SYDNEY coach Vitezslav Lavicka enjoyed a successful start with the Sky Blues claiming a narrow 1-0 win against State League side Macarthur Rams.
An early goal to Brendan Gan carried the Moore Park men to victory in their first test since returning to training just over a fortnight ago.
But the night wasn't without incident for Sydney FC, with defender, Simon Colosimo taken to hospital after the match for precautionary scans following a heavy fall in the first half.
There was a festival feel at Lynwood Park with many of the more than 3,000 strong crowd arriving early to enjoy the sell-out community atmosphere on a chilly night in Campbelltown.
Sitting out the first match in a packed pre season program, Sydney stars John Aloisi and Steve Corica spent an hour signing autographs for the Macarthur kids before kick-off.
Championship winning National Youth League coach Steve O'Connor also took time out to share his wisdom with the Rams' junior coaches, giving them plenty of tips to take back to training.
When the action got underway on-field it was one of O'Connor's former Youth League charges, Brendan Gan that attracted all the attention, opening the scoring with a well taken header around the 10 minute mark.
Having started the game with a predominantly young line-up, Sydney FC looked strong in the first half but was denied time and again by the Macarthur keeper, with New Zealand Under-23 National representative, Roy Bell pulling off a number of great saves to keep the home team in the contest.
There were several changes to the A-League side in the second half, but Lavicka's men couldn't add to their advantage in the final 45 and had to be content with the one goal win.
The Sky Blues will return to the fields of suburban Sydney next Wednesday when they play the next in their series of State League trials, against the Bankstown City Lions in Sefton.
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