Round 23 Review – League One Men’s
Can anyone catch Blacktown Spartans? That’s the question for the chasing pack to answer after Round 23 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition this weekend.
With Canterbury Bankstown the only other top-five side to secure three points, the Spartans have opened up a seven-point lead over second place. Elsewhere, Dulwich Hill and Bulls FC Academy played out a goal fest in our Match of the Round.
Match of the Round: Dulwich Hill 3-5 Bulls FC Academy
Our Match of the Round this weekend saw Bulls FC Academy and Dulwich Hill play out a thriller at Arlington Oval in Sydney’s Inner West.
Eight goals, five of which came in the second half, saw Dulwich Hill nearly pull off a remarkable comeback before Ali El-Sabeh sealed the three points for the Academy side with a goal in the 89th minute.
Early on, it was the young Bulls side that controlled the tempo, enjoying long periods of possession. Their first chance fell the way of Jordan Graoroski, who drew an early save from Andrew Di Blasio at his near post.
Dulwich Hill’s first opportunity came from a quick transition before the 10th minute, with Marcus Lal’s shot too central to trouble Mason Hartnig in the Bulls’ goal.
Bulls FC Academy opened the scoring just as it seemed Dulwich Hill were starting to grow into the contest on the half-hour mark. The attack came down the left, with Graoroski beating his marker before threading a ball in behind the defence, which Harper Ryles finished through the goalkeeper’s legs.
The goal drew a response from the hosts five minutes later, with Marcus Lal doing brilliantly to steer a near-post header over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net from a Samuel Hovar deflected cross.
That parity only lasted seconds before Bulls Academy restored their lead at the other end. Justin Cardozo was the provider, delivering a low cross from the left which was finished by Ali El-Sabeh from close range for 2-1. Both sides then had half-chances before the half-time whistle.
Nicolai Muller’s side then took a 4-1 lead before the 65th minute. Their third goal was scored by Graoroski, who finished a close-range volley inside the area to give the Dulwich Hill goalkeeper no chance, with Cardozo providing another assist.
Cardozo then added a goal of his own around a quarter of an hour later, reacting first after a free-kick was blocked by the wall before firing a low strike into the bottom-left corner.
However, whether it was a case of the Academy side taking their foot off the gas or Dulwich Hill rallying strongly, the hosts reduced the deficit to just one goal with ten minutes remaining.
Jacob Palamidas brought the score back to 4-2 with the pick of the goals so far, striking a long throw clearance on the half-volley from the edge of the area, with the ball floating into the back of the net.
Emmanuel Zervas then scored Dulwich Hill’s third in the 78th minute, heading home at the back post after a diagonal ball into the area.
Bulls Academy finally sealed the game in the 89th minute, with Ali El-Sabeh scoring a terrific goal from the edge of the area. Receiving the ball on his right foot, El-Sabeh shifted onto his left before firing a finish between defenders and into the back of the net to secure all three points.
Dulwich Hill 3 (Lal 36’, Palamidas 70’, Zervas 78’)
Bulls FC Academy 5 (Ryles 20’, El-Sabeh 37’, 89’, Graoroski 39’, Cardozo 63’)
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers 2-2 Newcastle Jets
Second-placed Northern Tigers were held to a 2-2 draw by a young Newcastle Jets Academy side, who bounced back from a heavy defeat last time out.
It was a see-sawing fixture at North Turramurra, with the hosts taking the lead before conceding twice before half-time. Connor Rose once again played an important role for the Tigers, scoring his second goal of the game to bring his side level.
Falling behind, the Jets Academy side could have been forgiven for feeling a sense of déjà vu after last weekend’s defeat, but they showed plenty of character. Cruz Sartorio scored their equaliser with a well-taken finish before Jake Goodwin gave them the lead before the break.
Northern Tigers’ most dangerous attacking player in recent weeks, Connor Rose, completed his brace in this one. His first goal came from a near-post finish before he equalised in the second half, cutting inside from the left wing and producing a lovely strike.
The result does not prove too costly for the Tigers with results elsewhere going their way, but they will look to bounce back before their Round 25 meeting with the Spartans.
Northern Tigers 2 (Rose 12’, 66’)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Sartorio 37’, Goodwin 44’)
Macarthur Rams 1-1 Bankstown City
Macarthur Rams and Bankstown City could not be separated after an enthralling contest on Friday night, with the match capable of going either way.
Both sides remain in the mix for a top-two finish, with the visitors taking the lead before the Rams responded and were perhaps unlucky not to claim all three points after a late flurry of chances.
As expected from two teams competing near the top of the table, the tempo never dropped from the opening whistle, with both sides producing moments of quality throughout.
Bankstown City opened the scoring inside ten minutes when an Isaac Danzo cross was deflected into the net from a short corner routine.
The Rams found their equaliser with 15 minutes of regulation time remaining, with a diagonal cross-field ball finding Michael Martin at the back post, who headed home to level the scores.
The goal gave Macarthur confidence heading into the final stages, with the hosts looking the more threatening side in the closing minutes.
The result sees Bankstown City move into fourth position on 40 points, while the Rams sit one point behind them.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Martin 74’)
Bankstown City 1 (Esposito OG 9’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2-1 Prospect United
Canterbury Bankstown claimed a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Prospect United at Jensen Park to move into third position.
With results elsewhere going in their favour, the hosts are now just two points behind Northern Tigers with a big fortnight of fixtures ahead. Prospect United were brave in defeat but remain locked in 15th position.
Despite the difference in ladder positions, there was little between the two sides, with both teams exchanging goals in the five minutes before half-time.
The Berries took the lead through William Kounnas, who was on hand to tap home from a Nicholas Azzi delivery. William DiMartino responded shortly after, capitalising on a defensive mix-up before finishing into an empty net.
The second half proved decisive, with the hosts spending large periods in their opponent’s half before eventually being rewarded with a special goal from Kounnas with ten minutes remaining.
The striker produced a superb finish from outside the box, bending his effort into the far corner to secure the three points.
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Kounnas 41’, 84’)
Prospect United 1 (DiMartino 42’)
Central Coast Mariners 0-2 Blacktown Spartans
A professional Blacktown Spartans performance saw them overcome Central Coast Mariners and open up a seven-point gap at the top of the table on Sunday afternoon.
In a match where clear-cut chances were limited, the Spartans secured victory courtesy of a first-half brace from Peter Kekeris, putting themselves in a strong position ahead of two important fixtures over the next fortnight.
Kekeris caused problems throughout the opening period, particularly from wide areas, scoring his second and third goals at Pluim Park this season for two separate clubs in the seventh and 43rd minutes.
The Spartans coaching staff also praised their defensive efforts away from home, with the clean sheet marking their third of the season.
Next week’s fixture against Canterbury Bankstown shapes as one not to miss.
Central Coast Mariners 0
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Kekeris 7’, 43’)
Rydalmere Lions 1-0 Western City Rangers
Rydalmere Lions secured back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-April, overcoming Western City Rangers by a single goal at home.
It was the Lions’ first home victory in several months, with an Adil Toska strike around the half-hour mark proving the difference between the two sides. The defeat also saw Western City Rangers miss an opportunity to climb off the bottom of the table.
This was a game of two halves, with Rydalmere starting the stronger and being rewarded through Toska, who scored his sixth goal of the campaign via a potential deflection.
Western City Rangers responded strongly after the break, creating multiple goalscoring opportunities while controlling possession for large periods. However, they were unable to find an equaliser and will look to respond next weekend when they face Newcastle Jets.
Rydalmere Lions 1 (Toska 29’)
Western City Rangers 0
Inter Lions 2-2 Hills United
Hills United came from two goals down to claim a share of the points against Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
An entertaining contest between two mid-table sides saw a James Khoury brace in the first half put Inter Lions in control, before Hills United fought back after the break to secure a valuable point.
The opening half belonged to the hosts, who took a two-goal lead before the interval. Khoury’s first was a superb strike after a Tom Whiffen free-kick was parried into his path by the goalkeeper.
His second came shortly after, with the midfielder heading home from a Malcolm Ward cross on the right wing following a well-worked team move.
The momentum shifted after half-time, with Hills United scoring twice within 25 minutes of the restart. Max Hately returned to the scoresheet in the 52nd minute, his first goal since Round 19, before Brooklyn Mallia scored the equaliser on his return to the club.
Inter Lions were reduced to ten players for the final 20 minutes after Mitch Smith received a second yellow card.
Inter Lions 2 (Khoury 19’, 45’)
Hills United 2 (Hately 52’, Mallia 68’)
Hakoah FC 1-1 Hurstville Zagreb
Hakoah FC withstood a strong Hurstville Zagreb performance to claim a point from their meeting at Hensley Athletic Field.
Hurstville Zagreb started the stronger of the two sides despite playing away from home, creating two clear-cut chances before opening the scoring from the penalty spot. Alessandro Lacalandra stepped up and converted the spot-kick to give the visitors the lead.
However, that advantage lasted just one minute, with Cam Philpot responding immediately to score his seventh goal of the season and level the scores.
Neither side was able to find a winner, although Hurstville Zagreb could take plenty of positives from their performance and will feel they deserved more from the contest.
Hakoah FC 1 (Philpot 14’)
Hurstville Zagreb 1 (Lacalandra 13’)
By Justin Smith
