Let’s check out the mini reviews from Round 26 of the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition.
Sydney FC 1 v NWS Spirit FC 0 at Valentine Sports Park
Sydney FC left it late but secured a hard fought 1-0 victory over the NWS Spirit FC thanks to a 91st minute strike by Mitchell Glasson at Valentine Sports Park in the only Round 26 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash on Friday night.
The young Sky Blues further added to the NWS Spirit FC’s woes as David Perkovic’s men last secured three points in Round 22.
Sydney Olympic 5 v Central Coast Mariners 1 at Belmore Sports Ground
A rampant Sydney Olympic side secured an emphatic 5-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners in round 26 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s action at Belmore Sports Ground.
The game was done and dusted in the first-half as goals from Roy O’Donovan, Jacob Cresnar, Fabio Ferreira and Adam Parkhouse gave the Blues a 4-0 lead into the break.
The Mariners responded with a goal of their own in the 76th minute via Aidan Milicevic but it proved to be a consolation as Nick Fitzgerald completed the onslaught with a goal in the 87th minute to gift Olympic a resounding 5-1 victory.
Bulls FC Academy 0 v Western Sydney Wanderers 5 at Sydney United Sports Centre
Western Sydney Wanderers put on an absolute clinic demolishing National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s cellar dwellers Bulls FC Academy 5-0 at the Sydney United Sports Centre to move one point clear of the relegation battle zone against the Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday.
The Wanderers were simply too clinical against a brave Bulls outfit who were unable to contain what was a high and fast press of the Red and Black squad that were fuelled on nothing less than a victory to help them with their relegation dogfight against the Rangers.
Alex Badolato got the Wanderers off to a great start with a neat goal thanks to some superb lead-up play by Marcus Younis in the 8th minute.
Zac Sapsford then got in on the act in the 39th minute with a nice header before scoring a scorching goal in the 49th minute and his second of the match to give the Wanderers a 3-0 lead.
Jed Drew had a chance to bring the Bulls back into the match but had his spot-kick saved by Jack Gibson in the 57th minute.
The Wanderers then went on to complete the drubbing as Aidan Simmons and substitute Adam Bugarija gifted the visitors the three precious points.
The victory for the Wanderers has put them a point in front of 15th placed Mt Druitt Town Rangers with this years rules stating the team finishing in second last position will play a two-legged playoff against the team finishing second in the League One Men’s competition.
APIA Leichhardt 1 v Blacktown City 2 at Lambert Park
Blacktown City have defeated league leaders APIA Leichhardt 2-1 to extend their winning streak to eight matches with a strong performance at Lambert Park.
Blacktown dominated the opening stages of the match, but APIA opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, with Jack Stewart converting a penalty after great work from Adrian Ucchino on multiple occasions to win the ball.
APIA created a multitude of chances to go ahead after, but couldn’t convert, and Blacktown were back in the second half, scoring firstly off a pinpoint set piece and then a fantastic Mario Shabow cross.
Blacktown managed the game well in the closing stages, but APIA hit the woodwork on two occasions as they searched for the elusive leveller.
St George City 6 v Mt Druitt Town Rangers 0 at Penshurst Park
Six unanswered goals and six different scorers saw St George City destroy Mt Druitt Town Rangers who have now slipped into relegation trouble following their heavy 6-0 defeat at Penshurst Park on Saturday evening.
Three goals in each half with Presley Ortiz, Paolo Mitry and Mo Khamis scoring in the opening stanza before Nathan Roberts, Pedro Ferrari and Andrew Vlahamadis all but assured City’s romp over the Rangers in their round 26 encounter.
Manly United 1 v Sutherland Sharks 0 at Cromer Park
Manly United snatched a 1-0 victory over Sutherland Sharks on Saturday night at Cromer Park to continue their strong late-season form.
After monumental wins against Mount Druitt Town Rangers and APIA Leichhardt in successive weeks, the Northern Beaches outfit made it three in a row in round 26.
Manly United defender James Oates scored the decisive goal in the 59th minute in a meaningful return to action for the captain.
Rockdale Ilinden 1 v Marconi 0 at Ilinden Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden maintained its 2023 Premiership hopes albeit playing the majority of the match with ten men as they all but ended the Marconi Stallions’ run at the title with a heroic 1-0 victory in a tense affair at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
Iain Ramsay scored the only goal of the match early in the first half before pandemonium set in as Ilinden keeper David Bradasevic was given his marching orders prior to the half-time whistle blowing.
It was all hands on deck for the hosts from there on as 18-year-old keeper James Husoy was brought on and what a performance the youngster had as he and his chargers pulled off an almighty result that kept Rockdale’s title ambitions alive.
Sydney United 58 2 v Wollongong Wolves 1 at Sydney United Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 secured a well-deserved 2-1 win over Wollongong Wolves at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
Patrick Antelmi opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark, but the Wolves fired back only a few minutes later through Lachlan Scott.
Antelmi made it brace midway through the second half which proved to be the winning goal.