Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 30 of the National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW competition.
Rockdale Ilinden 4 v Central Coast Mariners 1 at Ilinden Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights
Rockdale Ilinden ended its monumental 2024 National Premier Leagues Men’s NSW campaign in style as they celebrated lifting the Premiership in front of their fans following a comprehensive 4-1 over the Central Coast Mariners at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
A party atmosphere in Sydney’s South soon followed following the club clinching the Premiership after 40 long seasons while it was a bitter pill to swallow for the Mariners who will now face the Bulls FC Academy in their bid to stay in the top-flight with a two-legged promotion/relegation playoff.
The man of the season once again Alec Urosevski started the festitives netting a goal late in the opening stanza which settled the home team nerves.
The ‘Baker’ then added a second to wipe out a strike from Bailey Brandtman before substitute Brae Ovens extended Rockdale’s lead once more before Hunter Elliott completed the rout.
Rockdale took the chance to break the 70 point barrier for a 30-game season, eclipsing APIA Leichhardt FC’s 65 during 2023 and with a superior Goal Difference also, with Urosevski pushing through the 30-goal barrier (ending with 31), small statistics that may well stand the test of time whilst also retaining the Club Championship for a second consecutive year to boot.
Marconi 3 v Western Sydney Wanderers 1 at Marconi Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Marconi Stallions capped off the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s regular season with a 3-1 victory over the Western Sydney Wanderers.
An early goal to Domenic Costanzo in the 5th minute opened up the match, followed by a goal to Western Sydney’s Meliwethu Nkomo in the 29th minute.
The game was lock at 1-1 until Milislav Popovic scored in the 72nd minute, with Dylan Susovic securing a third for the hosts in the 90th minute.
Having already secured a second-place finish, the win was an extra cherry on top for Marconi and was a fantastic result on a huge occasion for a loyal Stallions stalwart.
In a monumental achievement in Australian football, Marconi’s Brandon Vella was honoured for becoming the only player in the club’s history to reach 250 matches.
Marconi will now play the highest ranked winner of the mid-week finals matches, while the Western Sydney Wanderers finish off their 2024 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s season.
Blacktown City 4 v Hills United 0 at Landen Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
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.
Sydney United 58 1 v St George City 0 at Sydney United Sports Centre – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney United 58 have a date with APIA Leichhardt in next Wednesday’s semi-final after defeating St George City 1-0 at the Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts confirmed their spot in the NPL Men’s NSW finals series with a confident performance despite needing a late goal.
Captain Adrian Vlastelica nudged home the winner in the 91st minute to make it 1-0 and earn them sixth spot.
For St George City, the job was done last week, and they were locked into fifth spot on the ladder regardless. It was a much-changed line-up but the visitors held firm for much of the contest.
Sutherland Sharks 3 v St George FC 1 at Seymour Shaw – Full Match Report and Highlights
The Sutherland Sharks maintained their topflight status on Sunday afternoon at Seymour Shaw courtesy of their gutsy 3-1 win over St George FC.
Needing at least a point to avoid the drop, Sutherland started out on fire early when Stamatellis’ thumping header beat Mackenzie Syron just six-minutes in to open the scoring.
That was the first of his two on the day, with his other coming classily in the form of a spot kick in the 63rd minute.
evi Sciuriaga also added one close to halftime with an unexpected but highlight reel strike.
Sutherland deservedly walked away with the win to match their exciting style of play despite a late red care scare to Takahide Umebachi.
Wollongong Wolves 1 v Manly United 2 at Macedonia Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
Manly United ended their season with a flurry as they edged out Wollongong Wolves 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Macedonia Park.
Wollongong went into the game needing to win and requiring St George City to beat Sydney United 58.
Presley Ortiz opened the scoring for Manly midway through the half before Jake Trew equalised heading into halftime.
Ortiz restored Manly’s lead later on in the second to see United finish with two wins from their last two games.
APIA Leichhardt 1 v NWS Spirit FC 0 at Lambert Park – Full Match Report and Highlights
APIA Leichhardt have clinched third place on the ladder with a last-minute 1-0 victory over NWS Spirit FC at Lambert Park.
It was NWS Spirit who had the majority of the chances and struck the woodwork twice through Richard Darko and Michael Konestabo throughout the 90 minutes.
However, it was APIA who emerged with the three points, as Nicholas Azzone placed home a cutback from Anthony Sparacino to secure a matchup with Sydney United 58 in the Elimination Final on Wednesday night.
Sydney Olympic 1 v Sydney FC 2 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium – Full Match Report and Highlights
Sydney FC with a gritty 2-1 win in the last round of the season against Sydney Olympic at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium have managed to avoid relegation and stay in the top flight as celebrations flowed in the young Sky Blues dressing room.
It was a tough day for Olympic who failed to win their final match of the year however, they did have something to celebrate which was the final appearance of their retiring captain the mercurial Roy O’Donovan.
Sky Blues star Jaiden Kucharski with the club hero scoring a double as his two goals helped rescue Sydney FC to stay in the top flight once more in 2025.
