It’s been another huge week for the National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition, with a new league leader coming at the end of Round 20.
There was plenty of fight from the teams this weekend as they come to the end of their 2022 campaigns and continue the tight fight for finals.
Manly United FC 2 - Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC 0 at Cromer Park
Thomas Fay bagged a quick-fire brace as Manly United returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Mount Druitt Rangers at Cromer Park on Friday night, which also reignited the club’s Premiership hopes.
Both goals arrived in the space of two minutes to help Adam Griffiths’ men push for an all-important top five position as well as a shot at the Premiership with two rounds to play.
Wollongong Wolves FC 0 - Marconi Stallions 0 at WIN Stadium
The Wollongong Wolves have managed to frustrate Marconi Stallions to a 0-0 draw at WIN Stadium on Friday night, a result that has opened the door for Blacktown City to leapfrog them following their match on Saturday against the Sutherland Sharks.
Despite a plethora of chances throughout the 90 minutes neither team was able to capitalise on their opportunities, leaving the game to finish goalless.
Three points would have been incredibly valuable to Marconi’s National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership campaign, but they’ll move forward with one point as they enter the final two matches of the season.
Northbridge Bulls FC 2 - Rockdale Ilinden FC 1 at Sydney United Sports Centre
Rockdale Ilinden’s finals hopes have taken a hit as the youngsters from Northbridge Bulls FC recorded a 2-1 victory, their third successive win, at the Sydney United Sports Centre on Saturday afternoon.
Jesper Webber opened the scoring with a curler, then a late Nathan Dimou goal made it win number five for the Bulls.
The visitors did equalise through Bai Antoniou but couldn’t find another goal in a tight tussle against the Bulls.
The loss dealt a huge blow to Rockdale Ilinden’s finals hopes with two games remaining in the season.
Sutherland Sharks FC 0 - Blacktown City FC 1 at Seymour Shaw
A much improved Sutherland Sharks put up a good fight against Blacktown City, but were powerless to stop the juggernaut in a 1-0 defeat at Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was that man again, Travis Major who netted the only goal of the game, his sixth since coming back from overseas a few weeks ago, after being set up by substitute Charles Mendy midway through the second half, to side-foot home in a frustrating afternoon for the visitors.
Sydney FC 0 - Sydney United 58 FC 1 at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Sydney United 58 managed to upset Sydney FC’s finals hopes with a 1-0 victory over the young Sky Blues at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
A 90th minute goal to Kyle Cimenti was all the visitors needed to upset the hosts, after Sydney FC went down to 10 men in the first half of the match.
Despite the young, energetic sky blues creating some great opportunities throughout the match, United 58’s experience saw them hold out for a late victory that sees Sydney FC’s finals fight become a much harder battle.
APIA Leichhardt FC 0 - Sydney Olympic FC 1 at Lambert Park
Sydney Olympic earned crucial points against APIA Leichhardt with a 1-0 victory on Sunday evening at Lambert Park.
A Roy O’Donovan header early in the second half was the difference between the two teams despite a 90-minute battle that proved to be a tight affair befitting the occasion of a grand clash between two historic giants.
If three points are the name of the game then Sydney Olympic certainly achieved that, but APIA Leichhardt will be disappointed not to have secured a point in the inner-west derby between two of the oldest and proudest clubs in Australia.