Round 1 Review – League One Men’s
Round one of the 2025 FNSW League One Men’s season didn’t disappoint with an enticing set of fixtures spread out across the weekend.
So what did we learn?
Well two of the three new sides in the division picked up a first up win. While clubs like Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Northern Tigers secured some impressive victories.
Let’s take a look at proceedings in our first review of the season.
Match of the Round: Macarthur Rams 0-2 Hills United
Two goals late in the first half gave Hills United a round one victory over Macarthur Rams at Albert Butler Memorial Park, Saturday evening.
Returning to the division after their relegation last season, Zen Gigliotti opened their account for the season in the 39th minute before Walid Moutaouakkil added their second minutes later.
The early stages of this one saw Hills United looking to play down their left side with their first chance coming through Jordan Lane inside the opening five minutes, his effort hooked low past the left post.
Indeed it was the visitors who were looking most likely to threaten the opponents goal in the opening ten minutes on the whole with a Marcus Lal shot blocked on it’s path towards goal in the 9th minute. Followed by a Lachlan Sepping effort which drew a save.
It was around then that the Rams began to control the ball more successfully as they looked to stem the tide. However they were struggling to get their attacking players involved. A free-kick in the 24th giving Connor Spurway a chance, though it looked like he was caught in two minds between a shot and cross as it sailed right of the target.
The set piece a good avenue for both sides in what was turning out to be a scrappy affair. Rams having another chance just after the half hour with Jayden Tran placing a free-kick over the wall which wasn’t troubling Hills keeper Ryan Wood.
It was Hills however who were looking more dangerous going forward in open play and they broke the game open in the 39th minute. Zen Gigliotti exchanging touches with a couple of team mates before dancing forward past a few defenders and applying a lovely finish into the bottom left corner. 1-0 Hills United.
Hills United adding a second goal to their tally in the 44th minute to complete the one-two punch. A lovely lofted ball from Lachlan Sepping finding Walid Moutaouakkil who took the ball down with his left before applying a right footed finish across goal to make it 2-0 to the visitors on the cusp of half time.
While Rams continued to be a threat from the set piece, Emmanuel Gonzalez heading over under pressure after Michael Martin headed from the back post across goal.
As you would expect after the break, things started to open up as the Rams looked to up the intensity and be more adventurous. .
The slippery conditions giving Hills players like Lachlan Sepping the license to shoot on sight as he did a few times in the opening ten minutes of the second half.
Where the visitors were showing signs of fluidity in the final third, the hosts were struggling on that front in creating chances against a well organised defence.
A throw in routine giving the Rams a chance at a lifeline with just over 20 minutes left, Paul Soravia using his body to shield off a defender before his effort from inside the box took a deflection out for a corner.
The Rams huffing and puffing in thee final quarter hour without reward. While Lachlan Sepping had the best chance for the visitors in the second half with his shot saved with less than ten minutes remaining.
A solid three points on the road, Hills United will take confidence into their match against Bonnyrigg White Eagles next weekend, while Rams next face Bankstown City.
Macarthur Rams 0
Hills United 2 (Gigliotti 39’, Moutaouakkil 44’)
Elsewhere
SD Raiders 3-2 Bankstown City
This one well and truly lived up to pre-game expectations. SD Raiders overcame a stubborn ten man Bankstown City to walk away with a 3-2 victory.
Despite having the man advantage for 50 minutes, it took a real effort for the hosts to claim the three points here with fresh legs eventually proving the difference late, one of whom Ryoma Takgi scoring the winner with just under 15 minutes left.
After struggling earlier in the game, the hosts opened their account in the 21st minute. Noah Chinese converting a Cooper Coskerie cut back after Seb Malfara started that move.
That lead lasting less than fifteen minutes before Bankstown City equalised. Jonathan Grozdanovski handed a gift from the hosts goalkeeper who got the ball stuck at his feet. Grozdanovski in the centre of the action in this period receiving a red card in the 42nd minute.
SD Raiders taking advantage of their man advantage with a goal from a corner in first half injury time. Lachlan Mcgrath rising highest to head home a Sebastian Malfara corner to make it 2-1.
However it was far from game over, Bankstown City throwing everything at their hosts rewarded with a penalty around the hour mark. Rhett De Sliva converting to equalise once again.
Playing with ten did take a toll though and after some fresh legs were introduced, the hosts found a winner. Ryoma Takagi tapping home a Thomas Todd cross from the left in the 76th minute. A last minute clearance off the line meaning they kept the win in tact.
SD Raiders 3 (Chianese 21’, Lachlan Mcgrath 47’, Takagi 76’)
Bankstown City 2 (Grozdanovski 35’, De Silva 60’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2-1 UNSW FC
Bonnyrigg White Eagles held on to a round one win overcoming UNSW FC thanks to goals from Aaron Peterson and Charles Mendy.
A reward for those who got out to this one in challenging weather, the hosts controlled how this one was played for the most part with UNSW only scoring a late consolation goal.
The teams went into the break scoreless with the hosts arguably having the better chances through both Aaron Peterson and Brad Bartels. With Bonnyrigg getting their reward five minutes into the second half through Peterson.
Peterson applying a towering header over both the UNSW goalkeeper and a defender in the 50th minute. One goal becoming two less than fifteen minutes later through new signing Charles Mendy who scored with his first touch off the bench.
UNSW scoring a late consolation goal through Claudio Fabiano in a largely disappointing performance from the visitors.
Bonnyrigg coach Phil Pyliotis making a mention of both Nikola Krljar as a potential man of the match and Daniel Bittar who assisted both goals in correspondence with FNSW post match.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Peterson 50’, Mendy 63’)
UNSW FC 1 (Fabiano 91’)
Northern Tigers 2-1 Bulls FC Academy
Roaring to a round one win, Northern Tigers started their league one campaign with a 2-1 victory at North Turramurra Recreations Area.
Taking the lead on two seperate occasions in this one, the hosts found their first goal in the 25th minute. A high press winning them the ball before Taliesen Dorigo, Kai Denton and Lachlan Lloyd exchanged passes to send the captain through. Lloyd calmly slotting home past the visitors keeper.
That lead lasting ten minutes before the academy side struck back from the penalty spot. Bodie Denton saving the initial effort before Atiya Waraga scored the rebound.
The winner in this one coming halfway through the second half after the Tigers turned to their bench. Taliesen Dorigo once again involved in setting the goal up with a ball through to Olivier Beltran-Woodward who finishing on an angle with a low drive.
A good performance from the hosts though the visitors might feel aggrieved to not get a point for their efforts. Bulls Academy keeper William Loucas making a couple of good saves in the first half.
Northern Tigers 2 (Lloyd 25’, Beltran-Woodward 69‘)
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Waraga 34’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2-0 Mounties Wanderers
Canterbury Bankstown gave Mounties Wanderers a reality check on their return to the division with a 2-0 victory at Jensen Park.
After a opening quarter hour which saw both sides trying to figure each other out, Canterbury Bankstown were the side to open the scoring on the quarter hour. Import Kim Minjae brought down inside the area after a poor pass out from the back from the visitors. Patrick Savor duly converting the penalty.
That goal seeing the hosts relax on their laurels and after a half time rev up, the visitors began the second half in promising fashion. However they were met by a disciplined Berries defence and as the minutes ticked on, so increased the hosts threat on the counter.
Berries finding their second with a couple minutes left when John Fotopoulos led a break forward before finding Christian Torrelli centrally who scrambled the ball over the line.
Mounties coach Jure Bilokapic telling FNSW post match that there were a lot of positives to take out of the game, particularly in their second half effort.
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Savor 12’, Torrelli 88’)
Mounties Wanderers 0
Dulwich Hill 0-2 Hakoah FC
Three points on the road to start the season. Hakoah FC opened their campaign with a 2-0 win over Dulwich Hill at Arlington Oval.
A difficult side to beat at the best of times, the job was made harder for the hosts after conceding in the first 15 minutes. Hakoah opening their account with a great team goal which saw involvement from Gaelen Dorigo, Ben Fuchs and Hristopher Nesktovski before Sam Young laid the ball of to Paul Araullo to finish.
While they had further chances through Valentin Cuny who tested the Dulwich Hill keeper throughout the first half.
The hosts were able to regroup at half time though after two of their own players collided in the first period and came out a better side missing a few good chances. However it was Valentin Cuny to score the visitors second on the spot after a initial NIcholas Tooley shot was saved. Tooley later receiving a red card for a challenge on Dulwich Hill player Harry Jones.
A professional performance from the visitors securing the points but enough there for both sides to be encouraged.
Dulwich Hill 0
Hakoah FC 2 (Araullo 12’, Cuny 72’)
Newcastle Jets 2-1 Inter Lions
Newcastle Jets made a successful start to life in the second tier with a 2-1 victory over Inter Lions in Sunday night action.
The A-league academy side got off to a great start scoring twice in the opening twenty five minutes. Garang Arau scoring their first goal in the 15th minute from a Kierry James corner. Before Xavier Bertoncello both won and converted a penalty eight minutes later to give them a two goal buffer.
However, Inter Lions weren’t going to go down without a fight and pegged a goal back in the 24th minute through James Ord.
Both sides then playing out an end to end second half with the hosts showing some steel to defend their box throughout. The visitors throwing “everything” at them.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Garang Arou 14’, Xavier Beroncello 22’)
Inter Lions 1 (James Ord 24’)
Rydalmere Lions 0-0 Blacktown Spartans
Rydalmere Lions and Blacktown Spartans shared the spoils after a 0-0 draw at Rydalmere Park, Saturday evening.
The first half of this one was a cagey affair with the Rydalmere press causing the visitors a few issues. A couple of half chances from dangerous crosses the closest they came on the night. However it was the Spartans who had the better chances in the first half with Emmanuel Dolo shooting wide from close range and Peter Pelekanos hitting the woodwork on the stroke of half time.
It was the Spartans who would go on to control the last half hour limiting the hosts to one shot from distance throughout that period. While Lucas Brandown Vidal hit the frame of the goal and both Suleyman Bangura and Aedon Kyra had further efforts on goal.
Spartans with perhaps more to be positive about after this hard fought battle.
Rydalmere Lions 0
Blacktown Spartans 0
By Justin Smith
