Round 20 Review – PS4 NPL NSW Men’s

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There is still two rounds to go in the PlayStation 4 NSW NPL Men’s competition but Sydney United 58 have already run away with the prize after securing the 2016 PlayStation 4 NSW NPL Men’s Premiership on Sunday.

It was the big highlight of Round 20 as another six matches took place across the competition.

Parramatta kept its finals hopes alive while Sydney Olympic furthered its claim to the fifth spot on the table with a win against Wollongong.

Blacktown City took home the Blacktown Mayors Trophy with a scrappy 1-0 win in the Blacktown derby against Blacktown Spartans.

Sydney United 58’s win against Bonnyrigg White Eagles was the highlight of the weekend due to the club clinching the Premiership for 2016.

 

Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 – Sydney United 58 4 at Valentine Sports Park

It was all smiles at Valentine Sports Park for Sydney United 58 on Sunday night as they secured the 2016 PlayStation 4 NSW NPL Men’s Premiership with a one sided 4-1 victory over the Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

A Chris Payne brace and goals to Panni Nikas and Glenn Trifiro helped them get over their local rivals in a one sided affair

Robbie Younis struck in the last minute of the match but it was merely a consolation goal.

The United 58 win also all but ends Bonnyrigg’s hopes of defending their PlayStation 4 NSW NPL Men’s Championship with the White Eagles needing to win its last two games and have results go their way if they are to make the finals.

It was a great result for Mark Rudan’s side after they suffered an early Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 exit at the hands of Blacktown City FC going down 6-2.

Hakoah Sydney City East 1 – Parramatta FC 2 at Hensley Athletic Field

An injury-plagued Parramatta FC defeated Hakoah Sydney City East 2-1 in their PlayStation® 4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday night.

Goals to David Gullo and Marco Sama were enough for Parramatta to notch the win cancelling out Neil Jablonski’s strike for the home side.

While it wasn’t the most inspiring football played this season, Parramatta clung on to their 2-1 halftime lead with Hakoah disallowed two goals after the break.

 

Blacktown Spartans 0 – Blacktown City 1 at Blacktown Football Park

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.

 

APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1 – Manly United 4 at Lambert Park

Manly United defeated APIA Leichhardt 4-1 in an entertaining Round 20 contest of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s at Lambert Park.

For Manly United, the victory keeps them in third place on the ladder while for APIA Leichhardt the season is all but over.

The home side did take the lead through Brandon Hooper midway through the first stanza of play but two goals to Richie Cardozo and Luke Giverin in the space of 60 seconds sent the visitors into the break with a 2-1 lead.

In the second half Manly United scored twice more through Cardozo and Shane Cansdell-Sheriff  to round out the scoring as the dismal afternoon continued for the Tigers.

 

Rockdale City Suns 0 – Sutherland Sharks 0 at Ilinden Sports Centre

Rockdale City Suns’ slump continued after Paul Reid’s side nervously battled their way to a 0-0 stalemate with Sutherland Sharks at Ilinden Sports Centre during their PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash on Sunday.

After announcing themselves as serious premiership contenders midway through the campaign, Rockdale now look consigned to miss a home final following what was the side’s fifth match without a win.

And it was a miserably tame performance from the home side who held plenty of possession but lacked any invention or drive to puncture a well-marshalled and canny Sutherland side who will be disappointed to leave Ilinden Sports Centre with a point after comfortably controlling the encounter.

Although the Sharks preserved a mathematical chance at finals football, Carlos Villazon’s late-season revival looks to have run out of steam with Sutherland needing two wins and results to go their way in the final fortnight of action.

The spritely Sharks will at least take solace in the form and cohesion they have struck in the past month and those were qualities on show again here as Villazon’s street-wise outfit outfought and outran their counterparts.

 

Wollongong Wolves 1 – Sydney Olympic 2 at WIN Stadium

Sydney Olympic has heaped more pressure on the Wollongong Wolves with a 2-1 victory in their PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at WIN Stadium.

A first half double from Christopher Gligor sent them on the way before Nicolas Bernal pulled one back from the spot.

There were plenty of opportunities for both sides in the second half but Olympic were able to hold on for a tight victory.

The win means Sydney Olympic holds onto fifth place and a finals spot with two weeks in the competition to go while Wollongong remains in 11th place.