Blacktown City take out derby
A Thomas Whiteside own goal has helped Blacktown City snatch a lucky 1-0 win against Blacktown Spartans in their Round 20 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Blacktown Football Park.
Whiteside’s own goal was the difference in an at time uninspiring match with Blacktown City clearly still recovering from their historic FFA Cup Round of 32 win on Wednesday.
It was a tough result for the Spartans who put in a strong performance which kept their opposition on their toes for all 90 minutes.
The match also marked 200 games for Spartans captain and one club player Carlos Saliadarre who has been the club’s goal keeper since 2009.
It was a tentative start to the match with the Spartans happy to sit back and allow City to have the ball.
A compact and disciplined home side held their shape as the visitors unleashed a flurry of crosses into the box.
The Spartans defence deflected the aerial assault with aplomb and had the first real chance of the match in the 14th minute but it sailed over the bar.
Jordan Crighton had a great chance to take the lead for the home side when he makes a great run into the box on the half hour mark, but his shot was too high.
The Spartans were showing plenty of promise but an unfortunate touch on the cusp of half time meant the home side went into the break 1-0 down.
An attempted clearance from Thomas Whiteside deflected the cross from City’s Roberto Speranza into the back of his own net.
Luck wasn’t going the way of the home side with the spartans denied a goal in the final seconds with the referee claiming it came off the hand of Josh Tanner.
The second half continued the same pattern from the first half with neither side really hitting their straps.
An incredible double save from Saliadarre demonstrated why the veteran shot stopper has been one of the competition’s best in recent seasons.
Diving to his right, the spartans keeper blocked a Joey Gibbs header before regathering himself to block the striker’s follow up shot.
City had another great chance on goal in the 66th minute when a long range strike from Lewis Buemie sailed narrowly wide of the post.
The Mark Crittenden coached City side were denied a goal in the 70th minute when Joey Gibbs was deemed offside after he tapped home from only three yards out.
Chances were few and far between throughout the final 15 minutes. Jacob Ott’s free kick in the 83rd minute was one rare moment of excitement for the home fans but it was saved by Nenad Vekic.
A mazy run from Ben Tosi provided one final roll of the dice for the home side but a sliding City defence was able to deny him before he could get his shot off.
It was not a memorable performance by any means but Blacktown City did enough to secure the 1-0 win.
Spartans captain Saliadarre said it was not the perfect result for his 200th game.
“It was a result which has summed up our season he said. One bad touch from our defence and we are down 1-0,” he said.
“We did well today and really took it to Blacktown City. Unfortunately luck wasn’t on our side.
“It was a very proud moment to play 200 games for this club. I have many wonderful memories and I look forward to playing many more here at Blacktown Spartans.
“This season has been tough for everyone at the club but we will try and finish on a high over the last two games.”
Match Stats
Blacktown Spartans 0
Blacktown City: 1 (Whiteside 40’ OG)
Round 20, July 31 2016
Blacktown Football Park
Referee: S Lucas
Assistant Referees: A Gieb & R Osborne
Fourth Official: M Reidy
Blacktown Spartans: 1. Carlos SALIADARRE, 2.Wand JAJAW (4. Xavier QUIGLEY 50’), 3. Joshua TANNER, 8. Jacob OTT, 10. Futa NAKAMURA, 11. Jordan CRIGHTON (39. Alex MOOY 71’) , 14. Hayden MORTON, 15. Thomas WHITESIDE, 16. Andre CARLE, 20. Ben TOSI, 25. Jason Trifiro
Substitutes not used: 17. Aaron WHITE, 37. Brendon BEZZINA,, 41. Domenic Nascimben
Yellow Cards: Tanner 45’ Tosi 58’ Carle 61’
Red Cards: Nil
Blacktown City: 1. Nenad VEKIC, 4. Roberto SPERANZA, 6. Matthew Lewis, 8. Sasa Macura, 9. Joey GIBBS, 10. Connor EVANS, 11. Danny CHOI (Travis Major 66’), 14. Mitchell MALLIA (12. Jordan GROZDANOVSKI 86’), 16. Patrick ANTELMI, 17. Lewis BUEMIE, 19. Zach CAIRNCROSS.
Substitutes not used: 20. Dylan NISKI, 22. Jake MAMONE, 18. Lewis FRASER
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
