Blacktown Spartans v Blacktown City FC, Saturday 18th of May, 7:00 pm Blacktown Football Park

Last Week:

• Sutherland Sharks 3 Blacktown Spartans 1
• Blacktown City FC 3 Marconi Stallions 0

The atmosphere promises to be electric when the two Blacktown sides meet in the first ‘Blacktown Derby’ for 2013 on Saturday night.

Following tentative starts to the campaign, both sides have kick-started their respective campaigns with a fine month of April.

The Spartans have secured nine-points from the last twelve up for grabs, losing last weekend to the red-hot Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw – in a match where Ben De Haan’s men were very good value for the entire 90’ minutes.

Blacktown City’s run too has been impressive with consecutive wins over Sydney United 58 FC and Marconi Stallions catapulting the side into fourth-spot on the ladder.

Coach Mark Crittenden has found the winning formula with Harris Gaitatzis and Sean Rooney gelling so very well with Matthew Mayora and Ryuji Miyazawa in the front-third.

The Spartans too have looked good in the front-third with midfielder Andre Carle in some exceptional form at the moment.

On a perfect playing pitch, with bragging rights on the line, 90’ minutes of passionate football is expected on Saturday night with a win for either side to keep the front-runners on high alert as we approach the midway point of the season.

---

Mayora calls Blacktown City "home"

Finding his home in the IGA National Premier League NSW Mens 1 competition has been a task for Matthew Mayora but the striker feels as if he has found it at Blacktown City FC.

Mayora, 27, has played for three IGA National Premier League NSW Mens 1 teams including the Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Marconi Stallions and three stints with Sydney Olympic.

But after linking up with Blacktown in the pre-season, Mayora said he is comfortable at his new club.

``I feel really comfortable at Blacktown, we all have a good bond at the club which makes it even better on the pitch,’’ Mayora told Football NSW.

``From the first time I spoke to Mark Crittenden and Kain Rastall I knew I would be happy.

``We like to play attractive football instead of kick and chase and that is what I wanted.’’

The 2009 IGA National Premier League NSW Mens 1 Golden Boot winner has been paired with several players up front for Blacktown this season.

Despite only having one goal to his name Mayora is happy to be helping his side score.

``My focus is making sure the team scores goals, but that doesn’t mean I am the only one to be scoring,’’ he said.

``If I am not scoring I am setting up my teammates and that is what it’s about – it’s a team sport not an individual one.

``The good thing is that all of us in the team have a good understanding of each other’s games.

``Harris (Gaitatzis) started up front with me this season and we communicated well, and since then he has moved into a midfield role and we still are communicating well.’’

Blacktown City has hit a purple patch recently with wins against the Marconi Stallions and Sydney United and a draw against undefeated Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

But Mayora said the team must remain focused for a full 90 minutes to reach their aim of finishing on top at the completion of the competition.

``Our main goal is to come first this season – it is what we all agreed on at the start of the season and we’ve got the team to do it’’ he said.

``We really have to stay focused in our games though. Against Sutherland we went up 3-0 very quickly and our mindset quickly changed to trying to score as many goals as we could and we were punished and lost 4-3.

``I think we have learnt our lesson there and the good thing is that every player puts in at every training session.

``Even when the under-20s players join us in training they are pushing their case for a call up which is important.’

The Blacktown derby awaits City when they face Spartans at Blacktown International Sportspark at 7pm this Saturday.

Whatever happens, Mayora says he is happy to be enjoying his football again.

``Playing football and keeping fit makes me happy – and I am very happy at Blacktown,’’ he said.

-By Chris Georges

 

---

Blacktown City FC shut out Marconi with decisive win

 

Blacktown City FC’s purple patch continued on Saturday evening after yet another dominating performance over a stuttering Marconi at Lily Homes Stadium following a decisive 3-0 win.

From the onset the home side was never really troubled as coach Mark Crittenden’s men appeared to pick up where they left off a week earlier when they upset competition front-runners Sydney United 58 FC to further consolidate their arrival as a premiership favourite.

The game was barely 6’ minutes old when a Blacktown City FC set play from a free-kick just outside of the penalty box saw goal scoring whiz Harris Gaitatzis test Marconi keeper James Chronopoulos for the first of what would turn out to a very busy night for the Marconi custodian.

3' minutes later Chronopoulos was called on once again when Blacktown City FC’s Sean Rooney produced a nice through ball to an ever-alert Matthew Mayora who was only denied by a quick thinking Chronopoulos who reacted without any thought of self-preservation and smothered the ball mere inches from the readied boot of Mayora.

The 13’ minute brought opposing keeper Brody Crane into the mix in what could have easily led to an assisted goal at the other end for his Blacktown City FC side. An innocuous save by Crane in front of his own goal mouth caught the Marconi defence high which Crane was immediately aware of and, coupled with a perfectly executed drop-kick, found Mayora one-on-one with a Marconi defender deep into Marconi’s half of the field. Mayora, facing his own goal, controlled the ball with a text-book first touch off the chest, dummied to the left to fool the rapidly approaching defence, then opened to the right to pull off a power shot that had an outstretched Chronopoulos well and truly beaten, only to be denied by a whisker to the right post.

Marconi’s best chance of the opening stanza came in the 20’ minute when the tireless Jared Lum was brought down just outside Blacktown City’s box. Marconi’s heart and soul in Nahuel Arrarte delivered a lofty ball from the resultant free-kick that caught the defence napping and provided Tadhg Purcell with an unchallenged header that forced keeper Crane into action as he pounced on the loose ball in front of a number of Marconi attackers who were eager to open the scoring for their side.

Lum proved to be a continual thorn in the side for the Blacktown City defenders midway through the first-half and continued to deliver ball-after-ball to his luckless forwards, but it was a brilliant shot on goal from the boot of the Marconi #8 that was only equaled in stature by the diving save made by keeper Crane whose cat-like reflexes somehow managed to tip the ball over the bar.

Despite Marconi’s mini-resurgence, Blacktown City maintained the pressure throughout the opening half and were rewarded twice within the space of 10' minutes through some excellent lead up work by, firstly, Ryuji Miyazawa who in the 36’ minute unselfishly provided a ball out to an unmarked Gaitatzis lurking on the left where the Blacktown City forward made no mistake in slotting the ball past the keeper to open up the scoring for his side for the second-straight week.

A second goal to the home side right on the stroke of half-time came through some nice team work in the middle where a lofted through ball had the Marconi keeper committed to an aerial duel with Mayora – leaving the visitors’ net exposed – and providing an awaiting Travis Major with a neat shot from the right side to secure his team a two goal advantage at the break.

The second-half was barely a minute old when a mix up by the Marconi defenders in their own goal mouth could have had tragic consequences. Mayora, perhaps with his head still in the sheds following the intermission, found the ball at his feet mere yards from the net, but his hurried ‘skewed shot’ went horribly wide in what could have been the final nail in the coffin for Marconi.

Blacktown City maintained pressure much the same as they had in the first-half and continued to control proceedings, and when a nicely delivered ball from the ever-present Kearyn Baccus in the 53’ minute found a flying Mayora unmarked and rapidly approaching the goal area, an already committed Marconi keeper in Chronopoulos carelessly took down Mayora in a clumsy tackle just inside the penalty area.

The resultant penalty was struck well by Major, but Chronopoulos, perhaps out to make amends for his flimsy tackle only moments earlier, dived to his right to produce an excellent save. Major's delivery was struck with such vigor that the ball rebounded hard to the feet of an awaiting Sean Mooney who looked certain to score - only to be again denied by the outstretched arms of Chronopoulos.

Blacktown City, unfazed by the missed opportunity continued to control the game and were unlucky not to have scored on a number of occasions throughout the second-half, and it was the brilliance of Mayora who provided the telling blow in the 62’ minute when he set up partner in crime Mooney who made no mistake to ensure that Blacktown would take an unassailable 3-0 lead into the final quarter of the game.

Marconi had a number of opportunities to grab a consolation goal and looked most likely through a barrage of set piece corners on the right side through ‘Bend it like Beckham’ left foot deliveries via Sean O’Connell that had the Blacktown City defenders at ‘sixes and sevens’ as they attempted to diffuse the danger.

However, it was Blacktown City who simply cruised to victory to take all three points on offer and in doing so, sent a message to the rest of the competition to let them know that they are serious title contenders in 2013.

“I think that we looked a little flat out there tonight,” claimed Blacktown City FC coach Mark Cittenden despite his side’s comfortable win.

“We’ve been playing really well of late, but we always seem to have these dour sort of games against Marconi and tonight was no exception.

“You can’t play at the top of your game every week, but we took our chances and we were reasonably clinical up front there, but we were certainly a little lethargic tonight … we’ll take the three points and move on.”

Marconi coach Jean Paul De Marigny was disappointed with his side’s effort, but was full of praise for his goal keeper’s heroics.

“We conceded some cheap goals tonight,” admitted De Marigny to FNSW shortly after the game.

“There were some individuals out there for us tonight who switched off at certain times and did not perform their roles to the best of their ability - and that cost us dearly. In saying that though, our keeper [James Chronopoulos] was one of best out there tonight. He kept us in the game and with the double penalty saves just proves that he is one of the best keepers in our league.”

With just two points separating fourth through to ninth heading into this weekend’s round, it’s a heavily congested IGA National Premier League NSW Mens 1 ladder and it doesn’t get any easier next week for either side as they both sit smack bang in the middle of the logjam. Blacktown City FC take a hop, skip and a jump to the other side of the M2 Motorway for the much anticipated local derby next Saturday evening at Blacktown Football Park against the resurgent Blacktown Spartans FC, while Marconi will be hoping to add to the woes of Sydney United 58 FC’s midseason hiccup as they host Mark Rudan’s men at Marconi Stadium next Sunday.

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 3 (Harris Gaitatzis 36’, Travis Major 45'+1’, Sean Rooney 62’)

Marconi Stallions 0

Saturday May 11th, 2013

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: Khodr Yaghi

Assistant Referees: Andrej Glev and Luke Burley

Fourth Official: Carl Davies

Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 3.Andrea Del Brocco, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 5.Pat Gatt, 6.Matt Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 10.Harris Gaitatzis (14.Daniel Araujo 82’), 11.Sean Rooney (8.Ray Miller 71’), 12.Kearyn Baccus, 15.Matthew Mayora

Substitutes Not Used: 13.Blake Tuxford, 18.Dolar Edosomwan, 19.Zach Cairncross

Yellow Cards: Ray Miller 90’

Red Cards: Nil

Marconi Stallions: 22.James Chronopoulos; 2.Mitchell Thompson (29.Steven Drewery 70’), 4.Umut Tokdogan (18.Jake McGing 73’), 7.Sean O’Connell, 8.Jared Lum, 10.Milorad Simonovic, 11.Anthony Proia (23.Chris Nunes 46’), 15.Wade Oostendorp, 17.Tadhg Purcell, 19.Damian Travis, 26.Nahuel Arrarte

Substitutes Not Used: 21.Stefan Giglio, 30.Harrison Brown

Yellow Cards: James Chronopoulos 53’, Damian Travis 82’

Red Cards: Nil

Players Ratings:

3 – Matthew Mayora (BCFC)

2 – Kearyn Baccus (BCFC)

1 - Jared Lum (MS)

-By Gary McDonald

---

Fragogiannis settles in at Blacktown City

Yianni Fragogiannis feels at home with Mark Crittenden’s Blacktown City FC squad.

A former Sutherland Sharks member, Fragogiannis has stepped up to the plate and has rattled some feathers with some great displays in his new club colours as Football NSW Media Manager Mark Stavroulakis recently caught up with the defender.

Click here to hear the interview.

 

---

IGA NPL Youth League Review

 

The cooler weather has finally hit us but that has only enhanced the already high quality of play and the closeness of the entire competition can be judged by the large number of so-called “upset” results that occurred over the weekend and caused several changes to the look of the various tables.

IGA NSW National Premier League Men’s 1 – Overview (G12-G18)

Blacktown City were able to snatch fourteen points from their encounter with Sydney United 58 without losing a game while Sydney Olympic bagged thirteen points from their clash with Rockdale City Suns.

South Coast Wolves enjoyed their day as they collected twelve points from their six matches against Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Blacktown Spartans also gained a dozen points when they met Central Coast Mariners.

APIA Leichhardt Tigers earned ten points when they faced Manly United while Marconi Stallions and Sutherland Sharks shared the spoils at eight points apiece.

IGA NSW National Premier League Men’s 1 – Club Championship

Sutherland Sharks began the day as the leaders on this table by a margin of two points and they faced Marconi Stallions who were in eighth position. When the Sharks shared the points at six apiece with the Stallions, Sutherland retained their place at the top of the ladder while Marconi remained at eighth.

Blacktown Spartans kicked off the weekend in second spot and they were up against Central Coast Mariners who were placed twelfth on the table. The Spartans and the Mariners took six points each from these four matches and that was enough to ensure that they both stayed exactly where they were and the table.

Blacktown City came into this round placed third while their opponents were Sydney United 58 and they were in sixth position. While City have inched closer to the top two, they have remained at third after they earned ten points from their meeting with United who have slipped back to eighth.

Placed fourth before a ball was kicked on the weekend, APIA Leichhardt Tigers hosted Manly United who were only three points behind the Tigers at fifth. The Tigers collected only four points from these matches and so they have dropped back to fifth while Manly have moved up the ladder and they are now fourth.

Sydney Olympic arrived at this round in seventh spot while Rockdale City Suns were placed eleventh on the table. Olympic jumped into sixth spot when they took nine points from their encounter with the Suns who are still in eleventh position.

Before a ball was kicked Bonnyrigg White Eagles were in ninth place and South Coast Wolves were in tenth position. When they White Eagles and the Wolves shared the spoils at six points each, both clubs remained where they were on the ladder.

Grade 12

Blacktown City started the day in second spot and they had an unblemished record of six wins from six games while Sydney United 58 were sixth with three wins and a draw coming from their six outings. City remained where they were on the table when they came up with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over United who have fallen back to seventh.

Grade 13

Unbeaten Blacktown City were sitting in second spot at kick-off time with five wins and two draws to show for their seven games while Sydney United 58 were placed ninth after they had registered three wins and a draw from six matches. City have retained second place after they were held to a 2-2 draw by United who have remained at ninth.

Grade 14

Blacktown City came into this match in sixth spot with three wins and two draws coming from six games while Sydney United 58 were eleventh and their points had come from two wins and a draw after six outings. City remained at sixth after they recorded a 2-1 win over United who have stayed where they were on the ladder.

Grade 15

Placed fifth at kick-off time, Blacktown City had four wins and a draw to show for their six games and seventh placed Sydney United 58 had taken maximum points from four of their six matches. City jumped to third when they came up with a 1-0 scoreline over United who are still in seventh spot.

Grade 16

Blacktown City were placed fifth at kick-off time after they had taken their points from four wins and two draw in their eight games while Sydney United 58 were tenth with two wins and two draws coming from six matches. City moved up to fourth when they were 2-0 winners this week and that has left United at tenth.

Grade 18

Blacktown City came into this round as the competition frontrunners on goal difference after they had posted five wins and two draws from eight games while Sydney United 58 were eighth with four wins from six matches. When this encounter was locked up at 1-1 when the final whistle sounded, City slipped back to second place and United climbed to seventh.

---

Blacktown City FC hand Reds first defeat of the season

Blacktown City FC put in a dominating performance against Sydney United 58 FC, inflicting a 3-1 defeat on the Edensor Park side at Lily’s Homes Stadium on Saturday.

The home side had the lion’s share of possession and created most of the chances in a thrilling match that entertained the strong crowd at Seven Hills.

 

The excitement started in the 2’ when Blacktown stalwart Sean Rooney spotted Harris Gaitatzis breaking free of the United line. Gaitatzis was on the end of the ball and with only Liam Reddy to beat, the striker made no mistake, drilling the ball into the back of the net.

It wasn’t quite the start Liam Reddy would have been hoping for in his second match back for United this season - but it was through no fault of his own.

It was Yuichi Yamauchi’s first game back at Blacktown since moving on to United, and his old teammates had clearly prepared for his return, keeping close watch on him and restricting his movements whenever he had the ball.

United’s Chris Triantis tried his luck with a shot from 25-yards out that didn’t have enough power on it to trouble Blacktown keeper Brady Crane.

Blacktown’s Travis Major began what would be a night of torment for Sydney United on the right wing. A 20-yard dash ended with a 30-yard strike that went just wide in the 9’ minute.

Miyazawa began tormenting Sydney United on the left wing. A cross in the 15’ minute from the Japanese forward looked promising but nobody could get on the end of it.

United’s Glen Trifiro was at the heart of all his side’s attacking plays. The energetic midfielder ducked and weaved through the Blacktown box and looked to have teed up Daniel Barac for an equalised, but Barac’s shot was deflected and went out for a corner in the 21’ minute.

3’ minutes later, Blacktown doubled their lead when Italian Andrea Del Brocco crossed the ball in from the right and sent it straight into the path of Miyazawa who was sliding in and hit the ball into the goal in the 24’ minute.

That second goal fired up United’s Trifiro who seemed to be involved in every play over the next ten minutes. But his determination to get a second goal saw him attempt a 35-yard strike that went high, wide and into neighbouring Ashley Brown Reserve.

It was in the 34’ minute that United clawed back the lead to 2-1. Former Sydney Olympic forward Chris Triantis squared the ball to Robert Mileski who put the ball into the back of the net from close range.

United were determined to equalise. In the 38’ minute, Triantis dribbled through the Blacktown defence only to see his 20-yard strike go just over the crossbar.

When the half-time whistle blew, there was a sense that this was anyone’s game- but Blacktown fans were hoping their side could wrap it up, having seen their side blow the lead more than once this season.

Matt Mayora should have put Blacktown up 3-1 in the 50’ when his shot from five-yards out went straight to United goalkeeper, Reddy.

In the 51’ minute, a United right-back Mitchell Speer sent a long ball into the Blacktown box where Daniel Barac’s shot was saved by Blacktown keeper Crane.

United began to look threatening. It must have worried Blacktown’s Rooney, who fired a 50-yard speculator well wide.

Blacktown began to create the majority of the chances, but they couldn’t convert their chances into goals. The home side had a string of chances in the 59’. Major’s run up the right flank ended with a cross to Mayora who looked like he was going to head it home before Liam Reddy sprung into action to deny the home side.

Reddy showed that his lack of match practice hadn’t affected his reflexes.

United were let off the hook in the 65’ when Blacktown’s Kearyn Baccus won possession and broke free of the United defence only for his shot to be saved by Reddy.

Major followed this up with another run up the right flank in the 66’ minute but his shot ran across the face of goal and was parried away by Reddy.

There was a worry around the ground that Blacktown were going to pay for not making the most of their chances.

Triantis had a goal disallowed in the 73’ minute after the assistant’s flag was raised to alert the referee to an earlier handball.

But Blacktown applied the pressure and it was soon to pay off. In the 76’ minute, Miyazawa broke free of the United defence on the left flank before squaring it to Gaitatzis whose shot was saved by Reddy- but the ball fell back to Miyazawa and he calmly slotted it home to wrap up the three points for the home side.

Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden was pleased that his side had come off best. He thought United dominated the first-half, but was pleased with his side’s sustained pressure:

“They’re a very good side. Their first-half was very good. We changed a few things in the second half and probably could have won by a few more,” Crittenden said.

The Blacktown coach was full of praise of Miyazawa.

“He’s a good lad, he fits in well and the boys make him feel welcome and he plays like a champion.”

“We knew we had to contain Yamauchi. He was on the game sheet and we knew what he was like and we had to make sure we contained him which we did.”

Sydney United 58 FC coach Mark Rudan said he was pleased with his side’s efforts and wasn’t too worried about their first loss of the season:

“There are games that you can win where the win actually masks the performance. Similarly when you lose, sometimes you don’t deserve to lose,” Rudan said.

“Tonight, I don’t think we played well enough to win. It could’ve easily been 2-2 at the break, but there are no complaints from me. Blacktown deserved to win tonight.”

Rudan played down next Sunday’s local derby against Bonnyrigg White Eagles, saying his side would approach it as they do every other game:

“It’s a big game every week. People can talk it up but we’re talking about two strong teams in the competition and we’ll be making sure we prepare as well as we can to win that match.”

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 3 (Harris Gaitatzis 2’, Ryuji Miyazawa 24’, 76’)

Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Robert Mileski 27’)

Saturday May 4, 2013

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 3.Andrea Del Brocco, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 5.Pat Gatt, 6.Matt Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 10.Harris Gaitatzis, 11.Sean Rooney,12.Kearyn Baccus (14.Daniel Araujo 89’), 15.Matthew Mayora (16.Luke Clifford 80’)

Substitutes Not Used: 13.Blake Tuxford, 21.Shayne D’Cunha, 20.Jesse Curren

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58 FC: 29.Liam Reddy; 22.Daniel Barac, 3.Ben Jurman, 9.Robert Mileski, 4.Nathan Sherlock (5.Callum O’Connell 78’), 2.Mitchell Speer, 6.Mitchell Stamatellis, 15.Anthony Tomelic (13.David Stojic 69’), 10.Chris Triantis, 8.Yuichi Yamauichi (19.Matthew Bilic 69’), 18.Glen Trifiro

Substitutes Not Used: 41.Jordan Jennings, 23.Ante Tomic;

Yellow Cards: Matt Mayora 45’, Kearyn Baccus 62’, Sean Rooney 90’+2’

Red Cards: Nil

Players Ratings:

3 - Ryuji Miyazawa (BFC)

2 - Travis Major (BFC)

1 - Glen Trifiro (SU)

-By Alex Cauchi

 

---

Round Review - U20s - BCFC v Sydney United 58

 

A brace from Peter Pelekanos saw Blacktown City FC past Sydney United 58 FC, a win which saw Blacktown City's young squad give a tremendous account of their credentials.Centre half Pelekanos was on the spot twice in the first half, initially literally as he converted an early penalty, before showing a striker's composure to put his side 2-0 up.Isaac Savor scoreboard for Sydney United 58 FC but they were beaten by the better side on the night. 

For Blacktown City, it was the latest in a string of promising results for their youthful squad but for Sydney United 58 it is no major setback in their promising start to the season.

The home side got off to a great start, by they were given a helping hand by Theo Kofinas, who clumsily gave away a 6' minute penalty.

Dolor Edosomwan's pass over the top found Andre Schroeder, but he posed little threat from the edge of the area.

Kofinas clipped his heels and brought him crashing down and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

After a slight delay in which Blacktown City FC worked out who would step up, Peter Pelekanos duly took the plunge and confidently sent Marko Bozic the wrong way.

It set the platform for Blacktown City FC to kick on, but an attacking onslaught failed to materialise and indeed it was a peak which the remainder of the first half failed to reach.

Both sides were struggling for rhythm and terminal breakdowns in the final third was the common theme as passes ran out of play or failed to find their targets.

Blacktown City FC were perhaps the marginally more incisive side of the first half an hour but to split the sides would be picky; Sydney United 58 FC's equaliser meant that there would be no separation on the scoreboard, at least.

A left sided throw in caused the Blacktown City defence all sorts of problems and when the ball broke to Savor, he made no mistake, slotting into the bottom corner.

Sydney United could and in all probability should have taken the lead in the final minute of the half, but after Chris Zuvela set Savor free, he could only slice high and wide.

The second half was a much better spectacle and Pelekanos's goal was the result of some excellent set piece play, the evidence of much hard work on the training ground.

A free kick on the left was played short and when the ball was squared to Pelekanos, he had the clarity of mind to take a controlling touch before slotting past Bozic.

Jayden Priest and Alex Arbello had great chances to put daylight between the two sides, as Blacktown City had the better of the last half an hour.

The control exerted in midfield by youngsters Ryan Peterson and Jesse Curran allowed Blacktown City to play the game at their own pace, which suited them down the ground.

For Sydney United 58, David Semialjac was their outlet on the left hand side but although he was lively, he was unable to inspire his side as the game drew to a close.

Blacktown City coach David O'Keefe was his usual calm self after the game, but praised the application of his developing squad.

"It was probably the best football we've played all year," he said.

"The boys got a lot of belief last week. I think they were doubting themselves against the older players but today they really deserved to win.

"We were up against a top of the table team, who are well coached, but we backed ourselves and thankfully got a result."

Sydney United 58 coach Ante Moric was full of praise for Blacktown City, saying that his side was beaten by the better team on the day.

"We came into this game like we do every game - determined and focused," he said.

"I can't complain (about the performance) but I have to take my hat off to Blacktown City tonight.

"In all facets, they beat us. I said to their coach, 'well done'."

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 2 (Peter Pelakanos [PEN] 6', 63')

Sydney United 58 FC 1 (Isaac Savor 28')

Saturday 4th May, 2013

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Blacktown City FC: 13.Blake Tuxford, 22.Lewis Beumie, 35.Jesse Curran, 26.Shayne D'Cunha, 27.Dominic Dileo (34.Alex Arbello 62'), 33.Peter Pelekanos, 31.Sam Perre, 28.Ryan Peterson, 29.Jayden Priest (30.Alex Vlismas 90'), 32.Andre Scroeder (24.Bruno Antelmi 77'), 18.Dolor Edosomwan

Substitutes Not Used: 40.Mitchell Seager (GK), 37.Chris Vlismas

Yellow Cards: Peter Pelekanos 35', Sam Perre 86'

Red Cards: Nil

Sydney United 58 FC: 1.Marko Bozic (31.Kane Wallace 85'), 36.Jacob Bandur (25.Michajlo Jonjic 82'), 35.Marko Banic, 32.Chris Denkov (33.Stephen Vukovic 62'), 26.Tomislav Herceg, 21.Theo Kofinas, 24.Isaac Savor, 30.David Semialjac, 34.Drazen Vucer, 27.Marko Vukovic (28.Nesim Basic 64'), 17.Chris Zuvela (37.James Tobias 81')

Substitutes Not Used: Nil

Yellow Cards: 21.Theo Kofinas 5', Isaac Savor 20', Chris Zuvela 71'

Red Cards: Nil