Round 3 Review – League One Men’s
Some eye-catching results highlighted round three action in the FNSW League One Men’s competition across Saturday night.
It was a good weekend for Inter Lions who picked up a match of the round win over Canterbury Bankstown. While elsewhere, three sides picked up their first win of the season and the unbeaten streak of Newcastle Jets was broken by UNSW FC.
Match of the Round: Canterbury Bankstown 1-4 Inter Lions
Picking up their second victory in a row, Inter Lions came back from a goal down to overcome Canterbury Bankstown 4-1 at Jensen Park.
A Mitchell Smith goal just before halftime gave them the chance to turn the game around after Christian Torrelli opened the scoring for the hosts. The likes of James Ord, Sam Armson and Owen Duke scoring for the visitors in the second half.
After the usual settling in period, the first moment of note came from a dangerous ball across the face from Christian Torrelli as the hosts looked to start positively. Berries marshalled in midfield by Yeju Jang and Patrick Savor in the early stages of this one
While the visitors carved out an equally dangerous opportunity when a Mitchell Smith cross from the right was headed away in the goal mouth before the quarter hour.
A close fought battle in the opening 25 minutes, Canterbury Bankstown were perhaps the side looking more likely to breakthrough. A couple warning shots coming courtesy of John Fotopoulos and FInley Hayhurst around the 26th minute Fotopoulos with a low effort wide right before Hayhurst drew a save from Inter keeper Evan Davis.
Their go ahead goal coming shortly after in the 33rd minute as the game opened up. Christian Torrelli with a rare headed finish from close range after a Finley Hayhurst headed the ball across the face on the end of a Daniel Goni cross.
Inter Lions nearly responding a short time later, a low Ned Armson cross from the left finding Sam Armson around the penalty spot, his right footed effort low saved by Stevan Savicic in the home sides goal.
Shane Cevenini’s side finding a goal in rather innocuous fashion right before half time which changed the trajectory of this one. The visitors working the ball around on the left before Mitchell Smith rolled the ball into the near bottom corner with his effort from just outside the box.
Smith nearly doubling his tally seven minutes into the second half, a curling effort hitting the right hand facing post from similar range to his first. Inter firmly in the ascendancy in terms of chance creation at this point.
Inter Lions finding the goal their start to the second half deserved in the 64th minute. A fortunate deflection on a pass falling to the feet of James Ord. Ord making no mistake rolling the ball into the bottom right corner with his left foot.
While the hosts for their part had their best opportunity of the half three minutes later. Demitrius Kigeya showing a turn of pace to getting into the opponents area before his effort under pressure found the near right side netting.
However it Inter Lions to effectively put the game to bed with twenty or so minutes left with perhaps the pick of the goal. Sam Armson trying his luck from downtown, his effort bouncing right where the goalkeeper doesn’t want it too as it found the bottom right corner.
The final goal of the match coming not long after that to make it three goals in ten minutes for the visitors. Harry Rushton making his mark off the bench with a ball from a central position out to Owen Duke on the right. Duke taking it past his marker before making no mistake with the low finish across goal.
Canterbury Bankstown creating a few half chances to see out the game. They will look to bounce back against Hakoah next weekend. While Inter Lions host Northern Tigers in a fixture to look out for next weekend.
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Torrelli 23’)
Inter Lions 4 (Smith 45’, Ord 64’, Armson 70’, Duke 74’)
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers 3-0 Hills United
Northern Tigers brought Hills United back to earth with a 3-0 win at North Turramurra Recreation Area, Saturday night.
Maintaining their positive record in the meantime, Lachlan Lloyd opened the scoring for the hosts before Kai Denton scored his first two goals of the season to give them what turned out to be a comfortable victory.
A Lachlan Lloyd goal is becoming quite the habit for the Tigers with a goal in each of their three fixtures. He was there on the end a switch of play to cut onto his right and finish into the bottom corner inside the quarter hour.
They added a second just over 20 minutes later, Kai Denton pouncing on a mistake playing out from the back, brought down in the process of laying the ball off. Denton stepping up to convert the penalty he won to make it 2-0.
Their third coming after the break, Bodie Denton finding Kai on the halfway line before some good one-touch combinations found Kai Denton with the ball at his feet about 12 yards out, the striker slotting home for their third not long after the resumption.
Hills United going closest to goal in the first half where Bodie Denton had to make some key saves.
Northern Tigers 3 (Lloyd 12’, Denton 34’ 51’)
Hills United 0
Newcastle Jets 1-3 UNSW FC
Becoming the first team to down the Jets this season, UNSW FC secured a 3-1 victory away from home against the A-league academy side.
Yes, the unbeaten Jets streak is over! UNSW taking the lead twice in the contest to walk away with the three points courtesy of goals to Jack Fulton, Sean Woods and an own goal from a Conor Quilligan free-kick.
The visitors got off to a good start opening the scoring in the 24th minute. A passing move from right to left giving Emilio Vinci the chance to place his cross to the back post, Jack Fulton on the spot to finish across goal with a first time effort.
That lead lasting till just after half time when Will Dobson found the Jets equaliser, a low pass from a set piece on the right allowing him to strike it first time high into the net.
However the students would find another level in this one, their second goal perhaps fortunate when Conor Quilligan floated in a free-kick delivery from long range which caused enough doubt in a back tracking defender that they turned it into their own net.
Before a third goal came with six minutes remaining, a quick transition down the right seeing Timothy Woelfiel cut the ball back to Sean Woods to finish into the near bottom corner for the 3-1 win.
Newcastle Jets 1 (Dobson 48’)
UNSW FC 3 (Fulton 24’, OG 55’, Woods 84’)
Macarthur Rams 0-1 SD Raiders
SD Raiders maintained their perfect record this season with a 1-0 win in a feisty clash with Macarthur Rams at Lambert Park.
Despite the score line, this game pretty much filled out your bingo card of what you want to see as a football fan. Noah Chianese’s goal shortly after the break the difference between the two sides.
Before that, it was Goran Ljuboja’s side who started the better of the two sides playing some nice stuff in the opening quarter hour. Their best chance of the half coming through Noah Chianese after Cooper Hanagan found him with a cross from the right by-line inside the opening ten minutes.
While the Rams did well to hold their opponents defensively before playing their way into the contest. The closest they went being a a long throw before the 20th minute. Michael Martin finding John Roberts inside the six yard box who headed over. Emmanuel Gonzalez and Carlos Ruiz Cantillo also having efforts.
SD Raiders were the side to take the lead after the break though, Noah Chianese setting in motion a break forward with a cross-field ball to Riley Cox-Barlow. Cox-Barlow returning the favour with a cross into the area which Chianese met at the back post.
From there, a send off for each side saw the game become a bit scrappy. Rams nearly finding an equaliser in the 73rd minute when they were denied on the line two maybe three times in a true goal-mouth scramble. Aaron Green and Alex Gollan two players who saw headers blocked.
SD Raiders picking up their third victory of the season, while Macarthur Rams were left wondering how they didn’t get something.
Macarthur Rams 0
SD Raiders 1 (Chianese 51’)
Rydalmere Lions 5-1 Hakoah FC
Who saw this one coming? Rydalmere Lions bounced back in emphatic fashion to get the better of Hakoah FC at home.
The hosts were ruthless in the second half scoring four unanswered goals, both Robert Eremugo and Ahmad Taleb scoring braces, joined by Luca Kmet on the score sheet. While Valentin Cuny equalised for the visitors earlier on in the first half.
Both sides shared time in possession throughout the first half before Robert Eremugo opened the games account. Eremugo getting a touch on a Marcus Sparacino delivery before the 10th minute.
Hakoah scoring their equaliser arguably against the run of play before the break. Valentin Cuny popping up with another goal to add to his account.
After a half-time pep talk, the hosts came oout for the seond half strong, Eremugo getting in behind the visitors defence before finishing one-v-one past the keeper. Rydalmere finding their goalscoring touch with Ahmad Taleb scoring from the spot in the 71st minute. Before Luca Kmet and Taleb added a fourth and fifth with the game beyond doubt.
Rydalmere Lions 5 (Eremugo 9′ 46’, Taleb 71’ 86’, Kmet 78’)
Hakoah FC 1 (Cuny 47’)
Bulls FC Academy 2-1 Bankstown City
Bulls FC Academy secured their first win of the season scoring twice in the early stages of both halves to overcome Bankstown City at home.
Opening his club account, Levi Sciuriaga opened the scoring early in the first half before Shun Maeta equalised for the visitors. Will Mckay scoring the eventual winner in the 53rd minute to give the Academy side their first win of the campaign.
The hosts took a lead early in this one via the penalty spot. Levi Scuiriaga scoring his first goal for the club from the spot seven minutes in. The hosts holding that lead going into half time.
Two goals early in the second half deciding the match. Firstly an equaliser for the visitors through Shun Maeta. Before a rare Will Mckay goal decided proceedings just two minutes later.
Bulls FC Academy face Macarthur Rams in a local derby next weekend while Bankstown City host Dulwich Hill
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Sciuriaga 7’, Mckay 53’)
Bankstown City 1 (Maeta 50’)
Dulwich Hill 1-0 Blacktown Spartans
Dulwich Hill opened their season win account with a hard fought 1-0 win over Blacktown Spartans at Arlington Oval.
After a heavy defeat at the hands of UNSW FC, there was a lot of soul-searching at the club and their players delivered with a workmanlike 1-0 victory courtesy of a Daniel Fornito goal.
While the narrow loss leaves Blacktown Spartans still searching for their first win of the season, they applied significant pressure on their hosts late without reward.
The desperation in this one was palpable with both sides going full throttle for much of the first hour. The crucial goal coming around the 10th minute mark through Daniel Fornito. Fornito with a trademark left footed strike from the edge of the area which rocketed into the top left corner.
From there, Suleyman Bangura was the main threat for the visitors putting a couple of efforts across goal, while Aedon Kyra hit the woodwork in the finl ten minutes.
Fornito and Mark Younes both had chances to extend the hosts lead. The clean sheet their first of the season.
Dulwich Hill 1 (Fornito 10’)
Blacktown Spartans 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4-0 Mounties Wanderers
Bonnyrigg White Eagles bounced back from their defeat to Hills United in the best possible fashion scoring four without reply against Mounties Wanderers.
After missing a few good chances in the first half, they took the lead on the cusp of half time through Sebastian Cerecedo. That goal allowing them to set a platform in the second half as they added a further three goals.
The first couple of which saw Aaron Peterson find the net in the 55th and 61st minute, his third goal in two games at the venue. Before Samuel Tzanakes scored his first for the club with a finish just minutes after coming on.
Bonnyrigg coach Phil Pyliotis singling out Tristian Vidic for praise for his performance on the night after losing two teeth in a collision the week before.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4 (Cerecedo 42’, Peterson 55’ 61’, Tzanakes 91’)
Mounties Wanderers 0
By Justin Smith
