Round 8 Review – NPL NSW Men’s
Round 8 of the National Premier Leagues NSW season is in the books after another huge weekend of action.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles claimed the win of the round as they upset fierce rivals Sydney United 58.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers edged Wollongong to remain at the top of the table, but Sydney Olympic remain right on their tail after a narrow victory against Sydney FC.
Blacktown City ended their three game run without a win while Manly United also collected three competition points with a late winner against Sutherland Sharks.
Manly United 2 – Sutherland Sharks 1 at Cromer Park
Manly United left it late to snatch all three points in a dramatic 2-1 triumph over a gallant Sutherland Sharks outfit at Cromer Park on Saturday night.
In an evenly poised affair, it was the in-form Travis Oughtred who nodded home with two minutes remaining to ensure the Sharks were sent back to the Shire empty-handed.
A sixth minute flick from Nikola Taneski was cancelled out by a Lachlan Everett stunner on 32 minutes to ensure the match was level at the break.
Both side’s shared salvos in the second half but it was the reigning champions Manly who snatched the win thanks to Oughtred’s clutch finish at the death.
Blacktown City 3 – Hakoah Sydney City East 2 at Lily Homes Stadium
Blacktown City ended a three-match winless run with a 3-2 victory over Hakoah Sydney City East in a heated encounter at Lily’s Football Centre on Saturday evening.
Two goals in a three minute spell before half time proved critical for Blacktown who established a 2-0 buffer at the break thanks to Joey Gibbs’ back post header and Grant Lynch’s clever finish from close range.
A see-sawing second half saw Duncan Stewart bring Hakoah back into contention from the penalty spot before Blacktown restored their two goal advantage through a stunning Yianni Spyrakis goal midway through the period.
Substitute Anthony Frangie pulled a goal back for the visitors to ensure it would be a tense final ten minutes but Blacktown held on to secure their first league win since a victory over APIA Leichhardt Tigers in late May.
Marconi Stallions 2 – Rockdale City Suns 1 at Marconi Stadium
Marconi has clinched back to back wins after downing Rockdale City Suns at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night.
The result continues Marconi’s great run of form with an impressive showing in the first half setting the platform for a morale boosting win.
An early goal to James Andrew plus a second half strike to Judah Cleur gave the home side a 2-0 lead with a little over 30 minutes left on the clock.
However, The Suns were determined to fight their way back into the match and managed to get one goal back through Alec Urosevski.
Marconi were forced to weather the storm in the dying stages as the Suns pushed for an equaliser, but in the end the home side did enough to secure all three points.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 – Sydney United 58 at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
It was derby delight for Bonnyrigg White Eagles after the snatched a 2-1 win against fierce rivals Sydney United 58 on Sunday.
It was a huge victory for the White Eagles who followed up with their second successive victory while for United 58, it was Jason Culina’s second successive loss.
Ben Tosi gave the White Eagles the perfect start when he opened the scoring for the home side after 26 minutes, before Shervin Adeli strectched their lead to 2-0 midway through the second stanza.
United 58 struggled without their star playmaker Panny Nikas and claimed a mere consolation goal in the dying stages of the match as Bonnyrigg secured derby bragging rights.
Sydney Olympic 1 – Sydney FC 0 at Belmore Sports Ground
A determined Sydney Olympic have kept themselves level at the top of the National Premier Leagues NSW table courtesy of a slender 1-0 victory over Sydney FC at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon.
A second half header from Radovan Pavicevic decided the match for the hosts who were made to sweat for their result by their youthful and energetic opponents.
The Young Sky Blues played beyond their years as they proved difficult to break down, yet experience prevailed on the afternoon as Olympic claimed a valuable three points to keep their title charge on track.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4 – Wollongong Wolves 2 at Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt Tigers have held on to top spot of the National Premier Leagues NSW Ladder after defeating a resilient Wollongong Wolves 4-2 at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon.
APIA went up by two inside the first half hour thanks to goals from Tasuku Sekiya and Nathan Millgate but went into the break at 2-1 after Yuzo Tashiro pulled one back from the penalty spot for the visitors.
The game’s defining moment came after the referee waved away shouts for a Wollongong penalty only for APIA striker Jordan Murray to race down the other end and make it 3-1 for the home side.
Takuya Nozawa gave Wollongong hope when he scored to make it 3-2 in the 77th minute, but a George Howard goal in the dying stages of the match clinched all three points for APIA.
