St George City stranded at Landen as Blacktown City bite back
Blacktown City had one of their games of the 2025 National Premier Leagues Men’s season defeating St George City 3-1 at Landen Stadium on Sunday.
With both teams so close on the ladder, it was no surprise when the first half was a tense, back and forth affair.
Mitch Mallia got the first of the chances with a solid header just three minutes in, but it went straight to St George City keeper Jack Kenny.
St George City followed up with a chance of their own minutes later, but Fumoto Kamada was called for his first of many offsides in the opening 45.
Mallia had another opportunity in the 21st minute, but his resulting shot went way over the crossbar.
Kamada picked up the first and only yellow card of the half after a late tackle on Maksim Jez and the following free kick from Adam Berry almost produced a goal, but Grant Lynch sent it just wide of the top corner.
St George City were very quick on the counter attack, taking quick free kicks and attempting to catch Blacktown City unaware.
It was the hosts who finally broke the deadlock with just under five minutes in the half, after Mallia was brought down in the box by Nathan Grimaldi and was awarded a penalty.
Jak O’Brien took the penalty with expert precision, sending Kenny the wrong way and slotting the ball in the bottom left corner for a 1-0 advantage heading into the sheds.
The second half was another tense battle, with Blacktown City arguably getting the better of possession.
Mallia was once again in the thick of it early, slipping through defenders and earning a corner kick minutes after the restart.
The corner cross found its way to Maksim Jez who, despite a brilliant strike, couldn’t sneak the ball past the keeper.
St George City continued to build up the pressure, but their goal came almost out of nowhere.
Marc McNulty received a long ball and looked to be almost running out of field, but instead shot an angled strike past Cayden Henderson to level the scores in the 74th minute.
Blacktown City responded almost immediately, as recent substitute Sebastian Hayward found space and speed to slide one into the back of the net. It was a huge moment for the City young gun as the 18-year-old celebrated his first ever senior goal for the club.
St George City never looked out of contention for some points, but a final goal from Blacktown City’s Jakob Cresnar with five minutes remaining all but sealed the 3-1 Blacktown City victory.
Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden said his team is showing real improvement as they look to lock a finals series spot.
“Today I thought, defensively, we looked more solid,” Crittenden said.
“[St George City] are a very good footy team, but I thought we created enough good chances to win that game.”
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 3 (Jak O’Brien 41’, Sebastian Hayward 75’, Jakob Cresnar 85’)
St George City 1 (Marc McNulty 74’)
Sunday June 22nd, 2025
Landen Stadium, Seven Hills
Referee: Ivica Covic
Assistant Referees: Liam Smith and Arinath Gobinath
Fourth Official: Logan Jones
Blacktown City FC: 1. Cayden Henderson (GK), 4. Lachlan Campbell, 5. Grant Lynch, 6. Adam Berry, 7. Travis Major (c), 8. Jak O’Brien (19. Sebastian Hayward 68’), 10. Maksim Jez, 14. Mitchell Mallia (17. Martin Fernandez 68’), 16. Benjamin Berry, 18. Nicholas O’Brien, 24. Jackson Bandiera (23. Jakob Cresnar 58’)
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Cooper Rogers
Yellow Cards: Adam Berry 69’
Red Cards: Nil
St George City: 1. Jack Kenny, 4. Solomon-John Monahan-Vaiika, 9. Marc Mcnulty, 10. Paolo Mitry, 11. Fumoto Kamada (6. Tarik Ercan 70’), 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 17. Noah Ovens, 18. Goncalo Agrelos (7. Nathan Roberts 70’), 19. Jesse Photi, 23. Dakota Askew, 33. Louis Khoury (16. William Kounnas 79’)
Substitutes Not Used:
Yellow Cards: Fumoto Kamada 24’
Red Cards: Nil
Player Ratings
3 – Lachlan Campbell (Blacktown City)
2 – Nathan Grimaldi (St George City)
1 – Sebastian Hayward (Blacktown City)
