IGA NPL NSW Grade 20s Round 11 Review
HALFWAY through the competition and the local derby saw Blacktown City FC play out a 2-2 draw with Blacktown Spartans FC in the Match of the Round on Sunday afternoon.
MATCH OF THE ROUND
Blacktown City FC 2-2 Blacktown Spartans FC at Lilys Football Centre
Despite the home side creating most of the chances, Blacktown City FC and Blacktown Spartans FC shared the points in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Lilys Football Centre.
In the 13’ minute City created their first chance on goal when Sam Perre’s cross from the right found striker Kieren Paull running onto the ball, but poor ball control and the oncoming Spartan keeper Aaron Liddell, denied the home side the lead.
Moments later, a Blacktown City defensive mistake from the top of the box saw Spartans first real opportunity, but Reid Taylor’s shot was sent into the welcoming hands of gloveman, Blake Tuxford.
However the Spartans didn’t have to wait long, opening the scoring in the 25’ minute when a left cross by Taylor found Blake Fischer in the box, who beautifully headed the ball into the corner of the goal.
A similar run down the right saw another opportunity only 5’ minutes later, but this time it was well defended by City’s Lewis Beumie clearing off the line.
Despite the visiting side’s early lead, Blacktown City continued to press on as they looked for an equaliser.
In the 31’ minute Matthew Stewart produced a beautiful cross, which found Paull outside the box. With only the keeper to beat, Paull maintained his composure before drilling the ball into the back of the net to level the match.
With the myriad of chances that followed, City couldn’t have looked more comfortable on their home ground and were unlucky not to take the lead.
A brilliant cross by Perre just before half time saw another opportunity fall to the feet of City’s star player Paull whose shot was sent wide of the post.
Only five minutes into the second half and a handball in the penalty box by the home side saw Spartans awarded a penalty.
Spartan’s Dario Vujovic stepped up and converted the spot kick, sending the ball into the bottom left corner past the hands of outstretched substitute keeper, Thomas Howard-Belle.
Against the run of play this was an unlucky way for the home side to concede. But just past the hour mark, City had an opportunity to equalise for the second time in the match.
Ryan Peterson sent a beautiful ball up the right, finding Paull whose cross into the box found Giuseppe Camera, only for his shot to hit the right post.
But just as they had in the first half, City once again drew level with a well-deserved equaliser.
City’s Nicola Kuleski’s cross from a free kick found Peter Pelekanos in the box who comfortably headed the ball past Liddell into the right corner of the goal in the 72’ minute.
The hosts were then handed a golden chance in the 85’ minute to break the deadlock, but Brian Jamba’s 20 metre shot was sent sailing over the crossbar.
Only a minute later and the ball was in Spartan’s possession, as they launched a counter attack, but keeper Howard-Belle was superb in denying the visiting side their third goal.
City, desperately trying to grab all three points, had a last minute opportunity on goal, when a pass up the line from Paull to Beumie saw him with only the keeper to beat, but too many touches saw the opportunity wasted.
Blacktown City FC coach, David O’Keefe was disappointed to walk away with a draw.
‘The boys did well, dominating the majority of the game. We should’ve got four or five goals and deserved the three points," O’Keefe said.
“But the boys showed a lot of courage to come back twice in the match.”
“We were disappointed with the result last week, so hopefully this will give them some confidence.”
Match Stats
Blacktown City FC 2 (Kieren Paull 31’, Peter Pelekanos 72’)
Blacktown Spartans FC 2 (Blake Fischer 25’, Dario Vujovic 50’)
Sunday 25 May 2014
Lilys Football Centre, Seven Hills
Referee: S.Grasso
Assistant Referee: N.Backo & S.Edeling
Blacktown City FC: 30.Lewis Beumie, 32.Keenan Gibson (33.Brian Jamba), 12.Joel Hardwick (34.Emanuel Gonzales), 27.Nicola Kuleski, 24.Eoin Montford, 17.Kieren Paull, 22.Peter Pelekanos, 21.Sam Perre (20.Giuseppe Camera), 28.Ryan Peterson, 31.Matthew Stewart, 13.Blake Tuxford (40.Thomas Howard-Belle)
Substitutes Not Used: 35.Patrick Flotiman
Yellow Cards: Lewis Beumie 39’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown Spartans FC: 30.Jeremy Bates, 22.Domenic Dileo, 32.Leon Faria (38.Connor Powers), 27.Blake Fischer, 40.James Stojcevski, 23.Dario Vujovic (33.Alec Goodwin), 35.Stephen Vukovic, 42.Reid Taylor (29.Sam Onana Awono), 31.Damel Del-Ruocco, 24.Bousamin Tosi (37.Patrick Griffiths), 28.Conor Evans
Substitutes Not Used: 1.Lucas Pervan
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
ROUND REVIEW
SATURDAY
Manly United FC 2-1 Rockdale City Suns FC at Cromer Park
Manly United FC beat Rockdale City Suns FC on Saturday evening.
Thomas Morrissey, Dejan Pandurevic and Oliver Green scored for the home side.
Rockdale’s scorer was Cameron Solevski.
Marconi Stallions FC 2-2 St George FC at Marconi Stadium
Marconi Stallions FC drew 2-2 with St George FC at home.
Nick Colontonio and Joshua Brooks scored for the home side.
St George scorers were Mark Risoski and Rino Zenari.
Sutherland Sharks FC 2-0 Sydney United 58 FC at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks FC defeated Sydney United 58 FC at home.
Daniel Loe and Jordan Figon scored for the home side.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC 0-2 South Coast Wolves FC at Lambert Park
South Coast Wolves FC beat APIA-Leichhardt Tigers FC on Saturday evening.
Joey Lavalle and Justin Ivanovic scored for the visiting team.
SUNDAY
Sydney Olympic FC 1-2 Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC at Belmore Sports Ground
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC beat Sydney Olympic FC on Sunday afternoon.
Stevan Illic scored both goals for the visiting side, one in each half.
– By Anneliese Scenna, National Premier Leagues NSW Grade 20s Reporter
