Round 1 Review – League One Men’s

Start as you mean to go on! The opening round of the Football NSW League One Men’s competition had a bit of everything as the action kicked off.

In our match of the round, Macarthur Rams produced an upset win over St George FC, while elsewhere Inter Lions won convincingly, Bankstown City and Hills played out a high-scoring draw and so much more.

So for the first of thirty times this season, let’s round up the weekends action.

MOTR: St George FC 1-2 Macarthur Rams FC

Macarthur Rams secured an early scalp edging out St George FC in our match of the round at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre.

Rams captain John Fahmi scored his sides first goal on their return to the competition before new signing Anthony Prioa doubled their lead, with Conor Quilligan hitting back from the penalty spot just after the hour mark for the Saints solitary goal.

The opening fifteen minutes saw plenty of chances for both sides in an open contest with Christian Torreli and Dimitri Petratos looking busy in attack for the visitors while Shunta Nakamura caught the eye going forward for the hosts. Nakamura having the first chance of note putting an effort over the bar one on one.

With a further two chances falling at either end on 20 minutes. Conor Quilligan denied by Rams keeper who got out to the scene well. Before Torelli forced a smart save from St George keeper Andrew Di Blasio at the other end.

Macarthur were to take the lead though before the break, John Fahmi receiving the ball from the left before his shot from outside the area deflected into the bottom right corner wrongfooting Di Blasio.

St George then had a chance to restore parity shortly into the second half. Reuben Awaritefe brought down inside the area before the striker hit the outside of the left post with his effort from the spot.

However, it was the rams to extend their advantage, Anthony Prioa coming up with something special. A back heel finish from the penalty spot finding its way into the back of the net after a cross came in from the left.

The hosts then were handed a reprieve soon after with another penalty falling their way. Conor Quilligan stepping up and putting it just beyond the keeper into the bottom right corner.

It would seem that any hopes of comeback were halted with just over 20 minutes to go though when Declan Sheldon was sent off for a last man foul.

However, despite being a man down, the hosts continued to push for an equaliser with Reuben Awaritefe forcing Rams keeper Stevan Savicic into a save with 13 minutes remaining being their best chance.

Both teams host round two action at their respective homes, St George FC facing Bankstown City next weekend while Macarthur Rams welcome Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

St George FC 1 (Conor Quilligan 62’)

Macarthur Rams FC 2 (John Fahmi 43’, Anthony Prioa 59’)

Central Coast United FC 1 (Swadling 83’) v Mounties Wanderers FC 1 (Kadric 79’)

Central Coast United and Mounties Wanderers shared the points in our season opener at Pluim Park.

Played in warm conditions on a Saturday afternoon, the game took a while to get going with the visitors perhaps having the better of the first half, Cobe Preston making an incredible save after the quarter hour the highlight of the action.

After the break the game continued in a familiar fashion with the Mounties hitting the crossbar 20 minutes into the half. The bulk of the action however came in the final ten minutes as players tired. Mounties taking a lead through a sublime finish by recruit Asmir Kadric who ran into the box from the left side before slotting it home.

Before Central Coast United responded in turn with one of their own, Josh Swadling stepping up to find the back of the net

Central Coast United take to the road to face Hills United next weekend. Mounties Wanderers host Inter Lions at Cook Park.

Northern Tigers FC 0 v Blacktown Spartans FC 1 (Nascimben 45’)

Blacktown Spartans left the Northern Tigers frustrated with a first start win at North Turramurra to kick off their season.

Content to let their opposition have the majority of possession, the Spartans were hard working to deny the hosts opportunities in front of goal. And they were rewarded for their efforts just before the half time break. Emmanuel Dolo breaking free on the right before finding Christian Nascimben who scored with a close-range header.

The Tigers then had their best spell of the game after the break but changes in personnel then saw the visitors become more comfortable. Following the result, new coach Ben Rollison was happy with his side but noted there are improvements still to be made.

While from a Tigers perspective, there are signs things are starting to click with the new squad but they need to be more consistent.

Tigers face Canterbury Bankstown next weekend while Blacktown Spartans have another away trip to SD Raiders.

Dunbar Rovers FC 0 v SD Raiders FC 1 (Mihael Marcic 26’)

Three points is the most important thing in football and SD Raiders were made to earn it against a well-disciplined Dunbar Rovers side.

The game really didn’t have a chance to get going before Dunbar Rovers were reduced to ten men fifteen minutes in. Daniel Goni the player to see red. And despite the visitors scoring ten minutes later, there was plenty to like about how the hosts responded to the man disadvantage working hard out of possession while creating chances of their own throughout the remainder.

In contrast, the Raiders struggled to adjust their style to the venue, however a Mihael Marcic goal ensured the three points from the contest after he was played through by Sebastian Malfara.

Dunbar Rovers make the short trip to face Dulwich Hill next weekend, while SD Raiders host Blacktown Spartans.

Inter Lions FC 6 (Owen Duke 17’, Sam Armson 24’, Daniel Georgievski 30’, Oliver Green 66’ 75’ 85’) v Rydalmere Lions FC 1 (Daniel Georgievski (OG) 51’)

Six of the best, Inter Lions laid down an early statement dismantling Rydalmere Lions in their semi-final rematch in Sydney’s Inner West.

After a quite tentative start to the fixture, the opening goal arrived on the quarter hour, Owen Duke hitting the ball sweetly from halfway, catching the Rydalmere keeper off guard as it flew over his head into the net.

That opened the game up with Sam Armson heading home for their second goal five minutes later. Suddenly, the hosts had found their mojo making it three from another corner routine, Daniel Georgievski combining with Lachlan Everett before scoring.

Rydalmere had a reply after the break though with Matthew West finding space down the left before his cross took a touch from Georgievski into his own net.

However, that comeback would be brief with the introduction of Oliver Green from John Theodoropoulos proving crucial. Green scoring a hat-trick, his first coming on the end of a through ball, his second from the spot and his six coming after lead up work from fellow substitute Vincent Fedele.

Bankstown City FC 3 (Ante Tomic 8’ 30’ 80’) v Hills United FC 3 (Mitchell Smith 21’ 40’, Belkadi 26’)

Bankstown City and Hills United played out an early season game of the year contender as they shared the points in a six-goal thriller.

The hosts got off to the perfect start opening the scoring eight minutes into their start in the new division, Ante Tomic scoring from the spot after Jonathan Grozdanovski was brought down in the area.

Hills United found their first in reply twelves minutes later, Mitchell Smith finding space in behind from a killer through ball from Glenn Kelshaw. The turnaround complete soon after with Jamal Belkadi finding the back of the net after Jair Fernandez made the initial save. A deserved lead at the time with Hills having plenty of joy going forward.

However, Bankstown City would not go away and Ante Tomic stepped up for a second time from the set piece on the half hour. Tomic sending a pearler of a free kick into the top right corner.

Five goal first half? Why not. In a move set in motion by Belkadi he found Jordan Parfait who squared it to Mitchell Smith who scored his second.

Unlike the first half, neither team was able to find the net in the third quarter of the match with the final goal of the match coming via the penalty spot with Ante Tomic scoring his third for the evening, all from set pieces.

Bankstown City travel to face St George FC while Hills United return home to host Central Coast United.

Hakoah FC 2 (Stefan Dubocanin (OG) 77’, Yianni Spyrakis 78’) v Canterbury Bankstown FC 0

Hakoah FC needed to be patient to overcome a good showing from Canterbury Bankstown at Hensley Athletic.

It took that one moment of luck to change the game late in the second half with a deflection on a clearance inside the Canterbury Bankstown box giving the hosts the lead. A goal which was soon followed by a Yianni Spyrakis first time volley from outside the area which flew into the top corner of the net.

Earlier in the contest, Hakoah had to be stoic defensively, blocking two chances inside their six-yard box in the first half from the visitors with Joel Beattie and James Ralston going close.

Hakoah FC next face Rydalmere Lions away from home, while Canterbury Bankstown host Northern Tigers.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 2 (Ryan Attard 56’, Emmanuel Gonzalez 58’) v Dulwich Hills FC 1 (Thomas Tranberg 61’)

Bonnyrigg White Eagles claimed a first start victory over Dulwich Hill in the final fixture of round one Sunday evening.

Wasting no time, the hosts had the ball in the back of the net within a minute only for it to be disallowed for a handball. Bonnyrigg continued to apply pressure until the first drinks break after 25 minutes. Responding well, Dulwich Hill then created a few chances of their own late in the half.

However, their best period came after the break, however they could take advantage and were punished at the other end. Ryan Attard opening the scoring on the break before the hour mark, an advantage which was doubled straight from kick off to give them insurance, Emmanuel Gonzalez with the second.

Insurance which they would need five minutes later with Thomas Tranberg applying a neat finish for the visitors. After that spell of three goals in seven minutes, neither side were able to find the back of the net despite both having chances.

Bonnyrigg take to the road for the short trip to Macarthur next weekend, while Dulwich Hill host Dunbar.

By FNSW League One Men’s Journalist Justin Smith (Twitter: @smiththejustin)