The influence of first team players was evident - Nik Mrdja and Chris Payne both scored hat tricks - whilst many others had a notable influence on the outcome of their matches.

What was most impressive though, was the clinical finishing of many winning teams. Where they had previously struggled for goals, they now flourished and four teams saw the ball hit the back of the opposition's net at least three times.

The first match of the round saw Central Coast Mariners take on Newcastle Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium, the first junior F3 derby of the season. And just like the A-League derby that followed, the match was exciting and action-packed.

However, it wasn't the hosts who came away with the three points. It was the Mariners who smashed six into the back of the net to take them to second on the table.

The home side wouldn't budge for the opening 20 minutes, however, on 21 minutes, Nik Mrdja opened the scoring through a quick counter attack.

It was still anyone's game, though, with both sides pestering each other's goalkeepers until Mrdja set up Ahmad Elrich to make it 2-0 at the break.

The Mariners came out for the second half with all guns firing and three goals in the space of seven minutes put them on their way to victory. Nik Mrdja slotted home after David D'Apuzzo's shot hit the crossbar on 53 minutes. On 55 minutes, Shane Huke got a deserved goal after receiving the ball off a corner and just four minutes later, Mrdja made it a hat trick after taking advantage of the Jets sloppy defence with a real poacher's effort.

However, it wasn't all good news for the Coast, with Huke being sent from the field on the 68^th minute for picking up his second yellow card of the game.

Yet, the visitors still managed to keep out the Jets for the last 20 minutes and further rub salt into their wounds when Nicholas Fitzgerald was found by a D'Apuzzo cross on 73 minutes and he hit the back of the net to make the score 6-0 at full time.

Newcastle Jets 0
Central Coast Mariners 6 (Mrdja 21', 53', 59', Elrich 36', Huke 55', Fitzgerald 73')

The winless AIS took on a Perth Glory side stinging from their 4-0 thrashing by Gold Coast the previous week. The AIS, in their inaugural season, had only picked up one point so far and were looking to lift themselves off the bottom of the table with a win.

They were well on their way to achieving this. A quick double to Eli Babalj in the 16^th and 18^th minute set up what was to be a cracking game for goals - the first from an acute angle and the second off a John Martinoski cross.

Both sides had chances to score for the remainder of the first half, however, the AIS held onto their lead until the break.

Perth looked the team most likely in the second half and, just like the AIS, scored two goals in two minutes to level the scores to 2-2.

Cameron Edwards influence was apparent, first scoring off a corner at 66 minutes, and then setting up Joshua Risdon on 68 minutes.

However, the AIS started what was to be a thrilling final 15 minutes when Martinoski slammed home a free kick in the 75^th minute.

The AIS thought they had the three points, only for an error from Nikola Stanojevic to be capitalised on by Ludovic Boi - Stanojevic's back pass virtually gifting Boi the goal and Perth the 3-3 scoreline.

It was another heartbreak for the AIS as, for the second time this season, a late goal caused them to drop a point at the hands of Perth Glory. After a mazy run by Reece Vittiglia, he slotted the ball into the net to give the three points to Glory.

Perth Glory 4 (Edwards 66', Risdon 68', Boi 79', Vittiglia 90+3')
AIS 3 (Babalj 16',18', Martinoski 75')

Sydney FC returned to form against the troubled Brisbane Roar in what was a remarkably one-sided encounter at Seymour Shaw Park.

The Sky Blues started well, nearly hitting the target on several occasions before first team striker, Chris Payne, outsmarted the Roar defenders, getting around their offside trap and slotting past helpless keeper Matt Acton on 23 minutes.

In the 29^th minute, NYL top scorer Kerem Bulut continued his amazing goal scoring run with an excellent goal and, six minutes later, Payne tapped in from an Antony Golec cross to give Sydney a deserved 3-0 lead at the break.

Sydney's performance didn't drop in the second half and Roar just couldn't get a look in.

The 3-0 scoreline was made 4-0 on 65 minutes, after Roar keeper Matt Acton fouled Chris Payne in the area. Payne didn't miss from the spot, to earn himself a hat trick in what was a man of the match performance.

Joel Chianese continued Sydney's scoring bonanza on 75 minutes, leaving the Brisbane Roar dazed and winless in their last 5 matches.

Sydney FC 5 (Chris Payne 23' 35' 65', Kerem Bulut 29', Joel Chianese 75')
Brisbane Roar 0

In the lowest scoring game of the round, Melbourne Victory beat Adelaide United 2-0, however, the goal count did not reflect both sides chances in the match.

Both teams could've gone ahead in the first half and Adelaide thought they had on the 26^th minute when Perry Mitris scored, only to be called offside by the linesman.

Mitris continued to cause the Melbourne defence problems, but an Adelaide striker did not capitalise upon his hard work up the flanks.

They were left to rue their missed opportunities as Melbourne were the first to take real advantage of their chances, as first team striker Nathan Elasi latched onto a cross from Aziz Behich and headed home.

Elasi got his second of the game on the 61^st minute, after he dodged past Reds keeper Mark Birighitti to slot the ball into the open goal.

The Reds weren't short of chances and dominated the second half. However Victory's firepower was much stronger and the liked of Elasi and Behich were too good for the Adelaide defence.

In fact, if it weren't for Birighitti's efforts, the score line would've been much higher in the Victory's favour - the Reds custodian denying Elasi a third just seconds before the full time whistle.

Melbourne Victory 2 (Elasi 32, 61)
Adelaide United 0

BYE: Gold Coast United

National Youth League 2009/10 Ladder

National Youth League 2009/10 - Leading Goal-Scorers

7 - Kerem BULUT

6 - Eli BABALJ

4 - Andrew BARISIC, Nik MRDJA, Chris PAYNE

3 - Aziz BEHICH, Chris HAROLD, Josh MCVEY, Francesco MONTEROSSO, Jason NAIDOVSKI, Panny NIKAS, Reece VITTIGLIA,

2 - Million BUTSHIIRE, Ludovic BOI, Nathan ELASI,Tim SMITS, Joel CHIANESE.

1 - Joel ALLWRIGHT, Zac ANDERSON, Terry ANTONIS, Scott BALDERSON, Fabian BARBIERO, Luke BRATTAN, Lachlan CAHILL, Eugene DADI, David D'APUZZO, Matthew DEMO, Mate DUGANDZIC, Ryan EDWARDS, Jordan FARINA, Matthew FOSCHINI, Kingsley FRANCIS, Howard FONDYKE, David GULLO, Ben HALLORAN, Evan KOSTOPOULOS, Adam KWASNIK, Mitchell MALLIA, Golgol MEBRAHTU, Dane MILOVANOVIC, Matthew Mullen, Steven PACE, Inseob SHIN, Stefan VRBESIC, Ben WEARING, Reuben WAY, Liam WOODING, Ahmad ELRICH, Shane HUKE, Nick FITZGERALD, John MARTINOSKI, Ludovic BOI

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