Round 5 Review – League One Men’s
In a 30 game season, Momentum can play a key role in how a team fares and many teams rode the wave of having it in round five of the FNSW League One Men’s Season.
Our match of the round saw Bankstown City secure their second straight win in ominous fashion. While Northern Tigers kept their unbeaten start going and Western City Rangers won their third straight game.
Match of the Round: Central Coast Mariners v Bankstown City
A dominant first half display saw Bankstown City take out their match of the round fixture with Central Coast Mariners by a 4-1 margin.
Scoring twice in the opening ten minutes and on the brink of half time, Jonathan Grozdanovski led their charge scoring a hat-trick, the striker joined by Peter Kekeris on the score sheet. While a Kye Schmacher goal early in the second half for the Mariners kept things interesting for much of the second half.
With confidence flowing after their win over the Blacktown Spartans last weekend. Fabian Micelli’s side couldn’t have hoped for a better start to this one, Jonathan Grozdanovski poking home from the edge of the six yard box to finish off a Fumoto Kamada cross from the left wing.
One goal becoming two four minutes later, Bai Antoniou playing a key role winning the ball on halfway before they quickly moved it forward into the path of Peter Kekeris who showed his class slipping it past the onrushing keeper.
Their comprehensive first half display wrapped up with a piece of magic by Grozdanovski on the brink of half time. The striker producing an acrobatic finish inside the area which flew into the back of the net.
While Mariners best chance fell to Kye Schumacher whose shot after the 40th minute which forced Mario Aleksik into a save.
In need of a response, the hosts were much improved in the second 45 and found a way into the game around the 50th minute. Their goal coming from a set piece with Schumacher heading home from a corner.
Mariners then holding a lot of possession throughout the remainder of the contest but unable to bring it back to one against a Bankstown City defence who did enough to keep them out.
The star of the show in Grozdanovski adding a third to his personal tally in the dying stages of the game. A long throw from the right causing enough uncertainty in the 18 yard box with Grozdanovski scoring from a narrow angle past the keeper.
Bankstown City moving further up the table after back to back wins ahead of a clash with Western City Rangers next weekend. While Mariners host Canterbury Bankstown same time next Sunday.
Central Coast Mariners (Schumacher 50’)
Bankstown City (Grozdanovski 5’ 45’ 87’, Kekeris 8’)
Remaining Fixtures
Northern Tigers 2-0 Hakoah FC
Celebrating Tigers day in style, Northern Tigers made it five wins from five with a 2-0 win over Hakoah FC at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
Fittingly it was two local juniors who found the back of the net as well with Ally Brown giving them the lead before Jake Da Silva added their second after half time.
While the goalscorers will take the plaudits, a lot of their success early in the season has been built on their defence having not conceded in their past four games. They were rewarded for their good start in the 24th minute through a goal to Ally Brown, the midfielder combining with Connor Rose for their first.
Needing a response, the visitors started the second half in positive fashion in the second half creating a few chances. However the clinical nature of Northern Tigers proved decisive here, Jake Da Silva scoring from a set piece with fifteen minutes remaining.
Northern Tigers 2 (Brown 24’, Da Silva 75’)
Hakoah FC 0
Blacktown Spartans 2-1 Dulwich Hill
Blacktown Spartans returned to winning ways with a last minute Darcy Ellem goal securing them a 2-1 win over Dulwich Hill at home.
The second weekend in a row where Dulwich Hill have conceded in stoppage time, it’s the Spartans third victory of the season.
A thrilling finish coming after what was a scrappy opening half in which both sides struggled for rhythm or control. Dulwich Hill taking an unexpected lead in the 20th minute through a Jesper Webber goal before the hosts responded ten minutes later through you guessed it, Aedon Kyra who scored his fourth goal of the season.
Blacktown Spartans noticeably upping the tempo after the break with the pressure telling in the games dying stages. Ellem sliding his finish into the bottom corner after a patient build up in the 93rd minute.
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Kyra 32’, Ellem 93’)
Dulwich Hill 1 (Webber 20’)
Western City Rangers 2-1 Inter Lions
Solidifying their spot in the chasing pack, Western City Rangers made it three consecutive wins overcoming Inter Lions 2-1 at Popondetta Park.
Against an improved Inter Lions side, the Rangers found a goal in the 88th minute through Dimo Dimo to claim the three points after an Inter Lions equaliser earlier in the second half.
This one took a bit of problem solving from the hosts who came up against a determined Inter Lions side who started well. However some adjustments from the home side tactically allowed them to take control creating chances.
Their first goal coming just after the hour, a great team goal finished off by Kye Hickman to put Warren Grieve’s side ahead. However the visitors did then respond well and they equalised with just over ten minutes left through Harry Rushton.
Rangers finding the winner with two minutes regulation left through Dimo Dimo to secure their third straight win.
Western City Rangers 2 (Hickman 62’, Dimo 88’)
Inter Lions 1 (Rushton 78’)
Hurstville Zagreb 2-4 Bulls FC Academy
Bulls FC Academy proved to be a bit too strong for a brave Hurstville Zagreb side in a high-scoring affair at Penshurst Park, Friday evening.
A composed performance from Nicolai Muller’s side, they survived a scare earlier in the second half to take the points.
After being frustrated for the first half hour, Bulls FC Academy broke the game open with two goals in the space of five minute late in the first half. Justin Cardozo scoring the first of his brace in the 36th minute before Henrique Oliveira scored their second two minutes later.
Cardozo scoring the second of his brace in the 50th minute before Hurstville came back into it. Declan Sheldon scoring their first with a volley from outside the box before he added a second after getting past his man and finishing inside the box. Zagreb looking like they could get something before the young Bulls regained their composure and scored their fourth through Luke Zuvela on the end of a cut back.
Hurstville Zagreb 2 (Sheldon 54’ 65’)
Bulls FC Academy 4 (Cardozo 36’ 50’, Oliveira 38’, Zuvela 80’)
Prospect United 2-3 Hills United
A fast start for Hills United proved the difference as they held on for a 3-2 win over Prospect United, Sunday afternoon.
A weather affected fixture through rain and wind, the visitors got off to a positive start scoring three unanswered goals before Prospect United used those same conditions to come back into the game.
With a focus on starting the fixture well during the week, the visitors did just that with an early goal to Kaito Satori three minutes in. That goal followed up with two goals from a set piece both scored by Byron Ginn who took advantage of two in-swinging deliveries.
That third goal before the break proving to be the difference between the two sides as Prospect United came back into it. The hosts scoring their goal to pull it back to 3-1 in the 66th minute through Pranet Singh who found the bottom corner from his shot. Before Marco Turpeinen doubled their tally less than ten minutes later from a Tom Ruperto cross. Prospect having further chances but unable to break through for an equaliser.
Prospect United 2 (Singh 66’, Turpeinen 74’)
Hills United 3 (Satori 3’, Ginn 18’ 36’)
Macarthur Rams 1-1 Newcastle Jets
Newcastle Jets responded well to their disappointing result last weekend sharing the points with Macarthur Rams away from home at Lynwood Park.
A fair result given the 90 minutes that took place, Jets were the better side in the first half before the Rams grew into it throughout.
As such, the hosts came out strong in the opening stages of the second half and were rewarded with a goal in the 48th minute. Emre Nizam pouncing on a cleared cross on the edge of the area scoring on the volley. Rams then creating a couple more good chances to double their lead before the Jets equalised.
Jake Goodwin scoring their equaliser just after the hour. Indeed, it was the visitors who nearly won it late on with two good chances falling their way in the final stages. Jets still chasing that confidence boosting victory while Rams remain in the top half after five games just losing the one fixture so far.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Nizram 48’)
Newcastle Jets 1 (Goodwin 62’)
Canterbury Bankstown 0-0 Rydalmere Lions
Canterbury Bankstown side were able to hold out against Rydalmere Lions despite being reduced to ten at Jensen Park for a share of the points.
A case study on how a red card can affect both sides taking part in a fixture, its perhaps the Berries who emerged the happier from this one.
After a tight first half with Rydalmere looking threatening from the set piece, the complexion of the game changed when Finley Hayhurst was given a red card in the 40th minute.
Both sides having a chance to break the deadlock after the break hitting the post with respective opportunities in the second 45. The ten man hosts perhaps edging proceedings with William Kounnas the most likely player on the field to make a breakthrough. Not the result we saw coming in this one but a fair one nonetheless.
Canterbury Bankstown 0
Rydalmere Lions 0
By Justin Smith
