Round 24 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition set the tone for the run home, with the intensity ramping up in both the race for second place and the relegation battle.

Eight winners and eight losers this weekend, with Macarthur Rams taking out the Match of the Round while Blacktown Spartans’ victory over Canterbury Bankstown was the pick of the action elsewhere.

Match of the Round: Prospect United 1-2 Macarthur Rams

It wasn’t pretty, but Macarthur Rams kept their top-two hopes alive with a 2-1 victory over Prospect United on Friday night.

Inspired by an Olivier Beltran-Woodward brace in the second half, the Rams were pushed all the way by Prospect, who scored late in stoppage time to set up a tense finish. The victory saw Macarthur move into fourth position.

After an emotional few days for the hosts following the tragic passing of Hayley Vella, who they dedicated the match to, the opening half was a slow burn, with neither side seriously threatening the back of the net despite creating half-chances.

Much of the contest was played in front of both defences, with the best opportunities arriving late in the opening period. Beltran-Woodward headed wide from a corner before Thomas Lopez saw his effort comfortably saved for the Rams.

The tempo noticeably increased early in the second half, with both sides finding more opportunities inside the penalty area.

A nervy moment arrived for the visitors in the 54th minute when Rams goalkeeper Griffin Barry was closed down by the Prospect attack. His blushes were spared when Antonio Orlando was unable to steer the resulting effort on target.

Prospect’s best chance came just before the hour mark when Dimos Vlachos was released through on goal by an excellent Liam Bajada pass. However, Barry stood tall to deny him with a save at his near post.

That chance appeared to release the shackles, with both teams pushing for a much-needed victory for different reasons.

The Rams responded in the 67th minute with their first real opportunity of the second half, as Lopez headed over the crossbar from a Beltran-Woodward cross.

With 15 minutes remaining, something had to give, and Macarthur were the side to break the deadlock from the penalty spot.

Michael Martin was brought down inside the area following a challenge from behind, with Beltran-Woodward stepping up and confidently converting into the top-left corner.

The striker doubled his tally just two minutes later, finding space in the right channel before producing a low finish across goal, with Takumi Kyutoku providing the assist.

Prospect pulled one back in the 91st minute after making attacking changes, with Bajada finding the back of the net from a set piece, firing through a sea of bodies inside the penalty area.

The Rams held on to secure the three points and remain in the top-two conversation, while the result saw Prospect United drop behind Western City Rangers following their victory 24 hours later.

Prospect United 1 (Bajada 90’)
Macarthur Rams 2 (Beltran-Woodward 75’, 77’)

Elsewhere

Canterbury Bankstown 1-2 Blacktown Spartans

We have seen this story before, with Blacktown Spartans grinding out another important victory after coming from behind to defeat Canterbury Bankstown 2-1 at Jensen Park.

A repeat scoreline of their first meeting, Aedon Kyra was once again influential, scoring a goal and providing an assist after the Spartans fell behind early through Joel Beattie’s first match back at the club.

The Berries opened the scoring with their first opportunity of the match. A low ball across the face from the right was fumbled by the Spartans goalkeeper, allowing Beattie to react quickest and poke home from inside the six-yard box.

Both sides played with intensity, providing an entertaining contest for a healthy crowd. The result was decided by key moments either side of half-time.

Canterbury Bankstown came close to doubling their advantage when Peter Kostopoulos arrived late into the penalty area, only to fire inches over the crossbar.

The Spartans equalised moments later, with Jayden Tran combining with Kyra in a one-two before finishing low past the goalkeeper in the 43rd minute.

Jimmy Demetriou’s side completed the turnaround shortly after Canterbury Bankstown had a goal ruled out for offside at the other end.

Kyra was again the difference, rising highest at the back post from a set piece in the 57th minute to head home and give the Spartans the lead.

The Berries pushed for an equaliser in the final stages, with Nicholas Azzi and William Kounnas both creating opportunities, but the Spartans held firm to claim another important victory.

Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Beattie 10’)
Blacktown Spartans 2 (Tran 44’, Kyra 56’)

Here is Part 2 continuing the same edited document style.

Western City Rangers 3-2 Newcastle Jets

Western City Rangers climbed off the bottom of the table after a Reuben Awaritefe hat-trick inspired them to a 3-2 victory over Newcastle Jets, who could now find themselves in danger of being dragged into the relegation battle.

The two sides exchanged goals throughout the opening 50 minutes, with the Jets twice responding after falling behind before Awaritefe struck the decisive goal in the 85th minute to secure Rangers’ second victory in three matches.

It was a resilient performance from the hosts, who showed plenty of character and confidence in possession. Rangers took the lead in the fifth minute before Newcastle responded before the half-hour mark, with Kai Thompson capitalising on a turnover in possession to level the scores.

Awaritefe restored Rangers’ advantage in the 36th minute, but Thompson struck again shortly after half-time, equalising from the second phase of a set piece in the 48th minute.

However, it was Rangers’ day, with Awaritefe completing his hat-trick with five minutes remaining. The impact of the substitutes also played a role, with the changes helping Rangers see out the result.

The victory saw Western City Rangers move off the bottom of the table for the first time in a significant period.

Western City Rangers 3 (Awaritefe 5’, 36’, 85’)
Newcastle Jets 2 (Thompson 27’, 48’)

Bulls FC Academy 0-5 Bankstown City

Bankstown City produced one of their best performances of the season, securing a dominant 5-0 victory over Bulls FC Academy at Sydney United Sports Centre.

A complete display that they can build upon over the final five weeks of the campaign saw Ryan Feutz and Bai Antoniou both score braces to lead Bankstown to three valuable points.

A key factor in the victory was Bankstown’s ability to convert the chances they created after struggling in that area over recent weeks.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 33rd minute through Feutz before Antoniou doubled their advantage ten minutes later.

Both players completed their braces in the second half, before Adrian Knez added a fifth goal in stoppage time.

Coach Panni Nikas also highlighted the influence of Josh Brillante and Isaac Danzo, who controlled the tempo from midfield throughout the contest.

The Bulls were limited to only occasional attacking moments as Bankstown produced a dominant performance.

Bulls FC Academy 0
Bankstown City 5 (Feutz 33’, 72’, Antoniou 43’, 51’, Knez 90’)

Central Coast Mariners 1-2 Northern Tigers

Northern Tigers secured a valuable 2-1 away victory over Central Coast Mariners to maintain their advantage over third place.

Responding strongly after last week’s disappointment against Newcastle Jets, Austin Oates scored a crucial goal with just over ten minutes remaining to secure three important points.

It was a proper contest between the two sides, with Northern Tigers setting the tone early through Jesse Spang’s 12th-minute opener.

Central Coast Mariners used their ball movement effectively to find a way back into the contest, equalising seven minutes into the second half.

However, the game was settled late when Oates produced a long-range strike in the 78th minute to restore the Tigers’ lead.

Northern Tigers coach Milad Popalzay was encouraged by his side’s resilience, noting the progress they have made over the past 15 rounds since their previous meeting with Central Coast.

Central Coast Mariners 1
Northern Tigers 2 (Spang 12’, Oates 78’)

Hurstville Zagreb 3-1 Dulwich Hill

Hurstville Zagreb secured their ninth victory of the campaign in their penultimate home match of the season, defeating Dulwich Hill 3-1 at Penshurst Park.

The result drags Dulwich Hill further into a potential relegation battle, while Zagreb continued their strong finish to the season after another composed performance.

It took time for the match to settle, with the opening 20-25 minutes proving scrappy before the hosts began to find their rhythm.

George Antonis had an opportunity to open the scoring before combining with Jonathan Maras to win a penalty, which Alessandro Lacalandra converted.

Dulwich Hill enjoyed a strong period towards the end of the first half but were unable to find an equaliser.

Hurstville regrouped at the break and scored just two minutes into the second half, with Lacalandra completing his brace after finishing from an Antonis delivery.

Dulwich Hill brought themselves back into the contest in the 73rd minute when Samuel Hovar struck from range.

However, Michael Vakis secured the victory for Hurstville Zagreb with a goal in stoppage time.

Hurstville Zagreb 3 (Lacalandra 37’, 47’, Vakis 90’)
Dulwich Hill 1 (Hovar 73’)

Inter Lions 0-4 Rydalmere Lions

Rydalmere Lions continued their turnaround in 2026 with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.

It will be interesting to look back on this Rydalmere side at the end of the season and consider what could have been, with the Lions producing another impressive performance to claim victory through braces from both Kaito Satori and Adil Toska.

The result made Rydalmere the first side to defeat Inter Lions at home since Round 11, with Toska’s early goal proving crucial as the visitors took a one-goal lead into half-time.

Rydalmere were in control after the break, with Satori scoring twice early in the second half to bring his tally to three goals in four matches for the club.

Toska then extended his season tally to nine goals by completing his brace late in the contest.

The victory marked Rydalmere’s tenth win of the season and moved them into seventh position with six matches remaining.

Inter Lions 0
Rydalmere Lions 4 (Toska 13’, 68’, Satori 52’, 60’)

Hills United 2-1 Hakoah FC

Hills United returned to winning ways after a difficult run of form, scoring twice in the second half to overcome Hakoah FC at home.

A missed penalty just after the hour mark proved to be a turning point, with Hills taking control of the contest from that moment onwards.

Before that, Hakoah had been the better side and took the lead in the first half through Benji Cook, who has stepped into the first team and impressed over the past two months.

Hills were awarded a penalty shortly after Hakoah’s missed opportunity, with Walid Moutaouakkil converting from the spot to level the scores.

The hosts then completed the turnaround six minutes later, with Cameron Philp again involved after winning possession and playing a through ball for Noah Miller, who finished first time.

Hakoah pushed for a late equaliser and were unfortunate not to find one, with a late effort striking the post.

Hills United 2 (Moutaouakkil 66’, Miller 72’)
Hakoah FC 1

-By Justin Smith