Round 25 Review – League One Men’s
Round 25 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition saw the gap between the top five sides tighten once again in this thrilling Premiership race.
Northern Tigers once again dropped points with Blacktown Spartans claiming a big scalp, while elsewhere Macarthur Rams and Mounties Wanderers both secured big results.
Match of the Round: Bulls FC Academy 1-1 UNSW FC
Bulls FC Academy and UNSW FC played out a tense score draw at Sydney United Sports Centre in our match of the round.
A game which could’ve gone either way, Atiya Waraga gave the hosts the lead before Nathan Roberts equalised early in the second half.
The first notable chance of this one saw UNSW nearly find an opener through Kevin Lopes. The striker played in behind before his attempted dink finish only found the keepers gloves.
Lopes having a few further half chances before the opening goal at the other end. The academy side finding the back of the net first on this occasion. A high press up field winning the ball back before Atiya Waraga scored a lovely goal with a drilled finish into the bottom left corner.
Both sides having good success at reaching the final third in possession with UNSW nearly finding a response in the 22nd minute when Conor Quilligan hooked a shot past the near post with his left foot, Sean Woods playing him inside.
However a serious looking injury to Joseph White just after the half hour mark gave both sides to reset. Both sides then enjoying a good spell as the first half drew to a close.
UNSW then equalising seventy seconds after the resumption through Nathan Roberts. Roberts outside his man applying the headed finish, the cross coming in from the right wing.
Roberts and Kevin Lopes nearly giving the students the advantage soon after with respective shots missing the right post narrowly.
Bulls FC Academy surviving that early onslaught before creating a chance of their own. Atiya Waraga denied by a desperate challenge inside the 18 yard-box by a scrambling UNSW defence.
An even better chance falling for Ryley Hollingdale, his strike from just outside the area requiring a diving save from Charles Samushonga as it headed for the left side of the net before the 65th minute.
The three points well and truly up for grabs with the final twenty minutes upon us. UNSW had the next big opportunity, Jack Fulton’s volley denied by a Franklin Jan diving save as it headed towards the middle of the net.
UNSW FC having the last couple of chances of the game which included a Mitchell Mattison header in the 95th minute which just didn’t have enough power on it.
Macarthur Rams await UNSW FC next weekend as they chase a top two spot, while Bulls FC Academy make the cross city trip to Dulwich Hill.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Waraga 15’)
UNSW FC 1 (Roberts 47’)
Elsewhere:
Northern Tigers 1-4 Blacktown Spartans
Blacktown Spartans compounded the woes of Northern Tigers with a come from behind 4-1 victory at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
A win which takes them equal first, Aedon Kyra was the star of the show with a hat-trick after Kai Denton gave the Tigers the lead earlier in the fixture.
It didn’t always look like it was heading this way with the Spartans starting the game in sluggish fashion, Northern Tigers capitalising in kind with a 20th minute goal for Kai Denton who put the hosts ahead.
That lead lasting about ten minutes before the Spartans equalised, Aedon Kyra scoring the first of his hat-trick with a low drive from just outside the area. That goal changing the momentum of the game with their second scored seven minutes later.
Aedon Kyra scoring with a calmly slotted effort after the ball bounced around the box, Zac Sfiligoi playing a key role in the build up to that one.
Spartans then scoring a third goal ten minutes into the second half through Peter Pelekanos who headed home from a Christian Nascimben set piece delivery. Things turning bad to worse ten minutes later when Bodie Denton was sent off for a challenge on Angus Chance.
Aedon Kyra completing his hat-trick in the 74th minute when he chipped the Tigers keeper from the half way line. A big win for the Spartans who drew level with their hosts at the top of the table.
Northern Tigers 1 (Denton 20’)
Blacktown Spartans 4 (Kyra 30’ 37’ 74’, Pelekanos 57’)
Macarthur Rams 1-0 Rydalmere Lions
Macarthur Rams took a big step towards securing their league status with a single goal win over Rydalmere Lions at home.
Moving the Rams to 28 points, the Rams found their goal after the half hour mark through Michael Martin before keeping the clean sheet.
After recent defeats to sides who set up in a similar fashion to Rydalmere, the hosts tweaked a few things which allowed them to start on the front foot.
A positive start rewarded with a Michael Martin goal in the 33rd minute. An attack down the right seeing Martin cross the ball into the area which the keeper fumbled into the back of the net. The game continuing in a similar pattern before the momentum shifted halfway through the second half.
Rydalmere then applying pressure chasing the game forcing Jerome Narayan to make some big saves in the Rams net to get them across the line.
The result a blow for Rydalmere’s top two chase, while Rams took a big step towards cementing their position in the division currently sitting seven points above Mounties Wanderers.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Martin 33’)
Rydalmere Lions 0
Newcastle Jets 4-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Newcastle Jets secured their sixth win in their last seven with a 4-1 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles up at Lake Macquarie.
The fourth game in a row where they’ve scored four goals, the fixture saw Ethan Debono, Janni Rafty and Oliver Cockle all find the back of the net once again before Lucas Johnson added a fourth goal. While Charles Mendy scored the Bonnyrigg consolation late.
After a even start to the contest, the Jets took a lead in the 24th minute through Janni Rafty. Rafty receiving the ball between the lines before dribbling inside and applying a finish with his left foot.
A lead which they doubled before the 40th minute, Ethan Debono the scorer of that goal when he was played in behind, his shot taking a minor deflection on its path towards goal.
In sensational attacking form, the Jets added two goals in ten minutes after the hour. Oliver Cockle finding the top corner with his right footed strike for his 13th of the campaign. Before Lucas Johnson added a fourth in the 69th minute with a driven strike across goal.
Bonnyrigg scoring their consolation in the 81st minute through Charles Mendy. Jets now breathing down the neck of first while Bonnyrigg have it all to do in the final five weeks.
Newcastle Jets 4 (Rafty 24’, Debono 39’, Cockle 60’, Johnson 69’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 (Mendy 81’)
Mounties Wanderers 3-1 Bankstown City
Mounties Wanderers picked up a much needed 3-1 win over Bankstown City to keep their hopes of avoiding the bottom two alive.
Six games without a win heading into this one, the hosts started this one on the front foot which ultimately gave them the three points, their opening two goals coming in the first quarter hour.
As mentioned above, the hosts started this one with a score to settle after recent results. Mitchell Gibbs scoring their opener in the 12th minute before Anthony Windsor doubled their advantage a couple minutes after to give them a two goal lead at the break.
A lead which lasted to the hour mark when Jamie Masson scored a goal to put Bankstown City back in with a shout. However it wasn’t to be for the visitors who conceded a couple minutes later with Mounties restoring their advantage. Dany Ghetti getting his first goal of the season after coming off the bench.
Mounties next face SD Raiders in round 26 action, while Bankstown City host Hills United.
Mounties Wanderers 3 (Gibbs 12’, Windsor 14’, Ghetti 63’)
Bankstown City 1 (Masson 60’)
Inter Lions 0-2 SD Raiders
SD Raiders moved themselves to within two points of top with a 2-0 win over Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
A confidence boosting win ahead of their Australia Cup clash against Macarthur Bulls this Tuesday night, Noah Chianese and Riley Cox-Barlow both scored for a second consecutive week which gave them the win.
This one started in a balanced manner with the hosts holding a lot of posession while Inter Lions were well set up without the ball. The hosts just lacking that final pass on a couple of occasions in transition with the visitors not quite getting their press right.
SD Raiders finding the opener five minutes before half time through Noah Chianese who was on the end of a Riley Cox-Barlow cross from the right wing.
The half time break giving the visitors to readjust their press which led to the second goal early in the second half. Riley Cox-Barlow finishing after Yonatan Sebhatu set him up with a run down the right to the by-line. Goran Ljuboja’s side doing enough to see the game out from there despite the Lions pushing hard to get back into it.
Inter Lions 0
SD Raiders 2 (Chianese 40’, Cox-Barlow 49’)
Hills United 5-0 Hakoah FC
Hills United ran rampant over a struggling Hakoah FC side with a five goal win at Valentine Sports Park.
It didn’t always look like it was going to finish this way but a Jacob Vasiliou goal just before half time gave the hosts the momentum to take this one out.
Despite taking the lead just after the 10th minute through a Dimi Petratos goal, the hosts weren’t at their best in the first half, at times scrambling well to stay ahead in the fixture. However they were able to change the pattern of the match when Vasiliou doubled their advantage in first half injury time.
A send off in the second half for Hakoah the result of an improved second half performance from Van Egmond’s side with a further three goals coming in the final 15 minutes of this one. Yuki Kanai with their third before Lachlan Sepping and an own goal came in second half stoppage time.
Hills now move into 9th position on 34 points while Hakoah are four points behind them in 12th after 25 rounds.
Hills United 5 (Petratos 11’, Vasiliou 46’, Kanai 76’, Sepping 91’, Kraljevic OG 92’)
Hakoah FC 0
Canterbury Bankstown 1-0 Dulwich Hill
Canterbury Bankstown broke their winless run with a pressure relieving 1-0 victory against Dulwich Hill at Jensen Park.
It could have been so different if the visitors had taken their chances at the other end but a Gian Fiorese goal early in the second half separated the sides.
Starting the game on the front foot, Dulwich Hill’s Stefan Visscher was very busy leading the line in the games opening stages involved with a few good chances alongside Palamidas who also had a good chance for the visitors.
However as the minutes ticked on, Cantebury Bankstown began creating chances of their own. They took the lead early in the second half through Gian Fiorese who combined with Finley Hayhurst from a set piece.
Stevan Savicic making a few good saves to keep their lead in tact in the latter stages while transition moments provided Daniel Goni and Yeju Jang with chances to seal the game.
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Fiorese 50’)
Dulwich Hill 0
By Justin Smith
