NSW Premier League Grade 20 Round 10 Review

Five of the six matches were able to be played despite the inclement weather that engulfed Sydney over the weekend, though unfortunately Marconi Stallions vs Rockdale City Suns succumbed on Saturday evening.
The match of the round between second placed Blacktown City and top of the table Sutherland Sharks produced a match worthy of their lofty league positions, as well as providing a taste of the style of football that all the teams are aspiring to play. 
MATCH OF THE ROUND
BLACKTOWN CITY FC 2-3 SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Sutherland Sharks defeated Blacktown City in a hotly contested top of the table encounter on a dreary, cold Sunday afternoon, witnessed by the true lovers of the game who braved the inclement conditions to venture out to see what turned out to be a quality football match. 
Whilst the second half didn’t match the first in terms of quality, as Blacktown City fell just short of pulling off a comeback, their two second half goals not enough to overturn the 3-0 deficit they took into the half time break.
Christopher Naumoff, Patrick Savor and Klim Gjoreski had given Sutherland that lead, but goals from Yianni Perkatis and Daniel Vellonio bridged the gap in the second half, though it wasn’t to be enough. 
The rain relented just in time for kick off at Lily Homes Stadium, the precipitation making way for a sensational first half of football at Seven Hills. 
It was an exhibition of the passing football that all sides should be looking to play. The half time score, though lopsided, in no way reflected any difference in the overall quality of the two sides. If anything, the first 45 minutes was an example for the rest of the competition in the manner in which it was played.
The first genuine opportunity of the match fell to Clayton Musumeci, who screwed a shot wide in the 12th minute after a free kick fortuitously fell into his path. 
Harry Brown had a chance to test Simon Jaeger in the Sutherland goal and he did just that, the Sharks stopper reacting sharply to palm Brown’s shot over the crossbar. 16 minutes had been played and the match was fluent, both sides getting the ball down and playing it around with a crispness and zip that was very easy on the eye. 
Dylan Fox lined up a long range for Sutherland, the deflection sending it out for a corner. It was played short and in the end, a header found its way goalwards, only to prove to be an easy catch for Luke Turnbull in the Blacktown City goal. 
The home side was dealt a blow in the 22nd minute when Musumeci was forced from the field with an injury. He was replaced by Yianni Perkatis.
Just two minutes later, Sutherland took the lead and it was a delightful, one touch passing move that breached the Blacktown defence.
Fox played a delightful one-two with Christopher Naumoff, before taking a touch and returning the ball to Naumoff on the edge of the area. The Sutherland player curled a beautifully executed left footed past Turnbull, who had absolutely no chance of saving it.
Blacktown City should have equalised immediately after. Dolor Edowsomwan’s perfect touch released Harry Brown through the middle, but when one-on-one with Jaeger, the Blacktown skipper inexplicably squared the ball to Daniel Vellonio who slotted in. Unfortunately for Blacktown City, he was in an offside position. 
In the 28th minute, Sutherland double their lead from the penalty spot, after Dylan Fox, involved in everything, was brought to ground inside the area. Patrick Savor stepped up and calmly tucked the spot kick into the bottom corner, sending Turnbulll the wrong way in the process. 
The first half’s enduring drama continued just a minute after the second Sutherland goal was Fox, all action, was sent off for a second bookable offence, having received his first yellow earlier in the match. His second offence was a studs up sliding challenge that saw him sent to the sheds. He exchanged words with Luke Turnbull on the way off, an unsavoury sight and one which blemished Sutherland’s otherwise excellent first half performance. 
Unbelievably, despite being reduced to ten men, Sutherland added a third in the 34th minute, scored by Klim Gjoreski. It was incisive play down the left from Michael Neill that opened the space up in the area. His cut back was inch perfect and Gjoreski finished emphatically, smashing the ball left footed into the roof of the net with Turnbull a mere spectator. 
The football on display from both sides was truly fantastic, but moments of indecision, such as the Brown one-on-one and suspect moments in defence, saw Sutherland ruthlessly take advantage. 
Blacktown City started the second half with the gusto and dynamicism that wasn’t as evident in their first half performance. They pulled a goal back almost immediately after kick off, which was the perfect start to the second period as they looked to stage a comeback against Sharks, who lest we forget, were down to ten men.
This change in attitude and application from Blacktown City was encapsulated by the stunning finish from Yianni Perkatis. A cross from the right went through the penalty area, where Perkatis was on hand to drill a left footed shot into the far corner.
Simon Jaeger made a fantastic save just before the hour mark, showing great reactions and athleticism to tip a deflected shot over the bar. He was a rock between the sticks for Sutherland in difficult conditions for goalkeeping.
Blacktown City pulled a second back in the 66th minute, when Daniel Vellonio slotted through the legs of Jaeger after a direct run from the left flank sent him through on goal.
Blacktown had thus far dominated the second stanza, Sutherland seemingly content to hit back on their half time lead. With twenty minutes go and the score at 3-2, it was very much in the balance. 
However, the rain started to pour and as it did, it seemed to dampen Blacktown’s momentum. They were pressing, but Sutherland successfully kept them at an arm’s length.
Despite the promising beginning, the second half failed to live up to the lofty expectations of the first, as the pace and enthusiasm tapered off as the weather set in for the final period of the match.
There was some half chances for Blacktown City as the match drew to a close, but none that truly tested Sutherland’s Jaeger, who had been in fine form all match.
Sutherland didn’t even bother with counter attacking in the closing matches as they set their stall and successfully held out to claim all three points in what was a match befitting of any top of the table clash.
MATCH STATS
Blacktown City 2 (Perkatis 47′, Vellonio 66′)
Sutherland Sharks 3 (Naumoff 24′, Savor PEN 28′, Gjoreski 34′)
BLACKTOWN CITY: L. Turnbull, C. Musumeci, H. Brown, L. Clifford, D. Adjassou, N. Samson, D. Edosomwan, L. Jenner, D. Vellonio, A. Schroeder, J. Bashara.
Substitutes: S. Perre, Y. Perkatis, J. Potter, S. Adeli, M. Seager.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS: S. Jaeger, M. Joarder, T. Muata-Marlow, J. McKenzie, J. Bandur, B. Cornish, M. Neill, C. Naumoff, D. Fox, K. Gjoreski, P. Savor.
Substitutes: M. Bozic, A. Tomelic, N. Olsen, T. Alameddine, T. Ercan.
ROUND REVIEW
SATURDAY
BLACKTOWN SPARTANS 4-2 SYDNEY UNITED 58 AT BLACKTOWN FOOTBALL PARK
Andre Carle returned from suspension to help fire Blacktown Spartans to an impressive 4-2 victory at home to Sydney United 58. 
The young forward scored twice, either side of half time, whilst goals from Harley Da Silva and Jonathan Castano- Acero wrapped up a very good win at Blacktown Football Park.
SOUTH COAST WOLVES 5-2 APIA LEICHHARDT TIGERS, AT JOHN CREHAN PARK
South Coast Wolves turned in their best performance of the season thus far, in defeating APIA Leichhardt Tigers 5-2. The home side were 5-1 up at the break in what was an utterly dominant performance.
Matt Floro scored twice, as did Joey Lavalle. Mitch Delturco also got his name on the scoresheet as Richard Lloyd’s side went on a first half rampage. 
Nick Taneski and Pan Gotsis scored for APIA, who were injured affected, but any side would have found Wolves difficult to live with on Saturday evening’s performance.
PARRAMATTA FC 1-3 MANLY UNITED AT MELITA STADIUM
Parramatta went down 3-1 at home to Manly United in the match rescheduled to Saturday evening at Melita Stadium.
Parramatta will point to missed opportunities as the reason for their downfall, and it was a debutant Devante Clut who scored their goal in the dying stages.
Mick Willis, Tom Morrisey and Mike McGinley scored for Manly United as they maintained their recent surge to their position on the table.
SUNDAY
SYDNEY OLYMPIC 2-1 BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES AT BELMORE SPORTS GROUND
Sydney Olympic toughed out the inclement conditions at a soggy, muddy Belmore Sports Ground to register a 2-1 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles. 
Alex Mitrogiannis and James Demetriou scored for the home side.
Nb. The Saturday evening game between Marconi Stallions and Rockdale City Suns was washed out.
-By Matthew Connellan