NPL New South Wales: Champions start with a loss

After finishing just four points clear of relegation in their debut Premier League season last year, Blacktown Spartans have began their second top flight campaign with a shock 2-1 home victory against the Champions Marconi Stallions.

It was just one of six victories over the weekend, as round one of the NPL NSW saw every match finish with a victor. It sets the scene for an exciting season with teams not content to share the spoils.

Sydney Olympic 2-1 Central Coast Mariners Academy
(Phil Makrys 26’ (pen), 31’ (pen)), (Scott Petitt 49’)

The new Mariners Academy team opened their campaign with a difficult away trip, and losing through two penalties will leave them wondering what could've been. A result away at Olympic could have provided a perfect confidence-building beginning for the new boys, but Phil Makrys' clincal finishing from the penalty spot was enough for Olympic to see off a determined CCMA.

Scott Petitt pulled one back for the Academy not long following the break, but the Mariners couldn't follow it  up with an equaliser to Olympics 26th and 31st minute goals.

Olympic's Luke Grima and Central Coast's Adam Biddle both saw red in injury time, and won't be pleased to have started the season in such a fashion, with Grima now missing a big match against a very strong Sutherland team next week.

Under 20's: Sydney Olympic 0-1 Central Coast Mariners Academy
Next week: Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Olympic
                  APIA Leichhardt v Central Coast Mariners Academy

Blacktown Spartans 2-1 Marconi Stallions
(Nathan Millgate 4’, 51’)    (Steven Ilic 90’)

A double from Spartans' Nathan Millgate was enough for the 2012 relegation survivalists to see off the reigning Champions on Saturday night.

Marconi were punished for their slow starts, conceding in the fourth minute and again six minutes after resuming the second half. The stunted performance in the first hour was too much to come back from, and a late resurgence could only help the Stallions muster up a 90th minute goal through substitute Steven llic.

Having toppled the Champions, the Spartans now face an away trip to the Premiers Bonnyrigg, and another win would be the perfect confidence boosting start for them.

Under 20's: Blacktown Spartans 2-5 Marconi Stallions
Next week: Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Blacktown Spartans
                   Marconi Stallions v Manly United

South Coast Wolves 0-4 Sutherland Sharks                                       (Panni Nikas 41’, 65’, 88’, Jaime McMaster 49’)

Sutherland Sharks began with a thumping four goal win away to South Coast, aided by hattrick from star midfielder Panni Nikas, and confirmed their status as a genuine title contender this season.

The Sharks went out with intent to prove they don't just look a strong squad only on paper, and once the early game jitters were out of the way and Nikas struck the opener in the 41st minute, the Sharks defensive performance was too strong for a Wolves team that despite still managed to create chances, their own defensive issues will no doubt be a concern worry as Sutherland scored at regular intervals during the second half.

Under 20's: South Coast Wolves 0-0 Sutherland Sharks
Next Week: Blacktown City v South Coast Wolves
                  Sutherland Sharks v Sydney Olympic

Manly United 0-1 Sydney United 58
                             (Luka Glavas 87’ (pen))

Sydney United defeated Manly through a late penalty to deliver Mark Rudan three points in a match many expected them to comfortably win.

Liam Reddy managed to keep a clean sheet in his first Premier League game since returning back to Australia, but he was forced to work for it as he pulled out a few good saves to deny the home side.

Luka Glavas sent the travelling fans into delight when he nailed the 87th minute spot kick after a poor tackle gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot.

Under 20's: Manly United 3-3 Sydney United 58
Next week: Marconi Stallions v Manly United
                  Sydney United 58 v Rockdale City Suns

Rockdale City Suns 0-2 Blacktown City
                                      (Rooney 13’, Gaitatzis 59’)

Blacktown City managed to shut out a determined Rockdale City Suns at a very windy Ilinden Sports Center with the help of a controversial goal on the hour mark.

Sean Rooney kicked things off for the visitors when he found the net after just 13 minutes. It was a perfect start in a tough match against the Suns, now managed by former A-League coach Branko Culina. But after 59 minutes, Harris Gaitatzis pounced on an attempted throw out from the Suns 'keeper Diego Barcena, and managed to control the ball and provide the finish. Rockdale believed the striker infringed on the goalkeeper, but the goal stood.

It was difficult to get back into the game for Rockdale, with the wind causing havoc on the players and many passes going astray.

Under 20's: Rockdale City Suns 2-1 Blacktown City
Next week: Sydney United 58 v Rockdale City Suns
                  Blacktown City v South Coast Wolves

APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
(Shevlin 81’)                           (Canak 2’, 85’, Ucchino 65’)

An early goal for Bonnyrigg was enough to set the stage for this encounter at Lambert Park, as APIA really struggled to recover from the early second minute blow, delivered from the foot of Andy Canak.

Bonnyrigg punished APIA for missed chances when they added a second halfway through the second term, and when APIA then missed a penalty two minutes later, it seemed they were destined to be beaten in the first of nine straight home games for them before Lambert Park is renevated.

This was exemplified when just four minutes after APIA pulled one back, Bonnyrigg added a third and killed the game off.

Under 20's: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 3-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Next week: APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Central Coast Mariners Academy
                  Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Blacktown Spartans

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