Round 5 Review – League One Men’s
Round five of the FNSW League One Men’s delivered plenty of drama once again as the competition heats up entering its second month.
Our match of the round saw Bankstown City secure a big three points away from home.
While elsewhere, Mounties scored their first goal of the season and UNSW triumphed in a local derby.
Check out our comprehensive review below.
Match of the Round: Northern Tigers 1-2 Bankstown City
Bankstown City took out the battle of the big cats with a 2-1 win over Northern Tigers to end their unbeaten streak.
A big three points for the visitors after a tough opening month, the returning Jonathan Grozdanovski found the back of the net alongside Henry Davies before Kai Denton scored a late consolation goal for the hosts.
The visitors nearly got off to the perfect start inside five minutes, Andrea Agamemnonos putting a shot wide after interchanging passes in a central area of the pitch, not that it would’ve counted due to an offside flag.
Sasha Tirovski’s side definitely starting on the front foot in this one finding their opener in the 6th minute. A lovely Shun Maeta delivery from a corner finding Henry Davies at the front post, his header giving Tigers keeper Bodie Denton no chance as it flew into the back of the net.
While Lachie Lloyd had the hosts first chance a couple minutes later, his right footed shot from the edge of the area comfortably saved. The next phase of the game played in the Tigers attacking half, yet crucially in front of the Bankstown City defence.
However where the Tigers were looking comfortable in possession, they weren’t in defence and Bankstown City stretched their lead out to two goals after the 20th minute.
A Nikola Djordjevic long ball from the back allowing Jonathan Grozdanovski to make a nuisance of himself taking it beyond the hosts defence before a confident left footed finish into the top right corner.
Needing a spark, the Tigers came closest to their first in the 26th minute. Jesse Spang launching a long range effort which found the crossbar.
A set piece in the 35th minute giving them another chance to bring themselves back into it with Mario Aleksik called into his first meaningful action saving a Koya Nakano effort. While at the other end, his counterpart came up with a comfortable save to deny Rhett De Silva.
The games pattern set which continued after the break, Jesse Spang having an opportunity less than sixty second into the second half with a shot around the body inside the area drawing a save.
Bankstown CIty then had their best chances to extend the lead to three around the 57th minute, a dangerous low ball across the face falling to Charles Eriku whose shot was saved. Eriku having another shot soon after which drew an even better save from Bodie Denton. The game opening up for the visitors as the hosts pushed more men forward.
While their defence was doing a good job at holding up at the other end under significant pressure applied by the hosts.
That was until the 88th minute when Tigers finally found a way through, a penalty giving the Tigers a lifeline with Kai Denton converting from the spot into the bottom left corner.
The hosts unable to create a second goal-scoring opportunity for a share of the points. They face Newcastle Jets next weekend, while Bankstown City return home to face Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the derby.
Northern Tigers 1 (Denton 88‘)
Bankstown City 2 (Davies 6’, Grozdanovski 22’)
UNSW FC 4-0 Hakoah FC
UNSW FC secured bragging rights in their local derby as they prevailed 4-0 over Hakoah FC at the Village Green.
After struggling in front of goal last weekend, the students put on a clinic in front of goal in this one with Kevin Lopes leading the way with a brace. Lopes joined by Jack Fulton and Thomas Quilligan who also found the back of the net.
They opened the scoring before the half hour, Jack Fulton scoring his fourth of the season finishing with his head off a Conor Quilligan corner. A lead which was doubled right before half time, Kevin Lopes continuing his fine form in front of goal with a tidy finish inside the area, Thomas Quilligan with the assist for that goal.
The students in no mood to stop at two adding the third through a nice team goal. Some great work from Jack Fulton in the build up allowing Lopes to shoot from range, his shot parried into the path of Thomas Quilligan to finish. Kevin Lopes adding their fourth in the 75th minute with a very good header from a Jordan Morfiitis corner.
UNSW FC 4 (Fulton 27’, Lopes 44’ 75’, Quilligan 60’)
Hakoah FC 0
Hills United 0-1 SD Raiders
SD Raiders picked up their fifth straight win of the season with a 1-0 victory away from home against Hills United.
Making a habit of winning games by a single goal away from home, a first half Yuto Sugiura strike gave them the three points at Valentine Sports Park.
SD Raiders were the side to start both halves in better fashion in front of goal, Noah Chianese missing a one-on-one with the keeper in the third minute or thereabouts.
The visitors finding their eventual goal in the 34th minute, a square ball finding Yuto Sugiura to finish inside the six yard box. Hills best chance of the first half coming before that but Michael Figueira was up to the task.
Suguira nearly doubling his tally early in the second half, when his shot hit Ryan Wood in the face. However substitutions changed this one with the hosts pushing for an equaliser in the final half hour.
Three good chances coming from corners, including one with 30 seconds left from close range. SD Raiders just surviving to keep their perfect start in tact. While Hills United will look to halt their losing streak against Inter Lions next weekend.
Hills United 0
SD Raiders 1 (Sugiura 34’)
Dulwich Hill 0-2 Newcastle Jets
Flying into second place, Newcastle Jets got the better of Dulwich Hill with a 2-0 victory at Arlington Oval.
Up against a determined Dulwich Hill defence, it took the Jets an hour to open their account before they doubled their tally with ten minutes left.
The visitors started the better of the two sides with a few good chances in the opening stages, one hitting the crossbar. But the hosts found their way back into proceedings with a good opportunity before half time.
A brave effort from the home side brought to an end on the hour mark, Xavier Bertoncello the provider with a cutback to Ethan Debono who made no mistake. Their second coming with ten minutes left, Bertoncello grabbing a goal of his own placing a shot into the bottom corner.
Both camps with positives to take from this one heading into next weekend.
Dulwich Hill 0
Newcastle Jets 2 (Debono 60’, Bertoncello 80’)
Bonnyrigg White Ealges 2-1 Macarthur Rams
Bonnyrigg White Eagles continued their home form with a 2-1 come from behind win over Macarthur Rams, Saturday evening.
A game which had a bit of everything, Charles Mendy equalised for the hosts before Sebastian Cerecedo popped up with a late winner in the 90th minute. Those goals coming after Emmanuel Gonzalez opened the scoring just after the quarter hour.
It was the visitors who took advantage of a flat start from the hosts with a 16th minute goal. A headed clearance on making it as far Emmanuel Gonzalez who made no mistake with his finish.
As such, the onus was now on Bonnyrigg White Eagles to find their way back into the game and the likes of Mason Versi, Phillip Giglotti and Daniel Bittar all had opportunities to equalise before the hour mark. Their equaliser coming around that time through Charles Mendy, the hosts going coast to coast from a goal kick before Mendy finished inside the box.
Their hopes for a winner taking a hit when Tristain Vidic was sent off in the 85th minute. However they still found a way with Sebastian Cerecedo sending the crowd home happy with a long range effort after a cleared set piece to ensure the three points..
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Mendy 60’, Cerecedo 90’)
Macarthur Rams 1 (Gonzalez 16’)
Bulls FC Academy 3-2 Inter Lions
The goals were flowing at Sydney United Sports Centre as Bulls FC Academy edged out Inter Lions by a 3-2 margin.
Welcoming back a couple of familiar faces after the U20 Asian Cup, they overturned a deficit in the first half before Harry Menham scored their winner with just over 20 minutes left.
A deserved win for the hosts, they were challenged by their visitors but eventually came out victorious. They conceded first with Owen Duke putting the visitors ahead. Before Zane Helweh scored twice before the half time break, his first coming just four minutes after Inter Lions scored, before a goal on the brink of halftime game in the 43rd minute.
Not going away, the visitors found their equaliser on the hour through last weeks one of last weeks heroes in Harry Rushton. Before another Harry scored the decisive goal with just over twenty minutes remaining in Harry Menham.
Bulls Academy coach Nicolai Muller pleased with his sides effort post game after a great team performance.
Bulls FC Academy 3 (Helweh 31’ 43’, Menham 68’)
Inter Lions 2 (Duke 27, Rushton 60’)
Canterbury Bankstown 0-2 Blacktown Spartans
Blacktown Spartans secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a 2-0 triumph away from home against Canterbury Bankstown.
Two quick goals either side of half time through Aedon Kyra and Franco Scarcella gave them the three points with the win moving them up to eighth.
A controlled performance from the visitors, they were able to play the game at their tempo after the first quarter hour in which the Berries had a few half chances. While for the Spartans, both Aedon Kyra and Christian Nascimben had early chances before Kyra opened the scoring.
Kyra swivelling with the ball at his feet before finding the bottom corner with his shot on the brink of half time. A lead which was doubled five minutes later. Franco Scarcella influential in this one both setting in motion their move and finishing with a volley. The pass to Scarcella coming from Suleyman Bangura coming from Riley Chapple.
Berries applying some late pressure after some substitutions but unable to bring themselves back into it.
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Kyra 45’, Scarcella 50’)
Rydalmere Lions 1-1 Mounties Wanderers
The scoring drought is over, Mounties Wanderers came from behind to take a share of the points from their match with Rydalmere Lions.
An even contest, the hosts scored first through Robert Eremugo before Mounties Wanderers found an equaliser from the spot with fifteen minutes left.
This one saw a lot of the play take place in the middle third of the field with not many chances on goal. Rydalmere Lions creating the better chances in the opening half hour of this one which they couldn’t capitalise on. Their goal coming just before the break, Robert Eremugo demonstrating a determination to press the keeper before finishing into an open net.
From there, it was going to go one of two ways for the visitors and credit to them, they responded well post half time and were rewarded with a penalty. Michael Trajkovski stepping up to convert and give the visitors their second point of the season.
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Eremugo 45’)
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Trajkovski 75’)
