Upsets, drubbings and thrilling action were the order of the day in the National Premier League’s around the country on the weekend.
For a wrap of all the best NPL action around Australia, check out our state-by-state rundown below.
- Lead image from football NSW
NSW NPL
Form was thrown out the window in Round 12, with the league’s top-two sides both beaten over the weekend.
First-placed Sydney Olympic saw their nine-game unbeaten run come to an end at the hands of lowly Bonnyrigg White Eagles, beaten 1-0 thanks to Tynan Diaz’s 77th-minute goal.
But second-placed APIA Leichhardt failed to take advantage of Olympic’s slip-up, stunned 1-0 by Manly United in a replay of last season’s Grand Final.
Blacktown City in third also failed to pick up maximum points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Wollongong Wolves.
Elsewhere, Rockdale City Suns beat Sutherland Sharks 1-0, Hakoah Sydney City East were too good for Sydney FC winning 3-1, while Sydney United and Marconi Stallions played out a 2-2 draw.
WA NPL
Bayswater City maintained their three-point lead at the top in WA as they outclassed Balcatta 4-1 at Grindleford Reserve.
Three goals in the first 30 minutes had City cruising and they weren’t about to let the result slip, with a double from Arran Maplestone and goals to Luka Ninkovic and skipper Trent Kay completing the rout.
Cockburn City stayed on Bayswater’s heels as they defeated Subiaco 2-0 with Harry O’Brien and Anthony Skorich getting on the scoresheet.
In other results, Perth Glory stayed third with a 2-0 win over Perth SC, while Inglewood United had to show enormous resilience to edge past Stirling Lions 1-0.
ECU Joondalup ran out 2-1 winners over Sorrento, Forrestfield United moved out of the bottom three after a 1-1 draw with Floreat Athena and Armadale beat Joondalup United 3-1.
TASMANIA NPL
There was no stopping league-leaders Launceston City as they crushed a 10-man Kingborough 5-1 at Lightwood Park.
Odaine Demar saw red for the Lions and it proved costly as Noah Mies and Tyler Fischer both scored braces as City maintained their four-point lead at the top.
Devonport are in second and also had a commanding win with a hat-trick from the competition’s leading scorer Brayden Mann helping them to a 5-0 win over Clarence United.
Mann scored the opening three goals of the match to take his season tally to 12 after eight rounds.
Elsewhere, Olympia Warriors defeated Northern Rangers 3-0 and South Hobart were too strong for Hobart Zebras, winning 5-2.
QLD NPL
Gold Coast United are one of the form teams in Queensland, making it four wins in a row thanks to their 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar Youth.
A second-half strike from Curtis Stollery proved enough to move them up to seventh spot on the ladder.
One goal was all league-leaders Olympic FC needed as well, with Matt Mundy’s strike enough to beat Western Pride in the top-of-the-table clash.
In other results, Cairns FC edged past Sunshine Coast 2-1 and SWQ Thunder outclassed Redlands United 3-0.
Lions FC secured a huge 1-0 away win over Brisbane Strikers, Moreton Bay United got past Brisbane City 2-1 and Magpies Crusaders were too good for North QLD United 3-1.
NNSW NPL
Heading into Round 11 there were three teams equal at the top of the ladder but Edgeworth are the sole leaders following an intriguing weekend.
The Eagles were the only one of the three leaders to take all three points, overcoming Valentine FC 1-0 thanks to Will Bower’s 87-minute goal.
Charlestown City lost their perfect home record, going down 1-0 to Newcastle Jets Youth, with Kieran Hayes scoring the winner 10 minutes from time.
Elsewhere, Lambton Jaffas came from a goal down to beat Lake Macquarie City 2-1, Hamilton Olympic got past Weston Bears by the same score and Broadmeadow Magic and Maitland Magpies played out a goalless draw.
SA NPL
Campbelltown City flexed their muscles and proved they will be a serious title contender after a commanding 3-0 win away at Adelaide City.
In a clash that featured second v third in South Australia, City was far superior with Alexander Mullen, Dion Kirk and Adam Piscioneri getting the goals.
MetroStars maintained their two-point lead at the top of the ladder after a 2-0 win over WT Birkalla at TK Shutter Reserve.
Goals early in each half from Christian Esposito and Matthew Dawber gave MetroStars their 11th win from 13 matches this season.
Elsewhere, Sturt Lions and West Adelaide drew 1-1, South Adelaide won 3-1 at Croydon Kings and Adelaide Olympic beat Para Hill 1-0.
The match between Adelaide Comets and Adelaide United was washed out.
VICTORIA NPL
The latest round in Victoria ended with two matches on Monday night, with one of them seeing Bentleigh Greens head back to the top of the ladder.
The Greens recorded a hard-fought 3-1 win away at Bulleen Lions, scoring twice in the last 17 minutes to take all three points.
With scores locked at 1-1, Chris Lucas got on the end of Josh Meaker’s cross to edge Bentleigh in front before Dimi Hatzimouraitis made the points safe with his second of the night in stoppage-time.
In other results, Kingston City drew 1-1 with Green Gully, while the points were also shared between second-placed Avondale and third-placed Heidelberg in another 1-1 draw.
Oakleigh Cannons put in a five-star performance to crush Northcote City FC 5-2, Port Melbourne Sharks won a thriller 4-2 against South Melbourne.
Hume City edged past Pascoe Vale 2-1 and Dandenong Thunder accounted for Melbourne Knights 2-0 at George Andrews Reserve.
- There were no games played in the Capital Football competition in the ACT over the weekend.