Round 17 Review – League One Men’s
The race has tightened at the top while there were some big results at the bottom in round 17 of FNSW’s League One Men’s action across the weekend.
Our match of the round saw Rydalmere Lions snap Inter Lions unbeaten run while UNSW, Northern Tigers, Macarthur Rams and Hills United all scored important wins.
Match of the Round: Rydalmere Lions 2-0 Inter Lions
Rydalmere Lions recovered from their recent woes with a 2-0 win over Inter Lions at Rydalmere Park.
A goal either side of half time was enough for the hosts to take the spoils with the result halting Inter Lions charge up the table.
The sun setting provided a beautiful backdrop as both sets of players strode out on to the pitch for this round 17 clash..
Alot of the action early playing out in midfield with occasional moments of promise from either side breaking forward. The first shot on target in the match coming through Inter’s Evan Patramanis from long range which never had a troubling trajectory after 25 minutes.
Inter Lions nearly found a go-ahead in the 35th minute. A long throw down the left flicked on by Owen Duke into the path of Sebastien Portolesi whose shot approaching the box drew a diving stop from RIccardo Rizzo.
Rizzo forced into another stop from long range a minute later to deny Patramanis as the visitors continued their hunt for the opener.
it took a while for the hosts to click in the attacking third, their first shot of note coming in the 33rd before they opened their account six minutes later. Former Inter player Ahmed Taleb the scorer of their goal after the visitors couldn’t clear their lines. Robert Eremugo doing a lot of the hard work in the build up after a Dillan Kahale cross.
That goal separating the two sides at half time in a fairly open contest lacking good chances on goal.
As you would expect for a side behind at the break, Inter Lions started the second half on the front foot showing plenty of intent.
But it was Rydalmere to have the best chance of the early stages. goal scorer Taleb denied from point blank range by a handy Evan Davis save in the Inter Lions goal before the 50th minute.
Inter Lions responding with a chance of their own a couple minutes later. Evan Patramanis unleashing a right footed strike from around 30 yards which hit the crossbar. Rizzo fortunate to claim the ball before it bounced off him into the net.
Both sides exchanging chances in this period with Taleb putting a shot over the bar in the 56th minute, a great opportunity to double their tally. The hosts not letting another opportunity go in the 70th minute.
A free-kick from their own half headed forward before Robert Eremugo grabbed a deserved goal floating a header over the Inter Lions keeper.
Needing to turn the game around, the visitors turned to their bench and it nearly paid off in the 80th minute. Samuel Hovar interchanging passes inside before putting his shot into the side netting from an angle inside the box.
The visitors unable to find a way to unlock the Rydalmere Lions as time ran out. Inter Lions next fact Canterbury Bankstown. While Rydalmere having secured their first win in three next tak on Hakoah FC.
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Taleb 39’, Eremugo 70’)
Inter Lions 0
Elsewhere
Macarthur Rams 3-0 Bankstown City
Macarthur Rams secured their second straight victory with a season best 3-0 win over Bankstown City at Lynwood Park.
A good performance from first whistle to last, Jay Tram announced himself to the competition with a brace before Nathan Chakanetsa added a third late on. Bankstown City having their best period chasing the game when 2-0 down.
A coaches dream, the first Rams goal came straight from the training pitch through Jay Tram who looked likely throughout. John Roberts also getting a mention from coach Tim Aitken after the match impacting every goal.
Speaking of which, the lead was doubled three minutes into the second half through Tram with his second goal. From there, Bankstown City staged a revival of sorts, missing two good chances before the Rams finished the game off with a Nathan Chakanesta goal in injury time.
Macarthur Rams 3 (Tram 29’ 48’, Chakanesta 90+3’)
Bankstown City 0
SD Raiders 1-2 Hakoah FC
Hakoah FC became just the fourth side to get the better of SD Raiders this season with a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Ernie Smith Reserve.
It could’ve been a different story as the hosts took the lead in the first half through Oliver Velnic in the 33rd minute. The Raiders creating a few good chances in the final third of the first half.
The fact that they didn’t add to their lead proved costly in this one with the visitors Hakoah coming into the game after the restart. Craig Sharpley’s side finding an equaliser with just over ten minutes to go.
Nicholas Tooley slotting home after some good work in the lead up from Gabriel Antoniades and Mackenzie Liversidge. Before they scored a winner in the 89th minute with the momentum behind them.
Samuel Young heading home from a near post run, Nick Drummond finding him with a corner. Hakoah looking like a tricky side to come up against during the second half of the season.
SD Raiders 1 (Velnic 33’)
Hakoah FC 2 (Tooley 78’, Young 89’)
Northern Tigers 1-0 Mounties Wanderers
Northern Tigers backed up their Australia Cup win midweek with a 1-0 victory over Mounties Wanderers Saturday afternoon.
Celebrating Lachlan Lloyd’s 150th game for the club, a Connor Rose free-kick late in the first half gave them the three points. The win moving them to within a point of SD Raiders who sit top of the table.
Both sides managed to hit the post in the first half of this one. Northern Tigers through Koya Nakano with a volley before Mounties Wanderers hit the crossbar through a corner of their own. The decisive moment as it turned out coming late in the first half. Connor Rose slotting a free-kick around the wall into the bottom right corner.
As the game state dictated, the Wanderers began to take control as the second half went on, putting multiple balls into the area whilst hitting the bar on one occasion. Tigers keeper Elliot Carwardine also making a good stop late on to give the hosts the three points.
Northern Tigers 1 (Rose 45+1’)
Mounties Wanderers 0
Dulwich Hill 0-1 UNSW FC
UNSW pulled a rabbit out of the hat to secured a 1-0 win over Dulwich Hill away from home.
Reduced to ten in the second half, they had to dig deep to secure the three points with a late Jordan Morfitis goal securing the three points in dramatic fashion. A big goal in the context of their season.
A clash which proved to be a lot closer than their first meeting, it looked likely to finish level when Timothy Wohlfiel was sent off just after the hour mark. However testament to the students, they found way to win despite being a player down.
Their goal coming through a Jordan Morfitis free-kick deep into injury time, his free-kick sneaking in at the back post, though it may haven a touch.
UNSW holding on to second place with the win while Dulwich Hills winless streak extends another week ahead of an away trip to Blacktown Spartans next weekend.
Dulwich Hill 0
UNSW FC 1 (Morfitis 90+3’)
Canterbury Bankstown 0-1 Bulls FC Academy
Bulls FC Academy kept pace with the top three with a 1-0 win over Canterbury Bankstown away from home.
A composed performance from the visitors against a well set up opposition, they created enough pressure to find a way through just after the hour.
The first half saw Bulls FC Academy hold the majority of the possession but Canterbury Bankstown have the best chance on goal through Kim Minjae who hit the side netting through on goal.
Having to be patient in their efforts, the academy side did create numerous chances before they grabbed a breakthrough. A cross into the box turned home by a defender who had no time to readjust. The likes of Dean Bosnjak, Ante Vojvodic, Frans Deli and Oliver Randazzo all earing a mention post game for their efforts on the ball.
While there was also encouraging aspects to the Berries performance as they deal with a hefty injury list.
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Goni OG 62’)
Newcastle Jets 2-2 Blacktown Spartans
Blacktown Spartans came from behind twice to take a share a points in a 2-2 draw with Newcastle Jets at Lake Macquarie.
A result which continues the struggles of the Aleague academy at home, it’s a result which perhaps will be viewed more positively by the visitors.
Making use of the home advantage, the Jets started the better of the two sides finding their opener inside the first 15 minutes through Oliver Cockie for his sixth goal of the campaign. However that good work was undone soon after when a defensive error allowed Suleyman Bangura a chance to equalise through on goal which he took. Aedon Kyra missing another chance to go ahead into the break but he missed from the edge of the area.
In a repeat of the first half, the academy side started the better in the second period, hitting the bar before Ethan Debono once again gave them the lead. However, their visitors just wouldn’t go away and they once again found a way through Riley Chapple after a build up down the right. The draw a fair outcome between two well matched sides.
Newcastle Jets 2 (Cockie 7’, Debonoo 69’)
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Bangura 19’, Chapple 80’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-2 Hills United
FInally to round off our review, Hills United picked up a big three points with a 2-1 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
The first win under the tenure of Gary Van Egmond, they managed to pick themselves up after a midweek cup defeat to prevail at the Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
They took the lead before the 20th minute through a Marcus Lal goal who broke a goal drought stretching back to round seven. That lead not lasting long however before the hosts drew level, Charles Mendy equalising for the hosts half way through the first half.
If there is a time not to concede however, it’s before the break and the host conceded a pen in first half injury time. Walid Moutaouakkil scoring the crucial penalty with neither side able to find the net once again.
The three points lifting Hills United into 13th, while the loss keeps Bonnyrigg White Eagles in 16th place.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Mendy 22’)
Hills United 2 (Lal 20’, Moutaoukkil 45’)
By Justin Smith
