Round 7 Review – League One Men’s
Round seven of the FNSW League One Men’s competition saw us return to a full slate of action across the weekend.
Some surprise results included, Rydalmere Lions were able to pick up a result against UNSW in our match of the round. While elsewhere, Northern Tigers, Blacktown Spartans and Mounties Wanderers were amongst the sides to pick up three points.
Match of the Round: UNSW FC 2-2 Rydalmere Lions
Rydalmere Lions came from two goals down to take a point from their trip to the Village Green to face UNSW FC.
An Ahmad Taleb brace with a goal either side of half time secured them a point after Thomas Quilligan and Jack Fulton gave UNSW FC a two goal buffer earlier in the fixture.
Earlier in the contest, the students were to take the lead early in this one. Thomas Quilligan scoring with his sides second chance on goal six minutes in. Quilligan combining with his brother for the goal, Conor playing the ball from the right by-line across the face for the close range tap in.
Despite being down, Rydalmere Lions were showing signs that they were a threat at the other end in the first ten minutes, though they weren’t able to create much of a chance on goal.
Their first chance on goal coming after a low cross from Robert Eremugo found Dillan Kahale just to left of the penalty spot, his left footed shot going just wide of the right hand facing post before the quarter hour.
UNSW keeper Charles Samushonga called upon not long after when Ethan Thomas was denied from close range on an angle inside the six yard box. The lead up seeing Robert Eremugo involved once again with another dangerous ball across the face.
The hosts responding with a shot of their own a minute after that. Lachlan Hughes rattling the crossbar from range from the second phase of a free-kick. Both sides trading chances freely in the opening half hour.
Perhaps against the run of play, It was the students to double their advantage though. Jack Fulton slotting home a finish from the top of the 18 yard box for their second. Jordan Morfitis playing a key role in the lead up beating a couple of defenders cutting inside before squaring it to Fulton.
That two goal advantage lasting two minutes before Rydalmere had their first soon after a disallowed goal at the other end. Ahmad Taleb capitalising on a free-kick which he won, placing the ball over the wall into the top corner.
Rydalmere denied an equaliser in the 41st minute. Some desperate defending from Liam Wood denying the visitors from close range with a sliding challenge.
The visitors getting their equaliser just after the hour mark. Ahmad Taleb scoring his second of the evening from the spot setting us up for en entertaining final fifteen minutes in this one.
Rydalmere then having an opportunity to go ahead in the 77th minute when a set piece from the right found Robert Eremugo who couldn’t keep his head down under pressure.
That chance soon followed by a similar chance at the other end, the visitors struggling to clear before Angus Martin put his shot under pressure wide of the left post.
While Rydalmere thought they had a go-ahead when a corner ended up in the back of the net but any blushes were spared with the ball into the area going out for a goal kick.
Lions denied once again in the 85th minute, another corner from the right resulting in an Ethan Thomas header which found the crossbar.
The draw a good result for the visitors who are still looking to gain momentum in 2025. While UNSW hold steady in fourth, both sides with a game in hand over other sides in the competition.
UNSW FC 2 (T.Quilligan 6’, Fulton 32’)
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Taleb 38’ 61’)
Bulls FC Academy 1-1 Newcastle Jets
The two academy sides in the division couldn’t be separated in a high quality contest as Bulls FC Academy came from behind to share the points with Newcastle Jets.
A result which perhaps favours the visitors, they took the lead from a set piece in the first half while the result is the Bulls third draw of the campaign.
After a positive start from both sides, the visitors took the lead on the half hour. A short corner creating the opportunity for Garang Arou to head home at the back post, Luca West with the assist.
The Jets then proving a hard nut to crack defending well. Bulls FC Academy relying on a penalty for their goal before the hour with Zane Helweh making no mistake from the spot. Both sides then having chances to win it in the remaining half hour.
The result seeing Newcastle Jets hold their position in third, while Bulls FC Academy sit four points behind them in seventh.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Helweh 58’)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Arou 30’)
Northern Tigers 3-0 Macarthur Rams
The big winners of the weekend were Northern Tigers as they drew level on points with SD Raiders after a 3-0 victory over Macarthur Rams.
A case of the hosts showing a clinical touch which the visitors haven’t quite shown so far this season, they scored three goals in the second half to take the three points.
The first half saw both sides create chances with the visitors particularly doing so from wide areas. However the second half saw the hosts breakthrough against their dogged hosts.
Kai Denton doing what he does best scoring the opener before the hour mark. The striker profiting from a diagonal ball from Lachlan Lloyd before Denton headed home off the bar.
Their further two goals coming in stunning fashion, Ryan Attard with a smashing strike into the roof of the net in the 66th minute. Before Kai Denton completed his brace with a first time volley after letting the ball drop over his shoulder.
Tigers going equal on points at the top, while Macarthur Rams aren’t that far away putting a better performance than their position on the table suggests.
Northern Tigers 3 (Denton 58’ 81’, Attard 66’)
Macarthur Rams 0
Canterbury Bankstown 3-2 Hills United
Perhaps the surprise result of round seven, Canterbury Bankstown turned their form around with a 3-2 win over a fast finishing Hills United side.
After three straight defeats, this result is sure to install belief in this Berries sides who raced out to a three goal lead before Hills United scored twice late.
The hosts started this one well with Demitrius Kigeya and Dennis Jang both having chances before they took the lead. Two penalties in five minutes both converted by captain Patrick Savor in the 41st and 45th minute.
Demitrius Kigeya making up for his earlier miss with their third goal before the hour finishing off a great solo effort with a shot into the roof of the net.
Proceedings then getting a bit scrappy before the visitors found a goal in the 80th minute. Oscar Felipe Nieto Rava finished at the near post. Before they did make things nervy for the hosts with a second goal for Marcus Lal.
Berries ending their losing run to draw level on points with Hills who have sit just ahead of them on goal difference.
Canterbury Bankstown 3 (Savor 41’ 45’, Kigeya 58’)
Hills United 2 (Felipe Nieto Rave 80’, M.Lal 90+2’)
Dulwich Hill 0-1 Mounties Wanderers
Mounties Wanderers secured back-to-back wins overcoming Dulwich Hill by a single goal away from home, Saturday night.
How two weeks can change things? Brett Hewits side now sitting in 11th position, they showed considerable character to get a result here. While Dulwich Hill have now lost their last two sitting one point behind them.
The visitors had to hang tough in the first half with goalkeeper Matthew Nikolovski making two good saves to keep it scoreless going into the break.
Though it didn’t stay scoreless for long with the visitors taking the lead early in the second half. A high press forcing a mistake before Joshua Okan applied the finish.
Mounties holding on despite the hosts applying plenty of pressure in the final quarter hour. Another good result for this rejuvenated Mounties Wanderers side.
Dulwich Hill 0
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Okan 46’)
Inter Lions 0-2 Bankstown City
Three games unbeaten, Bankstown City grabbed three points with a 2-0 victory over Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
Seven points in their last three games, signs are there that Bankstown City have found their winning ways in 2025. A clinical touch giving them the three points in this one.
Having played in the cup midweek, it was a sluggish start for the visitors in particular in an overall patch performance. While Inter Lions walked away wondering how they didn’t get something.
Bankstown scoring their first in the 26th minute through Jonathan Grozdanovski who converted from the spot. While Inter Lions had their best chance in the first half through Mitchell Smith who was denied with a point blank reflex save.
Inter having second half chances through Mitchell Smith, Owen Duke and Sam Armson but it was Bankstown City to find a second and in turn the three points.
A good team from back to front finished off by Grozdanovski for his brace halfway through the second half.
Inter Lions 0
Bankstown City 2 (Grozdanovski 26’ 66’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-1 SD Raiders
Spoils shared in the local derby, Bonnyrigg White Eagles became the first side to take points off SD Raiders this season with a 1-1 draw.
They had to do after falling behind early in the contest with a draw a fair result all things considered in reflection.
Indeed it was SD Raiders taking the early lead through Ryoma Takagi who was on the end of a well executed counter attack for the visitors.
The visitors having an opportunity soon after denied by a Stefan Dubocanin challenge on the goal-line. That effort perhaps inspiring his team on to be a threat at the other end. Both Sebastian Ceredo and Charles Mendy having efforts before they found their equaliser.
Daniel Bittar the scorer of their goal after Ceredo, Mendy and Mason Versi combined in the lead up. A second save from Michael Figueira falling to Bittar to finish around the half hour.
Both sides having good chances as the second half went on to find a winner. Stefan Nikolic and youngster Aleks Zecevic both having an impact off the bench for the hosts. While SD Raiders hit the post from an angle at the other end.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Bittar 30’)
SD Raiders 1 (Takagi 5’)
Hakoah FC 0-3 Blacktown Spartans
Concluding our round of action, Blacktown Spartans secured a dominant win over Hakoah FC at Hensley Athletic, Sunday afternoon.
The visitors scored early and carried on with their performance for the full 90 minutes to move into a top six position after seven rounds. While the defeat for Hakoah has them down in fifteenth.
As mentioned earlier, the visitors got off to a good start when Aedon Kyra scored from a set piece in the third minute. An advantage which was doubled with the pick of the goals in the 37th minute through Suleyman Bangura who scored from outside the area.
Kyra then adding a third in first half injury time, an advantage they held till the full time whistle to conclude a satisfying day out for the Spartans.
Hakoah FC 0
Blacktown Spartans 3 (Kyra 3’ 45+1’, Bangura 37’)
