With a big element of the 'unexpected' the case for many sides due to a pre-season without tournament play, the twelve clubs gave a good account for themselves at this early stage.

In perhaps the most surprising result of the weekend, pre-season favourite Sydney Olympic fell to grand rival West Sydney Berries 3-1 - the same result in Round 1 of the 2008 TeleChoice Premier League competition.

The Blues, who have recruited well with the experience of Bobby Dragas in defence and Tolgay Ozbey in attack, along with new coach Aytek Genc, were left shell-shocked as their 'less fancied' opponent scored three goals past Michael Turnbull in the Sydney Olympic goal.

Aheleas Kotsopoulos and Liam Austin hit two world class finishes inside the first-half to send the Berries in at the break with a two-goal lead. Ozbey cut the deficit on the hour, though Dimitri Zakilas restored the Berries two-goal lead immediately following the re-start. The Blues squandered a late penalty to kill-off any chance of a comeback.

At Jensen Park, Bankstown City secured an extremely hard fought 1-0 win against Wollongong Community FC. With the Wollongong side's disrupted preparation, it was difficult to see how the side could trouble an accomplished side like Bankstown City, though Tony Pace's men certainly gave a good account of themselves. Experienced duo Balla Conde and Ilija Prenzoski led Wollongong's charge, though the silky skills of George Nohra and Robert Mileski ensured the Lions would pick up the points. In-fact, it was the latter two players that were involved in the match-winning goal scored by wing-back Ibrahim Haydar in the 60' minute. Haydar cleverly turned the ball onto his right foot from the left and unleashed a powerful effort underneath the crossbar.

Bonnyrigg White Eagles' return to the Premier League started in the best possible fashion against Sydney Tigers as Blagoja Kulevski's men scored via Almir Dizdaric in the first minute to send the crowd into raptures. Two red cards to Mark D'Allessandro and Fredrick Graham proved to be the home side's undoing as they were left to battle with only nine-men.

The Tigers drew level in first-half injury-time courtesy of Stefan Donevski before running havoc in the second period. A goal to former Sydney Olympic midfielder Marino Musumeci and a hat-trick to Jamie McMaster ensured the Tigers an opening day victory with a very healthy goal average.

Blacktown City hopes of exorcising the demons of 2008 will have to wait another week as Sydney United landed the Demons a heavy 3-0 defeat at Gabbie Stadium. The Reds, led by player/coach Ante Milicic, took the match to Blacktown City and found themselves two goals to the good at the break. Luka Glavas and Damon Collina were the scorers before Glavas added his second 20' minutes from the end. The former A-League striker had two chances to secure his hat-trick though some poor finishing saw the chance go begging.

At Marconi Stadium in a lacklustre performance by both the Stallions and Penrith-Nepean United, it was the home-side that prevailed with a 2-0 win.

New signings Ali Al-Hilfi and Alexander Canak scored on either side of half-time to hand the Stallions three-points in what was coach Lee Sterrey's return to the Stallions bench after seven years.

In the final match of the Round 1, Manly United and Sutherland Sharks - two of last season's most successful sides - showed just how tough the competition will be again in 2009 as the sides could only conjure up a 0-0 draw at Cromer Park. Neither side managed to gain the upper hand with both coaches leaving the venue with some headaches. Phil Moss will be without Andrew Mailer after a late red card left Manly United with ten-men, meanwhile Robbie Stanton will be sweating on the fitness of midfielder Nick Stavroulakis after he was forced to leave the field with a groin strain.

Round 2 of the TeleChoice Premier League to continue this weekend.