NSW Premier League Pre-Season Cup Round 4 Review

Pool 1
Marconi Stallions v Rockdale City Suns – Cancelled @ Marconi Stadium
The wet weather, along with the blistering wind, saw officials cancel this encounter on Saturday. The reigning League champions would have been eager to bounce back following the loss against Bonnyrigg White Eagles last weekend, as the Suns looked to further improve on its current standing on the Pool 1 ladder if not for the bad weather.
Blacktown Spartans 2 Blacktown City FC 4 @ Blacktown Football Park
A double to Jacob Ott was not enough for an understrength Spartans outfit who were second best against Blacktown City.
Ott’s early strike under a heavy downpour had the home side in good stead for the match however it was Mark Crittenden’s men who took charge from that point. Sean Rooney, Travis Major, Ray Miller and Matt Lewis each found the back of the net to ensure a dominant spell for the side before Ott doubled his personal tally for his side via a set-piece.
The Spartans showed fine fitness in the encounter, though coach Ben DeHaan has still to have the luxury of fielding his strongest possible team in this pre-season campaign, instead throwing a number of youngsters into the fold.
Major played a massive role for Blacktown City on the night, prompting also that the pre-season has been great for his side as 2013 promises to be a big season for the 2010 NSW Premier League champions.
Manly United FC 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0 @ Cromer Park
Manly United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles played out a scoreless draw at Cromer Park in extremely wet conditions.
The new synthetic surface looked a treat for those who braved the downpour, however the conditions did make attractive football difficult. Both sides pressed for a winning goal in this clash though it was not to be following a high scoring game in the Grade 20s encounter between the two clubs.
The draw sees Bonnyrigg hold onto top-spot on the Pool 1 ladder, meanwhile Manly United FC sit in sixth-spot, still looking for its first win of the pre-season campaign.
Pool 2
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers – Central Coast Mariners Academy – Abandoned after 30’ minutes due to rain @ Seymour Shaw
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers and the Central Coast Mariners Academy only got through 30’ minutes of the early encounter at Seymour Shaw on Saturday before the referee decided to abandon the match due to the wet conditions. Torrential rain caused puddles of water on the surface which made it difficult for all the players on the field.
Prior to the referee sending the players back into the sheds, the Tigers did find the back of the net with a strong finish, however the goal was correctly disallowed for a clear offside.
Sutherland Sharks 2 Sydney United 58 FC 3 @ Seymour Shaw
Reds striker Luka Glavas seems to have already put behind him the horrid run he and his club endured in 2012 with another match-winning display at Sutherland on Saturday night. Following the heavy rain that caused the abandonment of the APIA-Leichhardt Tigers v Central Coast Mariners Academy match, Sydney United twice came from behind before striking in the dying moments of the encounter for the win.
New Sharks signing Nick Littler had the hosts ahead on 10’ minutes before Glavas netted his first in the 15’ minute.
Sutherland restored its advantage courtesy of Nik Tsattalios though that man Glavas again drew the sides level with a neat finish from the edge of the penalty-area.
Both sides, at least on paper, look to be serious title contenders this season and despite some lethargic football in the second-half, both squads appear to have a big season to come, even at this early pre-season stage.
Glavas netted his winner in the 3’ minute of second-half injury-time, much to the delight of the Reds and their supporters with the team holding onto the top-spot in Pool 2 with four wins to show from four matches to-date.
South Coast Wolves 0 Sydney Olympic 1 @ Seymour ShawSydney Olympic continued its fabulous run in the Pre-Season Cup with a well-earned, much deserved, 1-0 win over the Wolves at Seymour Shaw.
A Phil Makrys inspired showing led to the Blues winner, netted shortly after half-time by new signing Elsid Barkhousir. Makrys showed his tenacity in the middle of the park winning a ball before releasing Barkhousir through on goal.
Makrys however didn’t have everything his own way after he saw a first-half penalty parried by the Wolves goalkeeper.
The Wolves, perhaps without the experience of the Blues across the park, had a difficult afternoon and remain winless in the Pre-Season competition.
Sydney Olympic sit in equal first spot with Sydney United 58 FC as the two sides prepare to go head-to-head next weekend to determine the group winner in what should be a mouthwatering Pre-season Cup match not to be missed.
-By Joseph Carlucci