NSW Premier League Pre-Season Cup Round 5 Review

Pool 1
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1-5 Blacktown City FC @ Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown City FC battled back from goal down against Bonnyrigg White Eagles to come away from Blacktown Football Park with an impressive 5-1 win to book their place in next weekend’s Pre Season Cup Final.
The scoreline was perhaps a flattering one for Mark Crittenden’s side who were simply the more clinical in the final third while Brian Brown’s Bonnyrigg started brightly and controlled possession as per usual yet could not break down their opposition in the second half.
Bonnyrigg appeared to be in the driver’s seat in the first half as the reigning Premiers forced their opposition to sit deep and duly gained the early ascendancy through Nikola Zonjic’s opening goal.
The goal appeared to spark Blacktown into life as the visitors ventured forward and found themselves on level terms when Zonjic undid his good work at the other end by turning a driven cross into his own net.
Blacktown soon forced their way into the lead through Dolor Edosomwan finish before a smart interchange of passes put Ray Miller through one-on-one with the keeper; the midfielder took full advantage with a fine finish to give his side breathing space.
Despite Bonnyrigg’s attempted to find a route back into the match Blacktown scored yet again through Japanese import Ryuji Miyazawa before Kearyan Baccus rounded off an impressive win with the final goal.
Blacktown will now look to carry their form in the final third into next week’s final against a physical Sydney Olympic side in what is sure to be a thrilling clash of the National Premier League heavyweights.
Blacktown Spartans 2-3 Marconi Stallions @ Blacktown Football Park
Marconi Stallions capped off their preseason campaign with a hard fought 3-2 victory over Blacktown Spartans at Blacktown Football Park on Saturday evening.
The visitors hit the lead through Anthony Poyar’s well taken finish before the hosts responded almost immediately when a Pasquale Polistina’s shot from the edge of the box took a deflection to wrong foot James Chronopoulos and level the scores.
Milorad Simonovic restored Marconi’s advantage soon after before Poyar grabbed his second of the match to give the visitors a two goal buffer.
The hosts managed to pull a goal back when Corey Biczo applied the finish to Simon Zahra’s freekick which was parried into his path, and while the Spartans pressed forward in search of another equaliser Marconi held off their advances to secure all three points.
Rockdale City Suns 1-2 Manly United @ Illinden Sports Centre
Manly United put on a solid display of football to come away from Illinden Sports Centre with a 2-1 victory over Rockdale City Suns.
Matthew Simm and Jordan Edwards did the damage for the visitors who are reaping the rewards of having focussed heavily on their passing game and build up play throughout the off season.
The victors felt they could have won by a broader margin which was reduced when Richie Cardozo pulled a late goal back for the hosts, however the goal proved to be little more than a consolation as Manly held on for the win to end their preseason campaign on a high note.
Pool 2
Sydney Olympic 3-1 Sydney United 58 FC @ Peter Moore Field
Sydney Olympic’s fine preseason form continued as they came out on top of the Sydney Derby with a 3-1 win over an understrength Sydney United 58 FC to top Pool 2.
Despite United resting a number of key players Peter Tsekenis’ men maintained focus and stuck to their game plan, pushing the ball around well and creating a number of chances for themselves against their traditional rivals.
Olympic got off the mark through Amaury Gauthier before Elsid Barkhousir doubled their advantage with a spectacular bicycle kick that drew the crowd to their feet.
Kingsley Williams capped off a fine individual performance to make sure of the win as he calmly sunk a second half penalty before United found a late consolation goal through first-team regular Mirjan Pavlovic.
Olympic can now look ahead to next weekend’s final against Blacktown City FC in a bid to secure silverware before the season proper kicks off in a fortnight’s time.
Sydney United 58 had the majority of their starting squad in Melbourne as they took on cross state friends Melbourne Knights in a friendly match on Sunday.
Sutherland Sharks 2-2 A.P.I.A. Leichhardt Tigers @ Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks and A.P.I.A. Leichardt Tigers wrapped up their preseason campaigns with an entertaining 2-2 draw that saw both sides rally from behind to share the points.
It was a decent hit out for both sides who moved the ball around well and created chances at each end in what was a fair result.
Mark Byrnes broke the deadlock for the Tigers in the first half as he capped off a set piece with a looping header from the edge of the 18-yard box which floated over a maze of players and dropped under the crossbar to open the scoring.
Sharks responded to both equalise and hit the lead through Panni Nikas; the roaming midfielder can’t stop scoring at the moment as he levelled the scores via the set piece before he bagged yet another brace with a well taken finish in open play.
The hosts appeared set to hang on for the win before Jay Gerard Ouffoue grabbed a late equaliser; the Frenchman turned well to create space before lifting the ball over the keeper and into the back of the net to ensure the sides deservedly shared the spoils.
South Coast Wolves v Central Coast Mariners Academy @ Hooka Creek Park
The week’s heavy downpour saw the clash of the coasts washed out due to ground closure.
-By Michael Shoolman