Round 6 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s is complete and there were plenty of goals and action across the weekend.
Some big wins were secured as the fight to the top of the ladder continued.
Catch up on everything you need to know from the weekend below.
Northbridge Bulls FC 1 – Blacktown City FC 3 at Sydney United Sports Centre
A blisteringly fast-paced match at Sydney United Sports Centre saw Blacktown City earn a 3-1 victory against Northbridge Bulls on Saturday afternoon.
A brace of penalties from club captain Matthew Lewis and a goal to Jordan Smylie guided Blacktown City to victory as one goal to Diego Bonilla kept Northbridge on the scoreboard but not quite in the game.
The result gives valuable momentum to Blacktown, who face up with Marconi Stallions in a mid-week makeup match on Wednesday evening.
Sutherland Sharks 0 – Sydney Olympic 2 at Seymour Shaw
Sydney Olympic secured a 2-0 victory over Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw on Saturday evening in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Match of the Round.
Sutherland Sharks, one of this season’s top goal scorers, were up against the league’s meanest defence when they hosted Sydney Olympic in what has been, over the years, a fiercely contested local derby.
Irishman Roy O’Donovan secured both goals for the visitors, slotting home a penalty just inside the right-hand post in the 24th minute before adding a second in stoppage time.
Manly United FC 2 – Wollongong Wolves FC 0 at Cromer Park Field 2
It was one for the history books with Manly United FC defeating Wollongong Wolves FC 2-0 on Saturday night for the first time since 2016.
Back on the unfamiliar ground of Cromer Park #2, it was an entertaining display from both sides, however goals to Manly United’s Bruno Mendes and Thomas Fay would be enough to bring home the three points.
The 35th minute saw Brazilian maestro Bruno Mendes score his second goal in the Manly jersey for the 2022 NPL NSW Men’s season.
A pass from Thomas Fay at the top of the box saw the Brazilian turn and slam the ball into the bottom left corner, giving the hosts the lead.
A long ball from Matt Sim in the 69th dropped over the top, finding Thomas Fay who, with pressure from the Wollongong defence, lobbed Wollongong keeper Hayden Durose to bring the score to 2-0.
Sydney United 58 FC 0 – Rockdale Ilinden FC 2 at Sydney United Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden signaled its Premiership and Championship ambitions for 2022 upstaging Sydney United 58 with 15 minutes of magic to secure a 2-0 victory at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Goals to Alex Masciovecchio and Alec Urosevski within the first 15 minutes of the match from United 58 errors were enough to secure a valuable three points for Ilinden in a tough trip to United 58’s home ground.
Despite putting up a good fight, the hosts weren’t able to convert their chances and the defensive strength of Rockdale was on display as they kept a clean sheet against one of the most dangerous teams in the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
Sydney FC 4 – APIA Leichhardt FC 3 at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Sydney FC managed a sensational 4-3 victory over APIA Leichhardt at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre in the much-anticipated top of the table clash.
The unbeaten Sydney FC side squared up against league leaders APIA Leichhardt Tigers in a seven-goal thriller that saw seven different goal scorers.
Sydney FC’s Adrian Segecic, Patrick Wood, Jaiden Kucharski and Clayton Taylor all made their way on the scoresheet, cancelling out goals to APIA Leichhardt’s Jason Romero, Sean Symons and Jack Armson, in a delightful display of counter-attacking football for the young sky blues.
The Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Marconi Stallions match was washed out.