Round 14 Review – League One Men’s
Goals were indeed flowing in round 14 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition across all our venues as Saturday evening was one for the ages.
Let’s get to this week’s review
Match of the Round: Macarthur Rams 3-4 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets took out an enthralling match of the round with a 4-3 win over Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park, Saturday evening.
Perhaps surprisingly, it was Macarthur Rams to take the lead inside ten minutes through William Miranda seven minutes in. Miranda in the right place to finish after a Jayden Tran cross from the left wasn’t dealt with finishing on the second time of asking.
There were chances at either end in what was an open start, Emmanuel Gonazalez (Rams) and Will Dobson (Jets) both having an effort before the tenth minute. The Rams perhaps the more unlucky to not to find the back of the net once again in the opening twenty minutes.
As the half progressed, there was a sense that the Jets were starting to gain confidence in possession while also looking susceptible in transition at the other end. The away side going close on a few occasions before their equaliser.
That equaliser coming from captain Christian Bracco scoring with a powerful drive into the back of the net from outside the area. Jake Goodwin with the rather fortuitous assist on the left by-line with a cut back.
Rams having the final couple of chances of the half, both sides going into the break level in an entertaining affair.
Both sides continuing to have chances in the opening twenty of the second half before Jets took control with their second goal. Xavier Bertoncello converting a penalty which he won high into the net to make it 2-1 to the visitors.
That goal lead just lasting a couple of minutes before it was doubled. Christian Bracco scoring the second of his brace in the 69th minute. Bracco one again opting for power with his finish into the top right after weaving past a couple of defenders.
Two goals down, the Rams responded quickly with a goal of their own in the 71st minute. Connor Spurway delivering a diagonal ball into the area which caused confusion in the Jets defence. His ball perhaps taking a touch before it found the back of the net.
Jets then restoring their two goal lead before the 80th minute. Janni Rafty the scorers of that one after combining with Oliver Cockie going forward. Cockie threading a ball through for a left footed finish inside the box. Rams caught out throwing players forward in the lead up.
Once again however, the Rams showed character and found another goal in some style. William Miranda picking out the top corner from way out to bring it back to a goal margin with his last kick of the game.
Rams unable to find a fourth goal with the visitors taking the spoils home from an entertaining contest at Lynwood Park.
Macarthur Rams 3 (Miranda 7’ 83’, Spurway 72’)
Newcastle Jets 4 (Bracco 40’ 68’, Bertoncello 65’, Rafty 79’)
Elsewhere
Canterbury Bankstown 2-0 Northern Tigers
Canterbury Bankstown handed Northern Tigers their second straight away defeat prevailing 2-0 at Jensen Park, Saturday evening.
Continuing their unbeaten run in the process, the Berries scored a goal in each half. Christian Torrelli opening their account before the quarter hour before John Fotopoulos scored their second with twenty minutes left.
Saving their best half for the first half here, the Berries deserved their lead come half time. Torrelli opening the games account after a Joel Beattie shot dropped into his path. It was their ball movement and tempo which rattled the then league leaders though.
As such, the visitors came out much improved after half time, TIgers controlling the ball while Berries sat in a defensive block and looked to strike in transition which led to their second.
John Fotopoulos combining with Torrelli before finding the bottom corner with his left footed shot to double their advantage. Tigers unable to find a way through a resilient Berries defence despite their best efforts.
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Torrelli 13’, Fotopoulos 70’)
Northern Tigers 0
Mounties Wanderers 1-0 Hills United
Mounties Wanderers added intrigue to the survival battle with a single goal win over Hills United to draw level with the visitors on points.
A James Cakovski goal in the final five minutes of the first half gave them the three points, their first since round seven while Hills remain winless since round six.
The win is most welcome for Mounties Wanderers who have shown encouraging signs without reward in recent times. Both sides tentative early in this high stakes contest.
James Cokovski scoring the breakthrough late in the first half, Cokovski collecting the ball on the wing before using his speed to drive into the area and apply a finish into the top corner.
A lack of killer instinct seeing the game come down to the final quarter hour where Hills United threw everything they could at the hosts without reward.
The result seeing things become tight at the bottom with three sides (including these two) sitting equal on points after fourteen rounds.
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Cokovski 41’)
Hills United 0
Hakoah FC 1-2 Bulls FC Academy
Bulls FC Academy secured their third win in a row with a narrow 2-1 win over Hakoah FC at Hensley Athletic.
All three goals in this one came in the first half, Zane Helweh putting them in the lead before Nicholas Tooley equalised, Flynn Madden scoring what turned out to be the winner in the 42nd minute.
Despite suffering a blow in the warm up, the Bulls started strong and found their opener ten minnutes in. Zane Helweh continuing his scoring streak with a first time finish into the top corner. A lead which they held for just eight minutes before Hakoah levelled proceedings through a Nicholas Tooley goal.
Bulls once again taking the lead in the 42nd minute through Flynn Madden. Madden on the end of a incisive move with a one-two play on the edge of the area.
The academy side then able to see out the results courtesy of the efforts of Ante Vojvodic in defence as well as Frans Deli and Oliver Randazzo in the midfield. They now sit just three points behind Northern Tigers in second.
Hakoah FC 1 (Tooley 18’)
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Helweh 10’, Madden 42’)
UNSW FC 3-1 Bankstown City
Emerging as a top two contender, UNSW FC picked up their second win in the space of four days with a 3-1 over Bankstown City at the Village Green.
After a win over SD Raiders by the same score line Tuesday night, the students started this one well with three goals in the first half before seeing the game out in composed fashion throughout the second half.
All goals in this one came in the first half, UNSW finding the back of the net in the 20th minute through Jack Fulton. Fulton found by Thomas Quilligan with a pass from the second phase of a set piece. That lead doubled before the half hour.
Fulton once again the scorer, this time from a Mitchell Mattison cross for his second on the night and tenth goal of the season.
Bankstown City then reducing the deficit to one goal through their top goalscorer Jonathan Grozdanovski in the 32nd minute. Before the students restored their advantage through a Sean Woods header, Tom Quilligan once again assisting that one.
A more even contest after the break, UNSW now move into third ahead of a big match of the round next weekend.
UNSW FC 3 (Fulton 20’ 28’, Woods 45+1’)
Bankstown City 1 (Grozdanovski 32’)
Dulwiich Hill 3-4 Inter Lions
What a game of football this was! Inter Lions staged a second half comeback to remember to overcome Dulwich Hill at Arlington Oval.
Trailing by two goals at the break, the two sides exchanged three goals in three minutes midway through the second half before a late penalty separated the sides in the final ten.
The first half saw Inter Lions have plenty of possession without troubling their hosts outside of a Sam Armson shot which was scuffed wide. While Dulwich Hill were having no such issues scoring twice before the break.
Mark Younes opening their account in the 32nd minute before Daniel Fornito doubled their advantage three minutes later to make it 2-0 at half time.
However a tactical change at half time allowed the visitors to come back into it with Owen Duke applying a superb finish after an excellent passage of play. The equaliser scored in the 76th minute through Sebastien Portolesi who was first to react on a loose ball.
Dulwich Hill regaining their lead a minute later in similar circumstances to the goal they conceded, Mark Younes scoring his second.
It was Inter Lions who were applying the more pressure and they found another equaliser through Owen Duke for his second at the back post off a Ned Armson ball. The visitors claiming the three points from the spot in the 83rd minute, Nikola Kuleski calmly slotting home from the spot.
Both sides deserving credit from an entertaining contest in Sydney’s Inner West.
Dulwich Hill 3 (Younes 31’ 77’, Fornito 35’)
Inter Lions 4 (Duke 52’ 78’, Portolesi 76’, Kuleski 83’)
SD Raiders 3-1 Blacktown Spartans
SD Raiders returned to the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Blacktown Spartans at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Their first win at home in awhile, they once again had to do it the hard way coming from behind to secure the points bouncing back from a defeat to UNSW midweek in the process.
This one could have been oh so different with the visitors paying the ultimate price for not taking their chances earlier. Spartans having countless opportunities in the first half and on another day they could have held a three or four goal lead if not for Michael Figueira in the SD Raiders net.
Spartans finally taking the lead in the 54th minute through Suleyman Bangura after a scramble in the area. That goal waking up the hosts who responded with three goals in the final half hour.
Lachlan Mcgrath heading home at the back post from a Sebastian Malfara delivery. Their deliveries into the area causing the visitors problems in this period. A cross from the right leading to their second minutes later. Riley Cox-Barlow’s shot taking a deflection off a defender for 2-1 in the 74th minute.
The icing on the cake applied through a Jairo Torne Fernandez volley in injury time from inside the area.
SD Raiders 3 (Mcgrath 70’, Timotheou OG 78’, Torne Fernandez 90+1’)
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Bangura 54’)
Rydalmere Lions 4-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Three wins in four, Rydalmere Lions proved too good for an out of form Bonnyrigg White Eagles with a 4-1 win.
Assisted by a red card in the first half, the hosts were in control from that point forward with Ahmed Taleb scoring a brace.
The hosts had to overcome a fast start from the visitors who started with plenty of energy. Their first coming through Jihad Alsayed against the run of play before the quarter hour. Alsayed finishing a Robert Eremugo shot from the by-line after Taleb sent their attack in motion.
Bonnyrigg equalising on the half hour, Stefan Nikolic finding the top left corner with his shot following a lay off from Aaron Peterson after holding the ball up.
A red card was to hinder their momentum though with Stefan Dubocanin dismissed for a last man foul just outside the area. Ahmed Taleb stepping up and converting the free-kick into the top right corner.
Two further goals coming in the second half through Ahmed Taleb in the 68th minute and Sam Motley in the second half with minutes of regulation remaining.
Rydalmere Lions 4 (Alsayed 14’, Taleb 38’ 68’, Motley 87’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Nikolic 30’)
By Justin Smith
