IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s Round 8 Review
Round 8 was another fantastic round of football in the Grade 20s, characterised by the grit and heart shown by Blacktown City, who beat Sydney United 58 FC in the Match of the Round.
The other highlight of Round 8 was the heroics of Emmanuel Shewan, the outfield goalkeeper who saved a penalty for APIA Leichhardt Tigers, which allowed them to score a dramatic late equaliser at home to Manly United.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Blacktown City 2-1 Sydney United 58 FC, at Lily Homes Stadium
Goals from Jessie Curran and Peter Pelekanos saw Blacktown City FC past Sydney United 58 FC, a win which saw Blacktown City’s young squad give a tremendous account of their credentials.
Curran opened the scoring from the spot while centre half Pelekanos put his side 2-0 up.
Isaac Savor scoreboard for Sydney United 58 FC but they were beaten by the better side on the night.
For Blacktown City, it was the latest in a string of promising results for their youthful squad but for Sydney United 58 it is no major setback in their promising start to the season.
The home side got off to a great start, by they were given a helping hand by Theo Kofinas, who clumsily gave away a 6′ minute penalty.
Dolor Edosomwan’s pass over the top found Andre Schroeder, but he posed little threat from the edge of the area.
Kofinas clipped his heels and brought him crashing down and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
After a slight delay in which Blacktown City FC worked out who would step up, Peter Pelekanos duly took the plunge and confidently sent Marko Bozic the wrong way.
It set the platform for Blacktown City FC to kick on, but an attacking onslaught failed to materialise and indeed it was a peak which the remainder of the first half failed to reach.
Both sides were struggling for rhythm and terminal breakdowns in the final third was the common theme as passes ran out of play or failed to find their targets.
Blacktown City FC were perhaps the marginally more incisive side of the first half an hour but to split the sides would be picky; Sydney United 58 FC’s equaliser meant that there would be no separation on the scoreboard, at least.
A left sided throw in caused the Blacktown City defence all sorts of problems and when the ball broke to Savor, he made no mistake, slotting into the bottom corner.
Sydney United could and in all probability should have taken the lead in the final minute of the half, but after Chris Zuvela set Savor free, he could only slice high and wide.
The second half was a much better spectacle and Pelekanos’s goal was the result of some excellent set piece play, the evidence of much hard work on the training ground.
A free kick on the left was played short and when the ball was squared to Pelekanos, he had the clarity of mind to take a controlling touch before slotting past Bozic.
Jayden Priest and Alex Arbello had great chances to put daylight between the two sides, as Blacktown City had the better of the last half an hour.
The control exerted in midfield by youngsters Ryan Peterson and Jesse Curran allowed Blacktown City to play the game at their own pace, which suited them down the ground.
For Sydney United 58, David Semialjac was their outlet on the left hand side but although he was lively, he was unable to inspire his side as the game drew to a close.
Blacktown City coach David O’Keefe was his usual calm self after the game, but praised the application of his developing squad.
"It was probably the best football we’ve played all year," he said.
"The boys got a lot of belief last week. I think they were doubting themselves against the older players but today they really deserved to win.
"We were up against a top of the table team, who are well coached, but we backed ourselves and thankfully got a result."
Sydney United 58 coach Ante Moric was full of praise for Blacktown City, saying that his side was beaten by the better team on the day.
"We came into this game like we do every game – determined and focused," he said.
"I can’t complain (about the performance) but I have to take my hat off to Blacktown City tonight.
"In all facets, they beat us. I said to their coach, ‘well done’."
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 2 (Jessie Curran 6′ pen, Peter Pelakanos, 63′)
Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Isaac Savor 28′)
Saturday 4th May, 2013
Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills
Blacktown City FC: 13.Blake Tuxford, 22.Lewis Beumie, 35.Jesse Curran, 26.Shayne D’Cunha, 27.Dominic Dileo (34.Alex Arbello 62′), 33.Peter Pelekanos, 31.Sam Perre, 28.Ryan Peterson, 29.Jayden Priest (30.Alex Vlismas 90′), 32.Andre Scroeder (24.Bruno Antelmi 77′), 18.Dolor Edosomwan
Substitutes Not Used: 40.Mitchell Seager (GK), 37.Chris Vlismas
Yellow Cards: Peter Pelekanos 35′, Sam Perre 86′
Red Cards: Nil
Sydney United 58 FC: 1.Marko Bozic (31.Kane Wallace 85′), 36.Jacob Bandur (25.Michajlo Jonjic 82′), 35.Marko Banic, 32.Chris Denkov (33.Stephen Vukovic 62′), 26.Tomislav Herceg, 21.Theo Kofinas, 24.Isaac Savor, 30.David Semialjac, 34.Drazen Vucer, 27.Marko Vukovic (28.Nesim Basic 64′), 17.Chris Zuvela (37.James Tobias 81′)
Substitutes Not Used: Nil
Yellow Cards: 21.Theo Kofinas 5′, Isaac Savor 20′, Chris Zuvela 71′
Red Cards: Nil
ROUND 9 REVIEW
SATURDAY
South Coast Wolves 2-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles at John Crehan Park
South Coast Wolves went down at home to Bonnyrigg White Eagles in a keenly contested match up on the south coast.
Gilroy and Bingham scored for the home side, but a double from Gullo and one from Hatfield snared the three points for Bonnyrigg.
Sydney Olympic 1-3 Rockdale City Suns, at Belmore Sports Ground
Rockdale City Suns proved too classy for strugglers Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground.
A double from Toufic Alameddine and a goal from Prince Gyamfi was more than enough for high flying Rockdale City to take the three points.
Blacktown Spartans 5-0 Central Coast Mariners Academy, at Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans were in a class of their own on Saturday evening, thrashing CCM Academy 5-0.
Steffan Saciolotto, Blake Brooker, Andy Robertson and Vandy Kenneh all scored for Spartans, an own goal completing a miserable night for the traveling Mariners Academy.
SUNDAY
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1-1 Manly United FC, at Lambert Park
Manly United and APIA Leichhardt Tigers played out an action packed 1-1 draw on Sunday afternoon.
Manly United took the lead through Marcus Zarantonello, before APIA keeper Andrew Bazi was sent off. With no sub keeper available, Emmanuel Shewan donned the gloves and was the hero, saving a penalty. Matthew Castelnuovo scored a late equaliser to send Lambert Park into delirium.
Marconi Stallions 2-0 Sutherland Sharks, at Marconi Stadium
Marconi Stallions may well be the team to beat this season and they were in ruthless form, beating Sutherland Sharks 2-0 at home.
Lachlan Reus and Nick Collentino were the scorers
– By Matthew Connellan
