Round 28 Review – League One Men’s
Three of the top four dropped points once again in round 28 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition with a top two position up for grabs.
Setting up a big match of the round between Mt Druitt Town Rangers and Bulls FC Academy next weekend, we also saw our bottom two switch places during the week.
That and more in our review below.
Match of the Round: Hakoah FC 1-1 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
One point closer, Mt Druitt Town Rangers came from behind against Hakoah FC to take another step towards the premiership in our match of the round.
Matching the result of their main competitor, they could secure first position in next weeks game against Bulls FC Academy. While the result extends Hakoah’s winless streak to four games.
With the stakes high in this one, it looked to be the visitors who settled into this one the quicker with a Theph Theph header over the bar from the set piece the best of their chances in the opening ten minutes.
While a Behnam Ramandi deflected shot gave the hosts a similar opportunity two minutes later which was dealt with comfortably by the Town Rangers back line. The best chances of this one coming from set-pieces at either end, with both defences doing well to blunt their opponents attack.
A corner for the visitors the latest of which for the visitors which saw Tom Whiteside head over the bar at the back post with the delivery coming in from the left just past the 20th minute. Followed up after the half hour by a Malcolm Ward shot on goal from outside the area which missed the target to the left.
However there was a twist in the tale before halftime, Hakoah finding the go ahead goal in the 44th minute. Ginjira Chiba the provider with a low ball across the face which was deflected on it’s way through to the feet of Cam Philpot who tapped home from close range.
The visitors perhaps unlucky to find themselves behind after a hard fought opening forty-five.
They opened the second half in terms of chances when Andre Martins was denied by a save down to the keepers left in the 49th minute.
However, they weren’t behind for long finding their equaliser eight minutes into the half. A floated cross from the left finding Daniel Wong in behind, Wong sticking a foot out to steer it past the keeper.
Now the onus was back on the hosts to find another goal with over half an hour left. Both sides given a breather with an extended stoppage which saw Gabriel Antoniades go off injured for the hosts.
Chances few and far between with the two sides battling for an important goal. A chance at either end half way through the half saw the ball fly over the bar.
Hakoah next having a good chance in the 73rd minute when Samuel Young picked up a cleared free-kick on the right before his shot from the top corner of the box was saved by Dylan Niski. Cam Philpot unable to turn the ball home at short notice.
Soon followed by a George Tuson-Firth effort which was fired left off the target on the volley after Philpot chested a cross into his path with ten minutes remaining. Mt Druitt going down the other end seconds after that with Charles Mendy delivering a ball into the area, Andre Martins unable to get it past Nikolas Loe in the Hakoah goal. .
The result favouring the visitors who remain three points above second placed Bulls FC Academy while Hakoah’s season looks like petering out in fourth.
Hakoah FC 1 ()
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 ()
Elsewhere:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0-2 Bankstown City
Bankstown City took out a massive derby victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles to keep their playoff hopes alive at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
An assured second half performance saw them take this one out with you guessed it, Chris Payne playing a major role in the win.
Up against a Bonnyrigg side spurred on by a vocal crowd with a Serbian festival coinciding with the game, both sides created opportunities in the first half with Bankstown City slightly having the edge on proceedings.
However in contrast to the first half, the second half saw the visitors take control with Payne stepping it up a gear and his team mates following. Payne scoring from the spot just after the hour mark before he played a role again in the second goal. That one scored after a controlled passing move on the left which saw Vlado Suput find the striker. Payne swerving past defenders before placing a finish low and hard past the keeper, 70 minutes in.
Another spirited performance, they now turn their attention to Blacktown Spartans next weekend, while Bonnyrigg host UNSW FC.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
Bankstown City 2 (Payne 61’ 70’)
Bulls FC Academy 1-1 UNSW FC
Second placed Bulls FC Academy survived a scare against UNSW FC to share the points in their fixture at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Bringing to end a three game losing streak, they just barely came away unscathed with a late penalty save securing the point denying UNSW FC their fifth straight win.
Defensively more organised then recent games, the young academy side opened the scoring within the quarter hour. A set piece routine seeing a ball played in low from the left with Oliver Jones scoring from around the penalty spot.
However, where they improved defensively, they weren’t as good with the ball at their feet which almost cost them dearly. UNSW equalising in the 64th minute through Jack Fulton. Fulton finishing with his head inside the area from a Emilio Vinci cross.
UNSW having the chance to take the three points late with a penalty which Alexander Robinson saved denying Matias Da Silva Santos.
Bulls FC Academy 1 (Jones 13’)
UNSW FC 1 (Fulton 64’)
Dunbar Rovers 1-4 Northern Tigers
Northern Tigers extended the woes of Dunbar Rovers with a 4-1 victory at Fraser Park, Saturday evening.
With Nepean taking three valuable points midweek against Inter Lions, Dunbar couldn’t quite manage a response here. While the victory is Northern Tigers third in the space of four games.
After the game went scoreless in the first 25 minutes, Northern Tigers stepped in up a gear with three goals coming before the break. The first of which came from Lachlan Lloyd from close range in the 28th minute after a cross from the right. Which was quickly followed by their second in similar circumstances, Lloyd adding his second. Kai Denton then grabbing their third with three minutes left in the half.
A lead which they held to the 84th minute with Kai Denton finding the net once again before Adrian Paez found a consolation goal for the hosts.
Their next game is a big one against Nepean FC which could decide who takes the playoff spot. While Northern Tigers host Hakoah FC next weekend.
Dunbar Rovers 1 (Paez 94’)
Northern Tigers 4 (Lloyd 28’ 31’, Denton 42’ 84’)
Canterbury Bankstown 2-0 Nepean FC
Canterbury Bankstown broke their losing streak with a 2-0 win at home over Nepean FC in Sunday afternoon action.
After battling injuries of late, the hosts saw a few players return to the fray in this one as they look to finish the season strong.
Their first goal came around the quarter hour with the Berries firmly in control. A cutback finding Tiaga Kawano whose first time shot found the top left corner. With opportunities for Connor Slater and Sunny Chang denied by Justin Biega in the visitors net.
With nothing to lose, Nepean then threw caution to the wind in the second half pushing players forward, something which inadvertently cost them late in the game when Joshua Mbakwe was brought down by a last man foul. Captain Patrick Savor scoring from the resulting free-kick placing the ball in the top left corner.
Canterbury Bankstown host Dulwich Hill next weekend, while Nepean FC host a big season-defining clash with Dunbar Rovers next weekend.
Canterbury Bankstown 2 (Kawano 17’, Savor 94’)
Nepean FC 0
SD Raiders 3-0 Inter Lions
Eight times a charm, SD Raiders picked up their eighth straight win prevailing over Inter Lions at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Another fast start saw them take control of this one before a own goal in the second half made it 3-0. Goran Ljuboja’s side only conceding two goals in their last five games all up.
After they were denied on a few occasions in the opening quarter hour, the hosts finally broke through with Charlie Ragg finding the back of the net. Ragg beating a defender in the 18 yard box before finishing for the opener.
A lead which was doubled before the break, Yuto Sugiura scoring from long range to add their second in the 39th minute.
From there, the visitors responded well with proceedings evening out in the first fifteen of the second half. That resurgence halted by the hosts third goal, a deflected shot going in at the back post to make it 3-0. Inter limited to long range shots and half chances throughout the remainder.
SD Raiders take on Rydalmere Lions next, while Inter Lions host Macarthur Rams in round 29 action.
SD Raiders 3 (Ragg 14’, Sugiura 38’, Patramanis OG 67’)
Inter Lions 0
Dulwich Hill 0-2 Rydalmere Lions
Rydalmere Lions continued their winning run with a 2-0 victory away from home against Dulwich Hill at Arlington Oval.
Showing no signs of stopping, the Lions roared to their fifth straight win with Isaac Cunningham scoring a brace on the night.
It was the visitors who enjoyed the more possession throughout this one while the hosts Dulwich Hill were dogged in their defence. Rydalmere making the most of the chances they created, the first of which saw Isaac Cunningham find the back of the net inside ten minutes.
A lead which was doubled with fifteen minutes left in this one, Cunningham doubling his tally to score his 13th goal of the season. Dulwich Hill just not finding the quality in the final third throughout this one.
The win seeing Rydalmere Lions move to 36 points this season with every chance of finishing with a positive goal difference come seasons end. While Dulwich Hill sit safely in 13th ahead of a clash with Canterbury Bankstown next weekend.
Dulwich Hill 0
Rydalmere Lions 2 (Cunningham 8’ 75’)
Macarthur Rams 0-1 Blacktown Spartans
Blacktown Spartans overcame a stoic Macarthur Rams defence to pick up a 1-0 victory at Lynwood Park.
Completing the season double over the hosts, Ben Rollison’s side secured their 13th win of the season in this one while condemning the Rams to their 17th loss.
The equivalent to a game between attack and defence in a training session, Blacktown Spartans enjoyed most of the shots on goal throughout. The key moment coming just before the break with Aedon Kyra adding to his season tally after some one touch passing from the visitors.
They face Bankstown City next weekend, while Macarthur Rams take to the road to face Inter Lions away from home in round 29 action.
Macarthur Rams 0
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Kyra 42’)
R19 Result: Nepean FC 3-1 Inter Lions
By Justin Smith.
