Round 29 Review – League One Men’s
Round 29 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition saw both the top two and bottom two claim three points setting up a highly anticipated final round next weekend.
Taking maximum points from a three game week, UNSW stand atop of the standings with SD Raiders in close pursuit. While Bonnyrigg White Eagles remain a point above Mounties Wanderers after they both won as well. That and more in our penultimate preview for season 2025.
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans 0-2 SD Raiders FC
Our match of the round saw SD Raiders book themselves a top two place with a 2-0 victory over Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park.
Another achievement for SD Raiders this season who will at least feature in the pro/rel playoff, they controlled this one after scoring twice in the opening quarter hour. While the result saw Blacktown Spartans drop out of the race with their record against sides at the top end ultimately costing them.
It could have been so different though with arguably the Spartans best chance of the fixture coming in the first minute. Aedon Kyra denied by a reflex Michael Figueira save before a Cooper Hanagan clearance off the line. Kyra found by Darcy Ellem who broke the line with a forward run.
However that remained a hypothetical with the SD Raiders quickly settling into their work. The visitors taking the lead just after the 10th minute through Luka Knezevic. Knezevic picking the ball up with his back towards goal, creating space with some footwork before finding the bottom left corner with his strike, a stunning individual effort.
One becoming two just three minutes later. A dangerous Cooper Hanagan low cross unsettling the Spartans defence before a Jett Mccue-Shore first time cross from the left was headed home by Charlie Ragg under pressure to make it 2-0.
From there, SD Raiders were composed in their efforts to control the game while looking somewhat dangerous in transitions forward. Spartans for their part having a number of set pieces, one of which saw Blake Ilitch head straight at the keeper around the 33rd minute.
Aside from that chance in the first minute, Spartans had their next best chances early in the second half. The first seeing Darcy Ellem go close with a lobbed effort just wide of the left post after a chipped through ball from Aedon Kyra.
Kyra having an effort of his own saved in the 56th minute, his left footed curling effort cleared by Hanagan again at the far post. Hanagan standing out for his efforts on both the right and left throughout the ninety.
The hosts putting the visitors defence under pressure but often repelled by a hardworking SD Raiders back four in their own box.
While Justin Biega did enough to deny SD Raiders a third through Charlie Ragg deep into injury time on the break.
SD Raiders finish the round in second with Dulwich Hill in their final game next Saturday. While Blacktown Spartans will need to dust themselves off, they next face Hills United with only pride to play for.
Blacktown Spartans 0
SD Raiders 2 (Knezevic 12’, Ragg 15’)
Elsewhere
Bankstown City 0-2 UNSW FC
After SD Raiders made the first move in the title race Friday night, UNSW FC responded with a 2-0 win over Bankstown City a little under 24 hours later.
And once again, it was two goals in the second half which got the job done for the students through Sean Woods and Jordan Morfitis. This result coming after they claimed a midweek win over Dulwich Hill.
The first half turned into a physical affair with the visitors in particularly feeling it after their midweek outing. A noticeable improvement coming after the break from Gabe Knowles side who once again found a way to claim the three points.
Their first goal coming from a Sean Woods volley on the end of a Nathan Roberts cross with a quarter hour remaining. Followed by a second just inside the final ten minutes through Jordan Morfitis, Corby Fowler coming up with the assist for that goal.
The students next face Northern TIgers next weekend with a win there guaranteeing them the title, while Bankstown City face Rydalmere Lions in round 30 action away from home.
Bankstown City 0
UNSW FC 2 (Woods 75’, Morfitis 82’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3-2 Rydalmere Lions
Bonnyrigg White Eagles edged a step closer to a playoff spot with a 3-2 win over Rydalmere Lions at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
A game in which the momentum changed throughout, the hosts found themselves behind before staging a comeback to maintain their grip on 15th place.
In slippery conditions, neither side exercised control in this one. Hosts Bonnyrigg taking a lead in the 6th minute from a set piece through Tristan Vidic who headed home from close range, Fumoto Kamada with the delivery.
Rydalmere then taking the lead through two goals in five minutes in the first half. Adil Toska tapping home from close range after Robert Eremugo broke down the right wing and squared the ball across in the 18th minute. Before Julian Shalome headed home an in-swinging corner.
However it would be Bonnyrigg White Eagles who would pick up a crucial result, Josh Symons scoring from just outside the area, his goal bound effort taking a deflection on the way in to level the scores.
Before Kamada scored directly from a corner with just over ten minutes of regulation remaining to make it 3-2.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 (Vidic 6’, Symons 70’, Kamada 78’)
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Toska 18’, Shalome 22’)
Hills United 1-3 Mounties Wanderers
The survival battle is going down to the final day, Mounties Wanderers claimed an important three points with a 3-1 win over Hills United away from home.
Taking a two goal lead before the hour mark, Fikret Berisha scored the sealer in the 89th minute to take the points.
With plenty to play for, the visitors made a good start to this one with a few early chances on goal. Their first goal coming through Amos Okumu who chased down a long ball before beating the last man with a composed finish.
Both sides wrestling for control of this one in an even contest. Though Mounties doubled their advantage before the hour. An Alistar Mckie wide free-kick deflected into the net by a Hills defender.
Hills then mounting a response and cutting the deficit in half through Walid Moutaouakkil just after the 70th minute. The visa player applying a finish from inside the area after a spell of possession.
Mounties restoring their lead in the games final stages with Fikret Berisha scoring his first goal of the season from close range after a James Cakovski cross found him.
Hills United 1 (Moutaouakkil 70’)
Mounties Wanderers 3 (Okumu 19’, Kelshaw OG 59’, Berisha 89’)
Newcastle Jets 5-0 Macarthur Rams
Newcastle Jets proved too good for Macarthur Rams in their round 29 fixture at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
Scoring five goals, they were a consistent goal threat with Janni Rafty leading the way with a brace. Rafty joined by Noah Miller, Alexandro Nunes and Ethan Debono on the scoresheet.
It was a convincing performance in front of goal from the hosts who bounced back from their defeat to SD Raiders last weekend well. Janni Rafty giving them the lead on the quarter hour before Noah Miller scored his first goal for the academy in first grade.
Three further goals coming in the final quarter hour with Janni Rafty completing his brace before Alexandro Nunes and Ethan Debono added further goals.
Both sides have one last hit out next weekend for season 2025, Jets due to face Canterbury Bankstown while Macarthur Rams have a shorter away trip to face Hakoah.
Newcastle Jets 5 ()
Macarthur Rams 0
Inter Lions 3-0 Dulwich Hill
Inter Lions kept their positive end of season run going with a 3-0 win over Dulwich Hill at Majors Bay Reserve.
Winning three of their last four games, they scored two of their three goals in the opening twenty minutes before adding a third in the final fifteen minutes.
Summarised as a strong performance from the hosts, they took a two goal lead into the sheds at half time. Captain Sam Armson scoring the opener from a free-kick at the edge of the 18-yard-box. Armson picking up the top corner.
Before they scored a second shortly after, Portelesi involved in the build up before a James Khoury shot was saved into Owen Duke’s path who made no mistake.
The hosts continuing to threaten in the second half with Khoury adding the third goal with just over 15 minutes left applying a great finish inside the area. They will finish their season next weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles while Dulwich Hill take on SD Raiders at home.
Inter Lions 3 (Armson 16’, Duke 18’, Khoury 73’)
Dulwich Hill 0
Bulls FC Academy 3-3 Hakoah FC
Bulls FC Academy and Hakoah FC shared the points in a six goal thriller which saw the visitors come from behind twice.
Potentially a result which would please the visitors more on this occasion, it continues to be a frustrating run for the academy side who are struggling to see games out.
After being in the ascendancy for the first twenty minutes of this one, the visitors took the lead inside twenty minutes through Nicholas Tooley. Tooley on the end of a great team move down the right wing to open his account.
The momentum shifting soon after that goal with two Bulls goals coming before the half hour. The first through Michael Krslovic before Atiya Waraga put them ahead five minutes later. Some good attacking play down the right flank in the lead up to those goals.
Once again though, the visitors started the better of the two sides after half time and Cam Philpot scored their equaliser in the 65th minute. But in an all too familiar story this season, they switched off after scoring and the Bulld took the lead through a second Michael Krslovic goal.
Hakoah recuing a point in injury time through Cam Philpot who salvaged something from the game with a 92nd minute equaliser.
Bulls FC Academy 3 (Krslovic 25’ 68’, Waraga 30’)
Hakoah FC 3 (Tooley 18’, Philpot 65’, 92’)
Northern Tigers 1-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Northern Tigers season came to a frustrating end with a 1-1 draw with Canterbury Bankstown at North Turramurra.
Already relying on results elsewhere to go their way, they couldn’t quite hold on to a goal advantage with the Berries coming from behind.
In truth, it was a crazy game of football in Sydney’s North with the visitors playing out the final 35 minutes without a recognised goalkeeper on the field. Prior to that, the match saw both sides creating half chances without making major in roads on their opposition.
That was until the visitors made their second enforced keeper change which gave Northern Tigers the chance to take the lead. Jesse Spang the scorer minutes after coming off the bench.
Berries coach Wally Savor praising his sides character in correspondence with us post game and they found an equaliser ten minutes later. Jake Mcleod heading home after Daniel Goni’s first time cross on the end of a Patrick Savor long ball.
Both teams having further chances but settling for a draw after the 90 minutes.
Northern Tigers 1 (Spang 61’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Mcleod 71’)
By Justin Smith
