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NSWPL Round 18 Review[/size]
Bonnyrigg White Eagles extended their lead at the top of the NSW Premier League ladder with a late showing against Blacktown City FC to secure a 2-0 on Saturday.
The two sides exchanged chances throughout the encounter, the visitors mainly via the feet of Tolgay Ozbey on the counter-attack, meanwhile the White Eagles best chances fell to Brad Boardman. The territorial dominance by Bonnyrigg paid dividends in the final 10’ minutes of the match as Brian Brown’s team scored twice to seal the three-points. A perfectly weighted cross from Jamie McMaster picked out Nathan Elasi to head home in the 81’ minute, before the visitors were reduced to ten-men following Kain Rastall’s two yellow cards in the space of 3’ minutes.
Elasi proved too hot to handle in the 89’ minute as he played a delightful square-ball into the path of Boardman who finished with aplomb to seal the win.
At Marconi Stadium, the Stallions fell further behind the White Eagles on the League ladder after being held to a 2-2 draw by Bankstown City. In an entertaining 90’ minutes of football, Marconi hit the front prior to the break via a Nahuel Arrarte penalty. The Stallions stalwart coolly slotted home after Erick Anabalon was fouled by Lions goalkeeper Zlatko Joseski. Robbie Mileski found the equaliser with an exquisite ‘chipped effort’ from the edge of the penalty-area, before the Lions had the chance to take the lead via the penalty-spot. Tallan Martin hit the crossbar with his effort, following a foul on George Nohra, keeping the scores level. Despite the set-back, Bankstown City did find the lead courtesy of Hussein Akil. The Lions striker made the most of some suspect Marconi defending, taking his chance nicely with a fine finish past James Chronopoulos.
The lead lasted only 3’ minutes as Stallions’ youngster Mitchell Mallia equalized with a fine effort from outside the penalty-area beating Joseski for a share of the spoils.
Sutherland Sharks and Sydney United fought out a 2-2 draw at Seymour Shaw, a result that does little for both sides’ bid to push closer to the top of the League ladder. Elsid Barkhousir again showed his importance with the go-ahead goal after 11’ minutes. The striker, who has recently returned from injury, combined well with Mirjan Pavlovic to slot home past Nathan Denham for the opening goal. Jim Bakis equalised on 22’ minutes from the penalty-spot following Damon Collina’s handball as the sides went into the break with the scores level.
The second-half produced action aplenty, and it was Sydney United to take the lead in the 67’ minute. Pavlovic made the most of some suspect defending to chip Reds goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic, though the Sharks would again draw level before the end. A Jim Bakis free-kick ricocheted off the upright and fell into the path of Chris Price who made no mistake in slotting home past Denham. The final bit of action saw Sydney United player/coach David Zdrilic receive his marching orders, 3’ minutes after entering the field of play. The final result sees Sydney United lose ground on Bonnyrigg White Eagles, even though the Reds maintain second spot for another week. The Sharks on the other hand have been caught in fifth-spot by the flying A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers.
On Sunday afternoon, West Sydney Berries salvaged a point against Rockdale City Suns with a late Dimitri Zakilas goal. The Suns hit the front shortly after the second-half re-start via the penalty-spot as Sash Tirovski was pulled up for a handball inside the Berries penalty-area. As has been the case on numerous occasions this season, Rockdale City captain Peter Apolevski calmly converted his spot-kick to send his side ahead. Despite pressuring for an equaliser, the Berries play in the final third lacked conviction. Substitute John Tsironis added some stability up-front for the home-side, and it was his influence that brought about the Berries equaliser. Tsironis showed his strength down the right-flank to beat his marker and cut inside to play a low cross into the path of Zakilas who had no trouble in blasting the ball into the back of the net from close-range.
Both sides had chances late on with Dominic Hudap hitting the post for the Suns, meanwhile Tirovski blasted over the crossbar from a promising position following a poorly cleared effort by the Rockdale City defence.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers impressive run continued with another win moving the side into sixth spot on the ladder. The Tigers scored two second-half goals – both via Robert Younis – to see off a modest Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground. Younis combined well with Franco Parisi for the opening goal, the latter blasting home from close-range past Paul Henderson in the Sydney Olympic goal.
Moments later, Hirofumi Moriyasu played a tricky ball into the Sydney Olympic penalty-area – where the Blues failed to clear – allowing Younis to fire home for a two-goal lead. The Tigers win sees the side draw on level points with Sutherland Sharks, making the final four rounds an interesting prospect as the rush for finals football heats up.
Manly United FC recorded an impressive 5-2 defeat of South Coast Wolves at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Sunday afternoon, as the Cromer Park side aims to move as far away from the foot of the League ladder as possible. Against the run of play, Tayfun Buyukkopru opened the scoring for the Wolves, before Scott Balderson equalised no less than 60’’ seconds later for the visitors. The Wolves afternoon took a turn for the worst as Greg Valic was shown a straight red card for last man foul on Adam Foti prior to the break.
After the restart, the Manly United took advantage of the numerical advantage as Foti put the Cromer Park side ahead. Jason Trifiro though drew the two sides level as he latched onto Andres Gomez’s square pass to blast into the back of the net.
Manly United veteran Luke Casserly showed all his experience with a sensational free-kick from 30-yards finding the top right-hand corner of the goal.
Despite the Wolves best efforts to claw their way back into the match, Manly United added two more goals in the final 10’ minutes as Robbie Cattanach and Andrew Mailer both found the back of the net with long-range efforts.
-By Joseph Carlucci
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