Bonnyrigg White Eagles made their season intentions clear with a well-worked performance against Sydney United 58 FC to confirm its hold on top spot.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles made their season intentions clear with a well-worked performance against Sydney United 58 FC to confirm its hold on top spot.
As the Reds dropped off from the summit of the table, Sutherland Sharks continued its fine run, keeping pace with the White Eagles in the process.
Blacktown City FC too gave further confirmation that the side is past the ‘indifferent- run of the first month-and-a-half of the competition, meanwhile Rockdale City Suns continue to move its way up the league ladder with another impressive win on the road.
At the bottom of the ladder, the situation is still glum for APIA-Leichhardt Tigers and South Coast Wolves, meanwhile Central Coast Mariners Academy still occupy bottom spot on the ladder, despite securing a point in its home match against Manly United FC.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 Sydney United 58 FC 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles further strengthened its grip on the top of the League ladder with a convincing 2-0 win over stern rival Sydney United 58 FC on Sunday.
Despite the match not living up to the expectations of many heading into the encounter, the White Eagles went about their business with a business-like approach in securing the three-points.
The Reds did look dangerous early, mainly via the set-pieces of Glen Trifiro and the energetic showing of striker Mirjan Pavlovic, though a goal was not forthcoming.
Bonnyrigg took the lead just shy of the half-hour mark when Aleksander Canak diverted a Tynan Diaz in-swinging free-kick into the back of the net with a glancing header.
The home side maintained the possession for the remainder of the half, before doubling its lead shortly after the re-start via Bo Hyun Chun. The midfielder unleashed a venomous left-foot drive past the outstretched Liam Reddy, securing Brian Brown-s men the three-points.
Blacktown City FC 3 Marconi Stallions 0 Blacktown City FC-s fine run of results continued over the weekend with Mark Crittenden-s men cruising to a 3-0 win over Marconi Stallions on Saturday night.
The home side was in complete control from the opening whistle with Harris Gaitatzis and Matthew Mayora enjoying a successful evening in the front-third.
Gaitatzis opened the scoring in the 36- minute with a cool finish after receiving a fine pass from Ryuji Miyazawa. The goal was much deserved after the Stallions were kept in the match for so long, courtesy of some fabulous goalkeeping by James Chronopoulos.
Mayora was involved in Blacktown City-s second on the stroke of half-time, using his strength to allow for Travis Major to get on the ball and drive home from close-range, much to the delight of the home supporters.
Early in the second-half, Chronopoulos conceded a penalty for the second weekend running, though again came up trumps with a strong save - this time denying Major before thwarting Sean Rooney-s follow-up attempt.
The home side-s third goal was inevitable, and it arrived in the 62- minute via Rooney. The striker benefited from Mayora-s fabulous lead-up play, converting to put the result beyond the Stallions who were well and truly off the pace in this encounter.
Sutherland Sharks 3 Blacktown Spartans 1 Sutherland Sharks continued their fine form with a 3-1 defeat of Blacktown Spartans.
Despite the result appearing straight forward, the Sharks were made to work hard for the win, especially in the opening stages where Ben De Haan-s men - coming off three consecutive wins - had the Sharks on the back foot. Greg Kondek, very impressive for the visitors.
The Spartans- defence went off the boil in the 16- minute, leaving goalkeeper Carlos Saliadarre exposed as Nathan Elasi snuck in to open the scoring for Sutherland.
Elasi turned provider late in the opening half as he set up Panni Nikas to double the Sharks lead going into the break.
Elasi added his second, and the Sharks- third, for the night with another well-driven effort past Saliadarre, with the Sharks completely in control. The visitors did find a consolation goal and it arrived via Kondek in the 83- minute.
Central Coast Mariners 2 Manly United FC 2 Central Coast Mariners Academy secured its second point of the season following the 2-2 draw at home against Manly United FC on Saturday night.
The Mariners took the lead late in the first-half as Joshua Lawson, somewhat fortuitously, put the ball inside his own net for the visitors. The Matt Sim show commenced in the 68- minute - the attacking midfielder grabbing a brace inside of 3- minutes to put his side ahead.
Sim-s first arrived via the penalty-spot before the go-ahead goal was sealed with a fine finish from the edge of the penalty-area. To the Mariners- credit, the side pressed until the very end and deservedly grabbed an equaliser.
Tomislav Cirjak scored the goal, driving home Scott Pettit-s flick-on inside the penalty-area to secure the side a share of the spoils.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 Rockdale City Suns 3 At Lambert Park, a fabulous six minute spell by the Suns deep into the second-half proved the difference against APIA-Leichhardt to secure the side a 3-1 win.
Richard Cardozo was once more the stand-out, setting up the first two goals of the afternoon before scoring an absolute screamer himself.
Themba Muata Marlow and Brendan Gan grabbed the first two go in quick succession before Cardozo netted a brilliant overhead bicycle kick.
For the Tigers, Nik Taneski pulled a goal back for the Tigers from the spot late on yet it was too little too late as the Suns held on for a win.
The only negative for the Suns was Askin Oygur-s late red card for a hard tackle on Taneski, leaving the referee with no choice but to send the Suns- tall central defender from the field before the final whistle.
Sydney Olympic 2 South Coast Wolves 0 Sydney Olympic overcame the shock, and disappointment, of last weekend-s hiding at the hands of Rockdale City, bouncing back to record a comfortable 2-0 defeat of Rockdale City Suns on Sunday afternoon at Belmore Sports Ground,
Despite calling the shots for the greater part of the first-half, the Blues had to wait until the 54- minute to open the scoring. Amaury Gauthier pounced on a Jacob Timpano error before beating two markers and finding the back of the net.
The result was put beyond the reach of the Wolves 10- minutes from the end as Ibrahim Haydar, sporting the captain-s armband with Phil Makrys left out of the lineup due to his injured ankle, headed home.
The result keeps Sydney Olympic within striking distance of the top-five as we edge closer to the midway point of the season.