Round 11 Review – League One Men’s
The FNSW League One Men’s round eleven action was largely decided by fine margins across the Easter long weekend.
A weekend which could have gone a whole lot differently, SD Raiders and Northern Tigers continue to set the pace while we saw three score draws including our match of the round which saw Hills United take on Bankstown City.
Check out our review below.
Match of the Round: Hills United 1-1 Bankstown City
Our match of the round saw Hills United and Bankstown City play out an entertaining open affair at Valentine Sports Park, Saturday evening.
There’s an argument that both goals came against the run of play in this one, Hills United finding their first 15 minutes in through Dimi Petratos before Shun Maeta equalised late in the second half.
We nearly had a goal in the opening couple of minutes. A cross-field ball from City’s midfielder Andrea Agamemnonos finding Jeffrey Issa galloping down the right who drew a diving save from Ryan Wood in the Hills net. The visitors starting the more positive of the two sides early.
Hills United creating their first chance of note in the 10th minute, working the ball down the left before Dimi Petratos was found centrally towards the edge of the area. His shot saved by Jackson Jarnet a bit more comfortably.
The best chance yet came at the other end though, Shun Maeta hitting the base of the right post with an opportunity after turning his marker inside out towards the left side of the area before the quarter hour.
And as so often happens in football after a big chance for one side, Hills United had a chance at the other end in which they opened the scoring around the quarter hour. A passing interchange down the right seeing Glen Kelshaw granted plenty of time to pick out Dimi Petratos for a finish from close range.
That goal giving the hosts confidence with a few half chances on the Bankstown goal following. While Shun Maeta continued too look the most likely for the visitors. Both sides happy to keep the game open without creating clear-cut chances during this period.
A pattern which continued in the early stages of the second half with Hills United perhaps edging out the amount of chances. Their next good chance being a head down from a diagonal ball falling to Oscar Felipe Nieto Rava whose effort had a bit too much juice on it flying over the bar.
Hills presented with a big opportunity to double their advantage in the 70th minute. Jackson Jarnet adjudged to have taken down Lachlan Sepping before Dimi Petratos stepped up to the spot. Petratos’ effort saved by Jackson Jarnet as he attempted to chip it down the middle.
Some heroic Bankstown City defending denying them once again a few minutes later. Marcus Lal denied at close range by a Shun Maeta block after a Cameron Philp cut back from the left by-line.
The hosts made to rue their mistakes when Bankstown CIty equalised in the 78th minute through you guessed it, Shun Maeta. Maeta curling a lovely shot of outside the box into the bottom right corner from a left back position.
Hills having their best chance for a winner in the remaining time through Lachlan Sepping who poked an effort wide in the 84th minute.
Both sides sharing the spoils with Bankstown City sitting in 9th after eleven rounds with Newcaslte Jets next up while Hills United sit three points behind them in 12th position ahead of facing Dulwich Hill.
Hills United 1 (Petratos 16’)
Bankstown City 1 (Maeta 79’)
Northern Tigers 3-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Northern Tigers kicked off their Easter long weekend with a 3-0 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Friday afternoon.
Back-to-back wins after their defeat to SD Raiders, their goal difference is only improving with this result. Kai Denton scored twice while Olivier Beltran-Woodward also found the back of the net. While the defeat sees Bonnyrigg winless in six games.
The hosts were able to grab control of proceedings with their opener before the half hour. Some good combination play seeing a ball threaded through to Kai Denton, the striker chipping it past the keeper one-on-one.
A lead which was kept to a single goal to the 66th minute. Olivier Beltran-Woodward finding another goal off the bench heading home a set piece. That two goal lead becoming three just over ten minutes later, Kai Denton adding a second to his tally with another headed finish, his effort after losing his man at the back post.
Northern Tigers 3 (Denton 25’ 79’, Beltran-Woodward 66’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Mounties Wanderers 1-2 SD Raiders
We’ve seen this before… SD Raiders found another gear late to overcome a resilient Mounties Wanderers side 2-1 at Wanderers Football Park.
All three goals in this one came after the 80th minute, SD Raiders scoring to take the lead twice with it proving decisive on the second occasion. The late loss a tough pill to swallow for Mounties Wanderers who are chasing their third win of the season.
Against a well organised defence, the more fancied visitors had to be patient to get their breakthrough in a game of few chances. Raiders edging the first half before Mounties Wanderers looked good value for a result in the second half.
That said, the visitors did find their breakthrough through Oliver Velnic, Velnic following in after Charlie Ragg volley was spectacularly saved by Matthew Nikolovski for a controlled finish into the bottom corner.
Responding well to going behind, the hosts then equalised from the spot. Michael Trajkovski the scorer for just the second time this season.
However as they’ve tended to do so far this season, SD Raiders found a way once again. Brayden Mcpherson involved in the goal with his shot deflected into the back of the net by a defender.
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Trajkovski 86’)
SD Raiders 2 (Velnic 80’, Ansah OG 90’)
Canterbury Bankstown 3-2 Rydalmere Lions
Canterbury Bankstown took out a chaotic fixture at Jensen Park coming from behind to deny Rydalmere Lions their third win in as many weeks.
Securing three points after two successive draws, Cian McNamara, Demetrius Kigeya and James Ralston all scored in the final twenty-five minutes of this, this after Rydalmere Lions were reduced to nine men earlier.
Carrying momentum into the fixture, Rydalmere Lions opened the scoring inside five minutes through Robert Eremugo. Eremugo strike from outside the box proving too good for the Berries to do anything about it.
The rest of the first half seeing Berries find their way into it with chances for both Joel Beattie and Christian Torrelli.
Berries starting where they left off in the first half which brought about a Rydalmere red card for Ryan Jom in the 57th minute. That red card actually spurring the visitors on as they extended their lead through Adil Toska. Toska dribbling past three players before finishing for an impressive individual goal.
However there was another twist with the visitors reduced to nine for a second yellow to Robert Eremugo. The hosts taking full advantage, Cian McNamara scoring their first after a Patrick Savor cut back. Savor inflential assisting the second goal as well, James Ralston the scorer of that.
Before Demetrius Kigeya scored the eventual winner on the end of a through ball in the 80th minute to cap off a come from behind win.
Canterbury Bankstown 3 (McNamara 69’, Ralston 80’, Kigeya 82’)
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Eremugo 4’, Toska 63’)
Inter Lions 1-0 Blacktown Spartans
Inter Lions continued their steady climb up the table with a 1-0 win over Blacktown Spartans, Saturday night.
Two straight clean sheets has seen Shane Cevenini’s side gaining confidence with a Sebastian Portolesi goal on the quarter hour proving the difference.
Fresh off their victory against SD Raiders last weekend, Inter nearly took the lead early whern a James Ord shot was blocked after Owen Duke and Portolesi combined earlier in the move. Portolesi then scoring the go-ahead in the 15th minute.
However it was the Spartans who controlled proceedings throughout the first half playing well in possession which forced the hosts to defend quite deep.
The second half seeing both sides have a good chance to add a goal to the game. Inter Lions through Owen Duke who fired over the crossbar from close range. While Blacktown Spartans had a chance from the spot, their penalty placed wide of the target giving Inter Lions a hard fought single goal win.
Inter Lions 1 (Portolesi 15’)
Blacktown Spartans 0
Macarthur Rams 1-1 UNSW FC
An 81st minute equaliser saw Macarthur Rams claim a share of the points against UNSW FC at Lynwood Park.
Continuing to pick up points at a steady rate, the Rams came from behind to earn their first point against top four opposition. While the students will possibly see this as two points lost rather than a point earned.
The first half of this one saw the visitors in control for the most part, created numerous opportunities utilising their wing backs. While the hosts started to get more comfortable towards the latter stages of the half.
But the action in this was really came late, thanks largely in part to the defensive efforts of Joshua Taylor and a couple of good saves from Jerome Narayan for the Rams.
UNSW eventually breaking through when Kevin Lopes was able to convert a chance through on goal after a nice run into the box. Responding well, the Rams came back into it and found an equaliser through Carlos Ruiz Cantillo who followed in a Jayden Tran shot to convert from a tight angle.
Narayan once again stepping up to deny the visitors the three points in the remaining ten minutes.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Ruiz Cantillo 81’)
UNSW FC 1 (Lopes 68’)
Newcastle Jets 1-1 Hakoah FC
A clash between two teams at either end of the table saw Newcastle Jets and Hakoah FC share the points up at Lake Macquarie.
It’s the third consecutive draw for Newcastle Jets at home, while the point will be more appreciated by Hakoah FC who took a point back down to the motorway for their efforts.
After weathering a couple of Jets attacks in the opening quarter hour, Hakoah were the first side to find the back of the net through Jordan Mikhael who scored from a cleared corner on the volley.
Chances coming at either end throughout the contest between the two sides at opposite ends of the table. Newcastle finding their equaliser with around fifteen minutes left through Ethan Debono who produced a stunning finish into the top right corner. Both sides having opportunities for a winner but having to settle for a share of the spoils.
Newcastle Jets 1 (Debono 72’)
Hakoah FC 1 (Mikhael 19’)
Bulls FC Academy 2-2 Dulwich Hill
A 90th minute goal saw Dulwich Hill take a point from their Monday night fixture against Bulls Academy at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Finishing 2-2, the away side had to come from behind twice to claim a share of the points in a hard fought game.
The Bulls started the game well and took the lead just after the quarter hour. Zane Helweh weaving his way into the box before applying a clever finish into the back of the net.
A lead which they held till the 37th minute. Daniel Fornito in the right place at the right time to finish after Jamal Belkadi tested the keeper.
As such, there was a response and Bulls took the lead again with ten minutes to go after hitting the post. Levi Sciuriaga beating the Dulwich Hill keeper at the near post.
With nothing to lose, Dulwich Hill found an equaliser after a few changes. Jack Mitsoulas scoring from around 30 yards out with a few minutes remaining for a share of the points.
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Helweh 17’, Sciuriaga 80’)
Dulwich Hill 2 (Fornito 37’, Mitsoulas 90’)
Round Six catch up result: Macarthur Rams 2 (Martin 85’, Roberts 87’) drew with Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Beattie 54’, Torrelli 90+2’)
By Justin Smith
