IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Round 16 Review

Another wet weekend in Sydney made conditions difficult for the NPL NSW Mens 1 sides, though it certainly did not slow up Sutherland Sharks who now hold a four-point lead over second-place Bonnyrigg White Eagles after a comprehensive 4-0 win in the top of the table clash.
Elsewhere, Central Coast Mariners Academy caused the shock of the Round, perhaps even the season, when it defeated Blacktown City FC for only its second win of the season.
Waratah Cup finalists APIA-Leichhardt Tigers didn’t get a positive result in anticipation of its Final against Sutherland Sharks next weekend, falling to Sydney United 58 FC, meanwhile Rockdale City Suns returned to winning ways with a very important three-points at Manly United to keep its finals ambitions intact. 
Sutherland Sharks 4 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0
A lightning fast start by the Sharks set the scene for an important victory for Robbie Stanton’s men who confirmed its hold on top-spot, further increasing the lead to four points.
The Sharks hit the lead in only the 6’ minute via Matthew Gordon – the left-sided defender drilling home with his left peg from distance, finding the top left-hand corner with a sweet strike that left Matthew Nash helpless in the White Eagles goal.
Nicholas Olsen, Jamie McMaster and Panni Nikas carved out a few openings for the likes of Nathan Elasi and Nik Tsattalios on the right and left flanks, though it was perhaps the White Eagles that finished the half strongest.
Mitchell Long and Chris Tadrosse kept the Sharks defenders on the back foot with Aleksander Canak, only just, failing to draw his side level on three occasions.
After the break, Bonnyrigg’s plight to get back into the match took a negative turn as Alex Mansueto collected two yellow cards in the space of 5’ minutes.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Bonnyrigg continued to press with Long and Bo Hyun Chun getting more involved.
The Sutherland players picked their time correctly and found a second shortly after via Panni Nikas. The playmaker weaved his magic before unleashing an attempt on goal, assisted greatly by a deflection that saw the ball loop over Nash to make it 2-0.
Klim Gjorseski netted, with special mention to the generous Jamie McMaster who played a neat square ball, on 86’ minutes. Gjorseski managed to sneak the ball in between the goalkeeper and his right-hand post for the 3-0 lead.
In injury-time, Nathan Elasi deservedly netted with a well-driven effort into the bottom right-hand corner.

Blacktown Spartans 3 South Coast Wolves 1
At Blacktown Football Park, Phil Makrys scored his first two goals for his new club in the side’s 3-1 defeat of South Coast Wolves.
Makrys opened the scoring in the 13’ minute when the referee adjudged Wolves defender Zac Mackenzie of handling inside the penalty-area. The experienced campaigner made no mistake from the spot.
Makrys had a second penalty to his name on the half hour as Mackenzie was again called up, this time for a foul on Greg Kondek.
The Ricky Zucco show commenced for the luckless Wolves who did give a very good account for themselves, yet for no real return.
Zucco has been a pleasure to watch this season, and he had the small group of home supporters very nervy throughout the opening half.
Zucco did find a goal early in the second-half, a penalty on 52’ minutes after Peter Simonoski was fouled.
The Spartans restored its two-goal lead courtesy of Nathan Millgate who slotted home from a Makrys corner.
The Spartans were forced to fend with only ten men for the final 20’ minutes after Zac Freeburn received his marching orders for a poorly timed challenge.
In the end, the win keeps the Spartans’ chances of reaching the finals series alive.
Manly United FC 1 Rockdale City Suns 3
At Cromer Park, Rockdale City Suns returned to winning ways with a very hard fought win over Manly United FC.
Richard Cardozo, who has been on the radar of a few A-League clubs, did his chances of gaining a contract in the country’s top League with a fabulous opening goal on 28’ minutes. Cardozo cleverly turned his marker twice before unleashing a venomous strike that left goalkeeper Dylan Mitchell helpless to open the scoring.
Danny Grant drew the Northern Beaches side level just over the hour mark when he diverted Jimmy Oates’ cross past Diego Barcena.
The goal spurred the Suns back into action as Alec Urosevski beat Mitchell with a thumping effort to restore Rockdale City’s lead.
Max Burgess put the icing on the cake for the Suns from the penalty-spot on 85’ minutes, converting after Josh Lawson clipped Urosevski inside the penalty-area.
Marconi Stallions 0 Sydney Olympic 0
Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic were both left to rue their missed chances in this encounter as both sides were left to share the spoils after a difficult 90’ minutes of football. The rain in Sydney made for difficult conditions, with this the only encounter played on natural grass this weekend.
Both goalkeepers, James Chronopoulos (Marconi Stallions) and Paul Henderson (Sydney Olympic) were instrumental in keeping their respective goals unharmed.
Elsid Barkhousir and Tadgh Purcell created the Stallions best chances in the encounter, meanwhile Zak Elrich and Amaury Gauthier went close for the visitors.
The final result sees the Blues slip out of the Top-Five following Rockdale City Suns’ win at Manly United, though Grant Lee’s men still have a match in hand following the washed out Round15 encounter against Sydney United 58 FC.
Marconi’s current situation is a little less rosy, though Jean-Paul De Marigny’s men are still in a good position to reach the finals series this season.
Sydney United 58 FC 3 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers didn’t get a good result in anticipation of the showdown with Sutherland Sharks in the Waratah Cup Final next weekend, going down 3-1 in a disappointing showing against Sydney United 58 FC.
Reds creative midfielder Glen Trifiro headed his side into the lead inside of the first 2’ minutes, diverting Robert Mileski’s cross into the back of the net, signalling his side’s intent from the outset.
Mileski was instrumental in the Reds’ second on 11’ minutes when he picked out captain Luka Glavas – back from injury – to comfortably drive home past Andrew Bazi.
Ben Jurman conceded a penalty in favour of the Tigers, though the in-form Jason Oswell failed to convert from the spot, missing out on a massive chance for the Tigers to re-open the contest.
First-half substitute Michael Hawrysiuk did re-open the contest just before the break with his first touch of the match. The experienced campaigner drilled his effort home past Liam Reddy.
After the break, the Reds were reduced to ten-men when Ben Jurman collected his second yellow card of the afternoon. Despite the numerical advantage though, the Tigers failed to take advantage as Mileski – the clear man of the match – got in behind the Tigers defence before slotting home past Bazi.
Blacktown City FC 3 Central Coast Mariners Academy 5
In the late Sunday afternoon match, relocated to Sydney United Sports Centre after the playing surface at Lily Homes Stadium was deemed impracticable with all the rain that has hit Sydney this week, Central Coast Mariners Academy scored what is perhaps the shock result of the season, defeating Blacktown City FC 5-3.
Jed Prater’s first goal of the night had given the visitors an unlikely lead, but a Sean Rooney brace of his own, the first from the spot, had Blacktown City back in front.
A superb counterattacking goal from Bradley McDonald had drawn the Mariners level and then finally, a joyous free-kick from Chris Payne brought the first-half to a close with the Mariners 3-2 up.
In the second-half, Prater grabbed his second of the evening with a tap-in on 67’ minutes before Harris Gaitatzis re-opened the contest inside the final 10’ minutes.
Matthew Crowell’s finish 1’ minuet later however, ensured the Mariners would return to Pluim Park with the very impressive scalp of Blacktown City FC.
-By Joseph Carlucci