Bankstown City’s derby delight and an emphatic top-two statement from Blacktown Spartans were the major talking points from Round 25 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition this weekend.

Match of the Round: Bankstown City 2-1 Canterbury Bankstown

They just keep finding a way.

Bankstown City came from behind to claim a dramatic 2-1 victory over Canterbury Bankstown in a tense Bankstown derby at Jensen Park.

Having trailed as late as the 85th minute, Bai Antoniou equalised from the penalty spot after an off-the-ball incident inside the area saw Canterbury reduced to ten men, before a 93rd-minute winner sealed a crucial three points for the hosts.

Early on, it was Bankstown City showing more attacking intent, enjoying multiple touches inside their opponents’ 18-yard box without seriously troubling the Canterbury goal.

The first major opportunity arrived in the 21st minute during a transition, with Ryan Feutz leading the attack and playing in Alec Urosevski, who was denied by a low save from Stevan Savicic.

At the other end, Fikret Berisha had Canterbury’s best chance of the opening period, with his effort from the back post blocked after 25 minutes.

One final opportunity before the break fell to Dejan Bakrdanikoski, who was unable to keep his effort down after a teammate headed the ball into his path.

The first half ended with the tension building, as both sides battled for every opportunity.

The match came to life in the final 35 minutes, with Canterbury Bankstown taking the lead in the 58th minute.

William Kounnas was brought down inside the area, allowing Patrick Savor to step up and confidently convert the penalty, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

The Berries enjoyed a strong period after taking the lead, creating a couple of half-chances to extend their advantage.

However, Bankstown City continued to push and missed a great opportunity after the 70th minute when Blake Ricciuto headed over the crossbar.

The turning point arrived with six minutes of regulation time remaining.

An off-the-ball incident resulted in Dejan Bakrdanikoski being shown a red card, with Bankstown awarded a penalty. Antoniou stepped up and calmly converted into the bottom-left corner to level the scores.

The momentum carried the hosts forward, and they completed the comeback in the 93rd minute.

Alec Urosevski delivered a dangerous ball across the face of goal from the right by-line, with the ball turned home in the middle to give Bankstown City the lead for the first time in the derby.

The victory moved Bankstown City level with second place and strengthened their promotion playoff hopes, while Canterbury Bankstown’s hopes of finishing inside the top two took a major hit.

Bankstown City 2 (Antoniou 86’, Cerasoli 90+3’)
Canterbury Bankstown 1 (Savor 58’)

Elsewhere

Northern Tigers 0-3 Blacktown Spartans

Blacktown Spartans took a massive step towards the League One Men’s title with a dominant 3-0 victory over Northern Tigers at North Turramurra Recreation Area.

After a competitive opening period, the Spartans scored three quick-fire goals in the first half to take control of the contest, with their lead never looking in danger after the break.

The first chance of the match fell to Northern Tigers, with Connor Rose cutting inside from the left before testing Anthony Bouzanis at his near post.

However, it was the quality of chances created that separated the two sides.

The Spartans opened the scoring from a set piece before the 20th minute, with Aedon Kyra once again proving the difference, arriving at the back post to put his side ahead.

Two more goals followed before half-time.

The second came after Matteo Scali saved an effort from Ahmad Taleb, before Darcy Ellem recovered possession and delivered a cross into the six-yard box, where it was turned into the net by a defender.

Taleb then added the third after Kyra’s initial effort was saved, giving the Spartans a commanding advantage.

The second half played out largely as a formality, with Blacktown maintaining their clean sheet thanks to several strong saves from Bouzanis during the final stages.

Jimmy Demetriou’s side now sit comfortably at the top of the table with a ten-point advantage over second place.

Northern Tigers 0
Blacktown Spartans 3 (Kyra 18’, Scott 25’, Taleb 32’)

Here is Part 2 continuing the edited Round 25 Review.

Dulwich Hill 4-0 Western City Rangers

One of the most important results of the weekend came at the bottom end of the table, with Dulwich Hill securing a crucial 4-0 victory over Western City Rangers at Arlington Oval.

The result marked Dulwich Hill’s first win since Round 15 and was a complete performance from the hosts, with midfielder Josh Da Silva influential as four different players found the back of the net.

The defeat sees Western City Rangers return to the bottom of the table with the relegation battle continuing to intensify.

Dulwich Hill produced a strong performance from the opening whistle, creating several chances throughout the first half.

Their breakthrough arrived in the 15th minute when Harry Jones scored directly from a corner kick to give the hosts the lead.

The hosts lifted their intensity after the break and quickly put the match beyond doubt.

Marcus Lal doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute after finishing a quick transition before two goals in five minutes sealed the contest midway through the second half.

Daniel Bakrdanikoski scored a well-taken header before Isaac Hovar completed the scoring with a superb strike from outside the box into the bottom corner.

The victory creates a seven-point gap between Dulwich Hill and Western City Rangers with five rounds remaining.

Dulwich Hill 4 (Jones 15’, Lal 52’, Bakrdanikoski 66’, Hovar 70’)
Western City Rangers 0

Newcastle Jets 2-1 Hills United

Newcastle Jets secured an important victory in the battle away from the relegation zone, defeating Hills United 2-1 at home.

The result moved the Jets to 26 points for the season, while Hills United suffered their ninth defeat of the campaign.

Coming into the match without a win in their recent run of fixtures, Newcastle knew a strong start was important and they delivered.

Jake Goodwin was the difference in the opening half, scoring twice in the 29th and 43rd minutes to give the Jets a deserved two-goal advantage at the break.

However, after controlling possession and the match during the first half, Newcastle were forced to defend for long periods after the restart.

Noah Miller reduced the deficit in the 65th minute, creating a nervous finish for the hosts.

The Jets showed resilience to hold on and claim a valuable three points.

Newcastle Jets 2 (Goodwin 29’, 43’)
Hills United 1 (Miller 64’)

Macarthur Rams 1-2 Hurstville Zagreb

Macarthur Rams’ top-two hopes suffered a setback after they fell to a 2-1 defeat against Hurstville Zagreb at Lynwood Stadium.

The visitors continued their strong record against the Rams in 2026, coming from behind in the second half through goals from Declan Sheldon and Alessandro Lacalandra.

As expected from two sides who had already met twice this season, the opening half was played at a high intensity, with neither side able to break the deadlock before the interval.

Macarthur changed that shortly after the restart, taking the lead in the 51st minute from a long throw, with Paul Soravia providing the final touch.

Hurstville responded strongly and levelled through a set piece, with a clever layoff allowing Sheldon to finish calmly into the bottom corner.

The comeback was completed from the penalty spot, with George Antonis and Matthew Moric combining before Moric was brought down inside the area.

Lacalandra stepped up and converted to secure all three points for Zagreb.

Macarthur Rams 1 (Soravia 51’)
Hurstville Zagreb 2 (Sheldon 63’, Lacalandra 73’)

Hakoah FC 1-0 Rydalmere Lions

Hakoah FC claimed a narrow victory over Rydalmere Lions, securing a valuable 1-0 win at Hensley Athletic Field.

In a tight contest throughout, the hosts gained revenge for their first-round defeat, with Valentin Cuny and goalkeeper Nikolas Loe playing key roles in the victory.

Both sides created opportunities during an entertaining first half, with Hakoah striking the crossbar twice while Rydalmere forced Loe into an excellent save at the other end.

The decisive moment arrived just after the hour mark.

Cuny won possession from a Rydalmere defender on halfway before driving towards goal and finishing with composure to give Hakoah the lead.

Both teams continued to create chances, but the hosts remained disciplined defensively to secure the three points.

Hakoah FC 1 (Cuny 61’)
Rydalmere Lions 0

Central Coast Mariners 1-3 Bulls FC Academy

Bulls FC Academy produced a strong late surge to secure a 3-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners at Pluim Park.

Played at a good intensity throughout, Bulls perhaps shaded the first half from a possession perspective, with the goals arriving after the break.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the 67th minute after their best period of the match, with Harrison Jablonski producing a quality strike from outside the area.

However, the momentum shifted shortly after when Flynn Richards was shown a red card, giving Bulls an opportunity to push forward with the numerical advantage.

Former Pluim Park player Michael Paragalli equalised from a set piece in the 86th minute before Jordan Graoroski completed the turnaround shortly afterwards, again from a set-piece situation.

Alvaro Soto sealed the result in the 93rd minute after finishing one-on-one against the goalkeeper.

Central Coast Mariners 1 (Jablonski 67’)
Bulls FC Academy 3 (Paragalli 86’, Graoroski 90’, Soto 90+3’)

Here is Part 3 completing the edited Round 25 Review.

Inter Lions 1-1 Prospect United

Prospect United fought back from a slow start to secure a valuable point in a 1-1 draw against Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.

The result was enough for Prospect to move off the bottom of the table while keeping Inter Lions at arm’s length from the relegation battle.

Inter Lions made the perfect start, opening the scoring inside just two minutes through Thomas Whiffen.

The early goal gave the visitors confidence as they settled into the contest and began to find their rhythm.

However, Prospect responded after the break and equalised ten minutes into the second half.

Michael Singh produced a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area, finding the bottom corner to level the scores.

From there, both sides had opportunities to claim all three points in an even contest, but neither could find the decisive moment.

Prospect goalkeeper Stefan Giglio proved the hero deep into stoppage time, producing a crucial penalty save to preserve a valuable point for his side.

Inter Lions 1 (Whiffen 2’)
Prospect United 1 (Singh 56’)

By Justin Smith