NSW Wrap: Round Five

25 goals were scored in this week's New South Wales NPL as four teams managed to find the net at least three times, and three games featuring five or more goals.

Two of these teams were the league leaders Bonnyrigg and Sydney United, who continue to impress. Bonnyrigg managed to grab a thrilling 3-2 win without star Robbie Younis, while Sydney United showed their attacking danger with five goals.

Central Coast Mariners Academy 0-3 Blacktown City
                                                 (Miller 29’, Major 78’, 87’)

The Mariners Academy played their first home game of the season at Pluim Park on Saturday but they were unable to find their first win of the season as Blacktown completed a clinical performance with a Travis Major second half brace.

The opening goal for City came not long after the Mariners nearly took the lead, as only a sensational Brody Crane save denied James Monie from close range. The visitors went one better down the other where Raymond Miller put the finishing touches on a Yianni Fragogiannis cross on the half hour mark.

Major’s two neat finishes – one a quality finish and the other displaying his close control and composure – put the finishing touches on Blacktown’s performance as they secured their second win of the season.

Under 20’s: Central Coast Academy 2-0 Blacktown City
Next week: Central Coast Academy v Sydney United
                       Blacktown City v Sutherland Sharks

Bonnyrigg White Eagles 3-2 Sutherland Sharks
(Zonjic 58’, Diaz 84’ (pen), Peterson 90’+1’ ), (Elasi 65’, Nikas 75’ )

Five second half goals ended in Bonnyrigg coming from behind late in the fixture to keep their perfect winning record intact.

Bonnyrigg were without prolific goal scorer Robbie Younis but still managed to find the net three times, including an injury time winner. An early 1-0 lead was squandered by a skilful Nathan Elasi goal and a stunning free-kick from the ever reliable Panni Nikas.

But Bonnyrigg showed a late fight that keeps their 100% record with Tynan Diaz stepping up to Younis’ shows by slotting away a crucial penalty in the 84^th minute and substiture Aaron Peterson showed great determination, following up on his originally saved shot to grab the late winner.

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

South Coast Wolves 2-1 Blacktown Spartans
(Martinoski 40’, 70’)      (Carle 81’)

South Coast Wolves managed to find their first win of the season at the expense of Blacktown Spartans who have fallen to their fourth consecutive loss, their round one win over Marconi the only points.

John Martinoski put the relegation threatened team to the sword with a brace including a quality placed finish into the top corner for the second goal. Andre Carle tried to inspire a comeback for the Spartans with a headed goal nine minutes from time, but Wolves keeper Daniel Collison and his wall managed to see off a potentially dangerous free kick from 18 yards out in the dying moments.

Under 20’s: South Coast Wolves 3-2 Blacktown Spartans
Next week: Manly United v South Coast Wolves
                    Blacktown Spartans v Sydney Olympic

Sydney Olympic 1-1 Marconi Stallions

(Barkhousir 55’)       (Simonovic 16’)

After a slow start to the season with losses in their opening two fixtures, Marconi have had their third consecutive game where they’ve came away with at least a point as they were denied a win at Olympic only by a Elsid Barkhousir goal-line scramble goal.

Milorad Simonovic opened the scoring for the visitors, latching onto a long ball over the top and beating the keeper well.  It was a blow for Olympic who were playing well, and they had numerous chances to level proceedings before going into the break.

The chances kept on coming for the hosts in the second half, and following the 55^th minute goal, they had a great chance headed off the line and the rebound fired over by Barkhousir 13 minutes from time.

Read The Football Sack's match report here

Under 20’s: Sydney Olympic 4-2 Marconi Stallions
Next week:  Blacktown Spartans v Sydney Olympic
                    APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Marconi Stallions

Rockdale City Suns 4-2 Manly United
(Kawamura 56’, Cardozo 60’, Burgess 75’, Talevski 78’), (Sim 78’, Balderson 87’)

Branko Culinas Rockdale have continued their form-finding run, hitting the back of the net four times against Manly in a six goal second half which featured six different goal-scorers.

The scores were locked at 0-0 in the 56^th minute, and half an hour later there were six goals on the board. Manly fired in three in 19 minutes, before Sim pulled one back for Manly, only to see the hosts immediately go down the other end and restore the three goal advantage.

Balderson picked up a later consolation goal, but will be disappointed their hard defensive work in the first four games (where they only conceded two goals) was undone so easily at llinden on Sunday.

Under 20’s: Rockdale City Suns 3-2 Manly United
Next week: Rockdale City Suns v Bonnyrigg White Eagles
                    Manly United v South Coast Wolves

APIA Leichhardt Tigers 1-5 Sydney United
(Ouffoue 53’), (Yamauchi 41’, Glavas 44’ (pen), 60’, Speer 47’, Tomic 90’+3’)

Sydney United were never troubled at Lambert Park, as they maintained their 100% winning record with a hammering over a hapless APIA Leichhardt.

Yamauchi scored a cracking goal – the first of United’s three in 16 minutes – with a delightful first time volley which was this week’s goal of the week:

Glavas scored yet again from the spot, proving to be well reliable for the Reds, and the goal a minute before the break would’ve been a crushing blow for the Tigers. Speer added more pain just two minutes after the break with an unmarked header from a corner.

Ouffoue’s 53^rd minute strike proved to be no more than a consolation as the Tigers slumped to a disheartening defeat a week before the old Italian Derby against Marconi.

Under 20’s: APIA Leichhardt Tigers 0-0 Sydney United
Next week: APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Marconi Stallions
                    Central Coast Academy v Sydney United