Round 15 Review – League One Men’s

a close up of a sign

Round fifteen action saw us reach the halfway point of the FNSW League One Men’s season and the standings at either end couldn’t be tighter.

A weekend highlighted by a top four match of the round clash.

We also saw SD Raiders and Bulls FC Academy secure important wins, let’s get to this week’s review. 

Match of the Round: Northern Tigers 1-1 UNSW FC

A late equaliser saw Northern Tigers claim a point in dramatic fashion in their top three clash with UNSW FC at North Turramurra Recreation Area.

Reduced to ten men in the first half, the Tigers rallied after Sean Woods gave the students the lead midway through the first half.

Played at a good tempo in the games early stages, the visitors had the first shot on target before the quarter hour through Kevin Lopes. Lopes running onto ball in behind before drawing a save from Tigers keeper Elliot Carwardine. Jack Fulton also seeing his shot blocked in the follow up.

A big moment in the fixture coming in the 17th minute when Oliver Franz was sent off for the hosts adjudged to have brought down Jack Fulton outside the area.

However the visitors were struggling to make their player advantage count as the clock approached the half hour. With a 22nd minute shot across the face from Sean Woods their best chance at breaking the deadlock during this period.

While Northern Tigers finished the half in their attacking third with a series of set pieces at the other end to no avail, some desperate defence denying them the games opener in the 44th minute from a Lachlan Lloyd cut back.

Northern Tigers Kai Denton then having the first chance of the second half with a back post header from corner going wide of the mark. The hosts looking a particular threat from set pieces after the break.

It was beginning to feel like it would be a frustrating evening for UNSW FC but they were able to find a breakthrough after a good spell around the hour mark. Sean Woods applying a powerful header into the back of the net from a floated Kevin Lopes cross.

The game very much in the visitors control playing a lot of it in their attacking half. That said, there was a threat at the other end and Jesse Spang went close in the 74th minute, Spang controlling a low Koya Nakano ball forward before his shot from around the edge of the area went just wide of the left post.

UNSW having a big chance to double their lead in the 80th minute. Conor Quilligan delivering a ball across the six yard box which couldn’t be finished by Corby Fowler who shot was saved by Carwardine.

A miss which would prove to be costly afterwards with the hosts grabbing an unlikely equaliser. Jonathan Green controlling a ball from deep at the back post before substitute Lachlan Mills applied the finish.

The result enough to keep the hosts in the top two, while UNSW FC will see it as an opportunity wasted after holding a goal and man advantage.

Northern Tigers 1 (Mills 90+2’)

UNSW FC 1 (Woods 63’)

Elsewhere

SD Raiders 4-2 Dulwich Hill

Coming from behind again to secure three points, SD Raiders opened up a five point gap at the top with a 4-2 win over Dulwich Hill.

In fashion we could almost call trademark, they fell behind due to a Daniel Fornito brace before Mihael Marcic, Jairo Torne Fernandez and Noah Chianese scored goals in the second half.

A see-sawing affair, the hosts took an early lead after twenty minutes. Charlie Ragg opening the games account from a Riley Cox-Barlow ball across the six yard box.

However the visitors began to threaten in transition and found their equaliser before the 40th minute through Fornito who applied a powerful finish just inside the 18 yard box. The striker finding a second in spectacular fashion after the break, his effort from 35 yards soaring into the top corner.

That lead not lasting long before it was back level again, a break down the right seeing Noah Chianese cross the ball for Mihael Marcic to head home at the near post.

SD Raiders completing the turn around with a further couple of goals. The first from Jairo Torne Fernandez with Noah Anderson grabbing an assist off the bench. Before Chianese scored their fourth win just under ten minutes left.

SD Raiders 4 (Ragg 20’, Marcic 59’, Tairo Fernandez 66’, Chianese 82’)

Dulwich Hill 2 (Fornito 38’ 57’)

Newcastle Jets 4-2 Canterbury Bankstown

A free-scoring Newcastle Jets side overcame Canterbury Bankstown four goals to two up at Lake Macquarie.

After surrendering a two goal lead, the Jets scored twice in the final ten minutes to secure the points against Canterbury Bankstown.

Earlier, the Jets got off to a flyer from the spot in the 2nd miinute. Oliver Cockie fouled in the area for Xavier Bertoncello to finish from the spot. The hosts advantage doubled fifteen minutes later through captain Garang Arou. Arou heading home a Kyle McSeveney cross.

Slowly the Berries eased their way into the game and they cut the deficit to one goal through Joel Beattie who scored at the near post.

And they took the ascendancy early in the second half scoring an equaliser through Daniel Goni in the 54th minute. Berries having another few chances to go ahead but if you don’t take them, there’s always a risk it will come back to bite you. Such was the case here with Jets scoring twice late.

Janni Rafty with their third goal after a Bertoncello shot rebounded to him. Before Ethan Debono added their fourth from a Bertoncello assist.

Newcastle Jets 4 (Bertoncello 2’, Arou 17’, Rafty 84’, Debono 85’)

Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Beattie 31’, Goni 54’)

Mounties Wanderers 0-2 Bulls FC Academy

Four straight wins, five games unbeaten. Bulls FC Academy are now on the brink of the top two after prevailing 2-0 over Mounties Wanderers.

Dean Bosnjak gave the visitors the perfect start with an early goal before Zane Helweh continued his scoring form this season to round out the win.

Showing maturity beyond their years, the visitors controlled possession for good periods of this one while defending transitional moments well at the other end. They secured an early breakthrough via Dean Bosnjak. Bosnjak pouncing on a back pass which didn’t have enough on it before slotting home.

The striker involved once again for their second winning a penalty which Zane Helweh confidently converted just after the hour mark. While Oliver Randazzo, Joshua Damevski and Harry Menham also were singled out for their performances.

Mounties for their part disappointed with errors which contributed to conceding both goals.

Mounties Wanderers 0

Bulls FC Academy 2 (Bosnjak 2’, Helweh 62’)

Blacktown Spartans 2-1 Hills United

Blacktown Spartans overcame the new coach bounce from their visitors with a 2-1 victory over Hills United, Friday evening.

Gary Van Egmond had his first taste at League One Men’s football but for the new Hills coach, things did not go to plan.

After weathering a good start from the visitors, Christian Nascimben equalised on the half hour from a free kick before Aedon Kyra scored the winner with five minutes left.

Missing three or four chances early, the hosts were made to pay soon after. Hills opening the games account  after the 20th minute through Zen Gigliotti through a quick transition.

A lead which lasted just under ten minutes before the Spartans drew level. Christian Nascimben scoring from a set piece to bring things level heading into the half time sheds.

Having regained control in the fixture, the hosts were proving inefficient in front of goal. That was until the 85th minute through Aedon Kyra. Kyra on the end of a neat build up which saw one of the clubs youth players Milos Jankovic involved in the build up.

Blacktown Spartans 2 (Nascimben 30’, Kyra 81’)

Hills United 1 (Gigliotti 21’)

Bankstown City 1-0 Rydalmere Lions

Bankstown CIty picked up their fifth win of the season over an in-form Rydalmere Lions sides at Jensen Park.

This was a game decided by a couple of moments in the first half. The first of which saw both sides reduced to ten in the 22nd as both Nikola Pintur and Lucca Cervo were dismissed.

The hosts perhaps adjusting a little bit better, Henry Davies scoring the decisive goal in the 35th minute with a glancing header across goal from a Jamie Masson delivery.

Both sides defences standing tall in this one with both sides struggling to find rhythm in their attack down to ten.

Bankstown City then holding on for the three points, their first win in a few weeks. While Rydalmere Lions have now tasted defeat in two of their last three games.

Bankstown City 1 (Davies 35’)

Rydalmere Lions 0

Macarthur Rams 2-2 Hakoah FC

An injury time penalty saw Macarthur Rams take a point from their fixture against Hakoah FC down at Lynwood Park.

Their sixth draw of the season, they came from behind twice with goals to John Roberts and Aaron Green after Gaelen Dorigo and Valentin Cuny scored earlier for the visitors.

It was a shaky start for the hosts who had a coaching change during the week with Timothy Aitken coming into the role.

Hakoah unlucky to not take the lead in the opening half hour. Their eventual breakthrough coming just as the hosts were settling, Gaelen Dorigo opening their account from a set piece. Rams responding just four minutes later with a goal of their own in similar fashion through John Roberts.

After an end-to-end start to the second half, Hakoah once again took the lead through Valentin Cuny in the 57th minute. However they would be denied the three points with Aaron Green scoring from the spot deep into added time. Rams having a chance to win it after that when Carlos Ruiz Cantillo headed just wide.

Macarthur Rams 2 (Roberts 37’, Green 90+3’)

Hakoah FC 2 (Dorigo 33’, Cuny 57’)

Stay tuned for Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Inter Lions fixture information after the game was washed out.

By Justin Smith