TeleChoice Premier League Round 12 Review
Penrith-Nepean United-Marconi Stallions, West Sydney Berries-Sydney Olympic and Wollongong Community FC-Bankstown City will all be re-scheduled by Football NSW in the coming days; please visit WEB Site www.footballnsw.com.au for updates.
The three played matches produced some very interesting results, none more so than Blacktown City?s 3-0 defeat of League leader Sydney United at Sydney United Sports Centre.
The Demons, who have had their season marred by a number of off-field situations affecting the club, pulled together to produce their best performance of the season against an Ante Milicic-less Sydney United. The Reds? boss was on Young Socceroos duty with the team in Holland, though nothing can be taken away from the Demons performance.
A dominance of possession in the early stages finally paved the way for the opening goal on 24? minutes as new signing Adam Kwasnik headed home a Daniel Wilkinson free-kick from the right-flank. Matt Lewis added the Demons second – heading home from close-range – prior to the break, leaving the home supporters in complete shock.
Despite the addition of Elsid Barkhousir to the playing field, Sydney United failed to capitalise on any of the possession they created. The home-side?s chances of salvaging anything from the match went out the window on 59? minutes as experienced striker David Zdrilic picked up two yellow cards in 2? minutes. The salt was rubbed into the wounds of the Reds players 14? minutes from the end as Kwasnik turned provider for Lewis; the latter heading home for an unassailable 3-0 lead.
At Leichhardt Oval, Bonnyrigg White Eagles returned to the winner?s list with a hard-fought 1-0 win against Sydney Tigers. Despite the Tigers creating the clearer chances, in a sometimes dour encounter, the White Eagles snatched the points on 76? minutes when substitute Domenic Cutri finished with aplomb following some neat play by Milorad Simonovic.
The Tigers had late chances to Jamie McMaster and then Robbie Younis, though the visitors would grind out the win to move up to eighth-spot on the League ladder.
On Saturday evening, Manly United FC recorded an immense 1-0 win against Sutherland Sharks. Phil Moss? men were still buzzing following the defeat of Sydney United in Round 11, and the tidy performance at Seymour Shaw deservedly handed the side maximum points from this encounter.
A deflected Mitch Macedo effort fell into the path of striker Giosue Sama; the Manly striker perfectly curled a left-foot effort around the outstretched Sharks goalkeeper, Nathan Denham, for the opening goal on 36? minutes.
The Sharks best efforts were easily marshaled by a stout performance by Matthew Bingley and Spencer Prior in defence, assisted greatly by Joey Schrippa. Manly United?s one-touch passing and composure on the ball proved too great for the Sharks to overcome; a task that was made impossible following Neil Jablonski?s second yellow card 8? minutes from the end.
-By Joseph Carlucci
