APOLOGIES, A-League Awards aficionados. After an absolutely hectic personal week last week, and a late late finish following the trip to the SFS for yesterday's match, I'll certainly do my best to restore regularity to this blog over the coming A-League rounds.

Nevertheless, the A-League has been providing interesting times of late, with Wellington losing their long unbeaten run at home (no shame in losing to Roar at the moment, though) before finally winning away. Moreover, dubious refereeing errors have sparked talk of the A-League pioneering the use of video replay technology.

Onto the prizes proper...

Goal of the Round

For mine, there were three standout finishes in the competition in round 13, with two of the competitions top Kiwis showing how it's done.

Kosta Barbarouses earns nominations for both goals in his brace against Adelaide United in the lopsided top of the table clash at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

His first strike, an angled finish across the face of goal, was somewhat reminiscent of any of Gareth Bale's three hits against Inter Milan in the champos two weeks ago. However, Barbarouses' effort was the result of tidy Roar interplay, which gives it further clout.

His second, a stunning bomb from range took him to equal top of the league for goals, and further underpinned the youngster's progression under Ange Postecoglou.

In addition, fellow New Zealand international Tim Brown scored a sweet left foot goal on the half volley in the opening minute of play against Glory yesterday. The box-to-box midfielder continues to enhance his A-League reputation every time he steps onto the pitch.

But the winner this week goes to the burgeoning young gun, Kosta Barbarouses. His first goal underlined why Roar are deserved title favourites.

Save of the Round

The leagues top shot stoppers were at it again in round 13, with Glory's home loss against Phoenix featuring prominently in the saves stakes.

Mark Paston produced two fine efforts, one when one-on-one with Michael Baird, and the other from Jamie Coyne late on.

Tando Velaphi also did well to keep Paul Ifill at bay after the former Crystal Palace man struck solidly towards goal.

While in Brisbane, sometime Socceroo and Adelaide United custodian Eugene Galekovic was brilliant on the stretch to deny Matt McKay for Roar.

For its importance though, the winner has to be Mark Paston's denial of Jamie Coyne close to fulltime at nib Stadium. Ensuring his team won one of the longest away trips in world football, Paston's performance should also ensure he remains the current number one at the Phoenix, with Danny Vukovic's feet surely starting to itch in windy Wellington. 

'Unbelievable Tekkers' Finish (at the wrong end) Award

Who else but Rodrigo Vargas?

The usually reliable defenders headed own goal rivalled Naum Sekulovski's whoopsy-doo against the Mariners in round 12.

Difference is Sekulovski's rubbed salt into the wound, while Vargas's created the wound.

Nice guy of the week

At the San Siro, you're unlikely to meet an injured Clarence Seedorf in the car park.

At the Santiago Bernebeu, it's improbable you'll catch a crocked Cristiano Ronaldo in the beer line.

But at the SFS, you may just get to chat with A-League star Nicky Carle in the bathroom.

Sharing a mutual halftime release, I had the good fortune of enjoying a quick converse with Nicky yesterday, and far from looking eager to move on from the attentions of a fan, Carle showed his good guy credentials by being more than willing to have a chat with me. Indeed, he even instigated further conversation, showing the marquee moniker certainly hasn't gone to his head.

Cheers and best wishes, Nicky.  

Top Tweets

Football is for the fans, so let's listen to them. Here are some of the top tweets sent to the #aleague hash tag over the past weekend.

mattherpfeffer reckons the Roar is producing the best play since the leagues inception. "Some claiming this year's @brisbaneroar are best ever. Not sure on paper, but they are playing the best football I've seen in the #aleague." 

rambogoraya was one of many curious about the assistant referees take on the Sydney 'goal' debacle: "The assistant puts his flag up because the ball is out. Then puts it down after the ball is in the back of the net. Why?

While Joel_Griffiths (not the Joel Griffiths) had this for Fox Sports commentator, Paul Trimboli: "Trimmers saying Baird's miss "wasn't a bad finish" is like saying Charles Manson wasn't a bad guy".

Follow me on Twitter @BennyONeill