Parramatta FC no match for rising Suns
Rockdale City Suns cruised to a 2-0 victory over last placed Parramatta FC during their rescheduled PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Round 14 clash at Melita Stadium played on Wednesday evening.
Two superb headers from Blake Ricciuto and former Sydney FC defender Trent McClenahan in the first half was enough to see off a Parramatta FC team which showed plenty of heart but lacked the polish required to end their horror run of losses.
Parramatta FC started the contest brightly as Yuta Samba flashed a free-kick wide after an earlier effort was headed wide from Nathan Tsioulos.
The visitors started to work their way into the contest as Jordan Figon had a close-range effort saved before Eagles keeper Stefan Giglio was called into action again from the rebound.
Both sides looked dangerous from set-pieces but it was Rockdale who managed to put the ball in the back of the net. A dangerous delivery forced a dramatic save from Giglio then the rebound fell to Blake Ricciuto to head home for a 1-0 lead.
Rockdale City Suns appeared more comfortable on the ball after the goal and had Parramatta struggling to contain an elusive Toufic Alameddine who was dangerous down the wing on every occasion he received the ball.
Ante Covic was forced into action when he had to sprawl full length to deny Ryan Blakeley as the Eagles pushed back against the Suns.
Just before half-time it was another set-piece which lead to a second goal for the visitors.
Paul Reid delivered a stunning ball for McClenahan to head home.
In the second half Rockdale City Suns continued to look strong on the ball. Figon almost created a chance when he shrugged off a defender to find Ricciuto who fired his effort wide.
Substitute Alec Urosevski found space down the left side before Harris Gaitatzis headed his cross over the bar.
Rockdale player-coach Paul Reid was happy with the result and the performance of his players.
“In terms of what we had to do tonight, we had to get the three points which we did. We got the goals and could have got even more. It was a professional performance,” said Reid.
“I said to the boys at half-time to not concede a goal and take third position outright. We did that and I am happy with that.”
For Parramatta FC coach Marshall Soper it was about development of the team.
“The first five games of my reign has been against the top five sides. We have only conceded from set pieces though, nothing from general play which is good. We can coach the rest of it especially as there are some very young players in there,” Soper said.
Match Stats
Parramatta FC 0
Rockdale City Suns FC 2 (Ricciuto ’28 and McClenahan ’44)
Wednesday, July 5 2017
Melita Stadium, Sefton
Parramatta FC: 1. GIGLIO Stefan, 2. PANTA Bibek, 3. TSIOULOS Nathan, 5. SAMBA Yuta, 7. BLAKELEY Ryan (PRISUDA ’88), 8. HASANZADAH Ahmad (PLANTANIOTIS ’55), 10. KONTOS Johnny, 11. ANDRICOPOULOS Nikita, 12. DONATIELLO Marcus, 17. ANYIMA Victor and 20. GALBRAITH Hamish
Substitutes not used: 15. JUNTREE Cameron, 18. COCARO Adrian and 40. FINCH Corey
Yellow cards: Tsioulos, Panta, Plantaniotis
Red cards: nil
Rockdale City Suns: 3. HESKETH Steve, 4. MCCLENAHAN Trent, 5. REID Paul (SAVOR ’82), 6. RICCIUTO Blake, 8. CANAK Aleksandar (GROZDANOVSKI ’63), 10. GAITATZIS Harris, 16. SAVOR Issac, 17. ALAMEDDINE Toufic (UROSEVSKI ’73), 18. SARIC Daniel, 22. COVIC Ante and 23. FIGON Jordan
Substitutes not used: 1. BRADASEVIC David and 2. PETKOVSKI Daniel
Yellow cards: Alameddine
Red cards: nil
-By PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Justin Davies
