NSW Premier League Round 18 Review

The Wolves loss sees Sydney Olympic move into second-spot on the ladder, albeit on goal difference, meanwhile both Parramatta FC and APIA-Leichhardt Tigers scored wins in what has been a difficult season for both sides.
Manly United FC and Sutherland Sharks both scored wins, the latter still in with a mathematical chance of reaching the finals even though it will require a number of results to fall in the side?s favour over the final four weeks of the season.

Blacktown Spartans 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2
Blacktown Spartans produced a brave performance to keep the NSW Premier League leaders scoreless in the first 45? minutes at Blacktown Football Park before goals to Robbie Younis and Tynan Diaz sealed the three-points for the League leader in the second period.
Younis was in the right place at the right time to grab a poacher?s goal to send the White Eagles into the lead before Tynan Diaz beat the offside trap on 79? minutes to round Carlos Saliadarre and slot the ball home for the win.
Marconi Stallions 1 Sutherland Sharks 3
Sutherland Sharks scored a much needed victory against Marconi Stallions to keep its slim hopes of finals football alive, all in the while complicating Marconi?s status amongst the top-five.
The Sharks were almost non-existent in the opening half as Marconi failed to find a breakthrough.
The Stallions did take the lead via Nahuel Arrarte in the 60? minute, the captain driving home a volley past Nathanm Denham.
The Sharks left their run until the final 15? minutes as Matt Bailey drew the sides level in the 76? minute with a well-taken header before Niko Tsattalios sent the Sharks into the lead 2? minutes later with a tremendous long-range shot. Tsattalios added another in the closing stages, a fabulous chip over the goalkeeper after receiving a neat pass from Klim Gjorseski, enough to round out the result for the Shire side.
Sydney Olympic 3 Blacktown City FC 3
There were plenty of goals at Lily Homes Stadium in another ?home away from home? fixture for Sydney Olympic. The Blues were dominant for large spells in the encounter and deservedly took an early lead via Will Angel who capitalised on some slack goalkeeping to convert David Gullo?s cross from the left for a tap-in.
Phil Makrys doubled the lead midway through the first-half with a free-kick from the left that made its way through the penalty-area untouched before finishing inside the far post.
Blacktown City got back into the match with two late first-half goals. The first, Travis Major?s free-kick took a heavy deflection past goalkeeper Paul Henderson before Sean Rooney turned and blasted the ball past Henderson in injury-time.
The second-half saw Sydney Olympic re-take the lead via Matthew Mayora early, the striker capitalising on another goalkeeping mistake, and despite the Blues seemingly in control, Major converted a 75? minute penalty to draw Blacktown City level.
Sydney Olympic had a late chance via the right boot of Makrys from the penalty-spot, however goalkeeper Luke Turnbull made amends for the earlier errors, making a huge save to salvage a point for Blacktown City FC.
Parramatta FC 4 South Coast Wolves 1
Parramatta FC scored the upset of the Round with an emphatic 4-1 defeat of the Wolves at Melita Stadium on Sunday.
Despite the Wolves taking a first-half lead via Mark Picciolini on 9? minutes, the Eagles pressed for the remainder of the match to take control of proceedings.
Aaron Peterson equalised for the Eagles on 54? minutes with a powerful header before the Wolves were reduced to ten-men following Ricky Zucco?s second caution.
Patrick Dixon sent Lee Sterrey?s men into the lead shortly after before Nicholas Napoli netted twice in injury-time to secure a much deserved win for Parramatta FC in front of their home supporters.
Rockdale City Suns 1 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 3
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers secured the second shock result of the weekend with a 3-1 defeat of high-flying Rockdale City Suns at Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday.
The Tigers ran out to a 3-0 lead with 20? minutes remaining, bringing the Suns impressive run towards finals football to a halt.
Ethan Gailbraith made the most of some insecure defending to pop the ball over goalkeeper Ryan Norval in the opening minute of the match, setting the home side with an immediate mountain to climb.
Michael Hawrysiuk beat his marker before driving home a fine left-foot diagonal effort into the back of the net late in the first-half, before Adam Casey rounded Norval 10? minutes later to slot home.
Paul Kohler headed the Suns back into contention 14? minutes from the end, though it was too little too late as the Tigers administered the closing stages of the match confidently.
Manly United FC 2 Sydney United 58 FC 1
Manly United FC overturned a 0-1 deficit to finish strongly and defeat Sydney United 58 FC 2-1 at Cromer Park on Sunday.
Mirjan Pavlovic had the Reds ahead on 17? minutes with a sensational strike from 35-yards.
Pavlovic had chances to add further to his personal tally in the half, though it wasn?t to be as Manly United would make the Reds pay.
Manly United?s charge was left until late as Adam Foti converted an 89? minute penalty to draw the sides level.
Much to the delight of the home supporters, veteran defender Marc Richards netted a winner in the 1? minute of second-half injury-time to secure the Northern Beaches side three-points.
-By Joseph Carlucci