Big guns exit McDonald?s Cup as Round 3 sends tournament into overdrive
Premiership hot-shots Bonnyrigg White Eagles were brought back down to earth when a highly motivated South Coast Wolves travelled to the Bonnyrigg Sports Club and took all the glory winning 2-1 on the night. Brad Boardman scored for the home side while for the triumphant Wolves, ace marksman Mark Picciolini and promising Under 20?s star Nick Littler proved too strong for their highly fancied opponents.
Super League outfit Granville Rage sent NSW Premier League side and former NSL giants Sydney Olympic packing with a gallant 3-2 victory at Garside Park. Nick Porreca?s Rage side opened the scoring in the 39th minute when Kris Holbrook struck before Olympic striker Matthew Mayora equalised in the 51st minute. The Rage then added a second in the 74th when former Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Parramatta Eagles striker Freddie Graham brought the home fans to life only to concede with three minutes remaining courtesy of a James Monie equaliser. With the game headed to extra-time the Rage pulled out one more chance and it was Pat Capuccio who stole the headlines when he notched the winner in the 90th minute which sent the Blues tumbling out of the McDonald?s Cup.
The battle of the NSW Premier League clubs took place at Marconi Stadium between the Marconi Stallions and West Sydney Berries and it took a goal in the 107th minute via Matthew Hall who returned from injury to book the home side a spot in the final 16 of the competition. The match ended 0-0 in what was a hard fought match between the two NSW Premier League rivals.
State League One side Blacktown Spartans ended Rockdale City Suns? run in the Cup courtesy of a 1-0 victory at a chilly Francis Park to Ben De Haan?s men.
2009 Cup winners Sutherland Sharks commenced their assault on retaining their silverware with a gritty 1-0 victory over Super League side St George FC at St George Stadium. The only goal of the match came courtesy of well known Cup specialist Panny Nikas which was all that separated both sides on the scoreboard.
Newly rejuvenated NSW Premier League side A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers ended Manly Association based side Mosman?s run in the Cup with a 3-1 win at Cromer Park. The Tigers took the trek up North and came away with a valuable spot in the round of 16 thanks to goals from Robbie Younis, Hirofumi Moriyasu and Mark Byrnes.
Sydney United were given a run for their money as they were taken to extra-time against tough State League One side Inter Lions. The game ended 1-1 before the Reds stormed in for a 4-2 victory thanks to the assistance of former Newcastle Jets striker Mirjan Pavlovic who bagged a hat-trick while United?s young sensation Tommy Cirjak scored his first goal for the club.
Phil Moss? Manly United side scored a 5-1 win over Manly Association?s Collaroy Cromer Strikers in front of a strong 700 plus crowd at Cromer Park on Tuesday evening. Labelled a local derby, Robbie Cattanach opened the scoring before Chris Payne added a second and Joey Gibbs added a third. Craig Midgley made it 4-0 before Klaus Lejon scored a consolation goal for the Strikers before Adam Foti ended the game with the fifth and final goal in the match. On a negative note for Manly promising young striker Justin Hayward?s season all but ended as he broke his ankle in an unfortunate incident.
Bankstown City FC romped home to an 8-0 smashing of State League One side Schofields Scorpions at Jensen Park which saw goalkeeper Zlatko Joseski get on the scoresheet via the penalty spot.
Aytek Genc?s Blacktown City FC side proved too much for State League One opponents Stanmore Hawks as they won convincingly 7-0 at Lily Homes Stadium. Double strikes from Luke Roodenburg and Tolgay Ozbey and goals from Luka Dukic, Nick Fitzgerald and Travis Major finished off the Hawks.
State League One side Fairfield City Lions produced one of the shocks of the Cup amongst others as they defeated Super League pacesetters Parramatta Eagles 2-1 at Melita Stadium. A double by classy young Lions striker Ben Cronk sent the Lions faithful into raptures as they claimed the scalp of a Super League club, a second, after defeating the Macarthur Rams in Round 2 of the McDonald?s Cup.
Super League side Northern Tigers made the trek to Bensons Lane and were too strong for State League Two side Hawkesbury City defeating the home team 4-0.
Spirit FC booked a spot to potentially face a NSW Premier League side as they ran out 2-0 winners against State League One side Camden Tigers at Christie Park.
It was all smiles for Sutherland based Gwawley Bay who won the battle of the Association sides and remained the only club left flying the Association flag as they defeated Blacktown?s Doonside Hawks 4-1 at Glendenning Reserve.
Super League side Sydney University taught State League One side Mounties Wanderers a lesson as they scored a resounding 7-1 victory at Cook Park on Tuesday evening.
Finally 2009 Illawarra Premier League Champions Dandaloo scored a good 4-1 victory over State League One league leaders Hills Brumbies at John Crehan Park thanks to three goals by David Reid and a goal from Ben Price.
The round of 16 draw will be made at Football NSW offices with fixtures to be made public very shortly.
Round 3 McDonald?s Cup Results
Mounties Wanderers 1 v 7 Sydney University
Spirit FC 2 v 0 Camden Tigers
Parramatta Eagles 1 v 2 Fairfield City Lions
Manly United FC 5 v 1 Collaroy Cromer Strikers
Blacktown City FC 7 v 0 Stanmore Hawks
Marconi Stallions 0 v 0, (1) v (0) West Sydney Berries
Granville Rage 3 v 2 Sydney Olympic
Hawkesbury City 0 v 4 Northern Tigers
Mosman 1 v 3 APIA Leichhardt Tigers
Doonside Hawks 1 v 4 Gwawley Bay
Sydney United 1 v 1, (4) v (2) Inter Lions
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 v 2 South Coast Wolves
St George FC 0 v 1 Sutherland Sharks
Bankstown City Lions 8 v 0 Schofields Scorpions
Dandaloo 4 v 1 Hills Brumbies
Blacktown Spartans 1 v 0 Rockdale City Suns
-By Mark Stavroulakis
