Round 16 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20
Bonnyrigg’s 8-0 win over reigning champions Blacktown City steals the headlines from another riveting weekend of action in the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s U20 as the White Eagles leapfrog Sutherland to go outright first.
The Sharks battled to a 1-1 draw at Melita Stadium in the Match of the Round, while Manly United eased their finals concerns with a 3-1 victory at Hakoah Sydney City East.
Match of the Round
Parramatta 1-1 Sutherland Sharks, Sunday 1.00pm at Melita Stadium
Parramatta have kept their finals hopes alive after fighting out a 1-1 draw against competition heavyweights Sutherland Sharks after Christo Hannah’s deflected effort was cancelled out by James Andrew’s penalty at Melita Stadium.
It was a must-win encounter for the home side who largely matched Sutherland blow for blow but were unable to convert their graft and promise on the transition into end product as a below par Sharks side lost valuable ground in their premiership assault.
With Bonnyrigg White Eagles surging over Sutherland in the competition standings the evening before as a result of their 8-0 destruction of Blacktown City it was always going to be an unforgiving assignment for the travelling Sharks and with Parramatta fighting for their competition lives it was an edgy and hard-fought ninety minutes at Melita Stadium.
Parramatta started brightly and Christo Hannah cemented a dream start for the hosts when he fired home a scrappy opener. Nicholas Chymiak kept the Sutherland defence occupied after tussling with Sharks defenders on the penalty spot before the aid of a heavy deflection saw Hannah’s strike from the edge of the box rifled through a crowd of bodies and past an outwitted Nikolas Loe.
Sutherland had a few chances on the counter attack in a first half where the speed of James Andrew was frequently employed. Although Parramatta largely controlled proceedings in the first half the eagerness of the Sharks frontman to burst into open space left behind by the Parramatta rearguard began to represent a growing danger for Mark Zecchin’s ranks.
And it was no surprise that after several near misses this adopted route toward goal eventually resulted in a deserved equalizer for the visitors when Andrew skipped beyond the Parramatta defence only to be felled by Melita shot stopper Jayden Diacono.
Diacono received a caution for the misdemeanour and Andrew found the side netting with a convincingly dispatched penalty from the resulting spot kick to bring the scores level.
Chances were few and far between in the second half as the competition leaders began to grow more convincingly into the contest.
Andrew saw what was to be a rare clean sight on goal disappear as a result of some valiant Parramatta defending while Patrick O’Shea hit the crossbar with a fierce drive from outside the box as the Eagles defence retreated further into their own half.
Sutherland attacker Jeremy Cox had orchestrated much of his side’s second half momentum and he enjoyed the best chance of the half when found unmarked at the back post only to be denied by an excellent smothering save from Diacono.
It took Parramatta until the dying moments of the second half to forge an opportunity of their own but Andreas Vais saw his tame header sail over the crossbar as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.
Despite another frustrating draw it was a positive showing from an ever-improving Parramatta side according to coach Mark Zecchin.
“I can’t fault the boys, we’ve played a few top sides over the past couple of weeks and it was another good result” said the Parramatta stalwart.
Sutherland’s Allan Edmondson was content with his side’s showing a week away from next round’s crunch match with Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
“We played some attractive football in the second half and were on top of them at the end.
“Parramatta are a good side, we will move on during the week and prepare for Bonnyrigg next weekend.”
Match Stats
Parramatta 1 (Hanna 14’)
Sutherland Sharks 1 (Andrew 33’)
Sunday 26 June
Melita Stadium, Sefton
Parramatta: 28 N. Chymiak, 39 A. Vais, 21 T. Borovickic, 24 P. Katsetis, 26 N. Ballard, 27 C. Hanna, 29 D. Youlley, 30 J. Jung, 32 S. Agathos, 34 A. Awaz, 35 M. Rydzewski, 36 B. Lu, 37 L. De Leo, 38 C. Carboni, 40 J. Diacono(GK)
Yellow Cards: 40 J. Diacono 32’, 21 T. Borovickic 37’
Red Cards: N/A
Sutherland Sharks: 5 M. Da Silva Santos, 13 J. Cox, 14 P. O’Shea, 17 J. Andrew, 18 J. Benham(C), 21 N. Loe(GK), 25 D. Akol, 27 N. Roberts, 31 R. Watson, 33 T. Papa, 36 B. Brown, 38 J. Duncan, 39 R. Blakeley, 40 M. Kouta, 41 M. Beattie, 42 M. Figueira
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Saturday
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 8-0 Blacktown City, 5.00pm at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Bonnyrigg announced their premiership credentials in stunning fashion when the White Eagles thrashed 10-man Blacktown City 8-0 at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre on Saturday evening.
Having hammered Blacktown 4-0 at Lilys earlier on in the season Stephen Sigmund’s side made it a day to forget for City who slipped further down the table after the biggest defeat of the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s U20 season.
The reigning champions were reduced to a man down on the cusp of halftime when Issam Elkhaldi received his marching orders and were subsequently swept away by the home side with Luke Ivanovic and Andre Guzman each claiming a hattrick. Taylor McDonald and Harry Tucker completed the rout for the hosts who moved into outright first position on the competition ladder.
Sunday
Sydney Olympic 1-2 Sydney United 58, 1.00pm at Belmore Sports Ground
Sydney United 58 upset Sydney Olympic 2-1 at Belmore Sports Ground to put a severe dent in the finals hopes of the Belmore side who missed their chance to gain more ground on the top six with a wasteful display at home.
Jack Stewart’s brace was enough for the visiting United 58 who improved their chances of getting off the foot of the table with the win, with Davor Bajsic’s side trailing eleventh-placed Rockdale by two points.
Hakoah Sydney City East 1-3 Manly United, 3.00pm at Hensley Athletic Field
Manly United broke a four match winless run at Hensley Athletic Field beating Hakoah Sydney City East 3-1 to maintain their position among the top contenders for the premiership.
Andrew Christiansen’s side had goalscorers Alexander Partridge, Sipan Berti and Matt Zanon to thank as United returned to second position on the ladder.
Jordan Swibel’s eighth goal of the season proved to be in consolation for Hakoah Sydney City East who drop outside the top six with the loss.
Rockdale City Suns 1-1 Blacktown Spartans, 3.00pm at Ilinden Sports Centre
There was no separating Rockdale City Suns and Blacktown Spartans at Ilinden Sports Centre as both sides played out a 1-1 draw.
Kody Maude was on the scoresheet for the home side but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Spartans from claiming the point and a drawn result that ultimately leaves the finals hopes of both in tatters with seven rounds remaining.
Wollongong Wolves 1-0 APIA Leichhardt Tigers, 3.00pm at WIN Stadium
Ricky Zucco’s first half goal was enough for Wollongong Wolves to outlast APIA Leichhardt Tigers as the South Coast side ran out 1-0 winners at WIN Stadium.
Alfredo Esteves’ men overtake the Lambert Park outfit on the ladder with the victory as they move within three points of fourth-placed Blacktown City.
– By Jacob Windon
