Round 1 Review – NPL Men’s NSW
Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 1 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition.
Manly United 3 v St George FC 0 at Cromer Park – Match Report
Manly United FC kicked off the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season in style with a comprehensive 3-0 win over newly promoted outfit St George FC.
Benjamin Koop was a super sub for the hosts, assisting the first goal before scoring the second. Harry McCarthy rounded off the win with a stunner which brought the huge crowd to their feet as the Northern Beaches proved too hot for the new boys on the block.
Sydney Olympic 1 v Hills United 2 at Belmore Sports Ground – Match Report
Hills United FC caused major shockwaves after the newly promoted National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW side defeated a star-studded Sydney Olympic outfit 2-1 as Luke Casserly’s men played the majority of the match with ten-men at Belmore Sports Ground.
Hills United’s Japanese import Yu Okubo stunned the hosts with a well taken goal in the first half before Nicolai Muller was given his marching orders in the 34th minute.
Olympic thought they had the game in the bag after that but thought wrong as Hills pushed the Blues but the home side thought they got a point following Roy O’ Donovan’s penalty in the 86th minute.
The match then turned on its head two minutes later as Eion Montford stole all three points and a famous first up victory with a penalty of his own downing Labinot Haliti’s men in front of their crowd.
Central Coast Mariners 1 v Sydney United 58 2 at Pluim Park – Match Report
Sydney United 58 have opened their 2024 season account with a 2-1 road win over Central Coast Mariners in Round 1 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition on Saturday.
United 58’s new recruit Carlos De Oliveria opened his account with his new club with a well taken goal in the first half before Donatien Niyonkuru pegged an equaliser for the hosts.
Patrick Antelmi then scored what was to be the winner soon after but the match was marred with three red cards late in the second half with Antelmi along Harry Menham and Rocco Smith receiving red cards.
Marconi 2 v Wollongong Wolves 1 at Marconi Stadium – Match Report
Marconi Stallions edged out Wollongong Wolves 2-1 on Saturday night at Marconi Stadium to get their season off to the perfect start.
James Temelkovski marked his first NPL Men’s NSW game for Marconi with a goal half an hour in before Lachlan Scott restored parity heading into halftime a couple of minutes later.
Milislav Popovic also enjoyed a dream debut for the hosts, scoring the winning goal in the final six minutes.
Western Sydney Wanderers 3 v Sutherland Sharks 1 at Wanderers Football Park – Match Report
Western Sydney Wanderers started its 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW campaign on the right foot with a good performance defeating the Sutherland Sharks 3-1 at the Wanderers Football Park on Saturday.
A brace from Nathanael Blair and a headed effort from Doni Grdic contributed to a comfortable win for the home side, who could have easily had more throughout the game.
St George City 1 v Rockdale Ilinden 2 at Penshurst Park – Match Report
Rockdale Ilinden kicked off its 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW season on a positive following a 2-1 derby victory over St George City in what were quality conditions for football at Penshurst Park on Saturday.
Ilinden struck in the first half thanks to Brendan Cholakian and then substitute and new recruit Yinka Sunmola put the visitors ahead by two in the second stanza of play, before Presley Ortiz got one back for St George City.
NWS Spirit FC 0 v Sydney FC 0 at Christie Park – Match Report
NWS Spirit FC held a youthful Sydney FC side to a 0-0 draw in the opening round of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition on a balmy Saturday evening at Christie Park.
Both sides had chances at either ends to secure three points but it was NWS Spirit FC keeper Christopher Marques who was kept busier of the two keepers and produced Player of the Match performance keeping a clean sheet.
Blacktown City 6 v APIA 3 at Landen Stadium – Match Report
Blacktown City have blown APIA Leichhardt away in an exhilarating match at Landen Stadium, defeating the 2023 Champions 6-3 in a game more than worthy of the match of the round.
APIA opened the scoring in the 16th minute with a sweeping move finished off clinically by Jordan Segreto, but Blacktown quickly responded with Jak O’Brien finishing a fantastically worked move with a close-range header.
O’Brien made it two with a good finish on his weaker foot after being fed in by his brother Nicholas, before making it an astonishing first half hattrick with a goal directly from a corner.
In the 60th minute, Blacktown made it four against the reigning champions with Grant Lynch finishing off a fantastic set-piece training ground move, before O’Brien made it an astonishing four for himself after robbing Josh Symons and finishing clinically, again with his supposedly weaker left-foot.
Travis Major netted a tap in to create an astounding 6-1 scoreline for Blacktown, before APIA clawed back two goals through a Ben Gibson penalty and Rory Jordan finish to reduce their deficit.