Round 16 Review – League One Men’s
Round 16 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition had a little bit of everything as we kicked off the second half of the season.
Bulls FC Academy and Northern Tigers couldn’t be separated in our match of the round whilst Bankstown City toppled the league leaders and Macarthur Rams took out a six pointer.
Match of the Round: Bulls FC Academy 1-1 Northern Tigers
One point separating them on the table, nothing to separate them on the park as Bulls FC Academy were forced to dig deep to take a point against Northern Tigers.
An entertaining contest from the get-go, Northern Tigers took the lead through Kai Denton before Zane Helweh pegged them back with his 12th goal of the season.
It was pretty evident early in this one that Northern Tigers had a game plan which would trouble the academy side, particularly out of possession. While in transition they had a couple of dangerous forays forward in the opening five minutes.
Northern Tigers were the more dangerous at this point and they hit the frame of the goal around the quarter hour. Captain Lachlan Lloyd picking out Kai Denton outside his defender in the box with a cross, Denton’s header off balance inches away from opening the scoring.
Bulls FC Academy responding with a chance of their own through Flynn Madden. Madden interchanging passes approaching the edge of the area before flashing a shot across the face in the 24th minute.
Both sides having good chances before the half, Jesse Spang and Lloyd having efforts for the visitors around the 41st minute. Before Zane Helweh drew a save from Tigers keeper Elliot Carwardine cutting in off the left. The game poised perfectly as the referees whistle went for half time.
After a scoreless but entertaining first half, we didn’t have to wait long for the first goal in the second half. The visitors grabbing a deserved go ahead goal in the 54th minute through who else but Kai Denton. The striker muscling his way past a defender before applying a close range finish after a well executed break forward. Ally Brown with a lovely assist to release him.
Tigers nearly adding a second under ten minutes later, Jesse Spang denied by a Alexander Robinson reaction stop from close range, Spang’s effort at the back post after a cross from the right.
With the minutes ticking down, it was now on the Bulls to find a goal. A feat they nearly achieved in the 78th minute when Elliot Carwardine was forced into a double save to deny Oliver Randazzo and Dean Bosnjak in quick succession.
If there was a player to do it however, it had to be Zane Helweh and the striker delivered two minutes later. Helweh given just enough space on the left to to take a few touches and unleash with his right foot, his shot deflected into the net on it’s way towards goal.
Both sides then having further chances but unable to find the back of the net in the final ten minutes. Northern Tigers sitting a point above the academy side after sixteen rounds.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Helweh 80’)
Northern Tigers 1 (Denton 54’)
Elsewhere
Bankstown City 3-0 SD Raiders
A crazy weekend indeed, Bankstown City picked up a big scalp with a dominant 3-0 win over SD Raiders at Jensen Park.
On top from minute one, they took a lead in the sixth minute before doubling their lead before half time, the hosts adding a third through Jonathan Grozdanovski in the games dying stages.
In one of their best halves of the season, Bankstown City could’ve had an even more comfortable lead at half time. Charles Eriku was the one to give them a lead in the 6th minute before Shun Maeta doubled their tally midway through the first half via a Shun Maeta goal. The hosts also having an opportunity from the spot which wasn’t taken.
Jonathan Grozanovski scoring the clincher in the 88th minute to wrap up a performance their coach described as their best 90 of the season. While SD Raiders will need to refocus their efforts with a big week on the horizon in which they face Hakoah in round 17 action before an Australia Cup tie against Blacktown City.
Bankstown City 3 (Eriku 6’, Maeta 26’, Grozdanovski 88’)
SD Raiders 0
UNSW FC 2-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Getting revenge for their first meeting, UNSW FC came from behind to overcome Bonnyrigg White Eagles and move into second position.
Plenty of action in the middle third of the game, Stefan Nikolic gave the visitors an unlikely lead in the 37th minute before Kevin Lopes equalised in first half injury time. Liam Wood’s second half strike proving pivotal as they took the spoils.
After Aaron Peterson had an opportunity to open the scoring in the games early stages, Stefan Nikolic was able to put the visitors in the lead in the 37th minute with a free-kick finding the left side of the net.
A lead which disappeared on the brink of half time through a Kevin Lopes goal. Lopes taking the ball down well and finishing from a Jack Fulton cross.
UNSW using that momentum to add a second soon after the resumption. Claudio Fabiano heading down a free-kick for Liam Wood to finish in the 52nd minute. Bonnyrigg having a final chance through Charles Mendy which was missed from an angle.
UNSW FC 2 (Lopes 45+3’, Wood 52’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Nikolic 37’)
Hills United 0-1 Macarthur Rams
Billed as a big six pointer heading into the weekend, Macarthur Rams secured their second win of the season with a single goal victory on the road over Hills United.
Bringing themselves level on points with their hosts, Paul Soravia scored the pivotal goal just before the hour mark. While the big news from Hills was their appointment of Gary Van Egmond as head coach.
This one started off in fairly even fashion with each team having half chances in the opening 20 minutes. It was the hosts Hills United who then took control of possession whilst applying pressure. Rams doing just about enough to withstand it.
However as can happen in football, the game changed in the second half with Rams responding. Paul Soravia scoring the decisive goal before the hour. While Jaidyn Dunn played a crucial role off the bench as an attacking option while they protected their lead. Rams keeper Jerome Narayan making a crucial save late to secure the points.
Hills United 0
Macarthur Rams 1 (Soravia 58’)
Blacktown Spartans 4-2 Rydalmere Lions
Blacktown Spartans kept themselves in with a shout of a top two finish with a 4-2 win over Rydalmere Lions, Friday night.
Plenty of action in this one, Suleyman Bangura and Christian Nascimben gave them a two goal lead in the first half before the sides exchanged goals in the second half.
The hosts got off to a perfect start in this one with Bangura scoring in the third minute. Their build up coming down the right before he finished from close range. Spartans doubling their advantage before the half time break through a peach of a free-kick scored by Christian Nascimben.
Plenty of feeling in this one, the complexion of the game changed with a red card for each side after the hour. Josh Bartolotto and Kyle Sande both receiving their marching orders. Rydalmere scoring their first under ten minutes later through Robert Eremugo.
But their hopes were dealt a blow when Spartans substitue Riley Chapple made it 3-1 in the 76th minute soon after coming on. Amponsah Antwi (Rydalmere) and Emmanuel Dolo (Spartans) both finding the back of the net in the games final stages.
Blacktown Spartans 4 (Bangura 3’, Nascimben 36’, Chapple 76’, Dolo 90+7’)
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Eremugo 72’, Antwi 84’)
Inter Lions 1-0 Newcastle Jets
Well in the mix, Inter Lions kept their unbeaten streak of late going with a 1-0 win against Newcastle Jets at Majors Bay Reserve.
Sitting just three points behind second place now, a James Khoury goal in the 69th minute was enough for the three points. While the result is a blow to Newcastle Jets top two hopes.
A win built upon their ability to keep a clean sheet, the hosts were able to create some early opportunites in a fast start. The Jets limited to limited chances throughout this one including after they went behind.
The second half continuing in the same pattern with the Lions unable to take a few chances in the opening quarter hour. The big moment coming from substitute James Khoury right before the 70th minute. Khoury chipping the keeper from 35 yards out to break the deadlock.
Evan Davis making a big save in the remaining minutes to ensure the single goal win over the Jets. Inter Lions coach Shane Cevenini crediting his substitutes for their impact of the bench post match.
Inter Lions 1 (Khoury 69’)
Newcastle Jets 0
Hakoah FC 2-0 Dulwich Hill
Hakoah FC returned to winning ways and in turned gave themselves breathing room over the bottom two with a 2-0 result against an out of sorts Dulwich Hill side.
A goal either side of half time ensured the result with Nicholas Tooley opening their account before Benjamin Fuchs added their second with twenty minutes left.
Described as a comfortable performance on the clubs socials, the home sides opener came before the 40th minute through Nicholas Tooley who picked up his fifth goal of the season to put his side ahead with a long range strike on the half volley. Both sides trading chances in the remainder of the first half with the hosts shading proceedings.
A half time lead which they held to the 70th minute when it was doubled. Ben Fuchs scoring that goal to see off Dulwich HIll and secure the season double over their visitors, their round one meeting finishing with the same score line.
Hakoah FC 2 (Tooley 36’, B.Fuchs 70’)
Dulwich Hill 0
Mounties Wanderers 1-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Canterbury Bankstown broke the hearts of Mounties Wanderers with a late equaliser for a share of the points at Wanderers Football Park.
A clash which saw Brett Hewit face the side where he started the season coaching, James Cakovski gave Mounties the lead in the first half before Connor Slater equalised for the Berries in second half injury time.
Canterbury Bankstown’s Christian Torrelli had the games opening chances where he forced Matthew Nikolovski into an early save. But it was the hosts who would look the more dangerous in the first half hitting the crossbar on three occasions before their opener which came from James Cakovski who found the back of the net before the 40th minute.
The game taking up a similar pattern, the hosts couldn’t find a second and they were made to pay. Finley Hayhurst hitting the crossbar at the other end before a goal in added time. The goal credited to Connor Slater though it could easily go down as an own goal after a ball was clipped to the back post.
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Cakovski 39’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Slater 90+2’)
By Justin Smith
