The South Coast Wolves kept their finals hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Manly United FC at WIN Stadium in Round 21 of PS4 National Premier League NSW Men’s 1 on Sunday afternoon.
First-half goals from Sam Matthews and Darcy Madden ensured that the race for the coveted fifth position would head into the final round of the home and away season.
The first real chance of the game turned into the first goal in the seventh minute when Manly couldn’t clear their lines.
Matthews ran onto the ball from outside the box and blasted the ball into the back of the net.
Five minutes later the home side had a string of corners but they could not find the back of the net.
The Wolves were playing like a team with their season on the line and in the 17th minute Peter Simonoski found himself free to play a ball into the box but the cross was cleared before the home side could extend their lead.
The visitors almost got back into the game after being awarded a series of corners themselves in the 27th minute but despite mounting some pressure, the attack came to nothing.
It was almost 2-0 in the 33rd minute when striker Simonoski found some space but his shot hit the side netting for a goal kick.
Right on the stroke of half-time the South Coast Wolves had their second when a scramble in the box ended with Madden putting the ball into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead at the break.
Four minutes into the second half, the Wolves were awarded a free-kick just outside the area but fullback Dhari Al Saad could not test the goalkeeper as his shot sailed over the bar.
Manly United made some early substitutions in the second half and it almost paid off when Bradley McDonald found a little bit of room just outside the 18-yard box but he could only shoot over.
With 12 minutes to play the home side were down to 10 men when James O’Rourke received his second yellow card of the game.
From the resulting free-kick, Brendan Cholakian had the chance to make it a nervous last few minutes but his bending shot went wide of the post.
Some nice lead-up work from Jamie Lobb in the 88th minute, by beating a few defenders, only ended with a shot that trickled wide.
Into injury-time, substitute Anthony Proia had the chance to put the game to bed but a scramble in the box saw Manly goalkeeper, Dylan Mitchell, gather the ball.
South Coast Wolves head coach Jacob Timpano was pleased to get the win after stressing to his players the importance of getting the three points out of the game.
“I told the boys it was a simple scenario that we had to win and I didn’t care how it was; I didn’t care how pretty it was and it wasn’t pretty but we got the points we needed and we’re still alive for another week,” Timpano said.
“I think Marconi is going to be very desperate, they’re fighting for relegation so they’re going to be no pushovers. Next week is probably going to be the toughest day to play Marconi all season but hopefully the boys can do a job again.”
On the other hand, Manly United FC head coach Paul Dee was disappointed with the loss but took nothing away from the Wolves performance.
“I think it was evident throughout the game that individually I think we weren’t at our best and the Wolves were probably more committed to the game and the battle itself and out-enthused us in a number of areas,” he said.
“I haven’t seen the other results from this week so I’m not sure what the total make-up is of the possibilities of making the finals next week but we won’t change too much, we’ve been pleased with the style of play we have developed over the year and we’ll play every game to win.”
The Wolves go into the last round with a game against Marconi Stallions while Manly face Parramatta FC.
Match Stats:
South Coast Wolves 2 (Matthews 7’, Madden 44’)
Manly United F.C 0
Sunday 9th August 2015
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho & Matthew Cassidy
Fourth Official: Samuel Grasso
South Coast Wolves: Alsaad, Baldacchino, Griffin, Madden, Manos, Matthews, Murray (Fielding 80’), O’Rourke, Price, Simonoski (Proia 89’) , Zucco (Lavalle 67’)
Substitutions not used: Hamilton, Welch.
Yellow Cards: O’Rourke 57’, 78’, Price 60’
Red cards: O’Rourke 78’
Manly United F.C: Bragg (Whitlock 67’), Cholakian, Gallagher, Kuleski (Ferguson 53’), Lobb, McDonald, Mitchell, Oughtred, Pandurevic, Parkhouse, Saric (Payne 46’)
Substitutions not used: Catlin, Arditti
Yellow Cards: Bragg 16’, Pandurevic 38’, Gallagher 68’
By Jake Bull, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Reporter, at WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
Archives for August 2015
Blacktown City earn derby win and top spot
Blacktown City have returned to the winners’ circle – and the top of the PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 table – with a comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park.
The derby win was the perfect response from Mark Crittenden’s men after last weeks embarrassing defeat to Sydney Olympic.
The passion of the derby sparked both teams into action from the opening whistle.
Blacktown Spartans were full of energy early on and it nearly paid dividends in the 9th minute when City shot stopper Nenad Vekic denied Futa Nakumura’s shot.
The home side continued to mount pressure on their opponents with back-to-back opportunities for Nakamura and Shu Sasaki in the 22nd minute.
However, the Spartans paid the ultimate price for an error in the middle of the park after 33 minutes when Nakamura lost possession after he was clattered in a physical challenge.
Travis Major took possession of the loose ball and broke away on the left wing before delivering a pinpoint pass for Mitch Mallia to tap home from five yards out.
Momentum was well and truly in City’s favour after the goal as the visitors took control of the match just before the half-time interval.
From the start of the second half it was all Blacktown City.
Lead by the attacking trio of Patrick Antelmi, Mallia and Major, Crittenden’s side was hungry for goals and took the game to the Spartans.
After 62 minutes Antelmi doubled the visitors lead when he tapped home after a breakaway and cross from Mallia.
City sent wave after wave of attack as the Spartans did their best to hold on.
It didn’t take long for Joey Gibbs to return to the score sheet after he was brought on as a substitute for the first time since a foot injury eight weeks ago.
Doing what he does best, Gibbs tapped home from a Major cross in the 82nd minute for a 3-0 City lead.
The torment continued for the home fans in the 90th minute when Gibbs made it 4-0.
A Dom Dileo error gifted City possession and once again Gibbs took full advantage of the opportunity to cement the result and all three points.
Stand-in Blacktown City captain Matt Lewis said it was a relief to return to the winners’ list after a difficult fortnight for the club.
“We desperately needed a win after our result to Olympic last week,” he said.
“The boys all stood up and put in a huge performance to get the win.
“Having Joey Gibbs back is massive for us and he is sure to get even better with a bit more match fitness under his belt.”
Spartans captain Carlos Saliadarre admitted his side’s performance wasn’t up to the level.
“It was a very tough game for the boys,” he said.
“Blacktown City showed why they are on top of the table.
“There is not too much you can take away from a game like that. Hopefully we can put in a big match next week and finish our season on a high.”
Blacktown Spartans: 0
Blacktown City: 4 (Mallia 32’ Antelmi 62’, Gibbs 82’,90’)
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Blacktown Football Park, Rooty Hill
Referee: Chris Young
Assistant Referees: Lance Greenshields & Nicholas Backo
Fourth Official: Tristan Harris
Blacktown Spartans: Saliadarre; Crighton, Dukic, Kondek (Da Silva 58’), Morton, Mutch (Enwiya 72’), Nakamura, Quigley, Sasaki, Tanner (Dileo 77’), Tomihiro
Substitutes:, Nascimben, Valastro
Yellow Cards: Morton 78’ Da Silva 90’
Blacktown City: Vekic; Antelmi (Araujo 68’), Choi (Tomoras 83’) , Evans, Fragogiannis, Lewis, Macura, Major, Mallia (Gibbs 74’), TImotheou, Speranza,
Substitutes:, Prendergast, Tomaras, Montford,
Yellow Cards: Evans 74, Macura 77’, 86’
Red Cards: Macura 86’
Suns shine in win over Parramatta
A second-half goal from Hristijan Tanoski and a penalty save from Ivan Necevski have secured a crucial three points for Rockdale City Suns at Melita Stadium.
With so much on the line for both the Suns and Parramatta FC, it was evident from the early encounters that both sides were up for the challenge.
For the Suns, the possibility of finals football and safety in the Club Championship relegation battle hinged on taking three points from the trip to Melita Stadium, for Parramatta, survival was the only concern.
The visitors started the stronger side and in the 13th minute brought out the best in goalkeeper Luke Turnbull, as he saved a close range shot by Dylan Macallister, who was beautifully played in by Tanoski.
In the 20th minute, a corner reached Daniel Petkovski in the corner of the box and, as he was inexplicably left unmarked, he volleyed just over the crossbar.
Parramatta FC was certainly pressing and in the 37th minute Shane Ardle had a powerful free-kick from outside the box that was well neutralised by Necevski.
Prior to Ardle’s free kick, the home side had created a few half-chances but finishing had let the Eagles down as none of the shots had forced Necevski into action.
There was an almost immediate reply up the other end when Toufic Alameddine ran down the right hand side and centred the ball for Marko Jesic who drilled the ball towards goal, only to be denied by an ever-alert Turnbull who punched the ball away.
The last action of the first half saw an in-swinging corner from Ardle reach Patrick Gatt at the far post but his header sailed just over the crossbar.
It was arguably the closest the home side had come to breaking the deadlock in the first half of play.
Right at the death Matthew Clowes played a lovely ball through to Joshua Gersbach but he couldn’t find the target. He skyed his shot from a good position much to the frustration of the home supporters.
Early in the second half Parramatta FC’s Marco Sama controlled the ball and shot from just inside the box but Necevski wasn’t to be denied.
In the 53rd minute Rockdale City Suns took the lead. It wasn’t a pretty goal but it was sufficient to break the deadlock and in the end give Rockdale all three points.
Tanoski twisted and tuned on a dime and put the ball in the back of the net with a powerfully angled drive from close range.
A short while later Rockdale City Suns almost doubled their lead when Alameddine broke dangerously on the right and crossed for Macallister but, despite his heroics, he just couldn’t quite reach the ball properly and knocked it wide for a goal kick.
Joshua Symons thought that he would try his luck in the 65th minute with a shot from distance and he wasn’t too far off the mark for Parramatta FC.
In the 79th minute the Suns tried again as they surged forward through Alameddine who shot with intent but, despite a wicked deflection, Turnbull wasn’t to be caught off guard and made a great reflex save.
On 82 minutes Luke Grima went to ground in the box after some pulling from the visiting defence and the referee duly awarded the home side a penalty.
It was Clowes who stepped up to take one of the Eagles’ most important goals of the season, but he was denied a goal – and the Eagles a point – by the heroic Necevski, who saved well to his left.
Late in the game in the 87th minute a powerful shot from Jesic had beaten the goalkeeper but not captain Gatt who cleared off his own line to prevent the visitors from doubling their lead.
After the game Rockdale’s player-coach Paul Reid was very pleased with the three points as his side remained in the hunt for the top five and moved closer to safety in the club championship.
“We knew how important the game was today and obviously not just for our position on the table but also the club championship,” he said.
“It’s in our hands now for next week. We knew it was going to be a tough game because Parramatta was playing for its life, but we deserved the win in the end. I thought that we dominated the game overall.
“The big thing now is the desperation that our players are showing. We have always got on very well as a group and we have been winning a few games 1-0 and we haven’t been conceding goals. That has been the turning point because we have become a lot more tight defensively.”
Over in the Parramatta FC dressing room Franco Cosentino the coach was disappointed but still managed to put on a brave smile.
“It is disappointing because we competed all over the park and we had our opportunities,” he said.
“The boys are shattered at the moment but we have one more game to go and we’ll need to dust ourselves off for next week.
“The last 15 or 20 minutes were really going at it and we also missed a penalty. What do you do? Players all over the world miss penalties but I suppose that sums up our season to be honest.”
Parramatta FC 0
Rockdale City Suns 1 (Tanoski 53’)
Sunday 9thAugust2015
Melita Stadium, South Granville
Referee: Robert Nieuwenhuis
Assistant Referees: Leigh Pigram, Janush Adabjou
Fourth Official: Timothy Danaskos
Parramatta FC: Turnbull, Ardle, Clowes, Gatt, Gersbach (Grima 68’), Rezo (Gullo 29’), Sama, Speranza, Symons, Tayebi-Derazkala (Richards 78’), Wright.
Substitutes not used: Tsironis, Williamson
Yellow Cards: Gullo 80’, Grima 90’ + 2
Rockdale City Suns: Necevski, Petkovski, Reid, Murayama, Hesketh, Alameddine (Lekoski 90 + 3’), El Hafiane (Iwamoto 73’), Jesic, Macallister, Tanoski, Savor.
Substitutes not used: Bradasevic, Petrillo, Loupis
Yellow Cards: Reid 36’, Jesic 55’
By Joe Russo, PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Reporter, at Melita Stadium
Olympic take vital points from Sutherland
Sydney Olympic came to Seymour Shaw Park on the crest of a wave to battle Sutherland Sharks in a tense local derby that would have a huge impact on the visitors title aspirations.
It took until the 11th minute for a worthwhile move occurred when Steve Hayes chipped over the Olympic defence for Seongjin Park to canter on to however the ever-reliable Paul Henderson was quickly off his line to gather.
There was no lack of ambition and it was a keenly contested affair however neither side was able to exert any early dominance and force the goalkeepers into action.
Indeed, in the opening 25 minutes there was precious little in the way of goalmouth action at all, although a Yianni Spyrakis effort from distance whistled over the Sharks bar.
A long ball out of defence 3 minutes later found Sutherland striker Park one-on-one against Olympic skipper Petar Markovic with the attacker pulling his counterpart every which way before unleashing a curling right foot shot that Henderson held comfortably in the middle of the goal.
Taiga Soeda centred a free-kick that was flicked on at the near post in the 33rd minute with Spyrakis hurtling in at the back stick but unable to stretch enough to poke the ball home in Olympics’ best move of the game.
They were coming into the match more although both looked flat after a long campaign yet it was the visitors who looked most likely to break the deadlock in the latter stages of the half.
And so it proved when Dimitri Hatzimouratis opened the scoring for the visitors after Nathan Denham denied Scott Balderson only for the ball to fall kindly to the striker following in to poke home between the keeper and the hurtling back defender on the line.
With no further addition to the score before the break it was Olympic who held the slenderest of margins going into the dressing rooms.
A sweet move from the middle of the park found Bai Antoniou open on the right and his cut back to Perry Moustakas allowed the defender to pick his spot with a curling left-footed shot from the edge of the box five minutes after the restart that sadly didn’t find the target for the home supporters.
It was an improvement that didn’t last long when Troy Danaskos played in Hatzimouratis at the other end only for his effort to screw agonisingly wide of Denham’s upright in wonderful counter-attacking play.
Olympic was starting to open the Sharks up and but for the desperate tackling of Dylan Caton, in at right back, and the central defenders in Jacob Tratt, James McKenzie and left back Matt Gordon the scoreline could have been much worse.
Moustakas was again playing the screening role in front of the Sutherland back four and certainly put his shift in too.
William Angel then broke down the left in the 59th minute and sent in a fizzing cross that Hatzimouratis was unable to stick away. Olympic were starting to shift up through the gears.
Sutherland then made a triple substitution on the hour mark replacing Caton, Antoniou and Park with Lucas Stergious, Jordan Roberts and Charles Lokolingoy, a rare sight in football these days. Olympic coach Lee Grant responded with replacing Balderson with Harris Gaitatzis 3’ minutes later.
Jason Madonis joined the fray for Angel in the 72nd minute immediately after Lockolingoy skied a header over the bar for Sutherland from a Tratt cross albeit he got high but was unable to get over the top of the ball to guide it goal-ward.
The visitors then almost scored the most unlikely of goals in the 75th minute when Brayden Sorge sent over a powerful cross from the right that sailed over everyone and rebounded back into play off the back stick. Soeda was quickest to react but hit it straight at Denham on the line who did well to hold on.
Sutherland upped the tempo in trying to get the goal they needed and found themselves stretched at the back on a number of occasions that excellent defending saved them from going further behind.
The pressure paid off handsomely when Olympic was awarded a penalty in stoppage time that Harris Gaitatzis powered past Denham.
The final whistle blew and Olympic had squeaked home by the odd goal when perhaps they could have.
“I’m a little relieved but we dominated the second-half and created some great opportunities with balls across the face and we really could have buried them a little bit earlier,” coach Lee Grant said.
“In saying that it has been a tough week with the boys travelling down to Canberra where it was very cold and a very wet pitch so it’s more the mental side of the game perhaps our boys are not used to as much in travelling away, the build up all day and stating in hotels etc. but we were patient tonight and got our reward.
“Sutherland didn’t really have a lot to play for but you know whoever they put out on the park they are going to give you trouble and especially at home if you don’t do the right things.
“I thought tonight was a very good professional performance. We were switched on enough, knew what to do and exploited opening when they presented themselves without finding the net but overall it was a great showing.”
Outgoing Sharks coach Steve O’Connor said the result was a fair reflection of the game.
“Two-nil was about the right result I would say. We didn’t keep the ball enough, didn’t control the game, gave away too many turnovers and didn’t win enough second balls and 50-50’s and when that happens it’s very difficult to win games.
“But having said that we created a few chances and it was a bit of an arm wrestle even at a goal down.
“Our last game of the season won’t be an easy one but a reflective time and you have to say we simply were not strong enough mentally and physically.
“We need to get a few players and the club wants to compete against these top teams they need to get players who can play at this level. Certainly physical toughness needs to be addressed as you saw how many 50-50’s we lost out there and came off second best in and obviously you can’t do that.
“We lost a few good players and were in a bit of turmoil early days so we always thought it would be difficult but at 1-nil and then a penalty in stoppage time and other than that we were in the game and we’ve done that a lot this year without really looking like we were going to win the games so that is something that will need to be built on during the off season and see how Sutherland go next campaign.”
Match Stats
Saturday 8th August, 2015
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Sutherland Sharks 0
Sydney Olympic 2 (Hatzimouratis 39’, H.Gaitatzis 90+1 pen)
Saturday 8th August, 2015
Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda
Referee: Ryan Shepheard
Assistant Referees: Andrej Giev & Raymond Osborne
Fourth Official: Matthew McCoist
Sutherland Sharks: Denham ©, Tratt, McKenzie, Gordon, O’Connell, Park (Lokolingoy 60’), Jovovic, Moustakas, Antoniou (Roberts 60’), Hayes, Caton (Stergiou 60’)
Substitutes Not Used: Bandur, Depta
Yellow Cards: Lockolingony 90’
Red Cards:
Sydney Olympic: Henderson, Sorge, Danaskos, Spyrakis, Angel (Madonis 72’), Hatzimouratis, Balderson (Gaitatzis.H 63’), Markovic ©, Egger, Soeda, Gaitatzis.M
Substitutes Not Used: Keir, Sadaka, Morris
Yellow Cards:
Red Cards:
APIA move to top spot after win
APIA Leichhardt Tigers had all the killer instinct at Bonnryigg Sports Club as they powered to a 3-0 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles on Saturday night.
Nathan Elasi, Adrian Ucchino and David D’Appuzzo all got on the scoresheet for the Tigers as they took an unexpectedly comfortable win at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
The battle between second and third in the PS4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 penultimate round offered a glimpse of the Finals Series to come.
The Tigers were convincing winners on the night, but on another occasion the scoreline could easily have been reversed, such was APIA’s ruthlessness and Bonnyrigg’s wastefulness in front of goals.
The contrasting fortunes at either end was illustrated after just three minutes of play.
In quick succession, a Tynan Diaz free-kick and another Bonnyrigg set play from the corner caused the APIA defence plenty of headaches as the ball was battered towards the APIA goal, only to be beaten clear at the third time of asking.
APIA lost Adam Griffiths minutes later, which will leave the club with a nervous wait on his fitness ahead of finals.
The clearance was a good one, as it found its way to Elasi who drove towards the opposite end of the pitch, keeping his defenders at bay with a couple of lovely shimmys before knocking the ball out of his feet and beyond a helpless James Chronopolous to give the visiting side an early lead.
The goal was the catalyst for more good play from APIA as a confident looking Tigers outfit grew in stature, but the White Eagles responded well, fashioning a decent opportunity for Adam Jenner with some nice transitional play that released the right winger into the right-hand side of the box.
Jenner could not capitalise on the opportunity and scuffed a low-shot into the side netting.
Brad Bartels repeated the feat at the other end when he was well found down his own right flank only to find the side netting as well.
The White Eagles looked threatening from set pieces and despite some good deliveries from Diaz – who was playing his 100th game for the club – no one could get on the end to score. When they did, the APIA defence was well up to the challenge.
Elasi should have doubled his and his team’s lead after 22 minutes when he found himself unmarked in the box but could not convert a lovely Bartels cross, heading over the bar.
David Vrankovic responded in similar fashion at the other end when his outstretched boot could not find a fizzing cross which flashed dangerously across the face of Ryan Norval’s goal.
The two teams headed into the break with the score 1-0, but the Tigers did not waste any time building on that lead in the second half.
With the second half less than10 minutes old, APIA had scored two goals to take its lead to 3-0, courtesy of goals from Ucchino and D’Appuzzo.
Ucchino scored his second free-kick in as many weeks in the 51st minute, this time via a sizeable deflection off the APIA wall.
D’Appuzzo got in on the act only three minutes later when his late run to the far post found him unmarked to nod home a lovely cross form the right wing.
With the game well out of reach for Bonnyrigg, the sting was taken from the game as a brilliantly marshaled APIA defence restricted Robert Younis and Aaron Peterson to speculative efforts at best.
The game rolled along to full-time without many chances of not for either side, leaving APIA coach Rod Williams delighted with his side’s efforts.
“I thought first couple ofminutes they thre everything bar the kitchen sink and losing Adam Griffiths early didn’t help, but we recovered well,” Williams said.
“I thought we played some very good football. If you look at the squad over the last seven or eight weeks its been a depleted squad with quite a number of players out … but the club’s done very well in spite of that.
“Going into finals, we’re happy with the performances. We’re matching it with the best as we showed tonight.”
Bonnyrigg White Eagles coach Brian Brown said the match was a timely reminder of the importance of taking your chances – particularly heading into the cut-throat world of finals football.
“I think the second half we were really outmuscled. Credit to APIA, they’ve come out to play,” Brown said.
“In the first half we struggled with the final third, the final ball. We pretty much dominated that half, apart from an early goal, but the final pass was never good enough.
“It’s always concerning to lose, even more so when its at home and 3-0, but we just need to sort ourselves out … but the guys didn’t stop trying and even at 3-0 down they were trying hard.”
Match Stats
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 3 (Elasi 2’, Ucchino 51’, D’Apuzzo 53’)
Saturday August 8, 2015
Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Referee: Stephen Lucas
Assistant Referees: Danny Horstead and Joon Park
Fourth Official: Adam Vainauskas
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC: Chronopoulos, Diaz, Jenner (Caira), Kokado, Miller, Peterson (Spruce), Tadrosse, Vrankovic (Gil),Younis, Zonjic, Fox
Substitutes not used: Matic, Douglas
Yellow Cards: Younis 25’, Fox 45’
APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC: Bartels, D’Appuzzo, Elasi (Rhodes), Griffiths (Kayes 4’), Millgate, Norval, Olsen, Parisi, Studman, Ucchino, West
Substitutes not used: Biczo, Moore, Vlastelica
Yellow Cards: West 40’, Ucchino 61’, Studman 63’
-By Matthew Galea, National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s 1 Editor, at Bonnyrigg Sports Club