Sensational Sutherland pull off comeback of the season
It was difficult to ascertain what was more outrageous, Nicholas Olsen's winning goal or Sutherland Shark's almighty comeback victory.

Olsen's spectacular left foot strike from 30-yards capped Sutherland Sharks’ amazing win against Blacktown City, as they came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 in the rescheduled match at Lily Homes Stadium.

The visiting side was 3-0 down inside 23' minutes as Sean Rooney, Matthew Mayora and Harris Gaitatzis all found the back of the net. Sutherland weren't at the races and it really should have cost them dearly.

Instead, it was Blacktown City who switched off and the comeback that the Sharks staged was scarcely believable.

Panni Nikas scored twice before half-time, his goals split by one from Christopher Naumoff.

Olsen's stunning, goal of the season contender topped off an extraordinary evening.

Ryuiji Miyazawa set the tone of the opening half an hour though, with a 2' minute shot that forced a sharp save from Nathan Denham, the Sutherland keeper showing that he, at least, was alert.

Travis Major fired wide shortly after, as Blacktown City poured forward and their 7' minute opening goal was no surprise.

Rooney was the man on the spot, racing on to a pass from Major and showing the composure required to slot home, despite a touch from Denham.

7' minutes later and their lead was doubled, Mayora tapping in after more good work from Major on the right hand side.

Nikolas Tsattalios, freshly back from injury, was struggling to keep up with the relentless pace that Blacktown City had set early on.

Sutherland briefly fought the tide; Nikas fired a shot that Brody Crane did fantastically to tip over the bar. It was a fabulous save from the Blacktown City custodian, but Nikas' greater contribution was to come later on in the half.

Gaitatzis added a third in the 23' minute to give Blacktown City what most assumed was a match winning lead.

It should have been game over, but Robbie Stanton's side is made of sterner stuff than that.

Nikas' shot wide just after the half an hour mark was a signal of Sutherland's intent, despite the huge task that appeared to be ahead of them.

They were given a helping hand for their first goal, a foul by Jacob Poscoliero as Nikas was poised to strike, leading referee Kris Griffiths-Jones to award a penalty.

Nikas himself stepped up and despite a touch from Crane, converted the 38' minute spot-kick.

It was merely the foundation for the comeback as young star Christopher Naumoff added a second in the 44' minute. Naumoff was keeping striker Bradley Boardman out of the starting lineup and he again repaid Stanton's faith, heading in after Crane's save from Nikas popped up to him.

Sutherland was finishing the half with a head of steam and just as Blacktown City's opener was telegraphed, so was Sutherland's equaliser.

It came in added time when Tsattalios atoned for his poor start, bursting forward and playing in Nikas, who tucked the ball away for his second of the game.

Naumoff missed a good opportunity to put his side ahead just after the hour mark, but it was left to his fellow attacker Olsen to score the decisive goal in the 68' minute.

A ball from the left found Olsen 30-yards from goal and the forward showed all the audacity of youth, thrashing a thunderbolt of a left foot volley in off the crossbar.

It was a goal worth of winning any match, let alone one as thrilling as this.

Sutherland Sharks coach Robbie Stanton's joy at the victory was tempered by Sutherland's poor start to the game:

"We have the ability to do that," Stanton said.

"They can hurt you; they're a very attacking team. We knew it would be a hard game.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't turn up in the first 15’ minutes. We did get our act together once we were 3-0 down, though.

"I had a sneaky suspicion that the game would open up and that we'd score a few goals tonight.

"Once it got to 3-3 I knew we'd win the game, because psychologically when you're up by three and then concede three, your mind is not right.

"(At 3-0 down) I was beginning to think about Saturday's game. We adjusted at half-time and I knew if the game opened up we had the players to score the goals. Once we got to 3-3 I knew we'd win the game.

"That's football. One minute you're top of the world, next you're rock bottom. I think you saw that tonight."

Blacktown City coach Mark Crittenden was understandably upset by what he had seen:

"Extremely disappointing," Crittenden said.

"For 30’ minutes we were superb, but the last 10’minutes we capitulated.

"We lost our way and lost our shape, gave away a soft penalty and the next thing you know, the game's changed.

"We lost our composure and at 3-0 we took our foot off the pedal. We went away from what we were doing. We destroyed them for 30’ minutes and then for 10’ minutes we were awful.

"The second half was 50-50 and then the young boy scored a bomb to win it. It's very disappointing."

Match Stats

Blacktown City FC 3 (Sean Rooney 7', Matthew Mayora 14', Harris Gaitatzis 23')

Sutherland Sharks FC 4 (Panny Nikas 38' (pen), 45+1', Christopher Naumoff 44', Nicholas Olsen 68')

Wednesday 24th April, 2013

Lily Homes Stadium, Seven Hills

Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones

Assistant Referees: Sarah Ho and Robson Battistella

Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 5.Patrick Gatt (c), 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 10.Harris Gaitatzis, 11.Sean Rooney, 12.Kearyn Baccus (14.Shane D'Cunha 78'), 15.Matthew Mayora (8.Raymond Miller 69'), 20.Jacob Poscoliero (18.Dolor Edosomwan 90')

Substitutes Not Used: 13.Blake Tuxford (GK), 21.Daniel Vellonio

Yellow Cards: Jacob Poscoliero 27'

Red Cards: Nil

Sutherland Sharks FC: 1.Nathan Denham, 2.Nicholas Littler, 14.Nick Stavroulakis (c), 23.Panny Nikas, 7.Nathan Elasi, 15.Perry Moustakas, 33.Nikolas Tsattalios (17.Klim Gjoreski),13.Reo Morinaga 6.Matthew Gordon, 19.Christopher Naumoff, 8.Nicholas Olsen

Substitutes Not Used: 9.Bradley Boardman, 10, Andre Gomez, 16.Ben Cornish, 22.Andrew Depta (GK)

Yellow Cards: Panni Nikas 67', Perry Moustakas 71', Matthew Gordon 89'

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings:

3 - Panni Nikas (SS)

2 - Nicholas Olsen (SS)

1 - Christopher Naumoff (SS)

-By Matthew Connellan

A second-half brace to Blacktown City FC’s Travis Major, and first half opener to Raymond Miller, were more than enough to sink a deflated Central Coast Mariners Academy 3-0 in their first home match of the season at Pluim Park.

It has been a staggered start for the competition newcomers, having picked up just a point from their first five games and a mixture of bad luck against established top-flight clubs.

It was the away side who dominated the early stages of the round five clash as Matthew Mayora picked up a pinpoint through ball and sprayed his shot well over the bar in a position where he should have capitalised in the 2’ minute.

Despite missing his early chance, Mayora went on to be one of Blacktown’s top performers.

The first 15’ minutes of the match were cagey with both sides really testing one another and it was clear the Mariners Academy side were keen to pick up maximum points in their first competitive home match of the season.

Blacktown’s central defender Jacob Poscoliero had other ideas as he held his side’s structure and stringent defence that made an attack for the Mariners an even greater challenge for the entirety of the match.

Central Coast Mariners Academy picked up one of the chances of the match that was thwarted by a magnificent fully stretched Brody Crane save. Mariners’ speedster Adam Biddle ran on to a long ball and battled his way in behind the defence, his cross was on the mark and hit the feet of James Monie who steadied himself to fire away a close range shot that was handled by a top notch save.

10’ minutes later, in the 29’ minute, the away side made the most of a similar chance created by a Yianni Fragogiannis cross that was capped off by a classy Raymond Miller finish to grant Blacktown City a one-nil lead.

The Blacktown City side came into the match missing two attacking threats through suspension and tonight’s first goal scorer, Raymond Miller took to the sideline just minutes after his goal to be replaced by right wing back Keiren Paull which did not inhibit their power up front.

Blacktown were rarely exposed in the first-half but the Mariners few opportunities were falling down the right flank lead by a determined Monie, wayward final passes were the home side’s downfall.

It was in the second-half that Blacktown turned on the class, led by Mayora who jumped on the end of a cross with a spectacular bicycle kick that struck the crossbar in the 51’ minute.

Travis Major was the man who took advantage of a careless Mariners Academy defence to slot home a tidy finish from a difficult angle across the far side of the keeper in the 78’ minute.

The salt was rubbed into the wounds of Mariners Academy in the 87’ minute as Harris Gaitatzis broke into mountains of space on the right side and lobbed a perfect through ball that was controlled by the chest of Major who still had plenty of work to do. Major tapped around the defence and easily slotted home to sew up a crucial three-nil away win.

Blacktown’s Matthew Mayora was happy to pick up three points and already looked ahead to next week’s task at hand:

“It was a tough trip up but we didn’t have a very difficult week so we’ve picked up the three points and that’s what we needed to get our confidence up.
“I was pretty happy with my personal performance of just doing my old job of staying up there and doing what a striker does.

“We’re pretty pumped and in the circle just there, we have already had a chat about next week’s clash against Sutho which should be a blockbuster”

A disappointed James Monie was ready to put the loss behind him and get on with next week as well:

“We had too many boys that just weren’t on top of their game tonight, we have come back to a different Pluim Park with three perfect pitches, a great stand, great facilities and too many of the boys didn’t show up tonight.

“There’s all this talk about coming back here and maybe a few of the boys could have been over awed by the occasion but we were poor tonight and there are no excuses other than we didn’t put the effort in.

“We only got on here for the first time this week and hopefully when we train a bit more on here we can make it a bit of a fortress for teams to come up here but we have had a slow start to the season and next week cannot come around quick enough.”

It was a tough match for the Central Coast Mariners Academy who held possession in Blacktown’s portion of the pitch for a sustained amount of time in the final 15’ minutes but it was that final ball and clinical finish that eluded the home side.

Match Stats

Central Coast Mariners Academy: 0

Blacktown City FC: 3 (Raymond Miller 29’, Travis Major 78’, 87’)

Saturday 13th April, 2013

Pluim Park

Referee: Khoder Yaghi

Assistant Referees: Thomas Lee and Adam Coombes

Fourth Official: Nathan Roberts

Central Coast Mariners Academy: 1.Jordan Nikolovski; 11.Louis Bozanic (27.Dillon Vorster 71’), 21.Tomislav Cirjak, 2.Matthew Crowell, 4.Adam Jenner, 3.Jamie Lobb, 9.James Monie, 6.Christopher Payne (24.Nathan Verity 45’), 5.Brady Smith (25.Steve White 82’), 26.Mapu Ridge, 10.Adam Biddle

Substitutes Not Used: 16.Jed Prater

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards: Nil

Blacktown City FC: 1 Brody Crane; 12.Kearyn Baccus, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 10.Harris Gaitatzis, 5.Patrick Gatt, 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 15.Matthew Mayora (18.Edosomwan Osadolor 83’), 8.Raymond Miller (17.Kieran Paull 30’), 9.Ryuji Miyazawa, 20.Jacob Poscoliero

Substitutes Not Used: 16.Daniel Arujo, 14.Shane D’Cunha, 13.Blake Tuxford

Yellow Cards: 1

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings:

3 - Travis Major (BCFC)

2 - Matthew Mayora (BCFC)

1 - Jacob Poscoliero (BCFC)

-By Tyson Scott

Backtown City FC have successfully launched the newly formed Skill Acquisition Program (SAP) for boys and girls aged 9-11 years.

The SAP program provides the necessary pathway for talented players aged 9-11 years who train 3 sessions per week with highly qualified and experienced coaches as well as compete in the newly formed SAP league.

The SAP league ensures that SAP players compete on a weekly basis against the best players through the state. 

Trials were held in October 2012 and the program has commenced.

Blacktown City only selected the very best players within the local associations, Nepean, Blacktown and Granville. There are still some places available for talented Boys in the U9 and U10 age group. There is also places available for U9, U10 and U11 girls.

This is a great opportunity to join the premier youth development club in NSW.

Contact Youth Technical Director Paul Bentvelzen to arrange a trial in the SAP program 0411091230 or  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " data-mce-href="mailto: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " data-mce-style="line-height: 15.05pt;" style="line-height: 15.05pt;"> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers capitalised on numerical advantage to overturn a 3-1 half-time deficit and secure a share of the spoils against Blacktown City FC on Friday evening at Lambert Park.

The 90’ minutes were no stranger to drama, controversy and entertainment as 9-man City were finally hauled back to a three apiece draw. .

The opening exchanges were hard and fast as each side attempted to garner control of the midfield but with thrust meeting counter-thrust it was a fascinating battle for the ascendancy.

Sean Rooney had the first meaningful attempt of the game when seeing his shot on the turn slip narrowly wide of the upright in the 6’ minute for City with Keith Shevlin finding himself in the book moments later for a foul on the Blacktown striker.

A succession of niggling fouls from both saw a few half-chances created with balls floated into the mix but nothing the goalkeepers, nor defence, could not handle.

Harris Gaitatzis played Ray Miller down the City left but a timely intervention by Brendan Reilly put paid to the move and cleared the danger as the visitors slowly began to gain the upper hand with APIA holding a high line and catching the City forwards offside.

Nicola Rizzo looked very sharp down the Leichhardt left midfield with telling passes and keen vision, however the Blacktown defence were awake to everything.

Rooney was at it again in the 22’ minute when firing toward goal from distance but his scuffed shot presented no problems for Ryan Norval in the Tigers goal, before Miller did the same just 60’’ seconds later.

It was Matthew Lewis who put City ahead in the 24’ minute with a curling shot off the instep to beat the Tigers custodian and give the visiting side the lead.

It was little more than Blacktown deserved as they slowly but surely pushed APIA back into their own half, forcing them to defend deeper and finding it harder to clear their lines.

Reilly brought down Ryuji Miyazawa inside the box in the 26’ minute with Travis Major stepping up to take the penalty, and the chance to double his side’s lead, however the Tigers’ shot-stopper was sharply down to his right to save.

A fascinating spell followed with action aplenty on the playing field. Firstly, Blacktown did extend the lead with Harris Gaitatzis netting in the 32’ minute before Nikola Taneski reduced the deficit from the spot in the 34’ minute, with Sean Rooney going up the other end to make it three-one to Blacktown seconds later amid cries of offside from the crowd.

Referee Adam Weir cautioned both Stephen Kayes and David D’Apuzzo for the Tigers before consulting with his Assistant and awarding the goal in a crazy 3’ minute spell.

And it didn’t stop there as Andrea Del Brocco was given his marching orders for Blacktown for a nasty looking tackle on Reilly who, to his credit, didn’t make a fuss as the City player left the field with literally seconds left in the half.

A double substitution for the home team at the start of the second period saw George Khoury and Adamo Raciti replace Keith Shevlin and Franco Parisi respectively, as Gary Ward rang the changes in an effort at wrest back control of the game and utilise the one man advantage by stretching the play and switching from flank to flank.

Blacktown City were left no option but to defend, which they did resolutely, and attack on the counter, which isn’t their natural style as it was the turn of APIA-Leichhardt to press relentlessly to prise the telling opening.

D’Apuzzo got the benefit of the doubt when appearing to make a tackle from behind in the box on Kearyn Baccus as the Tigers then straight up the other end with Taneski scoring his, and APIA’s, second of the evening as the home side fought back once more and reduced the Blacktown lead to one with 30’ minutes remaining.

Bradley Bartels had a magnificent chance to level it up forcing Brody Crane into an equally terrific save to keep City ahead in the 68’ minute.

Blacktown were working overtime to keep APIA at only two goals, but with tiring legs starting to tell the home side were well and truly on top and all that remained was to see if they could finally break the resistance of Blacktown and regain parity.

The job should have become easier when Blacktown lost a second player to a red card when Sean Rooney received a second caution and was ordered off in the 74’ minute leaving City with a very tough uphill battle to keep the points.

Major took the ball to the corner before slipping his marker and then winning a corner the visitors were in no hurry to take, but the short pass routine didn’t work and the Tigers attacked again.

APIA’s persistence paid dividends in the 88’ minute when Tigers’ substitute Gerard Ouffoue headed home the equaliser to break Blacktown hearts, albeit just reward for their efforts.

The final few moments were frantic and end-to-end as each tried to pinch the winner, with Ouffoue coming closest with Crane down at the last to thwart the attempt .

Neither coach wanted to speak after the match so the assistants got their turn when Nick Rizzo said for APIA:

“Blacktown are a very, very good side and I think we probably stayed in the game due to a couple of send-offs. Even though, the second-half was better for us and it was to be expected.

“You have to take your hat off to Blacktown as they were outstanding in the first 45’ minutes and made us second best with their play and overall I suppose we have to be happy as the boys dug deep and we shared the points in the end despite everything.”

As for his own performance he added:

“For me personally I have to say my fitness levels are not quite there yet and I am probably a month or so away but I am feeling stronger each game.”

Wrapping things up Rizzo ended:

“We got a point tonight that we deserved, maybe, but I was very impressed with Blacktown tonight as they were very mobile, quick and such a young team and that has always been one of their strengths and I have to say they are the best side we have played this season.”

Kain Rastall replied for Blacktown City:

“We are extremely proud of the performance tonight as even with nine men we created chances going forward.

“The game should have been well and truly over at half-time but we had two players sent-off, rightly or wrongly, but if you leave teams in a game, especially at home, you sometimes get burnt and perhaps tonight we did.

“It was a classic case of that here but we will move on with a lot of confidence from this game to next week.”

On the team performance he stated:

“That was definitely our best performance of the season to-date. Our speed and attacking options just proved that even with nine players we can go and take on teams away from home and look comfortable in creating numerous opportunities.”

Footnote: Congratulations to Adel El Jamal who celebrated his birthday on the day of the game.

Match Stats:

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 3 (Taneski 34’ (pen),60’, Ouffoue 88’)

Alacktown City FC 3 (Lewis 24’, Gaitatzis 32’, Rooney 34’)

Friday April 5th, 2013

Lambert Park, Leichhardt

Referee: Adam Weir

Assistant Referees: Nick Backo and Andrej Giev

Fourth Official: Mitchell Clark

APIA-Leichhardt Tigers: 1.Ryan Norval; 2.Mark Byrnes (C), 3.Adel El Jamal, 4.Brendan Reilly, 7.Stephen Kayes, 8.David D'Apuzzo, 10.Franco Parisi (19.Adamo Raciti 46’), 12.Keith Shevlin (14.George Khoury 46’), 15.Bradley Bartels, 18.Nikola Taneski, 24.Nicola Rizzo (9.Gerard Ouffoue 77’)

Substitutes Not Used: 20.Joshua Symons, 21.Anthony Costa

Yellow Cards: Shevlin 9’, Kayes 34’, D’Apuzzo 34’

Red Cards: Nil

Blacktown City FC: 1.Brody Crane; 3.Andrea Del Brocco, 4.Yianni Fragogiannis, 5.Patrick Gatt (C), 6.Matthew Lewis, 7.Travis Major, 8.Raymond Miller, 9.Ryuji Miyazawa (20.Jacob Poscoliero 71’), 10.Harris Gaitatzis (15.Matthew Mayora 79’), 11.Sean Rooney, 12.Kearyn Baccus

Substitutes Not Used: 13.Blake Tuxford, 17.Keiran Paull, 18. Osadolor Edosomwan

Yellow Cards: Major 61’, Rooney 62’, 74’

Red Cards: Del Brocco 45’, Rooney 74’

Player Ratings:

3 – Nikola Taneski (ALT)

2 – Patrick Gatt (BC)

1 – Matthew Lewis (BC)

-By Micky Brock