It proved to be a weekend of title race shifts across the National Premier League's around the country.
For all the best NPL action around Australia, take a look at our state-by-state rundown below.
- Lead image from football NSW
NSW NPL
Round 13 of the NSW NPL saw first placed Sydney Olympic spurn the chance to move six points ahead of second-placed APIA Leichhardt Tigers after a late Tigers equalizer rescued a 1-1 draw for the visitors at Belmore.
Billy McColl’s side were reduced to 10-men when Brandon Lundy was shown a second yellow card and sent off midway through the second half, but substitute Nathan Millgate’s late header cancelled out Jinya An’s first half strike to salvage what could prove to be an important point in the premiership race.
Elsewhere, there was a winning start for new Sydney United 58 coach Miro Vlastelica who oversaw a 1-0 win over Blacktown City at Lily Homes Stadium courtesy of Matt Sim’s early effort.
Meanwhile, Manly United and Hakoah Sydney City East played out a goalless draw at Cromer Park, Sutherland Sharks improved their finals chances with a 2-0 triumph over bottom-placed Sydney FC, Marconi Stallions and Bonnyrigg White Eagles drew 2-2 at Marconi Stadium and Rockdale City Suns thumped Wollongong Wolves 4-1.
WA NPL
Bayswater City have maintained their lead of the WA NPL following a 4-0 hammering of Joondalup United on Friday.
Chris Coyne’s men found the back of the net through Luka Ninkovic, Giancarlo Albano, Paul Lloyd and Luke Salmon to retain a three point advantage over second-placed Cockburn City.
Cockburn defeated Stirling Lions 3-1 on Saturday to remain in touch with the leaders while third-placed Perth Glory came from behind to defeat Balcatta 3-2 at Grindleford Reserve.
In the rounds other fixtures, Floreat Athena moved out of the bottom three after Phillip Arnold’s second half effort clinched a win over ECU Joondalup 2-1 away from home, while a Gustavo Catarcione double led Perth SC to a 5-2 thumping of struggling Sorrento at Percy Doyle Reserve.
Inglewood United also triumphed 3-0 over Subiaco and Forrestfield United edged Armadale 1-0.
TASMANIA NPL
In Tasmania, leaders Launceston City hammered Clarence 7-0 to restore their four point advantage at the top of the table after round eight.
Second-placed Devonport Strikers defeated Olympic 3-1 with forward Brayden Mann clinching his second consecutive treble to bring his tally for the campaign to 15.
In other results, South Hobart made it four wins in a row following a 3-2 victory over Kingborough with a late Jack Turner goal the difference between the two sides, while Hobart Zebras thumped Northern Rangers 6-0.
QLD NPL
Olympic FC’s lead of the QLD NPL was cut to two points on the weekend after the league leaders slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Lions FC at Lions Stadium on Saturday night.
Marek Madle scored a goal on debut to consolidate the Lions’ grip on fourth spot, while Olympic had Matt Mundy red carded late on.
At the bottom of the table, cellar dwellers Sunshine Coast are now eight points adrift at the bottom of the table following a 2-0 defeat to Magpies Crusaders on Saturday afternoon. The Crusaders established a two goal advantage inside 20 minutes thanks to strikes from Warwick Jansen and Pablo Perez to hand the home side their fifth consecutive loss.
In the round’s other fixtures, SWQ Thunder edged Brisbane City 2-1 to complete a league double over City for the first time in their history, while a brace for Shuto Kuboyama helped Redlands United ease past Gold Coast United 5-1.
Moreton Bay Strikers beat Brisbane Strikers 1-0, Western Pride defeated North Queensland United 3-1, and Cairns FC nicked past Brisbane Roar Youth 2-1 in the league’s other results.
NNSW NPL
Broadmeadow Magic have wrestled the competition lead of Edgeworth FC after the leaders were held at home 1-1 by Lambton Jaffas on Saturday afternoon.
The Magic secured a 3-0 victory over Lake Macquarie FC the following day thanks to a James Virgili brace and a Kale Bradbery’s eighth of the season.
Two goals from Joseph O’Connor saw Newcastle Jets Youth pip Adamstown Rosebud FC 2-1 to leapfrog Shane Cansdell-Sherriff’s side into sixth position, while there were five first half goals in Sunday’s other fixture with ninth-placed Weston Workers claiming a great 3-2 victory over fifth-placed Maitland.
Charlestown City Blues and Hamilton Olympic commence the round’s final fixture on Wednesday evening when the pair clash at Lisle Carr Oval, with Valentine FC enjoying a bye.
SA NPL
Campbelltown City have clinched the lead of the SA NPL with a 2-1 win over Croydon Kings on Saturday afternoon. Luigi Ditroia opened the scoring for City with his 10th of the season before Croydon equalized through Adrian D’Alfonso from the penalty spot shortly before half time.
But with the sides locked at 1-1 on the cusp of full time a late effort from Marc Marino secured an invaluable three points and a fifth win on the trot for City, who leapfrog MetroStars into first place.
The Stars suffered their third defeat of the campaign on Sunday afternoon after going down 2-1 to Adelaide United at Smith Partners Stadium. United came from behind having trailed early via Christian Esposito’s 12th of the season but struck back through goals to Pacifique Niyongabire and Carlo Armiento. The result leaves Campbelltown City with a one point advantage over MetroStars at the conclusion of round 14.
Elsewhere in the competition, Adelaide City remain hot on the heels of the frontrunners after defeating WT Birkalla 2-0 away from home, bottom-placed Sturt Lions gained a credible point with 2-2 draw at Adelaide Olympic, Adelaide Comets swept aside West Adelaide 3-1 and Para Hills Knights edged South Adelaide 1-0.
VICTORIAN NPL
Competition leaders Bentleigh Greens maintained their seven point gap over Avondale thanks to a thrilling 4-3 victory over Dandenong Thunder SC on Saturday evening. A see-sawing contest at George Andrews Reserve saw the scores level at 3-3 before Bentleigh’s Jason Hicks netted an 81st winner for the visitors.
FC Bulleen Lions boosted their hopes of lifting themselves off the bottom of the ladder with a 2-1 victory over South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium. Lewis Hawke gave the cellar dwellers the lead inside sixty seconds and doubled their advantage after the interval through Daniel Maclennan, with a late consolation to Oliver Thomas Minatel failing to spur the hosts into a dramatic comeback.
In other results, third-placed Heidelberg hammered Port Melbourne Sharks 6-1 while there was another goal fest at Jack Edwards Reserve where Melbourne Knights came from behind twice to defeat Oakleigh Cannons 4-3.
League strugglers Hume City FC and Kingston City FC also drew 1-1, second-placed Avondale defeated Green Gully 3-0, and Pascoe Vale edged Northcote City FC 1-0.
CAPITAL FOOTBALL NPL
Canberra FC’s flawless start to the season came to an end on Sunday afternoon when title rivals Tuggeranong United held the early pacesetters to a 2-2 draw.
Michael Taurasi’s goal 13 minutes from full time salvaged a point for Canberra, who remain on top of the table with 19 points, three ahead of Tuggeranong in second.
Martin Deng’s double led Woden-Weston to a 4-1 victory over Riverina Rhinos as the side moved above the Rhinos into fourth position.
Elswhere, Belconnen United edged Tigers FC 2-1 and Gungahlin United defeated bottom club Monaro Panthers 3-1.
