes. Mondo Kagami having a effort for the visitors, while Jacob Vasilou and Luka Zepina had chances for the hosts.
And if you weren’t distracted by the attempts of a certain spectator/fellow fnsw writer (hey Justin Davies) trying to assemble a table. You would have noticed a hard fought battle for a lot of the first half. Harrison Fox for Nepean and Emmanuel Tzanakes having chances at either end in the dying stages of the first half.
In contrast to the first half, the second half saw Nepean take the ascendancy creating a few chances before Dunbar Rovers took the lead. Samuel Tzanakes the scorer with a lovely finish into the bottom left corner.
That lead lasting all of three minutes before the equaliser came at the other end, Daunte Cervo applying a powerful finish across goal. Both sides then playing out a tense final quarter hour as tempers threatened to boil over.
Nepean perhaps in the box seat going into the final round as they face, Rydalmere Lions in round 30 action. While Dunbar make the trip west to face potential champions Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Nepean FC 1 (Cervo 75‘)
Dunbar Rovers 1 (S.Tzanakes 72’)
Blacktown Spartans 5-1 Bankstown City
Blacktown Spartans ended the top two hopes of Bankstown City with a ruthless performance in their final home game of the season.
Scoring four goals in the first half, the hosts put this game well beyond doubt with the win a welcome boost for Ben Rollison’s side heading into the off season. The result a knock out blow for Bankstown City’s season as they look set to finish in third.
They opened their account before the half hour from the set piece. George Timotheou heading the ball down from a corner for Jamie Percevski to finish. On top, they scored another three before half time, the best of which came through Christian Nascimben who hit the ball into the top left corner on the half volley, Aedon Kyra with the assist.
The third and four goals coming inside five minutes after that one, Nascimben picking up a brace arriving late into the area before Suleyman Bangura added a fourth after some good combination play in the lead up.
With the game beyond doubt, Bankstown City managed a response through Jamie Masson in the 46th minute before Aedon Kyra added the Spartans fifth twenty minutes left. Kyra and Araujo their best on the evening.
Blacktown Spartans 5 (Percevski 27’, Nascimben 36’ 38’, Bangura 41’. Kyra 70’)
Bankstown City 1 (Masson 46’)
Rydalmere Lions 3-1 SD Raiders
Rydalmere Lions picked up a big scalp in SD Raiders with a 3-1 victory at Rydalmere Park, Saturday night.
Ending the visitors winning run while continuing their own, Rydalmere Lions came from behind to win this one with three goals in the second half.
An entertaining game for the neutral, both sides went at it in the first half sharing possession and shots on goal. SD Raiders taking the half time lead just before the break, a brilliant counterattack unlocking the Lions defence with Yuto Sugiura heading home.
Following on where the first half left off, the game maintained a similar pattern however it was the hosts who found a clinical touch. Number nine Jihad Alsayed stepping up when his side needed him putting in his best performance of the season. Scoring his first before the hour, Robert Eremugo adding their second five minutes later.
Alsayed adding his second goal after beating the offside trap with just under twenty minutes left. They finish off their season against Bulls FC Academy while Northern Tigers await SD Raiders away from home.
Rydalmere Lions 3 (Alsayed 58’ 71’’, Eremugo 63’)
SD Raiders 1 (Suguira 45’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2-3 Dulwich Hill
A Daniel Fornito screamer separated Canterbury Bankstown and Dulwich Hill as the visitors picked up their seventh win of their campaign.
Winding back the clock, Jake Bradshaw was the standout in this one as the visitors showed once again what they are capable of.
Canterbury Bankstown however started the better of the two sides opening the games account four minutes in, Patrick Savor the scorer of that goal.
A goal which was responded too emphatically, Bradshaw scoring the equaliser latching onto a through ball, before a minute later he turned provider. Bradshaw delivering a beautiful cross for Zach Fielding to finish at the near post.
That lead lasting the best part of an hour before the Berries equalised for themselves, Gian Forese the scorer of that one.
Daniel Fornito sccoring the winner with two minutes left to secure the three points. Fornito unleashing with his left foot from well outside the area, a strike of true venom.
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Savor 4’, Fiorese 70’’)
Dulwich Hill 3 (Bradshaw 10’, Fielding 11’, Fornito 88’)
Northern Tigers 3-0 Hakoah FC
Northern Tigers extended the woes of Hakoah FC with a three goal victory in their second last home game of season 2024.
A comprehensive win, it was the Tigers at their best with two goals in the first half setting them on their way before a stunning free-kick capped it off.
The hosts got off to a flyer with a goal just after five minutes. Lachlan Lloyd finding the back of the net with a low diving header off a bouncing ball.
That lead remaining in tact for half an hour before Ally Brown added a second. Brown finishing with a low drive from an angle across the keeper. The win finished off in the second half through Jakub Prajza, Prajza lifting his free-kick over the wall into the top right corner.
Tigers also wanting to mention Oliver Franz who made a starting debut for the club at right back. They finish their season at home next weekend against SD Raiders. While Hakoah feature in our match of the round against Bulls FC Academy.
Northern Tigers 3 (Lloyd 6’, Brown 37’, Prajza 72’)
Hakoah FC 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-6 UNSW FC
This score line speaks for itself, UNSW FC ran rampant over Bonnyrigg White Eagles hitting their hosts for six in their fixture in Sydney’s South West.
Another win, they have now won four of their last five games, four second half goals putting them beyond capping off a dominant display.
Believe it or not, they conceded first in this one. Nic Petrillio opening the hosts account from the set piece. Petrillio rising highest from close range to head home in the 16th minute.
That goal only waking the visitors up with their equaliser two minutes later. A press on the hosts goalkeeper allowing Sean Wood to feed Jack Fulton. Fulton letting fly with a sweet left footed strike.
UNSW taking the lead before halftime, Alexander Malfara scoring with a one touch and finish on the swivel inside the area. Timothy Wohlfiel with the assist.
The visitors scoring another four in the final twenty minutes. Jack Fulton with the third from a free-kick, Emilio Vinci with the fourth after a give and go with Kevin Lopes.
Corby Fowler scored the fifth with a finish across goal before Jeremy Cox scored their final goal with Vinci picking up an assist to go with his goal.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Petrilio 16’)
UNSW FC 6 (Fulton 18’ 70’, Malfara 42’, Vinci 75’, Fowler 78’, Cox 90’)
Inter Lions 3-3 Macarthur Rams
Finally to round out the review, Inter Lions staged a late comeback to share the points with Macarthur Rams at Majors Bay Reserve.
Down on players, they dug deep to claim a point in this one with Lachlan Everett scoring a late equaliser in the 89th minute for a share of the points.
This one got off to a flyer with four goals coming inside the first 20 minutes. Emmanuel Gonzalez finding the back of the net in the third minute before Inter responded with an equaliser two minutes later. Rams going on to take a 3-1 lead into half time with two further goals through Paul Soravia and Michael Martin.
With the visitors content to sit on that lead, Inter Lions looked set to be frustrated with a quarter hour remaining despite controlling things. However that all changed when Ollie Green scored the hosts second goal from the spot. That momentum carrying them to an equaliser with Lachlan Everett scoring with three minutes left despite the fact they were reduced to ten.
Inter Lions 3 (Duke 7’, Green 79’, Everett 89’)
Macarthur Rams 3 (Gonzalez 3’, Soravia 17’, Martin 19’)
By Justin Smith
