NSW Premier League Grade 20 Round 19 Review
Parramatta FC pulled off one of the season’s biggest shocks in defeating top of the table Sutherland, whilst Blacktown City went down to APIA Leichhardt in the Match of the Round, blowing a golden opportunity to go to the top of the table. As a result, Manly United are in second place, having defeated Blacktown Spartans 3-2 on Saturday night.
There are now only four points covering the top five places with three rounds to play, with APIA Leichhardt now the only side outside of the top five still in with a chance of making the finals.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
APIA LEICHHARDT 1-0 BLACKTOWN CITY, AT LAMBERT PARK
APIA Leichhardt Tigers knocked off second placed Blacktown City on Sunday afternoon at Lambert Park.
APIA were the better side throughout and recorded a deserved 1-0 win against a Blacktown City side shorn of several of their regular players through injury, first grade duties and in the case of their influential captain Harry Brown, suspension.
Blacktown City have struggled in the past six weeks after a fantastic start to the season and have failed to take advantage of several opportunities given to them by the similarly out of form Sutherland Sharks, who remain atop the table. By contrast, APIA Leichhardt have been storming home of late, boosted by the goals of the prolific Nick Taneski and the steadfast performances of their centre half and captain, Paul Galimi.
On a shocking pitch at Lambert Park, neither side was able to settle into their usual style of possession football. Nonetheless and to their great credit, both sides were willing to keep trying and save for the odd bobble it made for a very good spectacle.
A slow start ensued as both APIA and Blacktown City felt their way into the match, working out what they could and couldn’t get away with on a pitch that was mostly dirt.
The match was lit up in the 18th minute when Gyu Re-Lee gave APIA the lead with a stunning shot. Finding a pocket of space 25 yards from goal, the midfielder sent a wonderful dipping striker high over Luke Turnbull. The Blacktown City goalkeeper was left with no chance as the ball sailed past him into the back of the net.
The goal opened up what was already an excellent spectacle of a match and Blacktown City looked to hit back immediately, as Josh Basara stung the palms of David Bradesevic with a drilled shot from the left hand side that the APIA shot stopper did well to beat away.
Blacktown City were sorely missing Harry Brown’s composure in midfield, as APIA hassled and harried their way to their fair share of possession in the centre of the park. Ryan Peterson, making his full debut after being called up from the 18s squad, was excellent though, putting in a tidy performance and never looking out of his depth.
APIA Leichhardt’s Ali Nasreddine went into the book for a foul on the edge of his own area, and from the resulting free kick a clearance dropped to Blacktown City’s Nathan Sansom who hit a first time volley from 35 yards. For a moment it seemed as if he’d caught Bradesevic out, but the goalkeeper backtracked to prevent what would have been a sensational long range goal.
APIA had two shouts for a penalty just after the half hour mark, the first for an alleged handball and the second when Nick Taneski went down inside the area, but both shouts were waved away by the referee.
Sam Salameh was a constant threat on APIA’s right hand side, constantly cutting in onto his left foot, but a number of shots flew high and wide as the ball took nasty bobbles off the pitch.
Gyu Re-Lee was showcasing his ability from range too and Turnbull had to be alert at all at times. The young goalkeeper made a good save to deny Taneski from close range after a goalmouth scramble, before the Lambert Park pitch nearly claimed APIA keeper Bradesevic as a victim. A seemingly innocuous backpass bounced over the foot of the keeper and he had to race back to his line to prevent an embarrassing own goal, as the half drew to a close with APIA holding a deserved 1-0 lead.
The second half started with Luke Clifford making a driving run down the left hand side for Blacktown City, only for his progress to be halted by a perfectly timed sliding challenge from APIA Leichhardt’s captain, Paul Galimi. As Galimi galloped away in possession he was scythed down by the chasing Clifford, who was booked for what was a cynical challenge.
Shervin Adeli conceded a free kick in dangerous territory in the 54th minute and when the ball was swung in it evaded Turnbull and was tapped in at the back post by Galimi, but the effort was ruled out as the official on the far side had his flag raised to signal offside.
Daniel Vellonio sloppily conceded possession with a lazy lay off in the 58th minute and he was nearly made to pay as the ball was worked out to the ever-threatening Salameh, but his shot only found the side netting.
There was a flashpoint on the hour mark when Sam Salameh and Luke Clifford became involved in a bit of push and shove on the far side of the pitch, the ball nowhere nearby. After consulting his assistant, referee Jerry Bitas dismissed both from the field of play for their indiscretions.
Blacktown City coach Mark Strachan reacted by sending on Mitchell Morris for Shervin Adeli, in a bid to change the flow of the game.
Both sides were showing positive intent, with Blacktown City knowing that they could get back to the top of the table with a win after Sutherland’s 3-2 defeat by Parramatta FC the night before, whilst APIA knew that a win would keep them very much in the hunt for a berth in the finals.
The match entered the final ten minutes with Blacktown City pushing hard and APIA defending stoutly in the face of Blacktown’s attack.
Blacktown City though, were clearly missing their most influential players through and they were lacking their usual spark in the final third and to be fair to APIA, they were successfully keeping their visitors at an arm’s length.
Blacktown City’s plight became increasingly desperate as the referee signalled that their would be three minutes of added time at the end of the 90 minutes, giving them renewed hope that they could at least steal a point, however harsh that would have been on APIA Leichhardt.
In the first minute of stoppage time a free kick from Blacktown City substitute Bruno Antelmi was knocked into the packed penalty area but David Bradesevic made a great claim, before releasing Nick Taneski. The APIA striker skinned Adelmi, but his near post shot was well saved by Luke Turnbull.
Blacktown City attempted to launch a counter attack, but their efforts were in vain as APIA Leichhardt held out for a well deserved and hugely important victory. For Blacktown City, however, they need to regroup if they are to make up the ground on Sutherland and now Manly United in the final few rounds.
APIA Leichhardt coach Rod Williams was hugely satisfied with the performance, saying that it was well deserved given their hard work throughout the season thus far and acknowledged the importance of the victory for the club as a whole, given APIA’s dire Club Championship position.
He also paid credit to Blacktown City and their coach Mark Strachan. Williams said, “they tried to play football too which is great, Mark’s a great coach and this is what football at this level is all about.”
Strachan wasn’t impressed by the pitch or the match, but always knew it would be difficult for his side with so many key players unavailable. He was concerned by Blacktown City’s recent poor form though, saying “We’re a long way from where we need to be at this stage of the season.”
MATCH STATS
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Gyu Re-Lee 18′)
Blacktown City 0
Sunday 12th August, 2012
Lambert Park, Leichhardt
Referee: Jerry Bitas
Assistant Referees: Alex Long and Christian Mehl
APIA Leichhardt Tigers: 40. David Bradesevic, 25. Ali Nasreddine, 28. Brian Griffith-Colls, 30. Fabian Sosa (34. Robert Bacic 81′), 31. In Yong-Jang (33. Pan Gotsis 72′), 37. Wiltar Jajaw, 38. Paul Galimi, 41. Hayden Feller, 4. Sam Salameh, 39. Nick Taneski, 35. Gyu Re Lee.
Substitutes Not Used: 26. Anthony Dahdah, 37. Adam Raciti, 27. Cameron Clifford.
Yellow Cards: Ali Nasreddine 23′
Red Cards: Sam Salameh 60′
Blacktown City: 20. Luke Turnbull, 21. Clayton Musumeci, 25. Luke Clifford, 24. Sam Perre (33. Bruno Antelmi 46′), 29. Nathan Sansom, 31. Luke Jenner, 32. Daniel Vellonio, 34. Shervin Adeli (22. Mitchell Morris 60′), 26. Ryan Peterson, 35. Brayden Robins, (27. Dominic Dileo 77′), 28. Josh Basara (36. Raymond Colema 83′).
Substitutes Not Used: 40. Julian Harders.
Yellow Cards: Luke Clifford 47′,
Red Cards: Luke Clifford 60′
ROUND REVIEW
SATURDAY
BONNYRIGG WHITE EAGLES 2-1 MARCONI STALLIONS, BONNYRIGG SPORTS CLUB
Bonnyrigg White Eagles defeated Marconi Stallions 2-1 on Saturday night.
The result leaves the sides level on 23 points, but too far in arrears of APIA in sixth place and Spartans in fifth place to make an impression on the top five come the end of the season.
MANLY UNITED 3-2 BLACKTOWN SPARTANS, AT CROMER PARK
Manly United scored a later winner to defeat Blacktown Spartans at Cromer Park.
Although Corey Bizco and Shiyar Cakel scored in the second half, a late goal for the home side gave them a win that lifts them to second place and drops Spartans down to fifth position.
SOUTH COAST WOLVES 4-1 SYDNEY OLYMPIC, AT JOHN CREHAN PARK
South Coast Wolves scored a fantastic victory at John Crehan Park on Saturday night, against Sydney Olympic.
James Baldacchino, an under 17 Joey’s representative, scored a double for Richard Lloyd’s side, who were stacked full of under 18s, with three starting and three more on the bench.
Sam Owanu, another 18s player also scored, whilst Lee Gilroy scored the final goal as Wolves ran riot.
SUTHERLAND SHARKS 2-3 PARRAMATTA FC, AT SEYMOUR SHAW PARK
League leaders Sutherland Sharks poor run of form continued, crashing to defeat at home to Parramatta FC on Saturday evening.
Parramatta took the lead through Bruno Pivato, before a deflected Luke Grima strike made it 2-0. Wandi Jajaw scored the third to give Parramatta a confidence boosting victory and some important Club Championship points.
SUNDAY
SYDNEY UNITED 58 0-3 ROCKDALE CITY SUNS, AT EDENSOR PARK
Sydney United 58 remain bottom of the table, going down to Rockdale City Suns in the other Sunday afternoon match.
Jason Naidovski, Alan Kovacevic and Jordan Yarza scored for the visiting side, giving them an important win that sends them above Blacktown Spartans and into fourth position in the league, one point clear of Spartans and six clear of APIA Leichhardt.
-By Matthew Connellan
