Round 2 Review – League One Men’s
We are starting to get a clearer picture of where teams stand after the second round of FNSW League One Men’s action across the weekend.
In our match of the round, Newcastle Jets proved too strong for Blacktown Spartans.
While Canterbury Bankstown’s win over Bulls FC Academy provided shock factor to the weekend’s events.
That and plenty more to cover so let’s get stuck in.
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans v Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets continued their flying start to life in the competition with a 3-1 match of the round win over Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park.
Two goals to Ethan De Bono and Xavier Bertoncello either side of half time set them on their way before Lucas Johnson added a third. While Blacktown Spartans found late consolation through a Emmanuel Dolo goal in injury time.
The warning signs were there for the hosts early, the Jets first chance coming just after a minute. Alexander Nunes threading through a ball to Janni Rafty whose shot from a tight angle drew a save low down. Though it wouldn’t have counted with the offside flag being raised.
While hosts Blacktown Spartans had their first opportunity of the contest in the 15th minute. A diagonal ball from midfield picking out Suleyman Bangura who headed wide right of the target.
Striker Aedon Kyra having their next chance a couple minutes later, his effort on the end of a long ball saved comfortably by the Jets keeper.
The Jets showing signs of their attacking threat without creating noteworthy threat inside the opening half hour. A couple of long range efforts from Angus Muddle and Rafty the best they could manage around this point.
Jets getting the breakthrough in the final minutes of the first half through Ethan De Bono. De Bono timing his run between defenders perfectly on the end of a Christian Bracco through ball before slotting home into the bottom left corner just before the 40th minute.
A lead they added too not long into the second half as they took charge of proceedings. De Bono once again involved with a give and go with his left back in an advanced position before squaring it to Xavier Bertoncello for an easy left footed finish from close range.
Blacktown Spartans and Aedon Kyra in particular nearly responding in kind, An Angus Chance ball finding him before a tame effort was saved before the 50th minute. Another chance soon aafter falling for Darcey Ellem who put his shot wide.This section of the game perhaps the hosts best in terms of chance creation.
While Jets goalscorer Bertoncello and Spartan Bangura both had a chance at either end around the hour mark from the right side of the six yard box. Bertoncello’s blocked while Bangura couldn’t quite manage a first touch goalward.
The game put to bed around the 80th minute mark through the pick of the Jets goals. Lucas Johnson showing his pace to get on the end of a ball through before taking the ball into the area from the left and lobbing the keeper into the far side of the goal.
Spartans getting a rawaard for their second half efforts late. Emmanuel Dolo curling a first time shot past the keeper, Angus Chance with the assist for that goal.
Continuing their perfect start, Jets will now turn their attention to UNSW FC next weekend, while Blacktown Spartans next travel to Dulwich Hill.
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Dolo 94’)
Newcastle Jets 3 (Debono 39’, Bertoncello 48’, Johnson 80’)
Elsewhere
UNSW FC 5-1 Dulwich Hill
In the other game we had a presence at, UNSW FC blew Dulwich Hill off the park in the early stages on their way to a 5-1 victory at the Village Green.
The students taught their opponents a lesson in clinical finishing scoring three goals in the opening twenty minutes, two of which came through Jack Fulton.
His first goal coming inside five minutes, Fulton found by his right side counterpart in Timothy Woelfiel before finishing powerfully into the far side of the net.
Woelfiel then playing a part in their second goal four minutes later, the right back floating in a ball which was met by Kevin Lopes who performed a textbook downward header into the back of the net.
The hosts adding their third before 20 minutes, Jack Fulton finding the top corner with a free kick from 20-25 yards out.
Where the hosts were having no problems getting the ball to advanced positions, the visitors were quite the opposite often losing the ball in the midfield area going forward. Their best chance of the first half coming through a one on one opportunity for Liam Spiropoulos which was snuffed out by UNSW goalkeeper Charles Samushonga.
UNSW then putting the game beyond doubt on the brink of half time, a loose touch from the Dulwich Hill back line inviting Kevin Lopes to go through 1v1, Lopes making no mistake with his finish.
Job done, the second half saw an improved showing from the visitors though some of that will go down to the hosts stepping off the throttle. Sean Woods making it 5-0 for the hosts before Daniel Fornito scored a goal with five minutes left to deny the hosts a clean sheet.
UNSW FC 5 (Fulton 4’ 18’, Lopes 9’ 45’, Woods 78’)
Dulwich Hill 1 (Fornito 85’)
Bankstown City 1-0 Macarthur Rams
Doesn’t matter how it comes, Bankstown City grabbed a 1-0 home win against Macarthur Rams to kick start their 2025 campaign.
Scoring a goal in the final ten minutes through Masson to get the three points in a tight contest, the hosts will next face Bulls FC Academy next weekend in League One action.
A combination of the hosts starting the game slow and the visitors focusing on their defence saw the game looking destined for a stale mate. That was until Jamie Masson turned the game on it’s head with a free-kick just outside the 18 yard area. Masson bending his free-kick around the wall with power which gave the Rams goalkeeper no chance.
A great bounce back win for the hosts, they next face Bulls FC Academy away from home. While Macarthur Rams remain in search for their first win of the campaign, their next opportunity against SD Raiders.
Bankstown City 1 (Masson 81’)
Macarthur Rams 0
Hills United 2-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Perhaps the pick of the action across the weekend was at Valentine Sports Park as Hills United got the better of Bonnyrigg White Eagles in a high quality contest.
The hosts picked up where they left off in last weekends match of the round a brace from Marcus Lal leading them to victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles who managed to make the last few minutes nervy through a … goal.
After absorbing some pressure, the opener came from the penalty spot with Marcus Lal stepping up to score the hosts first goal.
With the game opening up in the second period, both sides had their chances with the game opening up. Hills playing some really good football before their second goal from Marcus Lal.
With fresh legs introduced from substitutes, Bonnyrigg kept their self belief and found a goal, Vidic with a screamer to make it 2-1 in injury time.
Hills United 2 (Lal 13’ 60’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Vidic 92’)
Mounties Wanderers 0-4 Northern Tigers
The Northern Tigers have roared out of the blocks in 2025 securing their second straight victory on the road against Mounties Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park.
A second half demolition, they found the net through four separate goal scorers in Jesse Spang, Olivier Beltran-Woodward, Lachlan Lloyd and Daisuke Yamaguchi.
The decisive moment in this one could well have been at half time with the visitors changing things up for the second half.
Their first goal coming after Kai Denton linked up with Jesse Spang in the build up before Spang applied the finish. One becoming two soon after Olivier Beltran-Woodward found another goal from the bench for the second consecutive week.
Lachlan Lloyd then adding their third through a controlled finish into the bottom corner. Lloyd combining with Alexander Brown in the lead up. Their final goal coming through Daisuke Yamaguchi, The ex-Dunbar player creating a small pocket of space before passing it into the bottom corner.
Mounties Wanderers 0
Northern Tigers 4 (Spang 57’, Beltran-Woodward 59’, Lloyd 69’, Yamaguchi 92’)
Bulls FC Academy 1-2 Canterbury Bankstown
An early contender for upset of the season? Canterbury Bankstown pulled off a shock overcoming Bulls FC Academy away from home at Sydney United Sports Centre.
This one played out as you would imagine it, Bulls FC Academy enjoying a lot of possession yet vulnerable to the counter attack which the Berries executed well. John Fotopoulos scoring the opener in the first half before Demitrius Kigeya doubled their advantage with a quarter hour left. Aliya Waraga making the score line more respectable late.
After a few earlier chances, Canterbury Bankstown took the lead direct from a corner. John Fotopoulos scoring an Olimpico with the Bulls FC Academy shot stopper helpless to stop it. Following chances to Dimitr Kigeya and Fotopoulos earlier.
A few other chances coming on the break for the Berries as the hosts chased for an equaliser in the second half. Kigeya finding their eventual winner via a deflected shot which looped over the keeper.
Bulls FC Academy having one final chance into added time, Aliya Waraga scoring a consolation after a deflection on it’s way towards goal.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Waraga 90’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Fotopoulos 28’, Kigeya 77’)
Inter Lions 3-1 Rydalmere Lions
Bouncing back from their round one defeat in style. Inter Lions made the most of home advantage to secure a 3-1 victory over Rydalmare Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
A complete performance from Shane Cevenini’s side, they scored three goals early in the second half to take out this one. Two of which came from Nicola Kuleski and Sebastian Portolesi before Rydalmere Lions managed a response late through Ethan Thomas.
After a scoreless first half, some out of possession work from Mitchell Smith forced an error in the Inter Lions back line which led to the opener.
A lead doubled moments later, Sam Armson winning a free-kick on the edge of the area, of which Nikola Kuleski converted. The final goal for Inter Lions coming through Sebastian Portolesi who finished a one-on-one chance with class after Owen Duke forced a mistake earlier in the move.
Rydalmere finding a goal late through Ethan Thomas to make the scoreline more respectable. They face Hakoah FC next weekend while Inter Lions take on Canterbury Bankstown away from home.
Inter Lions 3 (Aquilina OG 47’, Kuleski 39’, Portolesi 63’)
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Thomas 90’)
Hakoah FC 1-3 SD Raiders
SD Raiders took out the final game of the weekend overcoming Hakoah FC 3-1 at Hensley Athletic Field.
A tight contest throughout, this one was up in the air right up until SD Raiders found two goals after the 85th minute. Their goals came through Riley Cox-Barlow, Lachlan Mcgrath and Noah Chianese. While Cam Philpot equalised for the hosts with 20 minutes to go.
Earlier on in the contest, SD Raiders took the lead in the opening five minutes. Riley Cox-Barlow beating the Hakoah keeper from a tight angle.
As the half progressed, Hakoah came back into it and were unlucky not to equalise before the half time break. Cam Philpot having a shot hit the crossbar before Valentin Cuny had a shot blocked.
Hakoah once again hitting the crossbar again through Gabrial Antoniades before the equaliser arrived. Cam Philpot finishing off a set piece in the 67th minute.
The game up for the taking, Hakoah pushed for a winner but it was SD Raiders to take the three points. Lachlan Mcgrath scoring their second before Noah Chianese put the cherry on top with the games third.
Hakoah FC 1 (Philpot 67’)
SD Raiders 3 (Cox-Barlow 4’, Mcgrath 87’, Chianese 90’)
By Justin Smith
