NSW Premier League Round 9 Review

The White Eagles took full advantage of South Coast Wolves slip-up at home, meanwhile Rockdale City Suns moved into seventh-spot after recording its biggest ever win in the Premier League ? 4-0 over Blacktown Spartans.
The Manly United FC ? Marconi Stallions clash was postponed. Please visit www.footballnsw.com.au for an update on the new date for this fixture.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Parramatta FC 0
League leader Bonnyrigg White Eagles maintained its fine run with a 1-0 defeat of Parramatta FC at home on Saturday evening. A solitary goal early on in the second-half proved the difference as Mitch Long was on-hand to convert from close-range following goalkeeper Matthew Nash?s initial parry of Alex Mansueto?s long-range drive.
Despite the close score line, the Eagles were under the pump for the larger part of the match, and it was the heroics of Nash who kept the deficit at only one. The former A-League shot-stopper was in great touch, frustrating Robbie Younis & Co. throughout the 90? minutes.
Parramatta FC showed once again that they can frustrate the big boys, and Lee Sterrey will be looking to build on the fine progress seen over the last month in particular.
For Bonnyrigg White Eagles, the win sees an eight-point lead open up on the League ladder, two rounds out from the midway point of the season.
Sutherland Sharks 0 Sydney Olympic 4
Reigning champions Sydney Olympic handed Sutherland Sharks a rare home defeat on Saturday ? the heaviest defeat the Sharks have succumbed to at home in recent memory.
4-0 the encounter ended in favour of the Blues in a match where Peter Tsekenis? men perfectly executed their game plan in forcing a high tempo, high pressing approach.
David Gullo was on hand to open the scoring from close-range after the Sharks failed to clear a corner. Gullo blasted his effort into the roof of the net on 17? minutes, amidst a sea of scrambling legs that attempted to thwart the chance.
A fine Sydney Olympic counterattack provided the second goal of the evening, and it arrived via Chris Triantis. His perfectly drilled effort from the edge of the penalty-area left Nathan Denham helpless.
After the break, the Sharks? best efforts to find a way back into the match went unrewarded as both Panni Nikas and Nick Stavroulakis attempted to find a breakthrough. Instead, Sam Awad coolly slotted home to put the result beyond doubt before Kutaiba Elrich blasted home a fourth goal in the 90? minute from distance, much to the delight of the travelling Sydney Olympic supporters.
South Coast Wolves 1 Blacktown City FC 2
Blacktown City FC drew level with South Coast Wolves on the League ladder following its come from behind win at John Crehan Park.
The Wolves took the lead early on in the encounter via a Mark Picciolini penalty. Peter Simonovski won his side the penalty following some neat build-up play, and Picciolini gave Brody Crane no chance with the spot-kick.
Some fine build-up play by the visitors shortly after the half-hour mark produced an equaliser. Travis Major was on hand to tap home from close-range and re-open the contest.
Some sloppy defending by the Wolves on 66? minutes provided Blacktown City with the match winner, with the ball finishing in the back of the net off a Wolves defender.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 Sydney United 58 FC 2
Ivo Bosnar and Ante Tomic got the goals for Sydney United 58 FC at Lambert Park against APIA-Leichhardt ? the goals arriving on each side of Andrew Bevin?s equaliser ? to get the Reds season back on track following some hiccups over the past month.
Bosnar opened the scoring in the 21? minute with a nice finish from outside the penalty-area.
The Tigers restored parity shortly after the hour mark as Wandi Jajaw provided Bevin with a neat pass to equalise, however the joy for the Tigers was short lived.
At the other end, Tomic found himself in space to beat Stefan Giglio with a nice finish from an acute angle to secure three-points for Sydney United who now move into the top-five.
Rockdale City Suns 4 Blacktown Spartans 0
Rockdale City Suns kept its unbeaten League run under coach Mark Rudan intact with an emphatic 4-0 defeat of Blacktown Spartans on Sunday. The Suns came out of the blocks firing, and the side found itself two goals to the good within 4? minutes.
Peter Apolevski centred for Tom Cirjak on 2? minutes as the youngster blasted the ball into the back of the net with a strong finish.
2? minutes later and Alec Urosevski was on hand to score from close-range following a goalmouth scramble.
Despite the Spartans best attempts to get into the match, Apolevski added a third for his side just shy of the 20? minute.
The route was complete just before the break as Paul Kohler slalomed his way past the Spartans defenders before striking sweetly past Carlos Salidarre in the Spartans goal.
The win puts the Suns just outside the top-five, with the side lifting in confidence as we approach the conclusion of the first part of the season.
-By Joseph Carlucci