Blacktown City march onto finals as Hills United relegated
Making a statement leading into the finals series, Blacktown City produced a stunning first half performance that relegated Hills United with a 4-0 victory in round 30 National Premier League Men’s NSW at Landen Stadium.
Jak O’Brien and Adam Berry marked their respective returns to the starting side with a goal each while Mason Fernandez and Mitch Mallia also found the net earlier in the contest.
With one eye on the finals series, the hosts opted for a rotated line up for this one which got off to a frantic start in the midfield.
The retiring Nicolai Muller hadthe first opportunity of note for the visitors in the 9th minute which he put well over the bar from the edge of the area.
Hills looked that little more dangerous in the final third with Yu Okubo heading wide from a Maki Petratos corner, seventeen minutes in.
This was soon followed by a opportunistic Thomas Lopez shot over the bar after Cayden Henderson was caught outside his area.
However it was Blacktown City who opened the scoring in the 20th minute. Mason Fernandez with a lovely finish inside the six-yard box after Tyren Burnie delivered a lovely cross from the right wing. The hosts playing their way through the Hills press in the lead up.
That lead doubled a few minutes later through a Mallia goal. Burnie once again delivered a cross which caused problems. Mallia finishing with a powerful effort at the back post to compound the woes of Hills United.
Blacktown City added a third goal on the brink of halftime through the returning Jak O’Brien who headed past the keeper from a Mallia cross which once again came from the right wing. That chance a final blow for Hills United who were hanging on in the closing stages of the first half.
With six changes taking place at the break, it took a while for both sides to settle coming out from the break.
An end to end affair, both sides were struggling to create a clear cut chance at this point.
That was until Anthony Frangie drew a stunning save from Cayden Henderson, Frangie’s effort the first shot on target for Luke Casserly’s side.
Henderson stepped up once again soon after in the 64th minute to deny Frangie once again.
Mallia had a few chances in the final 20 minutes, one which drew a save from Ryan Wood. While Cayden Henderson made another save at the other end to keep his clean sheet in tact.
Adam Berry added a final goal in the final seconds, exchanging a one-two with Mallia before finishing past Wood for their fourth goal.
A win securing a home final for Blacktown City where they face St George City on Wednesday while Hills United look set for a return to the second tier of NSW football after a one season stay.
Match Stats
Blacktown City 4 (Fernandez 20’, Mallia 24’, O’Brien 45+2’, Berry 90+3’)
Hills United 0
Saturday 25 August, 2024
Landen Stadium
Referee: Sam Kelly
Assistant Referee: Patrick Teleki & Rowan Fisher
Fourth Official: Danny Horstead
Blacktown City: 20. Cayden Henderson, 3. Jeyden Trenkoski (41. Daniel McHugh 45’), 4. Lachlan Campbell, 6. Adam Berry, 8. Jak O’Brien (11. Danny Choi 76’’), 10. Mario Shabow (22. Jacob Maniti 62’), 12. Tyren Burnie, 14. Mitchell Mallia, 16. Ben Berry, 17. Martin Fernandez (9. Reuben Awaritefe 45’), 23. Joey Gibbs (19. Julian Rodriguez 45’).
Substitutes Not Used: 1. Tristan Prendergast
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Hills United: 1. Ryan Wood, 6. Isaac Hovar, 8. Yerasimakis Petratos (10. Wade Giovenali 59’), 9. Yu Okubo,12. Jordan Lane, 13. Cameron Philp, 16. Lachlan Sepping (11. Anthony Frangie 45’), 20. Thomas Lopez (10. Jamal Belkadi 45’), 22. Byron Ginn, 26. Thomas Makko (77. Dimi Petratos 45’), 27. Nicolai Muller.(17. Caleb Jackson-Brown 73’)
Substitutes Not Used: 31. William Loucas
Yellow Cards: Belkadi 51’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3- Tyren Burnie (BC)
2- Mitch Mallia (BC)
1- Cayden Henderson (BC)
By Justin Smith
