TeleChoice Premier League Round 9 Review

The Reds made the most of Manly United?s slip-up at Blacktown City on Saturday to open up their biggest lead of the season to-date with a hard-fought display in the defeat of Sydney Olympic on Sunday.
At the bottom of the table, West Sydney Berries and Bonnyrigg White Eagles were the biggest movers with important wins on the road revitalising both sides? aspirations of a push for finals football.
Sydney United?s fine start to the season continued with an important win against one of the Reds major challengers for the title this season. Despite the Blues indifferent start to the season, the former NSL side still remains a favourite for the title for many neutral observers. The Reds performance on Sunday though, illustrated their intent for silverware in 2009.  
Sydney Olympic got a ?head start? when some slack marking by the home-side allowed Matthew Mayora to sneak behind the defence and divert the ball into the back of the net. Despite both sides giving very little away in the centre of the park, Sydney United found an equaliser on 31? minutes via David Zdrilic. Ante Milicic?s precise pass into the path of the former Sydney FC striker allowed Zdrilic to round goalkeeper Sam Emmanouil and slot home from close-range. The winning goal arrived 10? minutes from the end when Elsid Barkhousir scored his second ?headed goal? in two matches after meeting Damon Collina?s floated cross from the right-flank.
Bankstown City returned to the winner?s list with a much needed ?three-pointer? at home against Penrith-Nepean United. Hussein Salameh and Robert Mileski scored on either side of the half-time break to consolidate the 2-0 win for last season?s Tiger Turf Cup winner, a result that sees the Lions join Penrith-Nepean United on 12-points and sitting three-points outside the Top-Five.
West Sydney Berries won their first match since Round 1 with a potentially ?season changing? victory away against Wollongong Community FC. Kosta Lagoudakis scored the Berries opener on 20? minutes via a free-kick, before Dimitri Zakilas secured the three-points 5? minutes from the end following a speedy counter-attack.
Wollongong?s approach to the match was very positive with the side taking the match to their opponent, though a well organised Berries outfit made the most of their chances and will head into the Round 10 clash against Sydney Tigers with renewed confidence.
On Saturday evening, Brian ?Bomber? Brown made an immense impact upon his return to Seymour Shaw with his new side Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Brown ? and Assistant Cliff Pointer ? led the Sharks to the Minor Premiership and a Grand Final appearance in 2008, though their return to Sharks territory was far less amusing for the home side. The White Eagles fought gallantly as they twice came from behind to defeat Sutherland 4-3 in a thrilling finale.
Bonnyrigg did open the scoring courtesy of ?Man of the Match? Milorad Simonovic via a powerful long-range effort. The Sharks responded via Panagiotis Nikas prior to the break, before Brad Boardman continued his positive run in-front of goal with the Sharks? second of the night. Almir Dizdaric drew the White Eagles level before Chris Price again sent the Sharks ahead on 74? minutes. Simonovic left the home faithful in silence as his second thunderous effort of the evening, again from distance, squared the ledger.
Frederick Graham?s long-range effort in the 4? minute of injury-time ricocheted off the crossbar, before hitting the back of a committed Sharks goalkeeper Nathan Denham, and trickling its way into the back of the net.
At Marconi Stadium, the ?Italo-Australian? Derby was graced by the presence of visiting Italian officials who took control of the Marconi Stallions – Sydney Tigers match.
In a fixture where more than the three-points are on the line, the Stallions managed to snatch an injury-time equaliser to deny the Tigers what would have been their first win since Round 6.
Robert Younis hit the Tigers ahead via the penalty-spot following a foul by Christopher Nunes. The Stallions had a penalty of their own prior to the break, though Tigers? goalkeeper Phillip Zabaks did exceptionally well to deny Stallions skipper Nahuel Arrarte with a world class save.
The Stallions found their equaliser in the 3? minute of second-half injury-time as an Ali Al-Hilfi free-kick was headed onto the crossbar by Alexander Canak; Big striker Ben Vidaic was on the spot to pick up the crumbs and blast the ball into the back of the net from close-range.
At Gabbie Stadium, Blacktown City Demons squandered a two-goal lead against Manly United FC for a 3-3 final result; the visitors finding their equaliser in the 89? minute courtesy of striker Giosue Sama.
The Demons seemed to be cruising at 3-1 with under 30? minutes remaining, as Chris Bedzo, Luke Casserly and Joel Chianese found the mark for the Demons. Joel Grenell had momentarily tied proceedings after Bedzo?s ?go-ahead? goal, though striker Giosue Sama won the bragging rights against his brother Nick ? vesting the colours of Blacktown City ? as he scored Manly United?s final two goals to snatch a point for Phil Moss? team.

-By Joseph Carlucci