Round 5 Review – Westfield FFA Cup
The Westfield FFA Cup is starting to heat up following the completion of Round Five, and as always, as is synonymous with the knockout tournament, it has continued to produce its share of upsets and fairytale runs.
Illawarra Premier League heavyweights, Wollongong United, put paid to PlayStation NPL 3 side, Granville Rage, winning 3-1 at Garside Park after the scores were locked at 1-1 at half time.
Zac McLaren, Mikal Awad, and Daisuke Yuzawa grabbed the goals for Wollongong, whilst Patrick Gatt scored the solitary strike for Granville Rage.
North Epping Rangers from the Gladesville Hornsby Football Association thought they were on their way to a 5th round upset when they lead Bulli FC by 1-0 at half time, with Tony Kallides netting for the Rangers.
But Bulli came storming back into the game after the break, scoring three times in an eight minute spell just after the hour mark, before eventually running away with the game by 4-1.
Dylan Lewis equalised for Bulli in the 60th minute, an unfortunate own goal put them in front a minute later, before Marcus Beattie made it 3-1 in the 68th. Kyle Jackson netted the fourth and final goal in the 89th minute to confirm Bulli FC’s spot in the sixth round.
Despite missing a few regulars, PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s side, Blacktown City, totally dominated Eastern Suburbs Football Association side, Lokomotiv Cove, throughout their 5th Round clash at Lily Homes Stadium, but could only find the net twice late in the contest to book their spot in Round Six.
Despite being camped in the opposition half, Blacktown City simply could not find a way past the inspired Lokomotiv keeper, Graham Greene, who took turns in denying efforts from all of the Blacktown attackers with some superb saves.
Danny Choi entered the fray in the 65th minute, and scored with his first touch a minute later, slamming high in to the roof of the net from point blank range to finally break the deadlock. in The second goal came in injury time, when Choi dispossessed a Lokomotiv defender at the halfway line, before racing in to space and squaring to Mitchell Mallia, who side footed home for goal number two.
PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s side, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, continue to put their league form to one side as they progressed to Round Six of the Westfield FFA Cup with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Northern Tigers, from the PlayStation NPL 2 competition.
Bonnyrigg’s goals on the night came from David Vrankovic, Ray Miller, Hassan Jalloh and substitute, Asmir Kadric.
The biggest upset of Round Five occurred at Seymour Shaw Park, where PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s side, Sutherland Sharks, were unceremoniously knocked out by Fraser Park, who this season are playing their football in the PlayStation NPL 3 competition.
Sutherland Sharks took the opportunity to start a few fringe players, but still had plenty of experience on the park. However, Fraser Park have plenty of experience themselves, on and off the park, and took it to their more fancied opponents from the outset.
Nathan Sansom managed a hat trick on the night, whilst Jordan Roberts grabbed the other goal as Fraser Park converted a 2-1 half time lead in to a 4-1 full time drubbing.
Joshua Da Silva scored Sutherland’s consolation goal.
There was another huge upset at Cook Park where State League club, Nepean FC, thumped the North Shore Mariners – from the PlayStation NPL 2 – by 6-1, after leading 3-0 at half time.
Mario Ghobrial nabbed a hat trick for Nepean, whilst the other goals came from Robert Polistina, Shomari Sabatho, and Rory McGeown. William Smith replied for the Mariners.
Marconi Stallions managed to replicate their Round Four result over Glenwood Redbacks when they trounced Wagga City Wanderers in Round Five by 8-0 at Marconi Stadium.
Sam Burfoot managed to find the net four times for the PlayStation NPL 2 side, whilst Jake Douglas and Robert Perre found the net also. Experienced striker, Sean Rooney, grabbed a brace of goals to complete the rout after coming off the bench.
Hills Brumbies of the PlayStation NPL 2 annihilated St George City FA at Russell Reserve, the scoreline finishing at 8-2 in what proved to be a mismatch of sorts.
Brumbies took off from the outset as they usually do, racing to a 5-1 lead at the break before going on with the job in the second half.
Three players managed a brace of goals on the night for Hills – Jacob Basden, Nathan Rayner and Nikolas Dimitriadis – whilst Brad Robertson and Peter Cjeka also scored.
St George City found the net once in each half, their goals coming via Luke Maait and Mudrek Abaid.
There was an all PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s clash in Round Five, and it pitted Hakoah Sydney City East against Manly United at Hensley Athletic Field on ANZAC Day.
It was a tense affair, and with the scores locked at 1-1 at the end of both 90 minutes and extra time, following goals by Anthony Frangie (Hakoah) and Jamie Lobb (Manly). It was Hakoah who prevailed 4-2 in the dreaded penalty shootout.
Sydney Olympic shrugged off the sudden resignation of their coach a few days prior to progress in Round Six of the Westfield FFA Cup by knocking out Picton Rangers 3-0.
The Rangers ply their trade in the Illawarra Premier League, but were no match for the side from the PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s competition at Hume Oval.
Radovan Pavicevic helped himself to two penalties after two clumsy challenges from Picton inside the penalty area, whilst Jason Madonis scored the third goal for Olympic.
Fellow PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s side, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, made light work of their trip to Pluim Park in Lisarow, easily accounting for Killarney Districts by 4-0 to move in to sixth round of the Westfield FFA Cup.
SD Raiders continued their Cup journey, with the side from the PlayStation NPL 3 competition accounting for St George FC 3-2 in a cliff hanger at Ernie Smith Reserve.
Tyrone Gatt was the star for Raiders with a brace of goals, whilst Daniel Bittar scored the other. St George’s goals came from Daniel Mitwali and Olapido and Okunaiya.
PlayStation NPL 2 side, Bankstown Berries, scored at both ends of their encounter against a gallant Dunbar Rovers to progress to Round Six on the back of a 2-0 win.
Vincent Giannini put the Berries in front with a 12th minute strike, and the second and clinching goal arrived as late as the 88th minute, with Julian Lepore doing the honours. The scoreline could’ve been more but for a last minute penalty save by Rovers young shot stopper, Ayman Hill.
One of the PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s front runners, Rockdale City Suns, made the midweek trip to Proctor Park, in Bathurst, where they dispatched of the Western NSW Mariners by 4-0.
Jono Grozdanovski managed two goals, whilst the other scorers were Blake Ricciuto and Harris Gaitatzis, as the Suns progress to Round Six of the tournament.
Mounties Wanderers, from the PlayStation NPL 2, easily accounted for local side, Dunbar Rovers, from the Eastern Suburbs Football Association, scoring six goals without reply.
Michael Gaitatzis and Mitchell Davidson scored a brace each as the Lee Sterrey coached side eased their way in to Round Six.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers were another PlayStation NPL 2 side to progress when they defeated State League side, UNSW, by 3-1 at Popondetta Park.
The goals for the Rangers came from Brian Griffin-Colls, Sylvester Roberts, and Aram Tayebi, whilst UNSW’s consolation goal was from Lenox Tweneboa.
Southern & Ettalong United were no match for PlayStation NPL NSW Men’s side Parramatta FC, losing 3-0 at Melita Stadium.
But it took Parramatta 32 minutes to break the deadlock, with Giosue Sama making it 1-0, before Lawrence Hanna doubled their advantage only three minutes later. Marcus Donatiello finished off the scoring at 3-0 early in the second half, confirming a spot in the Round Six draw for Parramatta.
Kemblawarra Fury booked their spot in Round Six when they accounted for Camden Tigers, from the NSW State League, by 5-2 at Ron Dine Reserve.
The match was won and lost in the first half when Fury raced to a 3-0 lead, and although Camden made a fist of it with second half goals to Callum Rodgers and Brody Page, Fury kept at it to record a comfortable win on the night.
Kemblawarra’s goal scorers were Shane Murray, Sam Matthews, Matthew McNab, and a brace to Anthony Proia.
Dulwich Hill went through to Round Six of the Westfield FFA Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win over Winston Hills, with two goals to Gerard Ouffoue and one to Angus Chance, whilst Illawarra Premier League’s Albion White Eagles did likewise when they accounted for Waverley Old Boys by 4-1 at Valentine Sports Park No.2.
Details of the Westfield FFA Cup Round 5 fixtures can be found by clicking on this link
