Round 12 Review – NPL NSW Men’s

NPL Men's Round Review 12

Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 12 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.

Sydney FC 0 v Western Sydney Wanderers 1 at Valentine Sports Park – Full Match Report and Highlights

It was a magical night for the Western Sydney Wanderers who defeated arch-rivals Sydney FC 1-0 grabbing derby bragging rights in their round 12 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s fixture at Valentine Sports Park on Friday evening.

It was a former Sky Blue in Zachary Sapsford who came back to haunt his former club scoring the decisive goal that gave the Wanderers a much needed three points and their third victory in 2023.

Bulls FC Academy 1 v Marconi 4 at Sydney United Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights

The Marconi Stallions have continued to flex their Premiership muscle with an impressive 4-1 victory over the Bulls FC Academy at Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.

Marconi wasted little time getting bodies forward in the opening stages of the game, eventually being rewarded after Dominic Costanzo got the visitors on the board in the 4th minute.

In what turned out to be a dominant start to the game, the Stallions quickly doubled their lead as promising young gun Justin Vidic made his impact instantly off the bench with a stunning chip from distance.

After letting a couple of golden chances and penalties go by the wayside, Marconi dug out a third goal through captain Marko Jesic.

The Bulls gave themselves a glimmer of hope for a late comeback when Sunday Yona netted his side’s first goal in the late stages of the game, but it was too little too late as Vidic secured a memorable brace and the win for Marconi.

Manly United 0 v Wollongong Wolves 3 at Cromer Park – Full Match Report and Highlights

Wollongong Wolves earned a vital three points over Manly United getting up 3-0 at Cromer Park on Saturday night ending their recent bad run of results.

After a goalless first period, the visitors found the net three times to push the side back up the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s table.

Jake Trew opened the scoring in the 55th minute before Lachlan Scott and Christopher McStay each scored to blow the result out.

St George City 2 v Blacktown City 2 at Penshurst Park – Full Match Report and Highlights

St George City came back from two goals down to equalise in the dying stages of the match to thwart Blacktown City it’s first win in three matches following a thrilling 2-2 draw in a highly entertaining Round 12 clash at Penshurst Park on Saturday evening.

All four goals arrived in the second half, and it was Blacktown City that appeared to be in control of proceeding thanks to goals from Charles Mendy and Nicholas O’Brien.

St George City gallantly clawed their way back into the contest with late strikes to Paolo Mitry and the ever-dependable Maki Petratos.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1 v Sutherland Sharks 2 at Popondetta Park – Full Match Report and Highlights

The Sutherland Sharks made it three wins on the bounce with a 2-1 victory over Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park on Saturday night.

Mt Druitt Town Rangers were stung by a pair of goals in the first half which they’d ultimately pay the price as the Sharks asserted their control of the match with possession.

Alexander Brown curled home a goal in the ninth minute before Chris Lindsay’s penalty doubled the advantage in the 26th minute and had them on course for a third straight win.

The Rangers did pull a goal back from a volley from substitute Will Harvey in the 71st minute which set up a grandstand finish but Damir Prodanovic’s men held on for a good win.

Rockdale Ilinden 1 v Central Coast Mariners Academy 3 at Ilinden Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights

Central Coast Mariners Academy heaped further misery on Rockdale Ilinden who lost their third successive match thanks to a lightning first half display to record a 3-1 victory at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.

Olayinka Sunmola opened the scoring with a deft side-footed flick beyond Ilinden second choice keeper Ricardo Rizzo, making his senior debut, before Lachlan Bayliss netted from the spot and Cameron Windust powered home a header in first-half stoppage time.

Nikola Ujdur added a consolation goal for the hosts but it was to be too little too late as the Mariners celebrated a monumental victory.

Sydney United 58 2 v NWS Spirit FC 2 at Sydney United Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights

NWS Spirit and Sydney United 58 played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Sydney United Sports Centre in their Round 12 NPL NSW Men’s fixture.

Despite both teams only claiming one point, there was plenty to be proud of and impressed by.

In particular, two players stood above the rest; United 58’s Chris Payne and NWS Spirit FC’s Ollie Wiggin.

Wiggin opened the scoring in the 39th minute off a brilliant passage by Spirit and individual brilliance using skill, technique, and control before slotting the ball into the top-left corner. Teammate Richard Darko would join him on the scoresheet in 75th minute.

Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Payne scored a brace with both coming in the second half in the 57th and 80th minute. The latter, being a precision penalty and drawing up the game with ten minutes to go.

APIA Leichhardt 3 v Sydney Olympic 0 at Lambert Park – Full Match Report and Highlights

APIA Leichhardt have gone outright top of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s ladder with a 3-0 victory over Sydney Olympic to end an exceptional Festival of Football.

4123 people packed into a vibrant Lambert Park throughout the day, with the NPL NSW Men’s match being the last of a truly festive footballing celebration.

APIA opened the scoring in the 58th minute thanks to a clinical, sweeping move.

Jack Armson picked up the ball in midfield and found Jack Stewart, who had drifted off to a pocket in between the lines.

Stewart drew in the defence before playing the ball back to Armson, who took a good first touch against a backtracking Olympic defence.

Armson took a touch wide of the narrow defensive line and unleashed a low effort which passed Sorras and found the back of the net.

APIA’s lead doubled in the 72nd minute thanks to a wonderful solo goal from Sean Symons.

The winger picked up the ball and dropped his opponent to the ground with some good footwork.

He then cut back onto his right, and supposedly weaker foot, before converting with power and precision into the bottom right hand corner.

Symons added a third for APIA in the 84th minute, again striking with his right-foot.

Cutting in once more, Symons unleashed a low effort past the arms of Sorras and into the bottom right-hand corner.