Round 20 Review – League One Men’s
Round 20 FNSW League One Men’s competition saw some crucial results as teams continue to fight for promotion and relegation.
Our match of the round saw a six pointer at the bottom with Rams prevailing over the Bonnyrigg White Eagles while Northern Tigers, Inter Lions and Hills United also secured big wins.
Match of the Round: Macarthur Rams 2-0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Macarthur Rams secured a valuable three points with a 2-0 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles in our match of the round.
Establishing a gap between them and Bonnyrigg below them, they scored twice before the 25th minute and held on to keep a clean sheet at Lynwood Park.
A case of blink and you’ll miss it, Macarthur Rams got off to a perfect start to this one with a goal two minutes in. Jaidyn Dunn scoring with a curling effort inside the area into bottom right corner. The shot coming after an initial Emmanuel Gonzalez effort was parried into his path by Luke Turnbull.
Rams looking the most likely to add to their advantage in the opening ten minutes, the hosts not really giving Bonnyrigg much of a chance to find their feet early.
That was until they forced a save from Jerome Narayan around the 12th minute to deny Sebastian Cerecedo from close range, Charles Mendy finding him with a cut-back from the by-line.
Mendy in particular proving a threat for the visitors down the right wing with another dangerous ball across the face looking for Aaron Peterson just about dealt with by the Rams defence nearly 18 minutes in.
Their task would become an uphill one soon after though with the Rams finding a second in the 24th minute. Emmanuel Gonzalez compounding the woes of the visitors with a composed finish. The goal coming as a result of a under-hit pass from the visitors defence.
Rams nearly stretching the lead to three in the 38th minute. Jaidyn Dunn hitting the base of the far post with his right footed effort from the left side of the box.
A tough assignment ahead of them, Bonnyrigg nearly halved the deficit in the 52nd minute. Aaron Peterson turning his man before his goal-bound shot was saved by Narayan, Daniel Bittar hitting the post with his follow up effort inside the area.
While the hosts were continuing to look dangerous in transition as Bonnyrigg grew more desperate throwing players forward.
Rams holding firm at the back for the most part with the visitors going closest through a Mason Versi shot from an angle in the 78th minute which stung the palms of the Rams keeper.
Macarthur Rams next face Canterbury Bankstown next weekend, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles have a derby match up with Bankstown City at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
Macarthur Rams 2 (Dunn 2’, Gonzalez 24’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Elsewhere
Hakoah FC 4-3 UNSW FC
Hakoah FC dealt the top two hopes of UNSW FC a further blow taking out their local derby meeting 4-3 at Hensley Athletic.
A high-scoring affair, Hakoah took control of this one with a goal less than sixty seconds after they conceded late in the first half before the teams exchanged goals in the final ten minutes.
The hosts got off to a great start with an early goal from a set piece, the ball falling just right for Nicholas Drummond to finish. That goal advantage holding till five minutes before half time when the visitors equalised. Jordan Morfitis pouncing on a under-hit back pass with a calm finish.
Hakoah restoring their lead quickly following. Gaelen Dorigo threading through a well weighted through ball for Nicholas Tooley to finish.
The second half coming to life in the final twenty minutes, Nicholas Drummond picking up his brace when the visitors were caught in possession. A lead which was cut to one by substitute Kevin Lopes, Lopes applying a quality finish after finding space in behind.
However, the game was put to bed three minutes later with Nicholas Tooley scoring his second, Tooley found via a cross from the left. Lopes scoring a consolation goal in injury time.
Hakoah FC 4 (Drummond 5’ 72’, Tooley 41’ 85’)
UNSW FC 3 (Morfitis 40’, Lopes 82’ 90+2’)
Inter Lions 3-1 Bulls FC Academy
The streak is over! Inter Lions capped off a positive week with a 3-1 win over Bulls FC Academy at Majors Bay Reserve.
A result which throws Inter Lions back into the mix, Owen Duke gave them a head-start before Nicola Kuleski scored a brace with a goal either side of half time.
Returning to form recently, the Lions were really organised out of possession limiting the academy sides opportunities to progress the ball. While linking up well going forward. One such example leading to their first goal, which saw a James Ord shot fall nicely for Owen Duke to finish.
Bulls FC Academy responding well to equalise soon after, Atiya Waraga scoring his fifth goal of the campaign after the 10th minute.
The hosts were able to shake that off quickly though and took the lead once again inside 25 minutes, Nicola Kuleski scoring that goal from a free-kick on a narrow angle.
As the second half opened up with Bulls FC Academy chasing the game, space opened up for the the hosts and they capitalised with fifteen minutes to go. Nicola Kuleski scoring the second of his brace from 25 yards from the second phase at a set piece.
Inter Lions 3 (Duke 10’, Kuleski 24’ 74’)
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Waraga 12’)
Blacktown Spartans 3-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Kicking off the weekend, Blacktown Spartans secured their tenth win of the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Canterbury Bankstown, Friday evening.
A win crucial to their hopes of contending further up the table, they scored twice in the period between the half hour and half time before a late Riley Chapple goal sealed the result.
The first half hour of this was pretty even with both teams not giving much away. However a goal soon after changed the direction of the match. Riley Chapple adding to his recent goal-scoring run with the first of his brace after a cross from the left. A lead which was doubled right on half time, Suleyman Bangura found making a near post run, that cross coming in from the right wing.
Credit to them, Canterbury Bankstown started the second half strong and cut the deficit to one goal Kim Minjae seven minutes into the half. The hosts lead not looking comfortable right up until Chapple’s second in the 83rd minute. The midfielder earning a mention post match with five goals in his last five games now.
Blacktown Spartans 3 (Chapple 33’ 83’, Bangura 44’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Minjae 52’)
Bankstown City 0-1 Northern Tigers
Another week, another leader in this chaotic competition, Northern Tigers got payback for their round one meeting with a 1-0 win over Bankstown City at Jensen Park.
Continuing their resurgence in recent times with their third win in four league games, a Connor Rose goal early in the second half separated the sides.
That being said, it was far from easy for the visitors in this one who conceded a lot of possession in the early stages. A double chance for Kai Denton and Jesse Spang on the end of goalkeeper clearance perhaps giving Northern Tigers the swing in momentum as the half progressed.
The visitors then scoring their goal a minute into the second half. A long Kai Denton throw bouncing in the box before it fell to Connor Rose who drove it into the bottom corner. Bankstown City unable to equalise despite applying plenty of pressure from set pieces throughout the second half.
Bankstown City 0
Northern Tigers 1 (Rose 46’)
SD Raiders 0-1 Hills United
Hills United continued their resurgence with a single goal win over SD Raiders at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Quickly becoming a side you don’t want to face as an opponent, Gary Van Egmond’s side picked up their four win on the trot courtesy of a Dimi Petratos goal just before half time.
A game which saw SD Raiders have the better field position while the visitors had the better chances. The visitors found the decisive goal late in the first half. A Walid Moutaouakkil cross finding Dimi Petratos in the centre who was able to take his chance.
Van Egmond also noting the contribution of players coming onto the field in this one as they held on for their third straight clean sheet. The result condemning SD Raiders to their fourth defeat in their last five with a big game for them to come next weekend.
SD Raiders 0
Hills United 1 (Petratos 43’)
Newcastle Jets 3-0 Dulwich Hill
Newcastle Jets returned to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Dulwich Hill at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
After a setback last weekend against Hills United, the Jets controlled much of the first half taking a 2-0 lead through a Xavier Bertoncello brace before Garang Arou scored before the hour.
Creating chances throughout the first half in particular, the academy side could have scored more. Their first goal came through Xavier Bertoncello seven minutes in, the striker finishing from a Oliver Cockle cross. A lead which was doubled just after the half hour, Bertoncello rounding the keeper from a Ethan Debono through ball.
A third goal coming before the hour, Garang Arou scoring from a Noah Miller cross. Dulwich Hill a better side after the break as they looked for a way back into it. Jets having to show some defensive solidarity to keep them out.
Newcastle Jets 3 (Bertoncello 7’ 31’, Arou 57’)
Dulwich Hill 0
Mounties Wanderers 2-2 Rydalmere Lions
Mounties Wanderers came from two goals down to shart the points with Rydalmere Lions at Wanderers Football Park.
An even contest throughout, the visitors took a two goal lead before the hosts fought back scoring an equaliser with five minutes left.
Earlier in the fixture, Rydalmere perhaps grabbed a deserved goal from their first half performance through Jihad Alsayed. The striker scoring after Kevin Yang flicked on a corner with his head before the 40th minute.
A lead which was doubled early in the second half, Robert Eremugo winning the ball via a press before rounding the keeper and finishing. The visitors then having chances to go three up before the hosts rallied.
Mounties inspired by a goal before the hour through Anthony Windsor who finished from distance into the top right corner. The equaliser coming through Benjamin Ansah late on, Ansah scoring with a header with less than five minutes remaining. Coach Brett Hewit noting he was proud of the fight but they need to find a way to win having drawn three of their last four.
Mounties Wanderers 2 (Windsor 54’, Ansah 84’)
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Alsayed 38’, Eremugo 50’)
By Justin Smith
