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Youthful Sky Blues knock off out-of-sorts United 58

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Sydney FC has heaped further woe on Sydney United 58 claiming a 2-0 win at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday. 

It was the second upset win in as many weeks for the Young Sky Blues who secured their safety from relegation with the win.

Quick thinking from Benjamin Koop opened Sydney FC’s account midway through the second half when he tapped home after a fumble from Thomas Manos before Jordan Swibel wrapped up the win in the dying stages with a clinical finish.

It was yet another frustrating defeat for United 58 as they slumped to their fifth consecutive league match without a win and their third without scoring a goal – that along with the Waratah Cup Final loss has made it a very bad month for the Reds.

It could’ve easily gone the other way with the home side hitting the woodwork twice and creating numerous chances.

United hold onto fourth place despite the result but now hold only a one point lead over Marconi.

Sydney FC started the best of the two sides with their early endeavour putting United 58 on the back foot.

The visitor’s energy created a few early half chances but the clinical final pass or finish just wasn’t there.

Marco Tilio fired over the bar in the 25th minute after a slick buildup with Sydney yet again unable to make the most of their early pressure.

The young Sky Blues  were unlucky to not score thirty minutes in when Benjamin Koop’s delivery into the box sailed across the face of goal as Scibilio failed to get a toe to it.

United 58 were below their best in the first half but were doing enough to stay in the contest. Matt Sim and Antelmi combining on a few occasions to challenge the opposition defence.

Heward-Belle came to the rescue five minutes from half time as he went low to save a shot from Simonoski after United 58 plucked possession after some sloppy Sydney FC passing out from defence.

The home side picked up their intensity in the closing stages of the half with Antelmi and Yianni Fragogiannis narrowly missing opportunities to take the lead.

It was a completely different United 58 after the interval with the Reds racing out of the blocks determined to find a breakthrough.

A flurry of early chances from United had FC on the back foot as Vlastelica heading over from close range before Sim fired wide only moments later.

A brilliant header from Simonoski was inches away from finding the back of the net, instead it clanged off the woodwork.

Tariq Maia delivered the next United effort on goal but his stinging shot was yet another shot which failed to hit the target.

Despite the waves of United 58 attacks, it was the Young Sky Blues who opened the scoring.

A stinging low free-kick from Tilio could only be parried away by Manos into the path of Koop to tap home at the near post.

It was pure desperation for United 58 after the goal but they

The Young Sky Blues were happy to sit back and sting on the counter. It nearly paid dividends and Jordan Swibel dragged his shot narrowly wide after a

However, it was Swibel who would put the final nail in United 58’s coffin after 84 minutes when he latched onto a long ball over the top before finishing one-on-one past Manos to clinch the 2-0 win.

Sydney FC coach Jim van Weeren expressed his pride for his players stating their efforts today were proof of their potential.

The mental strength of the boys has come a long way over the course of the season and today was evidence of what they are capable of,” van Weeren said,

“First half we probably made a few too many errors with the ball but we got it together after the break and made the most of our chances.

“We had some young boys playing in key positions today who really stood up against much bigger and more experienced opposition. I’m very happy with the performance and It’s a great sign for the last few weeks off the season.”

It was a completely different story in the United 58 sheds after the match with a frustrated Miro Vlastelica at a loss to find answers to his team’s goal scoring woes.

“The toughest thing is we are creating chances but we just can’t find the back of the net,” Vlastelica said.

“If the ball falls a different way we could’ve been up by three goals but it just wasn’t to be.

“We have to put this to bed and come back bigger and stronger next week. It’s important we keep fighting to the very end.”

Match Stats

Sydney United 58 FC: 0

Sydney FC: 2 (Koop 68’, Swibel 84’)

Sunday, July 21 2019

Sydney United Sports Centre, Edensor Park

Referee: B Abraham

Assistant referees: N Backo, R Osborne

Fourth official: J Rose

Sydney United 58 FC: 21. Thomas Manos, 4. Adrian Vlastelica, 7. Peter Simonoski, 8. Matthew Sim, 9. Patrick Antelmi (19. Joshua McDonald 53’), 11. Yianni Perkatis, 12. Liam Rose (5. Anthony Tomelic 79’), 14. Tomislav Uskok, 15. Tariq Maia, 20. Christian Gonzalez (39. Michael Ruhs 65’), 22. Yianni Fragogiannis

Substitutes not used: 2.Luke Vlastelica, 61, Nicholas Bilokapic

Yellow cards: Uskok58’, Fragogiannis 67’, Tomelic 85′

Red cards

Sydney FC: 1. Thomas Heward-Belle, 3. Ben van Meurs, 5. Patrick Scibilio, 6. Harry van der Saag, 10 Marco Tilio (24. Jake Holman 74′), 13. Jordan Swibel, 15. Ryan Teague, 17. Callum Talbot (16. Paolo Bonanni 73’), 18. Benjamin Koop, 54. Anton Mlinaric, 57. Jayden Trenkoski (14. Thomas Fay 70’)

Substitutes not used: 40. Levi Kaye, 34. Calem Nieuwenhof

Yellow cards: Talbot 23’, Fay 90′

Red cards

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

Suns finals series hopes slump as Sky Blues triumph

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Sydney FC have dealt a crushing blow to Rockdale City Suns FC finals hopes with a Marco Tilio brace led 3-1 success tonight at a wet Lambert Park.

The victory was the Sky Blues first since Round 12 when they downed Hakoah Sydney City East.

The Young Sky Blues were made to work for it, coming back from a goal down with a pair of highlight reel strikes from Marco Tilio. Substitute Benjamin Koop added a late chip to confirm the result as they move to 17 points for the season.

Tonight was a tough result for Rockdale City Suns FC. The Suns had the lead through a first half injury time strike from Aleksandar Canak but some errors in the second half have them on the edge of elimination.

Much of the best work for Sydney FC in the first half came through talented midfielder Marco Tilio. Sydney FC’s number ten had their first shot from a rapid counter that was always rising.

Rockdale City Suns FC found joy through the set piece. On several occasions, the hard work of Alec Urosevski and Aleksandar Canak earned cut through the Sydney FC defense but unable to find the final pass.

After a tense opening passage, the game opened up as the chances flowed. Harry Van Der Saag and Tilio both tested Rockdale City Suns keeper David Bradasevic before an audacious chip from Jordan Swibel almost caught the custodian out.

Chasing the top five, Rockdale City Suns started to find their rhythm. Urosevski had a pair of chances blocked then Sasa Macura unleashed a rocket that flew wide of the right post as the game searched for the opener.

Sydney FC opened up Rockdale’s defense but Joel King thrashed his effort wide. The young side showed they weren’t going to be bullied by their more experienced opponents.

Tilio was again the talisman and he stabbed an effort straight as the Sky Blues searched for their first victory since their Round 12 success against Hakoah Sydney City East.

It was Rockdale who struck deep into injury time. The visitors refused to let Sydney FC clear their lines which allowed Urosevski to cut the ball back to a free Canak. He slammed the ball home making it 1-nil at the break.

Coming out to make amends right away, enter Marco Tilio. The Sky-Blue star won the ball clearly in midfield then in the wet conditions, glided like a duck through the Rockdale defense before a calm finish into the roof the net for 1-1.

Not content with the first act, Tilio produced an encore. Sydney FC swept up field again, the ball onto the foot of King before he cut it back for Tilio to nestle it into the corner first time, 2-1 Sydney FC.

Rockdale knowing a loss would deliver a hammer blow to their finals hopes, pushed forward in numbers. They threw on Jordan Figon for some extra thrust but the set piece remained the option.

The delivery from Sasa Macura was perfect on the right as he lifted it onto the head of Leigh Egger but the defender wasn’t able to crane his neck enough, as it flew over.

Nikola Taneski had the chance to snatch a point for Rockdale City Suns. The attacker turned smartly close to the box, unleashed a low shot that Sydney FC custodian, Thomas Heward-Belle flew to the left to deny him.

Sydney FC confirmed their first three points in five weeks when through substitute Benjamin Koop. After clearing a dangerous Rockdale raid, the ball was lofted for Koop to chase against Trent McClenahan. The youngster got in front of his man then chipped home for 3-1 as the Sky Blues saw out the contest.

A delighted Jimmy Van Weeren enjoyed the effort from his young Sky Blues which he believes is a due reward for their persistence.

“The boys were first class tonight. We were disappointed to be 1-nil after gifting them a goal. We showed some mental toughness to get the points.” said Van Weeren.

“There were some real special moments from Marco tonight. He has shown that he can be a match winner. Now, we look to finish off the season with as many wins as possible.”

For Rockdale City Suns coach Nick Porreca it was another night his side paid the ultimate price for a few moments of madness.

“I thought we battled hard in the first half. The boys are battling hard with some injuries but a few defensive breakdowns cost us tonight.” He said.

Match Stats

Sydney FC 3 (Tilio ‘50, ‘52, Koop ‘90)

Rockdale City Suns FC 1 (Canak ‘45+2)

Saturday,6 July 2019

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: T. Danaskos

Assistant Referees: B. Wright & H. Fenton-White

Fourth Official: C. Wright

Sydney FC: 1. HEWARD-BELLE Thomas, 5. SCIBILIO Patrick, 6. VAN DER SAAG Harry, 8. KING Joel, 10. TILIO Marco (24. HOLLMAN ‘90+2), 11. IVANOVIC Luke (18. KOOP ‘68), 13. SWIBEL Jordan, 15. TEAGUE Ryan (34. NIEUWENHOF ‘76), 16. BONANNI Paolo, 17. TALBOT Callum, 54. MILINARIC Anton

Substitutes not used: 14. FAY Thomas, 40. KAYE Levi

Yellow cards: Scibilio

Red cards: nil

Rockdale City Suns FC: 1. BRADASEVIC David, 3. NEIL Michael, 7. UROSEVSKI Alec, 8. CANAK Aleksandar, 10. TANESKI Nikola, 11. EGGER Leigh, 12. EL HAFIANE Idriss, 15. PETRILLO Nic (9. GROZDANOVSKI ‘83), 17. LECCE Matthew, 18. MACURA Sasa (45. FIGON ‘70), 19. SAVOR Patrick (4. MCCLENAHAN ‘74)

Substitutes not used: 16. MALFARA Alex, 22. ROWSTON Max

Yellow cards: Macura, Taneski

Red cards: nil

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

Blacktown City prove too strong for plucky FC youngsters

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A spectacular Joey Gibbs bicycle kick has helped Blacktown City claim a dominant 3-1 win against Sydney FC at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday.

The highlight reel moment from the veteran striker wrapped up the win for Blacktown with a little more than ten minutes left on the clock in a match where they always held the upper hand.

Dakota Askew opened the scoring for Blacktown after only twenty minutes but the visiting Young Sky Blues evened the ledger from the penalty not long before the interval.

However, it was always going to be Blacktown’s day with Askew, and then Gibb’s incredible overhead finish wrapping up a clinical win for the Mark Crittenden coached side.

The result means City clings onto third spot on the ladder while Sydney FC are left languishing only one spot above the bottom in eleventh.

The hosts were on the front foot from the first minute. An early corner fell to Mani Gonzalez, who flashed a ball across the face of goal only for a Sydney player to clear the danger.

Sydney FC had a chance to take the lead against the run of play as Marco Tilo played Ivanovic through on goal but the linesman’s flag quickly brought a stop to that passage of play.

Blacktown began to settle in possession after a frantic start and Askew emerged as a particular threat, latching onto a cross from Matthew Lewis only to hammer a shot over the crossbar on the right.

Askew wasn’t nearly so wasteful with his next chance; leaping in a crowded box to flick a header inside the far post and into the back of the net midway through the first half.

Sydney FC immediately assumed control after the restart. Heward-Belle picked out Jordan Swibel with a fantastic pass out to the right wing, but the forward could only hit a weak shot at Tristan Prendergast. Swibel went close again soon after, forcing Predergast into a far more difficult save after a good ball into the box from Marco Tilio.

The Sky Blues would equalise soon enough; Marco Tilio winning a penalty to give Luke Ivanovic the opportunity to level for the visitors with a calm spot kick to Prendergast’s left.

The visitors might have gone in front with halftime approaching, as Harry Van Der Saag spotted Prendergast off his line and hit the ball towards goal. The goalkeeper backtracked and stretched to get a hand to the shot; giving away a corner but keeping his side in the game at the break.

The second half picked up at a rapid pace but neither side could find a cutting edge until Askew chased down a deep cross to ram a stunning volley inside the far post from the top of the box.

Sydney came back at their opponents again; Swibel firing over after being released down the left flank as Sydney looked to come from behind for the second time in the match.

As it was, Blacktown delivered a killer blow twelve minutes from time. Askew took the ball on the right wing and clipped a cross inside for Joey Gibbs, who delivered a spectacular overhead kick into the top corner.

It will take something extraordinary to beat this strike for goal of the season.

Mark Crittenden’s side are a week closer to securing their place in the top five, while Sydney FC must now turn their attention to a match against Rockdale as they look to finish the season on a high.

“It was a top game from both teams,” said Jim Van Weeren. “It’s just they scored two nice goals towards the back end of the second half.

“We showed good character to get level after going behind, and I thought we had the better of the chances early in the second half. Their second goal was nice, and third wasn’t bad either.

“We’re competitive, and we’re taking steps forward every week. We’ll take the positives out of today.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 3 (Askew 20’, 67’, Gibbs 78’)

Sydney FC 1 (Ivanovic 38’)

Sunday, 30 June 2019

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: C. Fisher

Assistants: S. Edeling, P. Teleki

Fourth official: J. Rose

Blacktown City: 1. PRENDERGAST Tristan, 3. COLLINS Daniel, 4. SPYRAKIS Yianni, 5. LYNCH Grant, 17. ASKEW Dakota, 19. BERRY Adam, 11. GONZALEZ Emmanuel (15. VERSI Mason), 6. LEWIS Matthew, 12. CAMPBELL Lachlan, 22. JENNINGS Leroy (10. DEMETRIOU James), 9. GIBBS Joey (16. HOWARTH Dale)

Yellow cards: Mason Versi

Red Cards:

Sydney FC: 16. BONANNI Paolo, 14. FAY Thomas, 11. IVANOVIC Luke, 8. KING Joel, 5. SCIBILIO Patrick, 17. TALBOT Callum (12. TILIO Giuseppe), 6. VAN DER SAAG Harry, 13. SWIBEL Jordan, 10. TILIO Marco, 15. TEAGUE Ryan, 1. HEWARD-BELLE Thomas

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

By National Premier Leagues Reporter Max Grieve.

 

Five-star Mount Druitt bounce ten man Sky Blues

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Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC climbed to eighth on the table on Saturday night after defeating a ten-man Sydney FC 5-3 in their National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Valentine Sports Park.

A Fabricio Fernandez hat-trick helped the Rangers punish the Young Sky Blues who went a man down after only 15 minutes into the contest.

The Uruguayan was at his devastating best in the match also set up Mirijan Pavlovic for a goal who himself finished the match with a trio of assists.

Sydney FC went down fighting with goals to Ryan Teague, Marco Tilio and Jordi Swibel setting up a thrilling finish to the match.

However, it was Fernandez’s match as he wrapped up the win for Mt Druitt, and his hat-trick, with a cool finish eight minutes out from full-time.

Sydney FC’s chances of turning their poor form around took a turn for the worst only eleven minutes in. Anton Lenaric was given his marching order after bringing down the last Rangers forward bearing down on goal.

Sydney’s reshuffle did little to stem the tide of Mount Druitt’s pressure when Mirjan Pavlovic set free Fabricio Fernandez who side footed into Thomas Heward-Belle’s near post to make it 1-0.

Heward-Belle was keeping Sydney in the match with a top notch one-on-one save against Toufic Alameddine shortly after the goal.

Joeys captain Ryan Teague, who was Sydney’s best on the park in the first half, equalled the ledger, flicking a ball at the near post over the head of Carlos Saliadarre.

The ten men of Sydney FC thought they might be able to sneak a point from the match, but Mount Druitt’s pressure and numbers quashed that optimism.

Alameddine’s pinpoint delivery to Fernandez saw his header saved onto the crossbar by Heward-Belle, but nothing could be done to stop the follow up of Pavlovic who scored his ninth of the season.

Seconds after the re-start Alameddine went clear through on goal but only the post stopped him from hitting the score sheet.

Fabricio Fernandez took the honours after Jordan Roberts’ outside of the foot switch found Pavlovic who took Callum Talbot to task. He set up Fernandez again who slammed home his ninth of the season.

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC kept the pressure on and were rewarded with a fourth as Nicholas Trimble pounced on a failed clearance by Luke Ivanovic to make it four.

Fernandez and Roberts had guilt edged chances to make it five but substitute Jordi Swibel pulled one back for Sydney, finishing one-on-one after a delightful ball through by Teague.

It was game on with just over 15 minutes of football to play on a cold night in Gleenwood.

Swibel nearly pulled another back after his shot was saved by the foot of Saliadarre but Marco Tilio brought it back to 4-3.

Sydney’s hard work was undone by Paolo Bonanni who attempted to dribble the ball out his own box and was dispossessed by Pavlovic who set up Fernandez for his hat-trick.

Sydney FC forward Luke Ivanovic lamented Sydney FC’s costly mistakes at the back

“With ten men we kept the ball well”, said Ivanovic.

“Felt like we played alright, silly mistakes cost us the game”

Mount Druitt Town Rangers boss Aidan Desmond sang the praises of his dynamite front two Fabricio Fernandez and Mirjan Pavlovic.

“We stopped playing, we sat back and let them play, they got a sniff and kept running for the whole ninety minutes”

“Scoring goals is not a problem here, Fernandez is a special player and when you have players like him (Pavlovic) who can link up, they’re dangerous.”

Sydney FC remain in second last spot after four losses in a row. They are seven points clear of Hakoah Sydney City East while the Rangers have hit some great form these past few weeks as they await whom they will get in the upcoming FFA Cup draw next week.

Match Stats

Sydney FC: 3 (Teague 38′, Swibel 74, Tilio 81′)

Mount Druitt Town Rangers FC:  5 (Fernandez 23′,43′, 82′, Pavlovic 39′, Trimble 49′)

Saturday 22nd June 2019

Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood

Referee: Adrian Arndt

Assistant Referees: S. Edeling, A. Giev

Fourth Official: I. Covic

Sydney FC: 1. Thomas Heward-Belle (GK), 16. Paolo Bonanni, 24 Jake Hollman, 11 Luke Ivanovic, 8 Joel King, 18 Benjamin Koop, 54 Anton Milnaric, 5 Patrick Scibillo, 17 Callum Talbot, 15 Ryan Teague, 6 Harry Van Der Saag.

Substitutes: 14 Thomas Fay, 30 Adam Pavlesic, 13 Jordi Swibel, 12 Giuseppe Tilio, 6 Harry Van Der Saag

Yellow Cards: 16. Paolo Bonanni (61’)

Red Cards: 56. Anton Milnaric (13’)

Mt. Druitt Town Rangers: 1. Carlos Saliadarre, 3. Jacob Esposito, 4. Solomon-John Monahan-Vaika, 5. Jake Mammone, 6. Blake Thompson, 10. Fabricio Fernandez, 11. Toufic Alemaddine, 12. Nicholas Trimble, 14. Mirjan Pavlovic, 16. Joshua Gould, 19. John Roberts

Substitutes: 9. Alex Boyadjan, 15. Cooper Coskerie, 17 Jordan Gomez, 23. Lachlan Roberts

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

By National Premier Leagues reporter Nicholas Rupolo (@BigRoopa)

Wolves breeze past Sydney FC in comfortable victory

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Wollongong Wolves have maintained their lead at the top of the National Premier League NSW Men’s ladder with a 4-0 win over Sydney FC at WIN Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A Thomas James brace and goals from Takeru Okada and Lachlan Scott was enough to get the job done for the Wolves in slippery conditions, with the side returning to winning ways after their 2-1 loss to Sydney United 58 last round.

Both sides struggled to adjust to the wet Wollongong weather in the opening exchanges, but the Wolves took the lead in the 36th minute after Harry Callahan lobbed a ball in the direction of Thomas James from the right-hand side of the field.

James made no mistake of the chance, deftly nodding the ball past Sydney keeper Thomas Heward-Belle and handing the hosts the only goal in a tight opening half.

The visitors had a chance to level the scores shortly before the half-time break, but a speculative shot from Harry Van der Saag was quickly collected by Justin Pasfield.

But the Wolves came out firing in the second phase of play, with the side doubling their lead in the 57th minute after a James Stojcevski free-kick saw a loose ball pushed out to Takeru Okada on the edge of the box.

The Japanese midfielder showed no mercy, rifling a shot through the crowded box and into the bottom-left corner to extend Wollongong’s lead.

The hosts added their third goal of the afternoon in the 76th minute, with the side awarded a penalty after Harry Callahan was brought down in the box. Thomas James stepped up to take the spot-kick, only to have his effort saved by Heward-Belle.

However, Wollongong’s Lachlan Scott was the first to the loose ball produced by the save, with the former Western Sydney Wanderer tapping the ball into the back of the net.

Wollongong completed their victory with a fourth goal six minutes from full-time, with James nodding home a Stojcevski free-kick to hand the Wolves all three points.

Wollongong coach Luke Wilkshire was pleased to secure the victory but noted his team could have done a lot more against their opponents.

“I think the first half I definitely wasn’t happy with – I think it was the worst half of football we have played,” he said.

“But credit to Sydney, I thought they were well organised defensively and did well in the first half. But the standards that we have, we weren’t up to them in the first half.

“It’s a sign of a good team when you can still win games when you are not at your best and we do have that here. We have a good team and seven games to go now, but like I said, we have our standards and for me we weren’t quite at them today, which is the disappointing bit.”

Meanwhile Sydney FC coach Jim Van Weeren was very pleased at how his young squad performed on the pitch but noted that the side can progress further.

“I think there was plenty of positives, the average age for us out there today was 18 and you come to Wollongong against the top of the table and I thought the young boys – a few of them starting on debut – did really well,” he said.”

“You always want to do better, we lost 4-0 and you can’t hide behind that, but we find the positives.

“There will be a few things we will try and work on in the week and we get a few boys back next week so, we move on.”

The Wolves will return to WIN Stadium for the fourth week in a row next round, hosting a stumbling Sydney Olympic side next Sunday while Sydney FC will host a resurgent Mount Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday evening, as the Sky Blues hope to end the Rangers’ three-match unbeaten run.

Match Stats

Wollongong Wolves FC 4 (Thomas James 36’, 84’, Takeru Okada 57’, Lachlan Scott 76’)

Sydney FC 0

Sunday 16th June, 2019

WIN Stadium, Wollongong

Referee: S. Lucas

Assistant Referees: L. Greenshields and R. Osborne

Fourth Official: B. Merchant

Wollongong Wolves: 1. Justin Pasfield, 2. Taylor McDonald, 4. Nikola Djordjevic, 6. Benjamin Tosi (16. Guy Knight 45’), 7. Christopher Price, 9. Thomas James, 11. Takeru Okada, 14. Harry Callahan (25. Bul Juach 81’), 15. Nick Littler, 17. James Stojcevski, 24. Lachlan Scott (13. Stefan Dimoski 76’)

Substitutes Not Used: 3. Darcy Madden 12. Luke Kairies (GK)

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney FC: 1. Thomas Heward-Belle, 4. Thomas Fay, 5. Patrick Scibilio, 6. Harry Van der Saag, 12. Giuseppe Tilio (11. Luke Ivanovic 58’), 15. Ryan Teague, 16. Paolo Bonanni, 17. Callum Talbot, 18. Benjamin Koop (7. Jaiden Kucharski 84’), 24. Jake Hollman (34. Calem Nieuwenhof 69’), 54. Anton Mlinaric

Substitutes Not Used: 21. Thomas Main, 30. Adam Pavlesic 

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings have now been hidden due to the second half of the season commencing.

By National Premier Leagues NSW Reporter Cal Behrendt (@CalBehrendt)