Round 26 Review – League One Men’s
Wild weather played havoc on round 26 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition which in turn provided wild results.
Another side took the competition lead, while several sides in the top two race slipped up across the weekend including Blacktown Spartans in our match of the round. That and more in our review below.
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans 1-3 Inter Lions
Inter Lions snapped their recent winless streak with a shock 3-1 win over promotion chasing Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park.
Striking a blow to the hosts promotion hopes, the visitors equalised five minutes before half time before going on too claim their first three points since round 20 against Bulls FC Academy.
The pattern of this one was established early with the Spartans holding the majority possession but with a lot of Inter players between them and goal. Both sides limited to half chances and set piece opportunities in the opening twenty minutes of this one
One of which saw Blake Ilitch hit the crossbar with a header after making a near post run from a Christian Nascimben free-kick in the 20th minute. While Aedon Kyra had a shot from an angle inside the box comfortably saved a couple minutes later.
While Sam Armson had the first Inter Lions shot of note halfway through the first half. Armson unleashing from long range with his left foot which drew a diving stop from Justin Biega in the Spartans net.
Spartans opening the games account just past the half hour from a corner. Blake Ilitch scoring from the top of the six yard box with a scrambled finish with the ball bouncing around the area.
However they could quite navigate the time remaining in the half with Inter Lions finding an equaliser in the 41st minute. Malcolm Ward applying a clinical finish low into the bottom left corner after Harry Rushton found him to his outside.
The hosts having one last chance in the half through Aedon Kyra who hit a free-kick from just outside the area over the bar in the 45th minute.
Blacktown starting the second half perhaps the better before a goal changed things at the other end midway through the second half. Mitchell Smith scoring their go-ahead goal with first time finish into the top right corner, Harry Rushton once again involved in the build up.
That goal noticeably coming as the hosts were beginning to show a renewed urgency getting the ball forward, something Inter Lions could pounce upon.
Spartans for their part struggling to create a clear cut chance in the first half hour of the second half, a Peter Pelekanos header over the bar in the 75th minute the closest they came.
Inter Lions applying a further blow with five minutes regulation left. A loose pass just inside the Spartans half allowing Sebastain Portolesi to pick the ball up and drive past a couple of defenders to go through on goal, the attacker then applying a calm finish to make it 3-1.
A blow for the top two hopes of Blacktown Spartans, they next face Macarthur Rams next weekend. While Inter Lions host Mounties Wanderers as they look to finish the season strong.
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Ilitch 32’)
Inter Lions 3 (Ward 41’, Smith 66’, Portolesi 86’)
UNSW FC 3-0 Macarthur Rams
UNSW climbed to the top of the table with a 3-0 win over Macarthur Rams at the Village Green, Saturday afternoon.
A regular feature of their wins of late, they set the game up with two goals before the quarter hour before managing the game well to take the three points.
In tough conditions for both sides, the hosts took the lead just after ten minutes in scrappy fashion. A scramble in the area put away by Thomas Quilligan. The students doubling their advantage a couple minutes later, Tom Quilligan scoring his second of the game from distance.
UNSW adding their third goal early in the second half to put the game to bed through Sean Woods. The striker driving into the area from a wide position before applying a finish from inside the area into the roof of the net.
Gabe Knowles side thoroughly deserving their win on the evening as they jump into the competition lead with four games to go. They next face Canterbury Bankstown, while Blacktown Spartans await Macarthur Rams next Friday night.
UNSW FC 3 (T. Quilligan 13’ 15’, Woods 47’)
Macarthur Rams 0
SD Raiders 2-0 Mounties Wanderers
Bouncing back from a cup defeat in style, SD Raiders made it three league wins on the bounce with a 2-0 victory over Mounties Wanderers at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Three points which see them return to a top two position for the time being, they scored twice in the second half to secure an important win while also striking a blow to Mounties Wanderers and their survival hopes.
It was a confident showing from the SD Raiders who controlled the game from first whistle to last. However despite this, they weren’t able to create much in the first half outside of three or four half chances. Mounties working particularly hard out of possession.
That chanced in the second half though through a lovely goal from Lachlan Everett. The midfield dribbling past two defenders before finding the back of the net with his strike across goal.
Their second goal coming later in the second half through Cooper Hanagan who scored from way downtown, his strike bouncing just before the 18 yard box over the keeper and into the net. The hosts closing the game out well from there.
SD Raiders 2 (Everett 56’, Hanagan 79’)
Mounties Wanderers 0
Dulwich Hill 2-1 Bulls FC Academy
All but secure in the league for another season! Dulwich Hill came from behind to overcome Bulls FC Academy 2-1 at Arlington Oval.
One of the first times in which they’ve had a full squad to choose from, a Daniel Fornito second half goal with fifteen minutes to go separated the two sides after Mark Younes equalised on the brink of half time.
It didn’t always look like it was going to finish this way with the academy side starting the better of the two sides. The Bulls taking the lead through Brae Ovens with a tap in finish after the Dulwich Hill keeper fumbled a cross into the area.
After their rocky start, the hosts began to create chances and found an equaliser just before half time. Mark Younes finishing with a back post header from a transition opportunity, Isaac Hovar with the delivery.
The winner coming with 15 minutes left in the game through Daniel Fornito. Fornito chipping the goalkeeper from 35 yards out to give them the three points. Zachary Kalogerou denied a third goal for Dully after that.
Dulwich Hill 2 (Younes 45+1’, Fornito 75’)
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Ovens 6’)
Hakoah FC 2-2 Newcastle Jets
Perhaps the shock result of the weekend saw Hakoah FC hold Newcastle Jets for a share of the points at Hensley Athletic field.
An awful place to play football in unpleasant conditions, the Jets rescued a point in the final ten minutes after falling behind earlier in the second half.
Both sides had their chances in the first half which was indicated in the half time score. Janni Rafty gave the visitors the lead with a 7th minute goal which saw him released in behind. Before Hakoah equalised before half time through Valentin Cuny just after the half hour.
Hakoah FC turning the game on its head with a goal to take the lead early in the second half through Sebastian Boffa who scored his first goal since joining the club in the window. Jets then finishing the game the better of the two finding their own equaliser in the 75th minute through Makye Buettner who turned home a Alexandro Nunes free-kick.
Newccastle Jets next host Bankstown City next weekend, while Bonnyrigg White Eagles await Hakoah FC.
Hakoah FC 2 (Cuny 31’, Boffa 56’)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Rafty 7’, Buettner 75’)
Rydalmere Lions 0-0 Canterbury Bankstown
Opportunity missed? Rydalmere Lions were left frustrated by a stubborn Canterbury Bankstown outfit with the two sides playing out a scoreless draw.
A blow for the hosts top two hopes which now hang by a thread, the Berries held them to a third clean sheet in the last four games.
Despite the scoreline, the first half was an end-to-end affair, Rydalmere starting the better of the two sides before Canterbury Bankstown grew into proceedings. Neither side able to take their chances though with it remaining scoreless into half time.
Rydalmere taking more control of the second half however they were nearly caught out when Berries Zayn Moussa had a chance through on goal. While Robert Eremugo and Isaac Cunningham had the hosts best chances.
Canterbury Bankstown picking up a well-earned point, while a big game awaits Rydalmere Lions next weekend against Northern Tigers.
Rydalmere Lions 0
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Bankstown City 0-0 Hills United
Finally to round out our review, Bankstown City and Hills United shared a point in difficult conditions at Jensen Park.
Neither side could quite find a breakthrough in this one with the draw being a fair result after a hard fought 90 minutes.
Throughout, Hills United perhaps held a bit more of the ball however they struggled to create opportunites on the back of it. While defensively they held on to another clean sheet after achieving one against Hakoah FC last weekend.
While the result also stabalised Bankstown City after a disappointing defeat last weekend against Mounties Wanderers. The hosts for this one once again not taking the chances they were given in the fixture.
They face Newcastle Jets away from home next weekend, while Hills United host Dulwich Hill next Saturday night.
Bankstown City 0
Hills United 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Northern Tigers washed out, keep an eye on the competitions site for fixture updates.
By Justin Smith
