Round 22 Review – League One Men’s
Some big results for the chasing pack saw the race for a top two position tighten up after round 22 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition.
As well as the action at the top, our match of the round also saw Dulwich Hill score a big result in their efforts to survive at the expense of Mounties Wanderers.
Another big weekend, let’s review all the action.
Match of the Round: Mounties Wanderers 0-2 Dulwich Hill
Dulwich Hill secured an important three points to extend the gap to teams below with a 2-0 win over Mounties Wanderers away from home at Wanderers Football Park.
A goal either side of half time gave them their seventh win of the season, Mark Younes scoring the first goal before a own goal doubled their tally after the break.
Looking to set the tone from the get-go, Dulwich Hill had the first shot of note of the game in the third minute, a first time effort from Daniel Fornito outside the area missing wide left by a narrow margin.
Mounties responding with a James Cakovski shot on target of their own soon after which was saved comfortably by Andrew Di Blasio in the Dulwich Hill net.
It was the visitors who looked the better early on though as they continued to try their luck using a shot-on-sight policy.
They would take the lead before the 20th minute. Mark Younes applying a powerful finish inside the area after a defensive lapse set him free inside the area.
While at the other end, Mounties Wanderers had a good chance to respond from a corner. A delivery from the right headed goal-wards by Joshuua Okan, his and the follow up shot from Jake Mcging saved at close range by Di Blasio.
Dulwich Hill then having a big chance to double their advantage after some lovely play down the right. Right back Samuel Tzanakes exchanging passes inside before his shot went just wide of the near post.
Mounties looking the side more likely approaching the break with James Cakovski having another effort in the dying stages of the first half.
Their task was to become harder early in the second half however with the visitors doubling their advantage. A cross from Jacob Palamidas on the right wing putting enough doubt in Jake Mcging’s mind with the defender turning the ball home.
The hosts then becoming increasingly desperate in their search for a way back into this one. Chances for Amos Okumu in particular falling the hosts way in the second half. One which drew a good Di Blasio save with ten minutes regulation to go.
While chances continued to flow at the other end with more space to exploit. Both these sides play fellow bottom four opposition next weekend, Dulwich Hill taking on a new look Bonnyrigg White Eagles side next weekend. While Mounties Wanderers travel to Lynwood Park to face Macarthur Rams.
Mounties Wanderers 0
Dulwich Hill 2 (Younes 19’, Mcging OG 47’)
Rydalmere Lions 4-1 UNSW FC
Right in the conversation! Rydalmere Lions lit up their home turf with a 4-1 win over UNSW FC at Rydalmere Park.
Moving into fifth, they went ahead for the second time in this one right before half time which set the trajectory of the match with two unanswered goals after the break.
Rydalmere opened the scoring shortly after the 10th minute through Adil Toska who pressed the UNSW back line before rounding the keeper and slotting into the empty net.
For the visitors part, they were persistent in their first half threat and equalised on the bring of half time. Kevin Lopes applying a tidy finish across goal after a ball from the left to the far post.
However it was to be the hosts night and they added three unanswered goals. Robert Eremugo adding a second after Marcus Sparacino found Ahmad Taleb to square the ball to him.
Before Taleb scored one himself with a weaving run to turn his central defender before scoring into the far side netting five minutes later.
The hosts adding a fourth through Isaac Cunningham from a long range free-kick after Charles Samushonga was dismissed.
Rydalmere Lions 4 (Toska 12’, Eremugo 46’, Taleb 48’, Cunningham 87’)
UNSW FC 1 (Lopes 46’)
Macarthur Rams 1-4 Northern Tigers
Bouncing back from their cup final defeat in the best possible way, Northern Tigers proved too good for Macarthur Rams prevailing 4-1 at Lynwood Park.
The visitors got off to a fast start in this one scoring three goals before the break then seeing the game out in the second half. Adam Hett’s side now holding a three point advantage at the top of the table.
This one started off with the Rams having a lot of possession without causing TIgers goal too much worry. Tigers scoring their first just after the quarter hour. A Lachlan Lloyd cross from the left headed across goal by Kai Denton for Jesse Spang to score at the back post.
Lloyd then adding their second a quarter hour later, the midfielder finishing on the volley first time from a cleared cross. That two goal lead becoming three soon after, a Conor Rose cross turned home by a Rams defender.
Rams responding well to going down with an improved second half effort before scoring a consolation in the 88th minute through Michael Martin. Ryan Attard restored the three goal advantage soon after in a game which they won in the first half.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Martin 88’)
Northern Tigers 4 (Spang 16’, Lloyd 31’, Martin OG 33’, Attard 90’)
Newcastle Jets 4-1 Bulls FC Academy
Newcastle Jets took out the battle of the A-league youth with a 4-1 win over Bulls FC Academy at Lake Macquarie.
Now just two points below second position, they are right in the mix with the usual suspects all scoring in this one.
In a relatively even first half, the Jets opened the games account before the half hour. A press forcing an error before Oliver Cockle found Xavier Bertoncello with a pass to score.
The hosts adding their second not long into the second half. Luca West intercepting a pass before finding Ethan Debono. Debono driving inside the area before picking out the top corner with his strike.
Bulls Academy just struggling to deal with the hosts intensity without the ball with another goal coming after the ball came loose before the hour. Cockle applying a side footed finish 1v1 with the GK.
The visitors scoring their consolation in the 81st minute from the spot through Atiya Waraga before the Jets responded in kind, Bertoncello scoring the second of his brace in the 86th minute.
Newcastle Jets 4 (Bertoncello 28’ 86’, Debono 46’, Cockle 58’)
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Waraga 81’)
Blacktown Spartans 3-2 Hakoah FC
Sneaking into second place after the weekends results, Blacktown Spartans took out a highscoring affair over Hakoah FC at Blacktown Football Park.
The win stretches their winning streak to four after a 91st minute Shoma Nakagawa goal gave them the three points after Hakoah equalised five minutes prior.
After withstanding a couple of scares early on with the visitors hitting the post twice in the first ten minutes, the Spartans took the lead before the 20th minute. Darcy Ellem scoring with a superb finish pouncing on a goalkeeper clearance to finish into an empty net.
Spartans then creating numerous chances before the visitors made them pay for not taking them. Nicholas Tooley on the spot to finish from a cut back from the by-line for the equaliser.
Both sides approaching the second half in a more cautious manner before Riley Chapple scored what feels like his customary goal from a Christian Nascimben free kick in the 57th minute.
Hakoah then pushing forward finding another equaliser with two minutes regulation to go through another Nicholas Tooley goal. Before Spartans substitute Shoma Nakagawa sparked scenes with a 91st minute goal, Aedon Kyra playing an important role in the lead up.
Blacktown Spartans 3 (Ellem 19’, Chapple 58’, Nakagawa 91’)
Hakoah FC 2 (Tooley 43’ 86’)
SD Raiders 2-2 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
SD Raiders came from behind twice to take a share of the points in their derby clash with Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Ernie Smith Reserve.
A game which saw some noteworthy club debuts for the visitors, a second half Thomas Santarossa goal gave the hosts a point.
The visitors took a lead early in this one through Brad Bartels who found the net from distance six minutes in. That goal coming after SD Raiders missed a couple of chances at the other end.
SD Raiders grabbing a deserved equaliser after applying further pressure after the half hour. Yuto Sugiura scoring from the spot just after the 35th minute. However the visitors would once again take the lead from the spot shortly after, Daniel Bittar scoring that one.
Bonnyrigg then happy to concede posession throughout the second half and trouble the hosts on the counter. A plan which seemed to be working up until the 72nd minute. Thomas Santarossa playing a ball into the bottom corner.
A late chance then coming with almost the last kick of the game for the visitors which saw SD Raiders keeper Andrew Parkin make a save one on one.
SD Raiders 2 (Sugiura 46’, Santarossa 72’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 (Bartels 6’, Bittar 48’)
Hills United 5-2 Canterbury Bankstown
Continuing their good form, Hills United ran riot with a 5-2 win over Canterbury Bankstown in a high scoring contest at Valentine Sports Park.
The action in this one came particularly in the second half with Lachlan Sepping and Walid Moutaouakkil both scoring braces in the second half to overcome the Berries who were the first side to score against Hills since round 17.
A game which marks the first time that Hills United have come from behind under Gary Van Egmond, the Berries took the lead through John Fotopoulos five minutes in. That lead remaining in tact to the half time break.
From there, well goals came thick and fast particularly from the hosts. Lachlan Sepping scoring his first in the 52nd minute. Before the Berries were reduced to ten men after the hour, James Ralston receiving a second yellow five minutes after his first.
Hills showing no mercy on their opponents with Walid Moutaoukkil scoring two from that point forward, joined by Marcus Lal and Lachlan Sepping who scored further goals. Patrick Savor scoring a goal to bring it back to 3-2 in the 87th minute at the other end.
Hills United 5 (Sepping 52’ 90+2’, Lal 69’, Moutaouakkil 85’ 89’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Fotopoulos 5’, Savor 87’)
Bankstown City 3-0 Inter Lions
Finally to round out our review, Bankstown CIty picked up their first win since round 16 over Inter Lions at Jensen Park.
And there’s no prizes for guessing who scored their three goals either with Jonathan Grozdanovski scoring a second half hat-trick in the victory before supplying us with a match report.
The first half played out with Bankstown City controlling possession while Inter Lions looked to threaten in transition. City with the two best chances which saw Jason Cakovski and Shun Maeta both hit the post.
Bankstown’s pressure finally telling telling in the second half with their three goals. The first seeing a low hard cross from Shun Maeta finished by Grozdanovski it the 48th minnute.
Those two combining once again for the second, Maeta showing determination to keep a Cakovski cross in the field of play before squaring it to Grozdanovski for a simple finish.
The icing on the cake applied with fifteen minutes to go. This time Jeffrey Issa delivering a pin-point cross for Grozdanovski to complete his hat-trick. Inter’s best chance being a Sam Armson free-kick which hit the wall.
Bankstown City 3 (Grozdanovski 48’ 51’ 76’)
Inter Lions 0
By Justin Smith
