Round 12 Review – NPL NSW Men’s
It was more of the same from Wollongong Wolves in Round 12 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition with the South Coast side holding on to top spot with another huge win.
The Luke Wilkshire coached team made it two wins in a matter of days at Cromer Park as they held onto first spot for the twelfth straight week.
APIA Leichhardt continue to lead the chasing pack with a big win this weekend to secure second spot, while Sydney United 58’s comeback victory lifts them into third.
Blacktown City are the biggest climbers as they jump from sixth to fourth on the ladder after an emphatic win against Mt Druitt.
Rockdale suffered defeat in Round 12 but hold onto their place in the top five.
Sutherland Sharks broke the worst streak of the season as they ended their 10 week run without a win on Saturday night.
It was a bad week for Marconi and Sydney Olympic who fall further away from the race for a finals spot.
Sutherland Sharks 3 – Sydney Olympic 0 at Seymour Shaw Park
Sutherland Sharks have ended their 10 game winless streak in emphatic fashion thrashing Sydney Olympic 3-0 at Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday.
The win is only Sutherland’s second of the season with their other three pointer coming against Olympic all the way back in round 1.
Goals to Raul Romero, Jeremy Cox and Charles Lokolingoy were unanswered by Olympic, leaving the home side with all three points from the match.
It was a listless performance from the visitors who looked nothing like the side who dominated the competition less than 12 months ago.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 – Blacktown City FC 4 at Popondetta Park
Blacktown City has rediscovered their eye for goal in a dominant 4-1 demolition of local rivals Mount Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday.
It was a huge performance from City with the win catapulting them up to third on the ladder and reigniting their race for the premiership.
Mani Gonzalez and Lachlan Campbell in the opening 45 minutes gave Blacktown the perfect platform before a stunning long range strike from Rhett Desilva, as well as a late tap in from Joey Gibbs, wrapped up the victory.
Mt Druitt pushed hard all match but lacked the discipline in defence and in possession to top their rivals.
Fabricio Fernandez claimed a consolation goal for the home side midway through the second stanza but it wasn’t the Rangers night as they slumped to their sixth defeat of the season.
Marconi Stallions 2 – APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4 at Marconi Stadium
APIA Leichhardt have put a major dent in Marconi’s finals hopes with a emphatic 4-2 win at Marconi Stadium on Saturday.
A whirlwind opening from the Tigers helped them all but secure the victory inside the opening 25 minutes as they raced to a 3-1 lead at the break.
Sean Symons took only three minutes to give APIA the lead before his Brother Josh Symons and Corey Biczo got in on the act during a dominant first half performance.
Marconi’s best efforts were goals to Mitchell Mallia and Marko Jesic but a penalty miss from Jesic too didn’t help matters for the home side.
Chris Payne then added a fourth to all but gift John Calleja the three points.
The win helps APIA hold onto second spot on the ladder but it’s bad news for eighth placed Marconi who fall further away from the top five.
Sydney FC 1 v Hakoah Sydney City East 0 at Lambert Park
Sydney FC made it back-to-back victories for the first time this season with a gutsy 1-0 win against Hakoah Sydney City East tonight at Lambert Park.
The victory caps off a massive week for the club with many players doubling up after earning Asian Champions League debuts on Wednesday.
Benjamin Koop’s 32nd minute strike was the difference in a hard fought contest as the Young Sky Blues claimed a valuable three points.
Hakoah did everything but put the ball into the back of the net in another frustrating display for the Eastern Suburbs side which leaves the rooted to the bottom of the table after 12 rounds.
Manly United 0 – Wollongong Wolves 4 at Cromer Park
Wollongong Wolves’ stellar campaign produced another impressive scalp on Sunday afternoon as they cruised to a clinical 4-0 victory over Manly United at Cromer Park.
A determined Manly outfit could not contain another classy Thomas James performance, who despite battling illness in the lead up to the match thumped home the opening goal 24 minutes in before going on to register a hat-trick of assists.
An inspired substitution from Luke Wilkshire saw Lachlan Scott double the lead with his first touch moments after being introduced in the 54th minute, before bagging a brace half an hour later to secure the three points.Takeru Okada then backed up his own brace last time out with a stoppage time strike to cap off a quality Wollongong performance.
Manly United enjoyed extended spells of possession and threatened through set pieces, but ultimately were unable to penetrate a resolute Wollongong defensive unit.
The result ensures they remain three points clear of APIA Leichhardt Tigers on top of the NSW National Premier League Mens’ table.
Rockdale City Suns 2 – Sydney United 58 3 at Ilinden Sports Centre
A dramatic last minute Patrick Antelmi strike has ended Rockdale City Suns unbeaten streak as Sydney United 58 claimed a 3-2 win at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Rockdale paid the price for an off-colour start to the match as their rivals United 58 snuck in to snatch all three points and hand Suns’ interim head coach Nick Porecca his first defeat since taking on the top job in round five.
United 58 struck early through Matt Sim before Peter Simonoski gave the visitors a 2-0 advantage at the interval.
Alec Urosevski led from the front for Rockdale scoring twice in the second half to seemingly secure at least a point from the contest.
However, United 58 would have the last laugh with Antelmi finding the back of the net in dramatic style to clinch an incredible victory for the visitors.
The result catapults United 58 into third spot on the ladder while Rockdale cling onto a top five place in fifth.
