Gritty Blacktown down Tigers
Blacktown City FC dug deep to record a 2-1 victory over the APIA-Leichhardt Tigers in wet and slippery conditions at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday.
The home side’s gritty performance in the middle of the park overpowered a decent APIA side who were playing their second game in the week after their midweek Waratah Cup victory over the Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Harris Gaitatzis scored the opening goal of the match with a thunderous strike before Sean Symons got one back for APIA. Sean Rooney sealed the victory for APIA with a 74’ minute goal ending the game 2-1.
APIA-Leichhardt started the game on the front foot with a great play down the left flank ending in Stephen Kayes crossing the ball towards David D’Apuzzo with the Blacktown defence quickly clearing before the midfielder got a shot off.
Both sides tested each other in the middle of the park for the first 10’ minutes of the match with neither able to create a clear chance.
Harris Gaitatzis was not going to wait any longer to have his first shot on goal and it came aplomb with his 25-yard stinging shot hitting the back of the net to give Blacktown the 1-0 lead in the 13’ minute.
The goal gave Blacktown the spark needed and a minute later they could have extended their lead with Sean Rooney got on the end of a deep cross only to be denied by a Tigers defender heading the ball out of a corner.
Rooney was at it again in the 17’ minute getting on the end of a well waited through ball before squaring for the advancing Travis Major only for Brendan Reilly to slide the ball away.
The missed chances came back to haunt Blacktown in the 21’ minute when a failed goal mouth clearance fell to Sean Symons who tucked the ball into the bottom left hand corner to make it 1-1.
Blacktown strung several passes together in the 28’ minute before a great Gaitatzis lined up another shot on goal but his left foot shot floating well over the bar.
The Tigers had a great chance to take the lead in the 35’ minute when a deep cross by Symons was headed back towards goal by Jason Oswell with a free Aaron Clapham volleying the ball over the bar from close range.
As the rain started pelting down both teams struggled to keep a hold of the ball making with the teams going into the break deadlocked.
The heavy downpour made for an interesting second-half with Rooney almost scoring right from the kick-off as APIA goalkeeper Andrew Bazi dropped the ball before it was cleared out for a corner.
Blacktown should have taken the lead in the 50’ minute when Ryuji Miyawaza got past three defenders on the halfway line before making inroads towards goal and passing to Kearyn Baccus who cut inside his defender before curling his shot just wide of the upright.
2’ minutes later it was the Tigers who could have scored their second with Brad Bartels cross just missing the head of D’Apuzzo keeping the scores level.
Oswell continued to trouble the Blacktown defence and in the 59’ minute, unleashing a great shot from wide forcing Crane into a good save.
A minute later on the other side of the park Ray Miller could have scored with his first touch of the ball only for Bazi to come out well and save the day for APIA.
The Tigers would not give up and had another great chance in the 64’ minute with Keith Shevlin heading on to Clapham in the box with the latter blasting the ball over the bar for the second time in the match.
Blacktown were next to have a crack from outside the box in the 67’ minute with Travis Major’s 20-yard shot forcing Bazi to get down low and thwart the chance.
Sean Rooney thought he had given his side the lead in the 69’ minute when he was put through on goal and slotted the ball into the net, only to be called back for offside.
The former Newcastle Jets striker wasn’t going to be brought back 5’ minutes later. After Travis Major looked to have been fouled by Adel El Jamal, the striker turned and passed to Rooney who unleashed a great strike to make it 2-1.
As the game came to a close, Blacktown City dominated proceedings with the Tigers struggling in the middle of the park.
Following the match Blacktown City FC coach Mark Crittenden said he was impressed with his side’s gutsy performance:
“Considering the conditions being heavy rain and very slippery we will take the three points and move on,’’ he said.
“We said that if we get a goal late that is the sort of game you remember at the end of the season.
“The three points were vital today. If you look at the table there are about seven sides fighting for the top five places so the points were very important today.’
’In the away dressing rooms APIA-Leichhardt Tigers coach Billy McColl rued a defensive mistake that led to his side losing.
“I thought it was a very hard game in tough conditions and it was a bit unfortunate that we gave away the second goal that gave Blacktown the win,’’ he said,
“The performance was quite good, it was just a case of one bad decision by a defender that allowed Blacktown to score that goal.
“Our performances have improved but we are judged on results.’’
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 2 (Gaitatzis 13’, Rooney 74’)
APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 (Symons 21’)
Sunday 23rd June, 2013
Lily Homes Stadium
Referee: Jason Blackwood
Assistant Referees: Lachlan Keevers and Sebastien Brennan
Fourth Official: Lachlan Daniel
Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 12.Kearyn Baccus, 19.Zac Cairncross, 3.Andrea Del Brocco, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis (8.Ray Miller 59’), 10.Harris Gaitatzis (15.Matthew Mayora 80’), 5.Patrick Gatt (C), 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 11.Sean Rooney
Substitutes Not Used: 22.Matthew Brennan, 13.Blake Tuxford
Yellow Cards: Cairncross 42’, Miller 82’
Red Cards: Nil
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 21.Andrew Bazi; 15.Brad Bartels, 14.Aaron Clapham, 13.David D’Apuzzo (6.Michael Hawrysiuk 68’), 3.Adel El Jamal, 7.Stephen Kayes, 9.Jason Oswell, 4.Brendan Reilly (10.Franco Parisi 83’), 8.Keith Shevlin, 16.Sean Symons, 5.Michael West (C)
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Simon Jaegar; 2.Mark Byrnes, 18.Ali Nasreddine
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
-By Chris Georges
