Round 18 Review – League One Men’s
Round 18 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition was one to expect the unexpected with several sides towards the bottom securing points.
Speaking of, our match of the round saw Newcastle Jets also throw themselves back into contention for a top two spot. That and more in our review below.
Match of the Round: UNSW FC 1-4 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets snapped UNSW FC unbeaten streak with a comprehensive 4-1 win at the Village Green, Saturday evening.
The visitors were clinical when they needed to be in this one with Ethan Debono, Janni Rafty and Oliver Cockle all finding the back of the net in the first half. While it was also a disappointing performance from the hosts who didn’t quite find a way into this one from the get go.
That being said, if Thomas Quilligan had opened the scoring early on in the fixture, it could’ve been different. The in form attacker skying his effort under pressure from the top of the six yard box ten minutes in.
However it was the Jets to open their account in the 18th minute, a neat interchange from right to left seeing Janni Rafty find Debono inside the area, the wide attacker getting the ball onto his right boot before curling it inside the far post.
The Jets then sensing their opportunity to score a second in quick-fire fashion. Debono returning the favour with a ball across the top of the 18 yard box finding Janni Rafty, Rafty firing a powerful strike into the top corner.
It wasn’t like the hosts weren’t having chances to respond either, Oscar Archbold making a good stop diving to his left in the 25th minute to deny a long range Richard Blanco shot which came through a lot of bodies.
The two goal advantage for the visitors extended to three in the 37th minute through Oliver Cockle. The academies breakthrough star applying a terrific finish around his body from an Angus Muddle delivery into the area.
Half time not halting that momentum with a fourth goal coming in the 48th minute. Cockle grabbing the second of his brace with Debono setting up the goal with an assist on the left by-line.
At this point, we were awaiting a response and their was a brief sign that a comeback could be on minutes later. Thomas Quilligan pouncing on a defensive mistake from the visitors before chipping the keeper for the students first.
But the Jets were able to do more than enough from that point forward to close out the game. With only half chances falling the way of the hosts throughout the remainder.
They feature in our next match of the round against Hills United. While UNSW FC next take on Mounties Wanderers without a couple of their stars who picked up their fifth yellow card.
UNSW FC 1 (T.Quilligan 52’)
Newcastle Jets 4 (Deboono 18’, Rafty 20’, Cockle 37’ 48’)
Elsewhere
Bankstown City 1-2 Bulls FC Academy
Bulls FC Academy strengthened their case as a top two side with a 2-1 win over Bankstown City at Jensen Park.
Their fourth win in their last five games, all three goals in this one came in the first half with a rotated Bulls Academy side prevailing to move into second.
Missing some of their usual starters through youth national team duties. the hosts started the game well and scored two goals in the first half through Harry Menham and Michael Krslovic. The young Bulls perhaps unlucky not to add to their tally lacking some composure in front of goal.
While the hosts did manage to draw level earlier in the contest through Jonathan Grozdanovski who scored his 11th goal of the season before the half hour.
Bulls coaching staff mentioning the performances of Harry Menham, Kye Cesear and Ante Vojvodic as key contributors in the win. Another step in the right direction for this young side who now sit second in the standings.
Bankstown City 1 (Grozdanovski 29’)
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Menham, Krslovic)
Mounties Wanderers 2-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Mounties Wanderers took out a crucial clash at the bottom of the table prevailing 2-1 over Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Wanderers Football Park.
Keeping the hosts in touch with sides they are competing with, James Cakovski scored a brace to lead his side to victory after Daniel Bittar drew his side level earlier.
The hosts came quickly out of the blocks in this one scoring within the first minute. Cakovski in the right place after a shot was parried into his path at the back post. From there, the game turned into one you would expect from two sides near the bottom, both sides having half chances before the break.
A pattern which continued into the second half before Daniel Bittar produced something special to bring the game to life. Bittar scoring a ‘worldie’ from range to equalise. However it was the Mounties night and Cakovski once again found the back of the net after getting in behind the defence.
Bonnyrigg unable to make use of a man advantage in the final ten minutes, with Mounties holding on for their fourth win of the campaign.
Mounties Wanderers 2 (Cakovski 1’ 70’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Bittar 64’)
Hills United 2-0 Northern Tigers
One of the more eye-catching results of the weekend saw Hills United take a 2-0 win over Northern Tigers.
Getting some revenge for their Australia cup defeat ten days before, its a second straight win for head coach Gary Van Egmond, Marcus Lal gave them a lead before Yuki Kanai made sure of the result in the second half.
Coming into this one on the back of last weeks victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles, the result keeps them in twelfth position after the weekend. Marcus Lal giving his side the lead with his fifth goal of the season in the first half before Yuki Kanai scored his second goal against the Tigers in the space of ten days.
The result a blow to Northern Tigers who now have only one win in their last five swallowed up by the chasing pack. They have a chance to respond against Apia Leichhardt midweek in the Waratah Cup semi-final.
Hills United 2 (Lal 26’, Kanai 78’)
Northern Tigers 0
Blacktown Spartans 1-2 Dulwich Hill
Another eye catching result saw Dulwich Hill come from behind to take their first win in seven games with a 2-1 win over Blacktown Spartans.
A morale boosting result, they now have restored a buffer over the bottom two sides, Antonio Orlando the hero with a 66th minute goal.
With just thirteen fit first graders, the visitors produced a memroable performance to take away the three points from this one.
They were on top for the first half hour missing a few good chances before Spartans finished the half strong scoring the opener. That goal coming through Aedon Kyra who scored a stunning volley in the halves dying stages.
Once again though, the visitors started to creep back into the contest and they were handed a lifeline with a penalty before the hour mark. Liam Spiropoulos scoring from the spot. The visitors using that momentum to find a second through Antonio Orlando who finished sweetly following in a Samuel O’Connor shot.
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Kyra 43’)
Dulwich Hill 2 (Spiropoulos 59’, Orlando 66’)
Hakoah FC 1-3 Rydalmere Lions
Rydalmere Lions backed up last weekends match of the round victory with a 3-1 win over Hakoah FC away from home.
After conceding early it could have been completely different but Rydalmere scored a crucial goal to restore parity before the break before scoring twice more in the second half.
Another side who came from behind, the hosts took the lead after setting the tone early. A direct ball releasing Valentin Cuny down the right channel before squaring it to Ben Fuchs for a tap in at the far post.
Just as it looked like they were were going to hold on to their lead going into half time, the visitors struck back through Robert Eremugo. Eremugo combining with Ahmed Taleb for their equaliser.
Rydalmere then scoring two goals in the second half. Taleb setting up the second goal for Adil Toska in the 66th minute. Before Jihad Alsayed turned provider for Robert Eremugo who finished with a looping finish in the 88th minute to secure the three points.
Hakoah FC 1 (Fuchs 13’)
Rydalmere Lions 3 (Eremugo 43’ 80’, Toska 62’)
Inter Lions 1-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Inter Lions rescued a point from their match with Canterbury Bankstown with a Sam Armson 95th minute goal at Majors Bay Reserve.
A game which saw the momentum shift throughout, the hosts started the better of the two sides. Missing a few good chances before the Berries took control after 25 minutes. Their opener coming through a build up from back to front which saw a Yuju Jang shot saved into the path of Joel Beattie who slotted the rebound away.
Berries than opting to sit back with their lead while looking for opportunities in transition, both sides having chances to score before the equaliser came deep into injury time. Sam Armson heading home at the back post to take us too our final score.
Inter Lions still in the hunt for the top two but they’ll need to recover their winning form, while Canterbury Bankstown have Hakoah FC next up.
Inter Lions 1 (Armson 90+5’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Beattie 34’)
SD Raiders 0-0 Macarthur Rams
Macarthur Rams continued their positive momentum picking up a point in their meeting with SD Raiders at Ernie Smith Reserve.
This was a tale of one side being right up for this one and fresh, while the other struggled to back up after midweek action.
Pressing their hosts hard, the hosts hard plenty of chances in this one but they just couldn’t beat in form Raiders shot-stopper Michael Figueira throughout this one.
SD Raiders perhaps a bit better after the break where they had a good opportunity to open their account but Jerome Narayan in the Rams net made a triple save. The Raiders holding on in the end with the Rams applying pressure in the final ten minutes, SD down a man at this point due to an injury with all substitutes already on the pitch.
This game seeing Rams notch up their third straight clean sheet in a performance which impressed coach Tim Aitken.
SD Raiders 0
Macarthur Rams 0
By Justin Smith
