Toothless Sharks undone by clinical St George City

St George City crushed Sutherland Sharks’ homecoming party at Seymour Shaw with a well deserved 3-0 victory on a sunny Saturday afternoon adding further pressure to the hosts following a string of recent poor results.  

The Sharks found themselves behind very early on when Marc McNulty nonchalantly flicked home at the near post before thundering home his second of the afternoon near the half-time break. Jesse Photi, a second-half replacement, sealed the victory with a late stoppage time goal to ensure a resounding win on the road.

Nearing the halfway point of the season, both clubs considered this fixture a true ‘six pointer’ at the wrong end of the table despite the industrious play displayed by two teams finding goals hard to come by in 2025.

The action started early as McNulty’s side-foot flick from a Nathan Roberts centre found the back of the net to silence the healthy home crowd in attendance in the 11th minute.

Indeed, it was the visitors who had the better of the chances throughout the match and came close several times but, in keeping with both teams’ season to date, goals were at a premium although Kotaro Katsuta was set free with two defenders attempting to close him down, he slipped his shot the wrong side of the post. It was a slick move that should have restored parity, the best move of the first-half from the home side.

As expected, the main action took place in the middle of the park with neither able to gain total mastery.

Also as expected from the two teams at either end of Tom Ugly’s Bridge, the tackles grew progressively stronger as the minutes ticked away.

McNulty looked to pounce on a Jacob Garner slip but the defender recovered to deny the pacey City forward the opportunity, amid cries for a foul that were waived away, however, he added his second in the 42’ minute when lashing home his, and City’s, second of the afternoon.

They were good value for the lead as they went into the break.

Daniel Wong replaced Ikko Ehode Arimoto for Sutherland at the start of the second-half, an attacking reshuffle that led to two up top but it was City who came closest to adding a third when Nathan Roberts smashed a free-kick against the crossbar within sixty seconds of the restart.

Wong then had Kenny palm the ball onto his own crossbar almost immediately at the other end however, the strike wouldn’t have counted as play was called back for an infringement.

Roberts lashed the ball over the woodwork in a hectic opening 5’

minutes since the break. The Sharks had no choice but to go forward with purpose and in time honoured fashion, City sought to exploit the space in behind.

As the home side pushed, City were content to defend deep and hit on the break, McNulty, utilised his pace and skill as the lone figure forward, but held the ball up for the onrushing Roberts in the 55th minute that Nizic did well to turn away for a corner. A sweeping and speedy move thwarted by the home ‘keeper.

Often frantic, the match was transformed into an exciting spectacle of end-to-end football. The Sharks were guilty of getting to the penalty area on numerous occasions but the final ball option left a lot to be desired.

Two goal hero McNulty would be denied a hat-trick when replaced by William Kounnas twenty minutes from the end, a deserved respite for the tiring forward.

A flurry of substitutions ensued but the post thwarted a stoppage time strike for the Light Blues before Katsuta unleashed a powerful shot that Jack Kenny did superbly to turn around the post but the lead was extended when Jesse Photi showed his strength in holding off two defenders to fire under the body of the Nizic seconds before the final whistle.

Sutherland could have no complaints about the defeat, apart from the goal shy attack, and it was City who would head back across the Bridge with the points in a thoroughly deserved win against their nearest rivals.

***Prior to kick-off, Sharks’ legend, Paul Smith, was awarded for his years of service to the club both as Player and President. Often referred to as the glue that keeps the club together, it is a very well deserved honour.

Match Stats

Sutherland Sharks: 0

St George City: 3 (Marc McNulty 11’,42’, Jesse Photi 90+5’)

Seymour Shaw Park Saturday, 19th April, 2025

Referee: Declan Woods

Assistants: Lachlan Hines and Charlotte Flynn Fourth Official: Harriet Gee

Sutherland Sharks: 1. Danijel Nizic, 6. Mohamed Ahmed, 12. Ikko Ehode Arimoto (58. Daniel Wong 46’), 15. Matthew Moric (10. Yerasimakis Petratos 88’), 17. Richard Shoueiki (7. Peter Grozos 70’), 20. Jacob Tresoglavic, 21. Jerry Skotadis (8. Nick Sullivan 79’), 22. Kotaro Katsuta, 23. Mason Fernandez, 26. Jacob Garner, 87. Thomas Stobierski (3. Jordan Roberts 88’)

Subs not used: 30. Sebastian Arranz

Yellow Cards: Jerry Skotadis 67’, Danijel Nizic 78’, Nick Sullivan 86’, Mohamed Ahmed 90’

Red Cards: Nil

St George City: 1. Jack Kenny, 2. Matthew Whaby, 6. Tarik Ercan (15.Nathan Grimaldi 79’), 7. Nathan Roberts (33. Louis Khoury 60’), 9.Marc McNulty (16.William Kounnas 70’), 10. Paolo Mitry, 11. Fumoto Kamada, 17. Noah Ovens, 18. Goncalo Agrelos (19. Jesse Photi 60’), 23.Dakota Askew, 25. Brodie Clarkson

Subs not used: 12. Kai Kamikura, 41. Stavros Skotadis

Yellow Cards: Noah Ovens 54’, Matthew Whaby 90+4

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Marc McNulty (SGCFC)

2 – Fumoto Kamada (SGCFC)

1 – Nathan Roberts (SGCFC)

By NPL NSW Men’s Reporter Micky Brock