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Round 3 Preview – NPL NSW Men’s 20’s

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After a series of washouts in Round 2, teams will be hoping the weather holds up this weekend as many look to kick start their seasons.

Sydney FC are looking for their first win of the year as they take on Marconi Stallions in the Match of the Round, while Blacktown City FC will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the table with a strong result against a tough Sydney Olympic outfit. APIA and Marconi both play for the first time in 2019.

Match of the round: Sydney FC v Marconi Stallions, Saturday 5pm at Lambert Park

Sydney FC fell to Manly United  last weekend, losing 3-2 at Cromer Park to remain on a solitary point heading into the third round of the season.

This week they welcome Marconi to Lambert Park; the Stallions raring to go in what will be their first game of 2019. With their Round 1 fixture rescheduled and their Round 2 match washed out, Marconi have yet to kick a ball this season, and remain something of an unknown quantity.

The hosts ran out 4-0 winners when these sides met in Leichhardt in 2018. They’ll be keen to kick start their current season with a similar result when they face Marconi on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday

Sutherland Sharks v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, 4.30pm at Seymour Shaw

Sutherland rallied for their first win of 2019 in Round 2, and will be looking to string a few results together when they take on APIA Leichhardt on Saturday afternoon.

The Sharks beat Hakoah Sydney City East 2-1 last weekend, while APIA are playing their first match of the year after taking part in the Viareggio Cup.

Saturday’s match gives the Tigers an opportunity to demonstrate early improvement this season, having lost this fixture 4-1 in 2018.

Manly United v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, 5.30pm at Cromer Park

Manly United picked up three points last week with a thrilling win over Sydney FC. Goals from Jack Berte, William Martin and Maximilian Rogers gave Manly their first win of the year, sending them into Round 3 confident of going back-to-back.

Their opposition this week is Mt Druitt Town Rangers, who travel to Cromer Park after their Round 2 match with Olympic was washed out. With a tough run of fixtures ahead, Mt Druitt will be keen to start picking up points to avoid sinking to the back of the pack.

Sunday

Sydney Olympic v Blacktown City FC, 1.45pm at Belmore Sports Ground

Sydney Olympic’s match with Mt Druitt Town Rangers was washed out last week, giving the hosts extra time to prepare for the visit of Blacktown City in Round 3.

Blacktown sit in first place after the first two weeks of the season, having managed to play their game last weekend and record a second win of 2019.

This is a fixture Blacktown won 5-1 at Belmore Sports Ground last year. Olympic will be eager to stop them from pulling away at the top of the table when they meet on Sunday afternoon.

Rockdale City Suns v Hakoah Sydney City East FC, 2.30pm at Ilinden Sports Centre

Rockdale take on Hakoah Sydney City East on Sunday, after their Round 2 match against Marconi Stallions was washed out last weekend.

The visitors come into their match at Ilinden Sports Centre on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Sutherland Sharks, with last year’s champions able to hold off a spirited Hakoah outfit.

They travel to Rockdale to play for their first win of the year, while the hosts could potentially move into first place depending on results elsewhere. It ended 3-2 to Hakoah when these sides met in 2018, and it would seem similarly difficult to predict one way or the other.

Sydney United 58 v Wollongong Wolves FC, 3pm at Sydney United Sports Centre

Sydney United 58 host Wollongong Wolves for the first time since their meeting in the first week of the finals last season.

United blew Wollongong away at Lambert Park in 2018, with a 3-0 win in the elimination finals.

Both teams come into this match in decidedly different form, with United beaten 4-1 by Blacktown City last weekend.

Wollongong’s Round 2 match was washed out, robbing them of the opportunity to build on an impressive 2-0 opening round win over Manly United.

Still, they sit second behind Blacktown having played one game fewer, and a result here could put them top if Sydney Olympic can beat the leaders.

-By Max Grieve

Round 2 – NPL NSW Men’s Review

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Round 2 saw the Wollongong Wolves emerge as the early pace-setters of the NPL NSW Men’s competition recording a resounding 3-0 away victory against the APIA Leichhardt Tigers. 

The result sent shockwaves around the competition with Luke Wilkshire’s men pushing their cause that they mean business in 2019.

Sydney United 58 also caught the headlines thanks to a wonderful Matthew Sim free-kick as they proved too strong for Blacktown City with a 1-0 win while there were wins for Rockdale City Suns and Hakoah Sydney City East away from home.

Cromer Park played host to a 1-1 draw between Manly United and Sydney FC while the Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Sydney Olympic match was washed out due to Popondetta Park being deemed unfit after rainy conditions hit Sydney over the weekend.

 

Blacktown City 0 v Sydney United 58 FC 1

Goalkeeper Thomas Manos saved the day for Sydney United 58 in their National Premier Leagues NSW Mens match away to Blacktown City at Lily Homes Stadium won by a wonder-striker Matthew Sim free-kick.

Manos made three saves in the closing stages to deny City a point after a sublime curling dead ball from Sim secured the spoils.

Patrick Antelmi, the former City player, almost returned to haunt his former club in the opening moments only for gloveman Tristan Prendergast to turn the ball away.

City initially responded by mounting pressure on their rivals however goal scoring opportunities were a rare commodity as the match bogged down in midfield and became a battle of attrition.

Neither side was at it’s best in a lethargic opening opening half and it was no surprise the teams hit the sheds still locked in stalemate.

It wasn’t until the second period the game sprang to life and an early free-kick on the edge of the box was the catalyst.

Sim placed the ball and curled a left-footed shot teasingly up into Prendergast’s left hand corner that gifted all  three points to Miro Vlastelica’s men in a match which also saw the debut of former Central Coast Mariner Josh Macdonald.

 

APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0 v Wollongong Wolves 3

APIA Leichhardt Tigers fell to their first defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon as Wollongong Wolves’ Englishman Thomas James ran rampant on a slick surface at Lambert Park hitting a hat-trick with a 3-0 victory.

The hosts started slowly, and were ultimately undone by individual mistakes which were duly punished by a striker in form.

James opened the scoring midway through the first half, before adding a second and a third to complete his hat trick with twenty minutes remaining.

APIA pushed in the closing stages but couldn’t apply a finishing touch to encouraging build-up work, and are left with work to do at the end of the second week of the season.

It’s been a promising start for Luke Wilkshire’s troops who after two rounds have been the talk of the league hoping that they can further their victories with a tricky away trip to Sydney United 58 in round 3.

 

Manly United 1 v Sydney FC 1

Manly United and Sydney FC were forced to settle for a share of the spoils following a tense 1-1 stalemate at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.

National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s football returned to Cromer Park with a bang, with both sides scoring in the 15th and 16th minutes respectively.

The opener arrived courtesy of an impressive Sam Gallagher header, which nestled in the far corner of Thomas Hewerd-Bell’s net.

Sydney FC then fired back instantly, as Hamish Lamberton left the Manly backline in his wake, weaving his way through on goal before poking the ball through the outstretched legs of Dylan Mitchell.

Despite the game initially shaping to be a goal-fest, the frequency of opportunities created by both sides progressively declined as the contest endured.

Sydney fcgrew to dominate the latter stages of the first half, culminating in Lamberton striking the crossbar with a well-timed rocket in additional time.

Manly then took the game to their youthful opponents in the second half, however ultimately failed to gather a clinical touch in the final third.

 

Marconi Stallions 1 v Rockdale City Suns 2

Rockdale City Suns took out its first victory of the 2019 NPL NSW Men’s campaign and condemned the Marconi Stallions to its second successive loss with a come from behind 2-1 victory at Marconi Stadium on a soggy Saturday evening in Sydney’s West.

The game oscillated in the first half and in the 7th minute, after a scramble near the box, Anthony Frangie had the ball in the back of the net for Marconi, but it was disallowed for offside.

Marconi opened the scoring from virtually nothing in the 22nd minute.

A free-kick made its way forward until it reached Richie Cardozo who beautifully chipped the goalkeeper off his line much to the delight of the home crowd.

Rockdale City Suns got their equaliser in the 68th minute when the ball drifted across to Panny Nikas who was unmarked and the prolific scorer showed that he had lost none of his midas touch as he drilled home and opened the scoring for the visitors.

It sparked a revival for Paul Reid’s men as they found a winner late in the second half.

In the 85th minute the Suns rocked the Stallions when an Alec Urosevski cross from the right reached an unmarked Lecce who, with a powerful diagonal header, beat all and sundry to give the visitors the lead much to the frustration of the Marconi bench.

It proved to be the winner much to the delight of the traveling Suns fans as the Stallions spectators looked on in despair.

 

Sutherland Sharks 0 v Hakoah Sydney City East 1

A solitary Jack Green strike proved the difference for Hakoah Sydney City East against Sutherland Sharks in a tight encounter at Seymour Shaw on Saturday night.

In an end-to-end contest that could well have produced more goals, both sides were at times wasteful in the final third.

The defining moment of the night arrived six minutes into the second half as Hakoah fullback Jack Green won the ball back on halfway and marauded into the Sharks’ penalty area, before lashing home a thunderous half-volley at the front post.

Whilst the hosts tried as they might to conjure a response, they were repeatedly denied thanks to an outstanding display from their former shot-stopper Ryan Norval.

The result signaled a turnaround in fortunes for both clubs: the hosts were ultimately unable to replicate the form that saw them topple reigning premiers Sydney Olympic last time out, while Hakoah recorded their first victory of the campaign following a disappointing Round 1 display against Sydney FC.

Sim stunner gives United 58 edge over Blacktown City

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Goalkeeper Thomas Manos saved the day for Sydney United 58 in their National Premier Leagues NSW Mens match away to Blacktown City at Lily Homes Stadium won by a wonder-striker Matthew Sim free-kick.

Manos made three saves in the closing stages to deny City a point after a sublime curling dead ball from Sim secured the spoils.

Patrick Antelmi, the former City player, almost returned to haunt his former club in the opening moments only for gloveman Tristan Prendergast to turn the ball away.

City initially responded by mounting pressure on their rivals however goal scoring opportunities were a rare commodity as the match bogged down in midfield and became a battle of attrition.

Neither side was at it’s best in a lethargic opening opening half and it was no surprise the teams hit the sheds still locked in stalemate.

It wasn’t until the second period the game sprang to life and an early free-kick on the edge of the box was the catalyst.

Sim placed the ball and curled a left-footed shot teasingly up into Prendergast’s left hand corner to open the scoring for the visitors.

It was to prove the only goal of the game but it wasn’t for the lack of trying by City who switched to a back three and they almost paid the price again when a sweet through ball from Yianni Fragogiannis put Antelmi into the clear but he somehow contrived to fire his effort over the bar.

City pushed and probed and another dead ball situation saw Mason Versi force Manos into the first of three quick successive saves, one more from Versi and another he tipped over the bar in the stoppage time.

The United 58 defence marshaled by veteran Petar Markovic alongside Fragogiannis as well as the marauding runs of Jordan Roberts and the solid display by Yianni Perkatis really shone out for the visitors.

A disconsolate Blacktown coach, Mark Crittendon, commented.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game today,

“We gave away a cheap turnover and then a foul to let them in to score.

“I’m proud of the effort from the guys today but like I said, I don’t feel we deserved to lose to a goal like that.”

Miro Vlastelica was rather more upbeat as United 58 recorded its first victory for 2019.

“We always know we are in for a tough game against Blacktown as they are a quality side.

“We could have won by more in the end but we didn’t take the chances we created and we need to work harder on that.

“However, we’ve got the points, kept a clean sheet and we’ll move forward from here.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City: 0

Sydney United 58: 1 (Sim 56’)

Lily Homes Stadium, Quinn Ave, Seven hills

Sunday 17th March, 2019

Blacktown City: 1.Tristan Prendergast, 4.Yianni Spyrakis, 5.Grant Lynch (Mason Versi 75′), 6.Matt Lewis, 7.Devante Clut, 8.Daniel Araujo, 9.Joey Gibbs, 11.Mani Gonzalez (James Demetriou 59′), 21.William Mutch, 22.Leroy Jennings, 24.Jackson Bandierra (Adam Berry 62′)

Subs not used: 3.Daniel Collins, 20.Dylan Niski

Yellow cards:

Red cards:

Sydney United 58: 21.Thomas Manos, 3.Jordan Roberts, 5.Anthony Tomelic (Nick Stavroulakis 71′), 6.Petar Markovic, 8.Matthew Sim (Adrian Vlastelica 75′), 9.Patrick Antelmi, 11.Yianni Perkatis, 13.Sam Perre, 15.Tariq Maia (Josh Macdonald 62′), 20.Christian Gonzalez, 22.Yianni Fragogiannis

Subs not used: 2.Joshua De Rossi, Daniel Sadaka

Yellow cards:

Red cards:

Player Ratings

3 – Manos (SU58)

2 – Fragogiannis (SU58)

1 – Clut (BCFC)

By Micky Brock, FNSW Reporter

Round 2 Review – NPL NSW Men’s U20’s

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Washouts and delays meant only three matches were played across an interrupted Round 2 of the 2019 NPL NSW 20’s competition. 

Manly United managed to hold out Sydney FC to come away with a 3-2 win at Cromer Park on Saturday, while Sutherland Sharks got their season off and running with a win over Hakoah Sydney City East.

Blacktown City stay top of the ladder with a handy win over Sydney United 58.

Match of the round: Manly United 3-2 Sydney FC, Sunday at Cromer Park

Manly United picked up their first points of 2019 in dramatic fashion after downing Sydney FC at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon.

Jack Berte opened the scoring after just three minutes before Sydney FC pegged their hosts back with a goal from the spot from Harry McCarthy. It took until midway through the second half for Manly to break through again, with Maximilian Rogers and William Martin grabbing two in four minutes to put their side out of sight.

Luca Kmet was central to Manly’s opener, turning his marker inside-out down the left flank before cutting a ball inside for the goalkeeper to palm out into a crowded penalty area.

Jack Berte was in the right place at the right time to put his side up 1-0 with only three minutes on the clock.

Sydney FC might’ve equalised soon after going behind when they won a free kick just a few metres outside the area.

Thomas Fay whipped a dangerous ball across the backline which Harry McCarthy met with a diving header, flicking the ball agonisingly wide of the near post.

Fay continued to provide trouble for Manly down the left, and was involved again as the visitors won a penalty with five minutes to halftime.

The winger drove down the flank and cut a pass inside to McCarthy at the top of the box, who kicked the ball up into Sam Wilson’s hand to earn Sydney FC a chance from the spot.

McCarthy smacked his penalty to the keeper’s left and was denied by a fantastic save. Unfortunately for the keeper, the ball could not be cleared before McCarthy was allowed a second opportunity – this time, he made sure his shot hit the back of the net.

Neither side made themselves look particularly dominant in the opening minutes after the break, and it took until midway through the half for Manly to edge in front again.

Maximilian Rogers controlled a quick ball over the top on the right wing, and dropped inside before looping a freakish shot over the goalkeeper and inside the far post.

Sydney pushed to equalise for a second time, and had another great chance from the set piece when Callum Talbot curled a ball in for Tyson Savas at the back post, only for the volley to fly off target.

The visitors might have had designs for a leveller but Manly had other ideas, and scored a third within four minutes of going ahead through Rogers.

Kmet floated a lazy diagonal free kick towards the back post, giving William Martin an age to measure up his header and nod Manly into a 3-1 lead.

Sydney FC had the final say of a see-saw match when Savas flicked a header inside the far post with five minutes remaining, but it was too little, too late for last year’s runners up.

With only a point from their first two games, they will have to wait until Round 3 to remind the competition of their previous form.

Match Stats

Manly United 3 (Berte 3’, Rogers 74’, Martin 78’)

Sydney FC 2 (McCarthy 40’, Savas 86’)

Sunday 10 March, 2019

Cromer Park, Cromer

Saturday

Sutherland Sharks 2-1 Hakoah Sydney City East, at Seymour Shaw

Sutherland Sharks got into their groove in 2019 with a 2-1 win over Hakoah Sydney City East on Saturday afternoon.

Sharks came out firing after a disappointing defeat to Sydney Olympic in Round 1, and were up 2-0 by halftime. The visitors pulled a goal back after the break but were unable to reel their opponents in, and leave Seymour Shaw with nothing to show for their efforts.

Things get no easier for Hakoah next weekend when they travel to Ilinden Sports Centre for a clash with Rockdale, while Sutherland take on APIA in the Tigers’ first game of the season.

Marconi Stallions v Rockdale City Suns, at Marconi Stadium

WASHED OUT

Mt Druitt Rangers v Sydney Olympic, at Popondetta Park

WASHED OUT

Sunday

Blacktown City 4-1 Sydney United 58, at Lily Homes Stadium

Blacktown City brushed aside Sydney United at Lilys Homes Stadium on Sunday afternoon to remain top of the table heading into Round 3 next week.

Adolph Koudakpo notched a brace for the hosts, while Alen Aganovic and Suleyman Bangura also got in on the act as Blacktown put four past the opponents.

Jordan Ivancic pulled one back for Sydney United, who have a week to pick themselves up before they host Wollongong Wolves next weekend.

-By Max Grieve

Wolves teach APIA a lesson

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APIA Leichhardt Tigers fell to their first defeat of the season on Sunday afternoon as Wollongong Wolves’ Thomas James ran rampant on a slick surface at Lambert Park hitting a hat-trick with a 3-0 victory.

The hosts started slowly, and were ultimately undone by individual mistakes which were duly punished by a striker in form.

James opened the scoring midway through the first half, before adding a second and a third to complete his hat trick with twenty minutes remaining.

APIA pushed in the closing stages but couldn’t apply a finishing touch to encouraging build-up work, and are left with work to do at the end of the second week of the season.

APIA’s Chris Payne had the first shot of any real note after a tentative opening few minutes, with both sides struggling to find their rhythm in challenging conditions at Lambert Park.

The rain which had held up earlier in the afternoon returned soon after the first whistle, but didn’t prevent Payne from slipping through on the left flank before hitting a curling ball towards the inside corner for Justin Pasfield to claw away.

Payne was given another opportunity to open the scoring a moment later when he was played through the middle by Sam Mcillhatton, but the forward was held up and closed down by good pressure from the visitors.

A clever pass from the midfield suddenly had Wollongong clean through on goal, with Thomas James drifting between two defenders before taking a touch around the onrushing Ivan Necevski to give himself a clean shot at the lead.

His side trailing, Corey Biczo might have helped pull a goal back for APIA when he slalomed down the right wing before touching the ball across the face of the goal, but Wollongong were able to clear for a corner.

The visitors had two terrific chances to push further in front with a second goal before the break; Takeru Okada drawing a sharp save from Necevski after good work from James, and James snapping a volley over the crossbar after a blocked Okada shot bounced his way.

APIA showed little intention to take the fight to their opponents in the second half, and soon found themselves behind by two when James nicked the ball from a clumsy Themba Muata-Marlow, before driving a shot past Necevski to double his tally for the afternoon.

Biczo let fly after a strong run down the right, but his wayward shot seemed to sum up a frustrating outing for the home side. With twenty minutes remaining, Okada pushed across the top of the box and cut a ball back for James, who swiped a first time finish under the goalkeeper.

APIA took control of the ball for a fifteen minute spell at the end of the half, and might’ve scored a late consolation goal but Mcillhatton could only mishit his volley in space at the back post.

By the final whistle, they might’ve considered themselves lucky to have got away with a 3-0 defeat; Stefan Dimoski closed down by Necevski before Brendan Griffin hit the post in added time.

A lacklustre display had APIA’s John Calleja shaking his head at the final whistle.

“We started poorly, made too many silly errors, had no cohesion going forward, our defensive shape was all over the shop,” he said.

“It was a performance I can’t put my finger on at the moment.

“Is it hunger? Is it desire? Did we think we were better than what we were? We know Wollongong are a tough side, we talked about that.

“We were out-enthused, they were first to every ball. They wanted it more and they got what they deserved.”

Wollongong’s Luke Wilkshire was pleased with his team’s performance, and another three points in 2019.

“I’ve got no complaints winning three-nil away from home,” he said.

“It’s not easy. I had people telling me that Wollongong don’t win away from home, but I think we’ve shown that we can.

“I’m excited about this group of players and it’s a tough place to come, so to pick up all three points is fantastic.”

Match Stats

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0

Wollongong Wolves 3 (James 20’, 56’, 69’)

Sunday 17th March, 2019

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: Michael Weiner

Assistant Referees: S. Edeling, M. Price

Fourth Official: M. Riedy

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 8. BICZO Corey, 7. DIAZ Tynan, 14. HUGHES Lachlan (18. UCCHINO Adrian), 21. KOUTA Michael, 12. MCILLHATTON Sam, 15. MUATA-MARLOW Themba, 1. NECEVSKI Ivan, 10. PARISI Franco (13. D’APUZZO David), 6. PAYNE Christopher, 4. SYMONS Joshua, 16. SYMONS Sean

Substitutes Not Used: 17. GULISANO Samuel, 19. NASRABADI Dominion, 22. TUXFORD Blake

Yellow Cards: Joshua Symons 61’, David D’Apuzzo 68’

Red Cards: Nil

Wollongong Wolves: 14. CALLAHAN Harry (23. KOLOVSKI Jordan), 4. DJORDEVIC Nikola, 9. JAMES Thomas, 16. KNIGHT Guy, 15. LITTLER Nick, 2. MCDONALD Taylor, 11. OKADA Takeru, 1. PASFIELD Justin, 24. SCOTT Lachlan (13. DIMOSKI Stefan), 17. STOJCEVSKI James, 6. TOSI Benjamin (10. GRIFFIN Brendan)

Substitutes Not Used: 12. KAIRIES Luke, 7. PRICE Christopher

Yellow Cards: James Stojcevski 83’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3 – Thomas James (WW)

2 – Takeru Okada (WW)

1 – Harry Callahan (WW)

-By Max Grieve