Round 11 Review – NPL NSW Men’s
Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 11 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
NWS Spirit FC 1 v Sydney FC 0 at Christie Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
NWS Spirit FC handed Sydney FC its fourth loss of the 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season with a gritty 1-0 victory at Christie Park on Saturday night.
The hosts produced a textbook tactical performance to take home the victory after Matthew Cahill found the net in the first half, with the young Sky Blues best chances falling late in the piece.
Sutherland Sharks 1 v Manly United 0 at Seymour Shaw – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sutherland Sharks put in a herculean effort to record a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manly United albeit with ten-men following the sending off Nathan Grimaldi for the majority of the second half at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.
Hamish Lamberton was the hero for the Shire side scoring a screaming volley from a free-kick late in the match that secured the Sharks its second successive victory and three precious points to move them up the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder.
Marconi 3 v Rockdale Ilinden 1 at Marconi Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Marconi Stallions have made a huge statement and threw its hat in the 2023 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership race following a monumental 3-1 victory over league leaders Rockdale Ilinden at Marconi Stadium on Saturday night.
The Stallions did all the damage in the first half scoring all its three goals that shell-shocked Rockdale.
The first belonged to Giorgio Speranza who smashed home from long range followed by a brace from an in-form Jordi Swibel. The second half wasn’t as exciting as the first as Ilinden eventually managed to work things out and scored through Loic Puyo but the visitors had left their run too late.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0 v St George City 3 at Popondetta Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Mt Druitt Town Rangers felt the wrath of a wounded St George City outfit with Mirko Jurilj’s men storming home to a comfortable 3-0 win at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.
St George City put behind them its shock Australia Cup departure at the hands of Eastern Suburbs Football Association side Randwick City as they proved too strong for their opponents.
It was a disappointing night for the Rangers who were right up for this contest against one of the newly promoted sides. The hosts had a few chances through Tarek Elrich and Jackson Bandiera but couldn’t find the back of the net.
St George City controlled the contest from the opening whistle. Kosta Petratos opened the scoring before strikes from Daniel Alessi and Aiden Mostofi confirmed the vital three points for the visitors on their travels.
Central Coast Mariners 2 v Sydney Olympic 2 at Industree Group Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney Olympic came back twice to record a thrilling 2-2 draw against the Central Coast Mariners in a pulsating round 11 National Premier Leagues fixture at Industree Group Stadium on Saturday.
The hosts hit the lead via Miguel Di Pizio in the 33rd minute before Olympic’s star striker Roy O’Donovan found an equaliser in the 42nd minute.
The Mariners however pegged another goal and hit the front late in the first half thanks to a goal from Lachlan Bayliss.
With the hosts searching for a much-needed win at home it was Olympic who came back for the second time as Ben Van Meurs hit the back of the net and rescued a point for the visitors.
Wollongong Wolves 0 v Sydney United 58 0 at Albert Butler Memorial Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Wollongong Wolves shared the points with Sydney United 58 in a 0-0 stalemate at Albert Butler Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
There were very few chances in the match in a close encounter where a goal either way would have likely won it.
Blacktown City 2 v APIA Leichhardt FC 4 at Landen Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
APIA Leichhardt have defeated Blacktown City 4-2 with an impressive performance at Blacktown City Sports Centre to go top of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder.
It was a sad day for Blacktown City as pre-match both teams honoured one of the greats of the game, Graham Crawhall who lived and breathed Blacktown City, sadly passed away following his battle with illness.
When the match got underway it was the away side that opened the run of play 24 minutes into the match.
Jack Armson won back the ball well high up the field and showed great strength to hold and shrug off Lachlan Campbell under heavy pressure.
Inside the box, Armson calmly squared the ball to Aedon Kyra, who made no mistake in converting into an empty net.
However, Blacktown City equalised in the 40th minute, as record goalscorer Travis Major converted a penalty clinically into the bottom left corner.
On the stroke of the halftime whistle, Major and Blacktown grabbed their second of the match.
Fantastic play from Tyren Burnie saw Jak O’Brien be released in behind, and the forward played a good ball across the face of goal to find Major, who powerfully found the back of the net.
However, APIA found an equaliser shortly after the break – a positive pass from Fabian Monge found Kyra in the channel, and he ran onto the ball, passing his marker in the process.
Miraculously, he found himself in behind and on goal, where he squared the ball to Stewart, who finished calmly.
APIA went ahead for the second time in the match in the 59th minute, courtesy of a deflected Stewart strike, and added a fourth as the winger converted a penalty to move them into the top spot on the NPL NSW Men’s ladder.
WSW 0 v Bulls FC Academy 1 at Wanderers Football Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
A stunning Rhys Youlley curling free-kick secured the three precious points for the Bulls FC Academy against the Western Sydney Wanderers at Wanderers Football Park on a windy Sunday afternoon.
After a delay that could have played on the young midfielder’s mind, Youlley stepped up to guide the ball past the outstretched dive of Lawrence Caruso to net the only strike in a terrific afternoon of football between some of the best young talents in NSW.
