Round 19 Review – League One Men’s
Round 19 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition saw a super Saturday full of action with some surprise results in tow.
One of which came in our match of the round, while Rydalmere Lions and Dulwich Hill also came away with upset wins. That and more in our review below.
Match of the Round: Hills United 2-0 Newcastle Jets
Hills United continued their winning run to ground the Newcastle Jets in our round 19 match of the round.
It was clear from the outset that Hills United were well up for this one after a couple of confidence boosting wins in recent times.
However it was the Jets to have the first chance before the quarter hour. Xavier Bertoncello just unable to direct his right footed effort goal-bound after taking it past his man on the right side, Janni Rafty sliding a ball through to him.
Jets on top at this point chance wise with Oliver Cockle also having an opportunity from close range which missed the target at the near post.
While Hills had their first chance in the 21st minute through Yuki Kanai, a lovely passing interchange releasing him on the left, his shot from an angle denied by Oscar Archbold in the Jets net.
Indeed it was the hosts to take the lead in the 38th minute, Walid Moutaoukkil the provider are racing free down the right with his low cross turned in by Marcus Lal from close range under heavy pressure from the Jets keeper who came off following the collision.
Jets having a few chances before the break to hit back, one of which saw Angus Muddle narrowly miss the target with a free-kick, the other of note falling to Bertoncello in first half stoppage time.
With the visitors now chasing the game, entries into the final third became more common as the second half got underway. Both sides unable to create a meaningful effort in front of goal before the hour mark.
The contest then becoming an arm wrestle in midfield as time was beginning to become the enemy of the Jets chasing the game. Hills the one to secure the game through an Alexander Hamilton goal in the 79th minute.
Hamilton not throwing away his shot with a powerful finish from an angle in the 75th minute, a fellow substitute Jordan Lane providing the assist with the cross from the left.
The result moving Hills United clear of the bottom two on 21 points after 19 games, while the top two looks somewhat beyond Newcastle Jets who sit on 28 points, eight points below second placed Northern Tigers.
They face Dulwich Hill at home next up while Hills United take on SD Raiders in a game to watch next weekend.
Hills United 2 (Lal 38’, Hamilton 79’)
Newcastle Jets 0
Rydalmere Lions 2-1 SD Raiders
An upset of sorts, Rydalmere Lions proved too strong for a weary SD Raiders outfit with a 2-1 win at Rydalmere Park.
A feisty contest which saw seven players booked before halftime, Robert Eremugo and Adil Toska gave the hosts a two goal advantage with a goal either side of half time. Their advantage never particularly under threat despite a Jairo Torne Fernandez consolation in injury time.
It didn’t always look like it was heading this way with the hosts having to withstand a few hairy moments in the games opening stages. Most notably,Ricardo Rizzo denying Charlie Ragg one-v-one and a goal line clearance denying Noah Chianese on the line after a near post flick on.
Rydalmere Lions taking the lead on the brink of half time, A well timed run from Robert Eremugo capped off with a lovely finish.
Two big incidents early in the second dictating the path of the game. The first seeing Sebastian Malfara sent off for a second yellow which saw SD Raiders reduced to ten.
Before Adil Toska gave the hosts a two goal advantage a few minutes later. Toska controlling the ball well inside the area to shake off a defender before a finish low into the net.
Both sides finishing with ten men as Julian Shalome also saw red with twenty minutes to go. Jairo Torne Fernandez scoring in injury time to make the scoreboard look closer.
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Eremugo 43’, Toska 59’)
SD Raiders 1 (Torne Fernandez 90+5’)
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers 3-0 Inter Lions
Northern Tigers returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Inter Lions to kick off Saturday’s action.
Scoring three goals before the hour mark, the win moves them back into the top two given results elsewhere on the back of their cup win midweek. While the result is a blow for Inter Lions and their own hopes of a top two place.
After withstanding a fast start from Inter Lions, the Northern Tigers hit them on the counter. Jesse Spang playing Kai Denton through who finished with just the keeper to beat.
The goal changing the momentum of the game with the Tigers adding a second before the half hour. This one coming via a set piece with Lachie Lloyd’s corner headed back across the face for Ally Brown to finish. After which the visitors responded well having their best spell of the game with Harry Rushton in particular looking dangerous.
It was the Tigers who would add their third however in the 59th minute, Jesse Spang scoring a deserved goal after Lachie Lloyd squared it across the face. Tigers then seeing the game out comfortably.
Northern Tigers 3 (Denton 17’, Brown 28’, Spang 59’)
Inter Lions 0
Dulwich Hill 2-1 Bankstown City
Dulwich Hill claimed a season double over Bankstown City with a hard fought 2-1 victory at Arlington Oval.
Another result which boosts their survival chances, they took a two goal lead before holding on for a result in the final quarter hour.
It was a good performance from the off for the hosts, Dulwich Hill doing a good job at winning every ball. Their best chance falling to Arthur Hugon who had a point blank header saved from the Bankstown City keeper.
Needing a goal to cap off their performance, they then came out in more direct fashion and were rewarded. Mark Younes scoring with a back post finish just after the hour. Before Daniel Padoani added a second pouncing on a lose ball after a free-kick wasn’t dealt with.
Bankstown City then making things nervy with a goal just inside the final ten minutes through Jonathan Grozdanovski. Just two points now separating the sides nineteen rounds into the season.
Dulwich Hill 2 (Younes 61’, Padoani 78’)
Bankstown City 1 (Grozdanovski 81’)
Bulls FC Academy 2-1 Macarthur Rams
Taking the lead at the top of the table, Bulls FC Academy overcame an improved Macarthur Rams in the local derby in Sydney’s South-West.
After conceding early, the young Bulls responded taking the lead before half time and held out a determined Rams outfit in the second half.
The Rams got off to the best possible start to this one, Connor Spurway giving the visitors the lead six minutes in. Tim Aitken’s side controlling the first twenty minutes of this one. Both sides then exchanging chances after that point.
Bulls Academy scoring two goals in the final stages of the first half to turn the game on it’s head. Zane Helweh scoring their first in transition before Samuel Bosnjak gave them the lead in first half stoppage time.
Rams then pushing for their on equaliser and winner throughout the second half but unable to find a breakthrough.
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Helweh 40’, Bosnjak 45+2’)
Macarthur Rams 1 (Spurway 6’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0-2 Blacktown Spartans
Blacktown Spartans compounded the woes of Bonnyrigg White Eagles with a 2-0 victory away from home.
After parting ways with Ben Rollison during the week, the Spartans proved too strong for Bonnyrigg in the second half with two goals. The result leaving the hosts four points adrift of the teams above them.
After a scoreless first half, the Spartans made a statement early in the second half through Aedon Kyra who found the top corner with a strike in the 47th minute, Milos Jankovic with the assist for that one. Jankovic also getting plaudits post match in which he was labelled ‘man of the match’.
Jankovic playing a role in the second goal as well which saw Riley Chapple dink it over the keeper after taking it past defenders.
Spartans keeping page with teams around them ahead of a fixture with Canterbury Bankstown next weekend. While Bonnyrigg face Inter Lions midweek.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Kyra 47’, Chapple 80’)
UNSW FC 1-1 Mounties Wanderers
UNSW FC’s top two hopes were dealt a further blow as they were held to a draw by Mounties Wanderers at the Village Green.
A game between two sides who were without players due to injuries and suspensions, Tom Quilligan gave the students the lead before Ejin Kishimoto equalised in the second half.
The first half saw UNSW controlling things in the early stages before the visitors played their way in. UNSW having a couple of half chances which was the closest either side came to a goal in the opening period.
Tom Quilligan breaking the deadlock with a goal to remember just after the hour from 30 yards or thereabouts. A lead which lasted seven minutes before Ejin Kishimoto equalised from a corner variation.
Both sides then having one opportunity each to take the points. UNSW through Kevin Lopes who hit the post, while Mounties had a chance parried away late in the game.
UNSW FC 1 (T.Quilligan 63’)
Mounties Wanderers 1 (Kishimoto 70’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2-2 Hakoah FC
We knew there wasn’t much between these two sides before this one, Canterbury Bankstown and Hakoah FC shared the points in a back and forth draw at Jensen Park.
Despite Hakoah perhaps started the fixture better, it was Cantebury Bankstown to open their account. Joel Beattie picking the ball up in midfield before taking it forward and unleashing a strike from 25 yards which found the back of the net to seperate the sides at the break.
However the Berries paid the price for a slip in concentration in the second third of the second half. Valentin Cuny capitalising with a brace for the visitors. The first a great strike before he pounced on a stray pass for his second.
One thing the hosts have shown this season though is their willingness to fight and they found an equaliser in the second half injury time. Daniel Goni heading home from a John Fotopoulos free-kick in the 94th minute for a share of the points.
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Beattie 38’, Goni 90+5’)
Hakoah FC 2 (Cuny 51’ 71’)
By Justin Smith
