St George City take out local derby as McNulty bags a hat-trick
The local area on Sunday was abuzz as the crowds descended on Barton Park to witness the battle for district supremacy in the much anticipated Round 23 encounter which, in the end, gave bragging rights to St George City with a 3-1 win over rivals St George FC thanks to a hat-trick of goals to Scottish international Marc McNulty.
It was a must-win game for both sides who both were still in contention for a semi-finals spot but that option now for St George FC is all but over, whereas the dream for St George City FA lives on thanks to this convincing away win.
The away side had a double chance in the 5th minute when McNulty took a shot from an acute angle on left which was palmed away by ‘keeper Mackenzie Syron, but only as far as Louis Khoury who then blazed over from close range.
However, only two minutes later St George City FA did indeed break through to open the scoring. It was a nice ball from the left from Goncalo Agrelos that found McNulty in the middle from where the Scotsman, with a skilful chip finish, managed to place the ball over the out-coming goalkeeper.
In the 10th minute a strong left-footed shot from Agrelos went only just a fraction wide of the target in what was another real warning shot by the away side.
Midway through the first stanza of play a rocket of a shot from outside the box by Khoury spectacularly hit the crossbar as St George FC breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The last real opportunity of first half arrived in the 44th minute when McNulty won the ball in a tight midfield dual on the right and then decided to channel his inner Beckham with a lofted shot from distance with goalkeeper Syron off his line, but the ball sailed wide of the goal in what would have been indeed a spectacular goal.
In the second half the opening salvo belonged to St George Saints in the 48th minute with a Bai Antoniou shot that didn’t really trouble custodian Jack Kenny.
Antoniou was back at it again in the 65th minute with a dangerous swerving shot from the right that only just missed the goal.
It was St George City though at the other end of the pitch that doubled their lead in the 68th minute with an opportunistic goal to McNulty. It was substitute Levi Sciuriaga that did all the hard work, but he had both of his attempts blocked before the ball fell fortuitously into the path of McNulty who turned it in.
In the 70th minute the Saints got one back through Antoniou. It was a great individual goal as he charged through some feeble opposition defence before unleashing a shot that ended up in the bottom left hand corner of the net to bring them right back into the contest two minutes after conceding their second.
St George City then got their two goal lead back in the 75th minute when Sciuriaga was brought down in the area by Nicholas Kalogerou and a penalty was awarded. Up stepped McNulty who took a majestic spot-kick sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and scoring his personal hat-trick.
Right at the end Louis Khoury was booked for exciting the field too slowly when he was substituted and then he protested once he exited the pitch with the Fourth Official and was subsequently shown a red card for his dissent. It was the only negative in a great game from the St George City player.
After the game St George City coach Manny Spanoudakis was very satisfied with the win and his key striker McNulty.
“We waited patiently until Round 20 because we have had numerous injuries and we needed to fill positions,” he stated. “I think we recruited wisely in the window and it is reflected in the last three games, with two wins and a draw.
“It was a tough game here and I think the playing surface was a bit of a leveller. It’s a derby and that is always intense but we justly deserved to win this game today.
“Marc McNulty took a few months to acclimatise from Scotland but I always had confidence in him. He has come along nicely as he arrived only a week before the competition started without a pre-season and now he is showing his leadership on and off the park.
“I am very happy with the whole team and the way that they have embraced the new players too, but next week will be a tough game against Marconi at home and I am really looking forward to it because it will be a clash between two very good teams.”
St George Saints coach Fabian Miceli on the other hand was somewhat disappointed with the overall outcome.
“I don’t think we came out as we should have today,” he told Football NSW.
“The first 25 minutes or so was not good enough but we are struggling to start matches at the moment and I am not sure why it is happening because we have had a good season.
“I think we dominated the ball for long periods today but possession without goals means nothing. Injuries too have cost us a lot this season, with up to nine players out since the start of the season and that has really impacted our team.”
Lastly, in some very good news for local football fans, St George FC will be hosting the Newcastle Jets in a trial game this Wednesday night (July 16) at Barton Park. The match with St George FC is part of the important preparations for both the Newcastle Jets’ 2025-26 A-League season and their upcoming Australia Cup Round of 32 clash against Adelaide United on July 30.
The Jets are under the guidance of new coach, former Socceroo Mark Milligan, and assistant coach Nick Stavroulakis who played for many years in the NPL Men’s. It will be exciting to see such quality football on local grounds and with entry only $10 for adults and children under-16 free, the Frank Arok Stand at the picturesque Barton Park should be packed to the rafters.
Match Stats
St GEORGE FC: 1 (Antoniou 70’)
St GEORGE CITY FA: 3 (McNulty 7’, 68’, 75’ pen.)
Sunday 12th July
Barton Park, Kyeemagh
Referee: Logan Jones
Assistant referees: Patrick Teleki, Amirhossein Hosnani
Fourth Official: Jack Nelson
St GEORGE FC: 99. Mackenzie Syron, 3. Troy Danaskos, 4. Mark Rodic (40. Hassan Kamberovic 88’), 5. Nicholas Kalogerou, 7. Aedan O’Shea (8. Evangelos Souris 58’), 10. Jaden Casella, 14. Justin Poon (19. Nikola Skataric 73’), 15. Bai Antoniou, 16. Kaidyn Wright (28. Jesper Webber 73’), 18. Gianni Di Pizio, 34. Kota Toyooka (9. Chan Yelchan 58’).
Substitutes not used: 20. Daniel Axford.
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
St GEORGE CITY: 1. Jack Kenny, 4. Solomon Monahan-Vaiika, 5. Lewis Miccio, 8. Dominic Cox, 9. Marc McNulty, 10. Paolo Mitry (25. Brodie Clarkson 75’), 15. Nathan Grimaldi, 18. Goncalo Agrelos (7. Levi Sciuriaga 66’), 19. Jesse Photi (99. Peter Kekeris 66’), 23. Dakota Askew, 33. Louis Khoury (17. Noah Ovens 92’)
Substitutes not used: 2. Matthew Wahby, 13. Cameron Kemp.
Yellow Cards: Khoury 91’
Red Cards: Khoury 92’
Player Ratings
3 – Marc McNulty (City)
2 – Louis Khoury (City)
1 – Bai Antoniou (Saints)
By National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Joe Russo
