Round 21 Review – League One Men’s
Just five points separate eight sides after round 21 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition as the excitement continues to build.
Every game in the competition was decided by a single goal in a weekend of hard fought action.
Our match of the round saw a new signing give UNSW FC a crucial win while elsewhere there was plenty of drama throughout Saturday evening.
Match of the Round: UNSW FC 1-0 SD Raiders
Nathan Roberts capped off a dream UNSW FC debut to give his side a 1-0 win over SD Raiders at the Village Green.
A hard earned victory which could well be important come the end of the season, Roberts scored the winner in the 86th minute with a well executed free-kick around the wall. The result a hard one to take from the visitors perspective who were reduced to nine men come full time.
It wasn’t hard to tell that there was a lot on the line with plenty of feeling between the two sides early on. Neither side able to really trouble each others goal for a large part of the opening half aside from a few half chances.
A good chance coming shortly after when a SD Raiders corner was header off the line at the far post, Jairo Torne Fernandez the taker of the set piece.
While a difficult shot around the body by Tom Quilligan saw the hosts go close not long after the half hour, Nathan Roberts causing a bit of trouble for the visitors with dangerous deliveries into the area.
The games first big chance of not coming in first half stoppage time. UNSW working the ball down the left channel before Jack Fulton teed up Tom Quilligan whose shot drew a great save from Michael Figuiera down to his right.
It was the visitors who started the second half on the front foot in terms of chances, firstly through Noah Chianese who tried his luck from range, his shot saved by Charles Samushonga in the UNSW net.
That shot leading to a sequence of play where Mihael Marcic also drew a save with an even better chance. Marcic once again testing the glove-work of the students keeper who dived down to his left to deny him. Chianese and Marcic both putting other shots over the bar under pressure in a good spell from the visitors.
Potentially the closest of the lot being a Jairo Torne Fernaandez which looked destined for the bottom left corner but Samushonga was up to the task once again before the hour.
The fact the hosts came away unscathed from this period crucial to the final result while they were beginning to send a few dangerous balls into the area of their own.
There was a sense there would be a moment to decide this one and it came in the final ten minutes. Michael Figueira falling victim to the extra line markings? catching the ball outside the area which resulted in a red card and UNSW free-kick.
Nathan Roberts the taker of said free-kick which he hit beautifully around the wall into the back of the net with five minutes of regulation remaining.
Jubilation for the hosts who returned to winning ways with the result, while SD Raiders will need to pick themselves up without two of their stars next weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
UNSW FC 1 (Roberts 86’)
SD Raiders 0
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers 2-3 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets threw a cat amongst the pigeons with a 3-2 win over competition leaders Northern Tigers at North Turramurra.
Coming from behind on two separate occasions, the academy side showed a lot of heart in this one with the win taking them to within five points of their hosts.
The first half of this one saw the hosts well on top, grabbing a deserved lead through a Kai Denton goal before the half hour. However the half time break benefited their visitors with the Jets coming out a different side.
Their equaliser scored through Oliver Cockle, Cockle applying a side footed finish on the end of a Xavier Bertoncello through ball before the hour. Now an end-to-end affair, the hosts regained the lead in the 66th minute through another Kai Denton goal, Denton converting for his 18th goal of the league campaign after Jesse Spang squared the ball to him off a Lachie Lloyd through ball.
It was to be the Jets walking away with three crucial points though, equalising through Bertoncello who scored from the spot high into the net after Cockle was brought down. The game looking destined for a draw into stoppage time when Max Cooper headed home a winner.
Cooper on the end of a Angus Muddle free-kick, Jets soaring up into contention for a top two spot.
Northern Tigers 2 (Denton 28’ 66’)
Newcastle Jets 3 (Cockle 57’, Bertoncello 78’, Cooper 90+2’)
Bulls FC Academy 1-2 Blacktown Spartans
Another side throwing themselves into the mix, Blacktown Spartans took out their meeting with Bulls FC Academy by a single goal at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Sitting in fourth now after three straight wins, the Spartans scored a goal either side of half time to walk away victors against the youthful academy.
The visitors had a positive start and opened their account seven minutes in from the set piece. A corner from the right finding a near post run from captain Peter Pelekanos who headed the ball home with power.
That goal dialling up the physicality of the game with both sides going at it, Bulls FC Academy equalising with a goal in transition before the 40th minute through Atiya Waraga.
Both sides keen to assert dominance in the early stages of the second half before the visitors took the lead once again. Suleyman Bangura in the right spot at the right time after a scramble in the area, this goal also coming from a corner.
Spartans then holding on for a hard earned win in a clash which played out with plenty of feeling.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Waraga 39’)
Blacktown Spartans 2 ( Pelekanos 7’, Bangura 57’)
Inter Lions 0-1 Hills United
Hills United continued their good form claiming another scalp in Inter Lions in a tight game at Majors Bay Reserve.
A fifth straight victory, they have also held a clean sheet in their last four games now, a Dimi Petratos goal early in the second half proving decisive in this one.
Against a well structured and disciplined Hills United side, the hosts weren’t as fluent in possession as they have been at times this season. The most notable chance for them coming when Ryan Wood denied Sam Armson with a good stop.
Hills for their part also creating a number of chances and on another day could have scored more than the one goal. That goal coming in the 56th minute through Dimi Petratos after a build up down the right wing. The result a tough one to take for the hosts who are still in the hunt fort a top two place.
Inter Lions 0
Hills United 1 (Petratos 56’)
Hakoah FC 3-2 Mounties Wanderers
Another week, another high scoring game as Hakoah FC saw off Mounties Wanderers at Hensley Athletic, Saturday afternoon.
Having brought in a few players to try and avoid relegation, the visitors surprised their hosts in the opening stages before Hakoah played their way in. Cam Philpot and Nicholas Tooley both having early chances which weren’t taken before the break.
From there, it was hardly routine with five goals in the fixture after the 67th minute. The first which put Hakoah ahead through Tooley who converted from the spot after Philpot was fouled. Before they doubled their lead ten minutes later through substitute Gabriel Antoniadies.
The tempo at this point was high and Mounties Wanderers were able to grab two goals in two minutes through James Cakovski who scored his 5th and 6th of the campaign. However the hosts would then break the visitors hearts with a winner. The two goal-scorers combining as Antoniades fed Tooley for the winner.
Hakoah FC 3 (Tooley 67’ 84’, Antoniades 79’)
Mounties Wanderers 2 (Cakovski 80’ 82’)
Dulwich Hill 2-3 Rydalmere Lions
Rydalmere Lions overcame a slow start to emerge 3-2 victors over Dulwich Hill away from home at Arlington Oval.
Emerging as outsiders in the top two race, an 89th minute Adil Toska goal saw them secure the points to climb into seventh position.
Spurred on by some acquisitions, the hosts got off to a fast start in this one with two quick goals. Zachary Kalogerou scoring the opener from a corner inside ten minutes. Before Samuel Tzanakes added a second goal after utilising his pace to get into the area.
A lead which was halved before the break, Ahnad Taleb scoring that goal with appeals for a foul going unheard. A goal which gave Rydalmere Lions confidence going into the second half.
Conor Kerr scoring the equaliser seven minutes into the second half. Before Adil Toska scored the eventual winner after Dulwich Hill keeper Sam Hilton parried an Ahmad Taleb penalty into his path.
Dulwich Hill 2 (Kalogerou 9’, Tzanakes 14’)
Rydalmere Lions 3 (Taleb 37’, Kerr 52’, Toska 89’)
Canterbury Bankstown 0-1 Macarthur Rams
Macarthur Rams continued their steady climb up the table and extended the woes of Canterbury Bankstown with a 1-0 win at Jensen Park.
Another big result for Tim Aitken’s side, they now sit on 22 points, four points clear of 15th placed Mounties Wanderers below them.
Looking to start the game on the front foot, the visitors created a chance in the opening minute which they couldn’t quite take. Their goal coming soon after, Paul Soravia scoring from the second phase at a set piece, straight from the training ground.
From there, they had another couple of good chances with Soravia hitting the crossbar and Jay Tram also having a good chance. The half then evening out approaching half time.
The second half also fairly balance with the big moment being a Stevan Savicic save which denied Michael Martin from adding to the Rams account.
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Macarthur Rams 1 (Soravia 4’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Bankstown City suspended after a player injury, Bankstown City leading 1-0 at the time.
By Justin Smith
