Bulls stall Blacktown City’s run at the top

Northbridge Bulls and Blacktown City FC were forced to share the points after a pulsating 1-1 draw on Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre.

Coming off a last-start win, Northbridge Bulls aimed to continue their move up the National Premier Leagues NSW ladder.

They opened the scoring through a Stephan De Robillard free-kick before being pegged back and taking a point.

Blacktown City FC missed a chance to keep the pressure up on leaders Sydney United 58 with this afternoon’s result. The visitors showed great resilience to equalise through captain Matthew Lewis before having defender Daniel Collins sent off and dropping two points.

Two sides coming into the contest off last start successes looked to get the ball rolling quickly. Northbridge Bulls had the best chances in the opening ten through Bul Juach who turned well.

For Blacktown City, Suleyman Bangura was the brightest for them. He pounced on a loose Bulls pass and arrowed wide of the post. Next, Bangura whistled one wide of the post.

Northbridge Bulls were the first side to hit the back of the net. It came from a set-piece where Stephan curled his free-kick past Blacktown City custodian Tristan Prendergast to make it 1-nil for the home side.

Looking for an instant response, both Charles Mendy and Carlos De Oliveira had shots on goal for Blacktown City followed by Matthew Lewis putting his diving header wide as the visitors tried to find an equaliser.

The visitors did find their equaliser in the 36th minute. Once again, Lewis was a nuisance in the air and the Blacktown City captain looped a header into the top corner to make it 1-1.

That goal spurred Blacktown City FC forward in the late stages of the first half. Lewis again found some space inside the box but nodded over as the teams headed to the break locked at 1-1.

Coming off the second half, both sides tried to find their rhythm again. The first chance fell to Blacktown City’s Rhett Desilva who drove well towards goal but the attackers shot was always rising. Next, Bangura again was in the action with a shot which was touched over by Bulls custodian Ryan Wood.

Northbridge Bulls once again threatened from the set-piece. This time, Juach stood over the free-kick, went low with the effort that was blocked by Prendergast.

The Bulls were given a golden opportunity to pick up all three points when Blacktown City defender Daniel Collins was sent off for a second yellow card. It left the visitors with ten men for the final twenty minutes of the contest.

Despite being reduced to ten, Blacktown City was a presence at set-pieces. They swung in some wonderful crosses which were swept away by the Bulls defence. Substitute Travis Major went close from point-blank range as well.

Headed into the dying embers of the contest, Northbridge Bulls surged forward to make the winner and collect a valuable three points. Striker Rory Jordan tried to pilot one home but it landed in someone’s backyard instead.

Deep into injury time, the game swung like a rusty fence but the final chance fell to the visitors. Jak O’Brien was free inside the box but hammered his volley right into the chest of Wood as the referee’s whistle quickly followed.

Blacktown City FC coach Mark Crittenden was happy with the response from his side in the second half after a lacklustre first 45 minutes.

“I thought we weren’t committed in the first half. They were and got the goal through the set-piece to punish us,” he said.

“The second half could’ve gone either way with chances at either end. We battled hard despite Daniel Collins being sent off. They are a tough side to beat Mile [Sterjovski] has them set up well.

Northbridge Bulls FC coach Mile Sterjovski bemoaned this being the one that got away after a strong start from his side.

“I thought we started strong, looked very good and then Blacktown City got back into the contest,” he said.

“It felt like it was the one that got away after having some good chances in the second half.

“Credit to Blacktown City who are a tough side to beat.”

Match Stats

Northbridge Bulls FC 1 (De Robillard ‘14)

Blacktown City FC 1 (Lewis ‘36)

Sunday 23 May 2021

Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park

Referee: A. Arndt

Assistant Referees: J. Park & M. Staples

Fourth Official: B. Wright

Northbridge Bulls FC: 1. WOOD Ryan, 2. MCLOUGHLIN Jack, 5. ISMIC Keanu (25. FREDERICK ‘77), 6. SEPPING Lachlan, 9. JUACH Bul (31. KARANTZ ‘80), 10. JORDAN Rory, 11. DE ROBILLARD Stephan (21. KRILIC ‘64), 12. CLARKSON Brodie, 15. CASPERS Edward, 17. NICOLAOU Yianni, 23. POPOVIC Miroslav (18. BONILLA ‘64)

Substitutes not used: 32. PADOANI Daniel, 40. BARRY Griffin

Yellow cards:

Red cards: nil

Blacktown City FC: 1. PRENDERGAST Tristan, 3. COLLINS Daniel, 4. CAMPBELL Lachlan, 5. LYNCH Grant, 6. LEWIS Matthew, 11. DESILVA Rhett (29. D. O’BRIEN ‘79), 18. BANGURA Suleyman (25. HARRAS ‘81), 19. BERRY Adam, 21. MENDY Charles (7. MAJOR ‘81), 22. DE OLIVEIRA Carlos (8. J. O’BRIEN ‘70), 24. BANDIERA Jackson

Substitutes not used: 20. NISKI Dylan

Yellow cards: Collins

Red cards: Collins

Player Ratings

3: Stephan De Robillard (NB)

2: Matthew Lewis (BC)

1: Rory Jordan (NB)

By National Premier Leagues NSW reporter Justin Davies (@JustDavies90)