Round 13 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s U20
Wet weather wreaked havoc with Round 13 of the PlayStation 4 NPL NSW Men’s U20’s competition with Rockdale’s home clash against Hakoah Sydney City East, Parramatta’s date with APIA Leichhardt Tigers and Wollongong’s encounter with Sydney United 58 all postponed.
But it didn’t dampen what was another unpredictable weekend of action with Sydney Olympic enjoying a big win over leaders Manly United, while Sutherland defeated Blacktown City to move into second place.
The Match of the Round was at Blacktown Football Park where Blacktown Spartans were searching for back to back wins when they hosted Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Match of the Round
Blacktown Spartans 1-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Saturday 5pm at Blacktown Football Park
Two late goals aided Bonnyrigg White Eagles who consigned a sorry Blacktown Spartans side to a miserable 3-1 defeat in the rain at Blacktown Football Park.
Asmir Kadric broke the deadlock for the visitors’ midway through the first half before Spartans midfielder Michael Konestabo restored parity after the break. Although both sides carved their fair share of chances on a slippery Blacktown Football Park surface, calamity at the back saw the White Eagles take advantage late in the second half through Harry Tucker before Luke Debrot added a third on the full-time whistle.
Bonnyrigg gloveman Stevan Savicic was the hero for the visitors after denying Spartans forward Alex Mooy from the penalty spot with the scores level deep into the second half.
Blacktown were unable to capitalise on their best spell of the game, captured by Mooy’s failure to convert from the spot, and were left horribly exposed at the back in the final stages as Bonnyrigg sealed the three points in ruthless fashion.
Samuel Jacob’s side were looking for back to back wins for only the second time this campaign and enough opportunities to do so much to the frustrations of the Spartans faithful. The ninth-placed outsiders should have opened the scoring when Mooy darted beyond the Bonnyrigg rearguard to collect Daniel Sestan’s through ball early on, but Bonnyrigg goalkeeper Stevan Savicic was well positioned to block Mooy’s initial attempt, before the striker fired the rebound over the bar.
The tangerines were punished when Asmir Kadric opened the scoring in similar circumstances. Sent racing behind the Blackton defence, the young White Eagles forward was too quick for the retreating cover and made no mistake in finding the bottom corner.
Kadric went close to doubling the advantage soon after, slaloming through the Blacktown rearguard and rounding stopper Dominic Nascimben, but saw his backheeled finish blocked off the line.
There wasn’t much to separate the two outfits in a lively opening forty-five minutes and it took a moment of uncharacteristically careless defending from Bonnyrigg for the scores to be level, with Konestabo applying a composed finish past Savicic having caught the White Eagles defence sleeping.
Although the hosts had had their share of unconvincing moments at the back, it was a deserved equalizer and one the Spartans were unfortunate not to build on as Savicic continued to thwart Mooy: first through a fine reaction save to prevent a flick on from squeezing in at the near post, and secondly from the spot with a strong diving save.
The hosts were unable to maintain their attacking momentum and gifted Bonnyrigg the winner late on after losing possession on the edge of their own box, leaving Harry Tucker with a simple finish in front of goal.
Blacktown attempted to equalize immediately but suffered a crushing third on the counter attack through Luke Debrot who sprung forward down the right wing and thrashed a low effort past Nascimben to seal all three points.
White Eagles coach Stephen Sigmund praised his side for a gritty effort.
“Blacktown Football Park is a tough place to come, no one is afforded any space and the conditions made it even more difficult today”
“We need to improve our decision making but it was an important victory”
It was another case of one step forward, two steps backward for Spartans boss Samuel Jacob who lamented his side’s weak finish to the contest.
“I’m very disappointed with how we lost the game, the twenty minute spell after we scored killed us.
“We need to identify our problems and move forward”.
Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans 1 (Konestabo 53’)
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3 (Kadric 25’, Tucker 84’, Debrot 90’)
Saturday 4th June 2016
Blacktown Football Park, Rooty Hill
Blacktown Spartans: 18 A. Abdullah, 19 B. Bezzina, 22 A. Carle, 24 C. Nascimben, 29 M. Konestabo, 31 A. Mooy, 32 C. Powers, 33 D. Sestan , 34 X. Quigley, 35 A. White, 36 H. Tomohiro, 42 L. Pervan, 21 L. Catania, 26 H. Jalloh, 30 L. Zacharopoulos, 41 D. Nascimben (GK)
Yellow Cards: N/A
Red Cards: N/A
Bonnyrigg White Eagles: 2 A. Mansueto, 8 H. Tucker, 14 T. Mcdonald, 20 S. Savicic (GK), 23 D. Cupac, 24 L. Debrot, 25 L. Faria, 27 A. Guzman, 28 L. Guzman, 29 Z. Kolundzic, 30 N. Krljar, 31 M. Lo, 32 J. Rose, 35 K. Zarafetas, 50 J. Geddes(GK)
Yellow Cards: 30 N. Krljar 59’
Red Cards: N/A
Saturday
Manly United 3-4 Sydney Olympic, 5pm at Cromer Park
Adam Voloder scored a hattrick on debut as Sydney Olympic stunned leaders Manly United 4-3 in a thriller at Cromer Park.
In what was a repeat scoreline of Manly United’s 4-3 triumph over Olympic at Belmore in Round 2, John Theodoropolous’ side entered the top six in stunning fashion with Nikita Andricopolous also finding the net for the first time in blue.
Nathan Separovic, Eddie Rinaldi and Todd Balneaves were all on the scoresheet for Andrew Christiansen’s side, who remain in first despite the defeat.
Sunday
Blacktown City 0-1 Sutherland Sharks, 1pm at Lilys Football Centre
Sutherland Sharks leapfrogged reigning champions Blacktown City into second place courtesy of a hard-fought 1-0 win at Lilys Football Centre.
Jeremy Cox turned home Ryan Blakeley’s cross to secure the win for Allan Edmondson’s side, who have earned a clean sheet on each of their last three away ventures in their charge up the competition ladder.
The mini-slump extends for Ben Wright’s Blacktown City: it’s now four games without a win for the competition heavyweights who face a daunting trip to Belmore against an in-form Sydney Olympic next Sunday.
APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Parramatta FC, 2.15pm at Lambert Park – WASHED OUT
Rockdale City Suns v Hakoah Sydney City East, 3.00pm at Ilinden Sports Centre – WASHED OUT
Wollongong Wolves v Sydney United 58, 3.00pm at WIN Stadium – WASHED OUT
–By Jacob Windon
