It rained goals in a reduced round 21 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition across Friday and Saturday night.
Headlined by an important top four clash, there were also emphatic wins for UNSW FC, SD Raiders and Blacktown Spartans. That and more in the review below.
Match of the Round: Bankstown City 1-2 Bulls FC Academy
Bulls FC Academy showed plenty of character to come from behind and overcome Bankstown City at Jensen Park in our match of the round, Saturday afternoon.
A win which keeps them well and truly on target for a top two finish, it struck a hammer blow to Bankstown City who now sit ten points behind the academy side.
There was a good flow in this one from the outset with Bankstown City creating the first chance inside five minutes. Bulls Academy keeper Franklin Jan denying Jonathan Grozdanovski whose header looked destined to find the net.
Throughout this one, Bulls were patient in their build up trying to find a gap in a well organised Bankstown City defence. Their best chance early coming through Will Mckay whose effort from just outside the area missed the target.
While a shot from Shun Maeta just skimmed beyond a team mate on the break before the quarter hour, quick transitions looking the most likely route to goal for Bankstown City.
However the Bulls were starting to find their groove and they created the next two big chances. An attack going from left to right leading to Oliver Randazzo having his effort deflected wide.
Before their best chance of the half came soon after, a crucial defensive interception denying Gildas Gomwikezwa the opportunity at point blank range. Ante Vojvodic following that up with a long range shot with just narrowly missed the target.
It was Bankstown City to make the breakthrough however and it was through Jonathan Grozdanovski. A rare tun over from the Bulls in their own half pounced upon with Shun Maeta who slipped a through ball to the striker who made no mistake just before the half hour..
But Bulls weren’t going to go away and they nearly found an equaliser seconds later through Dean Bosnjak at the back post, their overlapping right back causing the hosts some anxiety.
Lachlan Macdonald and Gomwikezwa both having late opportunities in the first half for the visitors while Grozdanovski also headed over the bar in the final ten minutes of the half.
Where both sides were creating opportunities in the first half, the second half at times felt like one way traffic with the Bulls on top.
A warning shot from the visitors coming around the hour mark, Bosnjak having his diagonal run rewarded with a ball to feet, his shot blocked into the feet of Madden who hit the side netting.
Despite not taking that chance, it felt like a breakthrough was coming and it came from Bosnjak, converting into the bottom right corner to equalise. Bosnjak alongside Ante Vojvodic earning plaudits from the Bulls coaching staff post game for their performances.
Desperation rising for both sides, it then turned into a battle in the middle third. The game looking destined to finish level before Flynn Madden stepped up for his side.
A moment of inspiration coming from the number 10 with a 10/10 strike from just outside the area curled into the top right corner of the net to give them the three points..
Bulls FC Academy next face Dulwich Hill midweek, while Bankstown City take on Dunbar Rovers in round 22 action.
Bankstown City 1 (Grozdanovski 29’)
Bulls FC Academy 2 (Bosnjak 63’, Madden 91’)
Elsewhere
Nepean FC 2-4 Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Mt Druitt Town Rangers survived an early scare before emerging 4-2 victors over Nepean FC, Friday night.
Trailing by two goals after 20 minutes, Andy Montgomery’s side then clicked into gear scoring three goals before halftime which proved enough for the three points.
It was a dream start for the hosts who scored twice early on, the first coming through Luka Zepina inside five minutes before an own goal doubled the advantage a quarter hour later.
And on balance they probably didn’t deserve to be behind at the break but unfortunately they came up against a ruthless Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Andre Martins adding another to his personal tally before Charles Mendy grabbed a quick fire brace in the final six minutes of the half.
The icing on the result coming with twelve minutes left, Andre Martins scoring his sides second penalty of the match to take home three points. Nepean next face Bonnyrigg White Eagles away from while Mt Druitt Town Rangers line up against Rydalmere Lions
Nepean FC 2 (Zepina 3’, OG 17’)
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 4 (Martins 36’ 78’, Mendy 39’ 45’)
Inter Lions 1-4 Hakoah FC
Hakoah FC notched up their fifth straight victory with a hard fought 4-1 win over Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
I know.. that opening line deserves some explanation but four goals in the final 20 minutes of regulation saw them walk away with the points.
The first half of this one was more even then the score line suggested with both sides having opportunities before the break. Ahmad Taleb scoring just before the break after he scuffed an early one-on-one chance earlier. Taleb converting from the spot.
Hosts Inter Lions having a few opportunities in the first twenty minute of the second half before Hakoah made them pay. Super-sub Nicholas Tooley once again having an impact scoring their first after closing down the hosts defence. Before Ginjira Chiba put them ahead with a deft finish over the keeper.
Two further goals coming from Nicholas Drummond from the spot, Drummond earning a mention post game from the opposition camp. Before Tooley added another to his highlight reel with a superb solo goal in the dying stages.
Keeping pace with the top two, Hakoah next face SD Raiders, while Inter Lions take on Canterbury Bankstown.
Inter Lions 1 (Taleb 42’)
Hakoah FC 4 (Tooley 70’ 90’, Chiba 78’, Drummond 88’)
Blacktown Spartans 4-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Blacktown Spartans returned to the winners circle with a 4-1 win over Canterbury Bankstown in their fixture on Friday night.
After a up and down series of results, the Spartans took control of this one late in the first half before they saw the job out with two further goals in the final 20 minutes.
An emphatic victory, the Spartans were in control for a lot of this one, They opened their account in the 39th minute through none other than Aedon Kyra. Kyra scoring via a stunning strike from the edge of the area. A lead which was doubled before the break through Suleyman Bangura with the first of his two goals, scoring a long range effort powerfully.
A lead which was pegged back early in the second half. Berries Stefano Di Marino stepping up with a quality free-kick. It was the Spartans night though and Paolo Bonanni and Suleyman Bangura added a third and fourth to make things comfortable. .They face UNSW next weekend in what promises to be a good contest while Inter Lions await Canterbury Bankstown.
Blacktown Spartans 4 (Kyra 39’, Bangura 45’ 82’, Bonanni 72’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Di Marino 49’)
Macarthur Rams 1-3 SD Raiders
SD Raiders returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Macarthur Rams at Lynwood Park, Saturday night.
A much more comfortable night for those of a SD Raiders persuasion, Goran Ljuboja’s side notched up a three goal advantage before the hour to claim this one.
The first ten minutes of this one saw both sides have a good chance at goal, the Raiders forcing a good save from the Rams goalkeeper from close range before the Rams headed over from a corner.
From there it was SD Raiders who took control of proceedings, Goran Ljuboja’s side creating chance after chance in the first half. With Charlie Ragg opening the scoring on the quarter hour
Ragg doubling his personal tally with a second on 49 minutes before Noah Chianese added their third in the 53rd minute.
The Raiders comfortable till the final ten minutes when a response came from the hosts, John Fahmi converting a penalty in the 88th minute for their consolation goal.
SD Raiders eighth win of the season, they have the opportunity to play the role of spoiler to Hakoah’s top two hopes, while Macarthur Rams have a big game lower down the table against Hakoah FC.
Macarthur Rams 1 (Fahmi 88’)
SD Raiders 3 (Ragg 15’ 49’, Chianese 53’)
Rydalmere Lions 0-6 UNSW FC
Finally in our review, UNSW put on a goal scoring clinic with a 6-0 demolition of Rydalmere Lions in Sydney’s west.
A ruthless performance, the visitors scored four goals in the final 20 minutes of the first half with Jeremy Cox and Kevin Lopes both finding the back of the net on more than one occasion.
Getting better as the season goes on, it took 26 minutes for the visitors to open the scoring with Kevin Lopes finding the back of the net. Lopes found by Jeremy Cox whose cross came in from the left wing. Cox joining him on the score sheet after he cut in from the left flank onto his right foot, his shot sneaking in at the near post, Timothy Wohlfiel with the cross field switch to find him.
Cox in seemingly everything with another assist for Matias Da Silva Santos to score the third. The half concluded with another for Cox as Kevin Lopes returned the earlier favour.
A lead which they added too in the second half, Lopes grabbing a brace before the hour with perhaps the pick of the goals from long range, hitting the underside of the crossbar before Jeremy Cox completed his hat-trick in the 73rd miinute.
Definitely a good night for the visitors, they sit in 6th position after 21 rounds while Rydalmere Lions next take on Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Rydalmere Lions 0
UNSW FC 6 (Lopes 26’ 58’, Cox 36’ 44’ 73’, Da Silva Santos 37’)
Northern Tigers v Dulwich Hill and Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Dunbar Rovers were both washed out. Stay tuned for fixture updates.
By Justin Smith