Round 14 Review – NPL NSW Men’s

Sydney Olympic was the big winner of Round 14 of the National Premier Leagues season as another weekend of action came to a close.

The league leaders have stretched the gap at the top of the table to six points after they edged Manly United with a last gasp winner while second placed APIA Leichhardt Tigers suffered a shock loss to Marconi Stallions.

Rockdale City Suns are the team to watch at the moment with Paul Reid’s side securing their third straight win with victory against Sydney United 58 to continue their rapid climb up the competition ladder.

Hakoah Sydney City East also tasted victory to keep their finals hopes alive, while Wollongong Wolves and Sydney FC shared the spoils at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.

Wet weather forced the postponement of Blacktown CIty’s trip to Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

Sutherland Sharks 0 – Hakoah Sydney City East 2 at Seymour Shaw 

Hakoah Sydney City East have kept their finals hopes alive with a solid 2-0 win against Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.

It was a convincing performance from Hakoah with victory moving them into the top five, albeit temporarily.

Anthony Frangie opened the scoring for the visitors after 35 minutes before Amaury Gauthier wrapped up the win in the 65th minute with a cool finish.

The loss means Sutherland Sharks fall from fifth position and puts the pressure on Grant Lee’s outfit..

Goals to Anthony Frangie and Amaury Gauthier for Hakoah Sydney City East settled this fixture at Seymour Shaw Park in a growing rivalry with Sutherland Sharks who lacked intensity and initiative.

Manly United 1 – Sydney Olympic 2 at Cromer Park

Sydney Olympic snatched all three points late against a gallant Manly United in a 2-1 victory at Cromer Park on Saturday night.

The sides were separated by an 87th minute winner from Max Burgess.

The competition frontrunners had been quick off the blocks, taking the lead through Radovan Pavicevic inside ten minutes.

However while it initially appeared that Olympic would comfortably dictate proceedings, Manly struck back in the 28th minute through Sam Wilson.

Both sides experienced periods of dominance throughout the second half, however the visitors’ class eventually shone through, as they punished a wasteful Manly performance.

Wollongong Wolves 1 – Sydney FC 1 at WIN Stadium

Wollongong Wolves and Sydney FC played out an open and entertaining 1-1 draw at WIN Stadium on Saturday night.

The goals hugged either side of the interval with Peter Simonoski opening the scoring for Wolves from the penalty spot late in the opening half.

The equaliser came soon after the restart as Jeremy Cox tucked the ball into an open net to cap off a swift team goal for the Young Sky Blues.

Both sides had chances to claim all three points, yet a draw was perhaps a fair result in an action packed match which kept the fans on the edge of their seats for the full ninety minutes.

Sydney United 58 0 – Rockdale City Suns 2 at Sydney United Sports Centre

Rockdale City Suns’ incredible resurgence added another chapter on Saturday with an incredible 2-0 win against Sydney United 58 at Sydney United Sports Centre.

It was an impressive performance from the Suns who took control of the match from the opening minute and never looked back to notch their third straight win.

Brayden Sorge helped Rockdale off to the perfect start when he netted in the opening seconds of the match before an Alec Urosevski goal in the first moments of the second stanza wrapped up the result.

The result moves the Suns well into reckoning for a top five position and finals football leaving their early season struggles as nothing more than an afterthought.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 0 – Marconi Stallions 1 at Lambert Park 

An inspired Marconi Stallions have stunned APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1-0 in a fiery contest at Lambert Park on Sunday.

A poachers finish from Stallions striker Marko Jesic was the difference in a thrilling contest which went right down to the final seconds.

APIA held out wave after wave of Marconi attacks in the first half before Jesic found pay dirt early in the second stanza after keeper Ivan Necevski palmed the ball to the feet of the Stallions number nine.

The Tigers threw everything forward hoping to nab an equaliser but it wasn’t to be as Marconi clung on for a huge morale boosting win against their historic rivals.

Bonnyrigg WE v Blacktown City WASHED OUT