NSW Wrap: Red card galore in fiery week

A weekend which saw five red cards and sixteen goals ended with Bonnyrigg and Sydney United still flying high atop the NPL New South Wales.

Robbie Younis and Luka Glavas both continued their hot goal-scoring runs for their clubs as United won an important game in the 50th year of their derby against Sydney Olympic, while the White Eagles edged out Manly despite going down to ten men.

APIA Leichhardt 3-3 Blacktown City
(Taneski 34’ (pen), 60’, Ouffoue 88’), (Lewis 24’, Gaitatzis 32’, Rooney 34’)

Four goals in the space of ten minutes set the frantic pace at Lambert Park as a nine man Blacktown couldn’t hold onto their two goal lead they earned in the first half.

Blacktown saw their first player receiving his marching orders seconds before the break with Del Brocco making a nasty challenge. APIA pulled one back with the extra man advantage before goal-scorer Sean Rooney was also sent from the pitch for two yellows. With the two man advantage the Tigers managed to find an equaliser.

Under 20’s: APIA Leichhardt 1-1 Blacktown City

Next week: APIA Leichhardt v Sydney United
                   Central Coast Academy v Blacktown City

Manly United 0-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles

                              (Younis 14’)

Bonnyrigg win again, Robbie Younis scores again.

It’s a familiar tale as the White Eagles continue to fly high with four straight wins. Younis is continuing his form of last season and has shown himself to be one of the most lethal players in the Premier League.

This time the front man scored with a well placed header from a free kick. It was all that was required for Bonnyrigg despite having Spruce sent off on the hour mark. Manly almost snatched a draw just on full time but saw a header go across the face of goal.

Under 20’s: Manly United 1-4 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Next week: Rockdale City Suns v Manly United
                   Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sutherland Sharks

Sutherland Sharks 1-0 Central Coast Mariners Academy
(Nikas 76’)

The Mariners Academy travelled to Seymour Shaw in search of their first win of the season. They almost got off to a good start with Chris Payne shooting over, almost adding to his tally.

But the longer the match drew on, the most aggressive the home side was. The winner was eventually found by, a little unsurprisingly, Panni Nikas as he kept his composure to finish well just fourteen minutes from time.

Under 20’s: Sutherland Sharks 0-1 Central Coast Academy
Next week: Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sutherland Sharks
                   Central Coast Academy v Blacktown City

Blacktown Spartans 1-2 Rockdale City Suns
(Hijazi 44’)                        (Cardozo 60’, 79 )

Rockdale secured their first win of the season with a spirited second half performance that saw them overturn the Spartans 1-0 lead at the break.

The Suns were persistent in the second half and the bombardment eventually paid off when Cardozo found his second goal with a strong, driving shot into the bottom corner of the near post.

The Spartans opened the scoring and went into the sheds with a lead thanks to a neat lobbed header from Hijazi, which was the NPL New South Wales goal of the week: 

Under 20’s: Blacktown Spartans 1-3 Rockdale
Next week: South Coast v Blacktown Spartans
                    Rockdale City Suns v Manly United

Sydney United 1-0 Sydney Olympic

(Glavas 18’ (pen))

In the 50^th year of this iconic derby, Luka Glavas scored yet again to deliver the three points to an undefeated Sydney United as they continue to match Bonnyrigg step for step in the opening rounds.

A poor ball across the box from Olympic defender Haydar allowed Glavas to steal it off the toes of Studman, who clipped the heels of Glavas in an attempt to recover the football, resulting in the referee pointing to the spot.

Salameh forced a good save from United keeper Jennings not long after the goal, as his outstretched hand denied Salamehs near-post sighter. It was followed by Yamauchi’s attempt at the spectacular as his scissor kick went not far over from the far top corner.

Olympic's job was made harder when Studman saw yellow for the second time in the 53^rd minute to receive his marching orders following a crunching tackle.

United had numerous chances to extend their lead, including Barac receiving a great low cross just yards out, but the substitute was unable to make any decent contact and Henderson dived on the ball just before it trickled over.

Under 20’s: Sydney United 1-0 Sydney Olympic
Next week: APIA Leichhardt v Sydney United
                    Sydney Olympic v Marconi Stallions

Marconi Stallions 3-1 South Coast Wolves
(Purcell 30’ (pen), Proia 32’, 64’), (Del Turco 90’)

South Coast went down to ten men early in this fixture when Timpano used his hands to clear a shot off the line in the 28^th minute. Purcell scored from the penalty, giving the Stallions a deserved lead after Simonovic had hit the underside of the crossbar with a thunderous shot just eleven minutes into the match.

Proia doubled the lead with a header from a corner just moments later before making sure of the result not long after the hour mark when he broke through the defence and finished into the bottom corner.

Del Turco scored an impressive consolation goal in the 90^th when Chronopoulos' poor clearance saw him stranded at the edge of the penalty box, and Del Turco took one touch before lobbing it over the defence with perfect precision.

Under 20’s: Marconi Stallions 5-1 South Coast Wolves
Next week: Sydney Olympic v Marconi Stallions
                   South Coast Wolves v Blacktown Spartans

POS	TEAM	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Bonnyrigg White Eagles	4	4	0	0	12	2	10	12
2	Sydney United 58 FC	4	4	0	0	7	3	4	12
3	Sutherland Sharks	4	3	1	0	8	2	6	10
4	Manly United FC	4	2	0	2	4	2	2	6
5	Sydney Olympic FC	4	2	0	2	5	5	0	6
6	Blacktown City FC	4	1	2	1	8	7	1	5
7	Rockdale City Suns	4	1	1	2	4	6	-2	4
8	Marconi Stallions FC	4	1	1	2	4	6	-2	4
9	APIA Leichhardt Tigers	4	0	3	1	6	8	-2	3
10	Blacktown Spartans FC	4	1	0	3	3	7	-4	3
11	Central Coast Mariners Academy	4	0	1	3	3	9	-6	1
12	South Coast Wolves	4	0	1	3	4	11	-7	1