Young Bulls draw first blood in battle for promotion
Bulls FC Academy have taken out the first leg of the NPL NSW/League One Men’s playoff prevailing 2-1 over Central Coast Mariners at Sydney United Sports Centre on fantastic Saturday afternoon of football.
The hosts grew into the game after the half hour before taking the lead twice in the contest through goals to Flynn Madden and Ethan Debono. While the Mariners found their goal away from home through Taye Hedley.
Carrying in some positive form towards the end of the season, the Mariners started this one positively looking dangerous every time they broke forward in the opening ten minutes.
Their best chance of note coming five minutes in, A switch of play from Arthur De Lima releasing Donatien Niyonkuru whose shot tested Alexander Robinson low down from an angle.
Niyonkuru proving a headachre for the hosts down the right with another opportunity seeing a penalty rescinded before the quarter hour.
However the hosts seemed to navigate the early pressure as they settled into things. Their first notable effort coming halfway through the first half, right back Luca Pecora cutting inside to hit a strike sweetly with his left which flashed over the bar.
Both sides doing well to disrupt their opponents possession as the game approached the half time break.
The breakthrough coming with three minutes left in the first half through the unlikely source of Flynn Madden’s head. Madden heading home from a Dean Bosnjak flick on at the near post, a secondary assist if you like coming through Will Mckay’s long throw.
A goal which brought a quick response in first half stoppage time. Taye Hedley unleashing a shot across goal which gave Bulls keeper Robinson no chance. That assist coming from Harry Menham on the left wing.
The Bulls then took control of proceedings after the break, Flynn Madden having the first effort on goal two minutes after the resumption. Madden taking a shot at the first time of asking after an Oliver Randazzo shot was blocked into his path.. .
While Mariners soon followed with a chance of their own a minute or so later, Niyonkuru heading on target from a Harry Menham cross on the left by-line.
Chances continued to be at a premium with a move left to right for the Bulls seeing Zane Helweh shoot narrowly wide of the right facing post after making his way inside after 65 minutes.
Their second goal coming in the 67th minute. A sumptuous through ball from deep unlocking the defence with Ethan Debono capitalising, controlling it at his feet before sliding it past Warshawsky in the Mariners net.
The hosts were on top in the second half and had a chance to extend their lead in the 75th minute. Dean Bosnjak just putting his shot wide right of the target from inside the area.
While Jai Rose had the Mariners first shot in a while at the other end, a left to right passing move allowing Rose to shoot at the back post, his effort high and wide with a little over five minutes left.
The Mariners unable to find a way through in the games final stages, Bulls taking the one goal advantage into the second leg next Friday night where the two will meet at Pluim Park (7:30pm).
Post game, Craig Noone was pleased with the win which broke a six game winless run.
“”I thought we showed great character today to end the winless run. I’m happy with the result but as I said to the boys, the jobs only half done.”
“I thought we started off slow but worked our way into the game towards the end of the first half. Second half I thought we dominated and created plenty of chances.”
Match Stats
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Madden 42’, Debono 67’)
Central Coast Mariners 1 (Hedley 45+1’)
Saturday 31 August, 2024
Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: Kelly Jones
Assistant Referees: Joel Crawford & Blake Sanchez-Cruz
Fourth Official: Michael Weiner
Bulls FC Academy: 30. Alexander Robinson, 2. Luca Pecora (19. 85), 5. Sebastian Krslovic, 6. Frans Deli, 9. Dean Bosnjak (12. Ante Vojvodic 85’), 10. Flynn Madden, 11. Ethan Debono (15. 67’), 16. Oliver Jones, 17. Oliver Randazzo, 18. Will Mckay (3. Andre Parkes 45’), 20. Zane Helweh (21. Luka Sterjovski 67’)
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Franklin Jan.
Yellow Cards: Bosnjak 33’, Gomwikezwa 90+1’
Red Cards: Nil
Central Coast Mariners: 1. Jack Warshawsky, 2. Michael Paragalli, 3. Cher Dong, 4. Parker Williams, 5. Harry Menham, 6. Jordan Small, 7. Arthur De Lima, 9. Nicholas Duarte, 10. Taye Hedley (13. Yani Nassis 82’), 11. Donatien Niyonkuru (17. Jai Rose 60’), 12. Haine Earnes (29. Kyle Schumacher 82’)
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Dylan Peraic-Cullen, (13. Yani Nassis_), 14. Jacob Tresoglavic, (17. Jai Rose), 23. Ben Mewett, 29. Kyle Schumacher
Yellow Cards: Menham 29’
Red Cards: Nil
By Justin Smith
