Newly crowned Premiers Sydney United exacted sweet revenge over Manly United FC at Cromer Park with a 3-2 win, following the Round 11 clash that saw Phil Moss' Manly United end Sydney United's unbeaten run. David Zdrilic and Luka Glavas had the Reds in complete control after 18' minutes with two well-taken goals. Jamie Garside re-opened the contest on 75' minutes, though any hopes of a Manly United FC fight-back were dashed 2' minutes later as Luka Glavas re-instated the Reds' two-goal lead with his second goal of the afternoon. Craig Midgley scored a 90' minute goal to reduce the deficit to one.

Lee Sterrey's Marconi Stallions will be oozing confidence following their dramatic 2-1 defeat of Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground. The Stallions trailed the Blues 1-0, courtesy of Matthew Mayora's exquisite finish, with 17' minutes remaining though two goals inside the final 5' minutes of the match ensured the side second-spot on the League ladder. Tim McGowan combined well with substitute Erick Anabalon to equalise on 84' minutes, before Anabalon was again on-hand to provide Ben Vidaic with an easy finish on 89' minutes to seal an immense 2-1 win for the Stallions.

Blacktown City Demons signed off with a fantastic second-half display to hand title aspirant Bankstown City Lions a huge blow insight of the finals series. Trailing the Lions 0-2 after 52' minutes - Bankstown City goals courtesy of Hussein Salameh (45') and Robert Mileski (52') - Ken Schembri's men scored three goals from the 68' minute onwards to seal an unexpected win. Luka Dukic, Ray Miller and Chris Bedzo completed the comeback for the Demons, handing Peter Tsekenis' men some serious concern with the finals imminent; the Lions impressive run this season hit a halt last weekend with a loss against Manly United FC at home, and with a second consecutive defeat, nerves appear to be settling in at Bankstown City.

Sutherland Sharks ensured they will enter next weekend's TigerTurf Cup Final full of confidence following a hard-fought 2-0 defeat of Penrith-Nepean United. Despite a strong defensive display by Ante Juric & Co. the Sharks mountain of muscle prevailed with a patient display throughout the encounter. Brad Boardman converted with aplomb after the break to put the Sharks ahead before Panni Nikas confirmed the win with a well-taken header on 81' minutes.

West Sydney Berries and Bonnyrigg White Eagles finished level at Lidcombe Oval in a rather dour 0-0 draw on the day of Aheleas Kotsopoulos' 400th match for the Berries. With both sides' finals series aspirations over, chances were few and far between throughout the 90' minutes, though Chris Gaitatzis for the Berries and Aleksander Draca for the White Eagles proved the liveliest for their respective sides.

In the battle between the two bottom-placed sides on the League ladder, Sydney Tigers ensured Wollongong Community FC would not score their second win of the season in a high scoring encounter at Leichhardt Oval. The Tigers ran out 6-5 winners with Robbie Younis stealing the show for the home-side. A four-goal haul for the former Adelaide United striker, complimenting Michael Hawrysiuk's double, was too much for a WCFC side that will now have the chance to put the disappointments of season 2009 behind them. James Monie, Steven Hayes and Jamie McMaster each bagged a goal for WCFC, with Ilija Prenzoski claiming a brace for his personal tally.

The TeleChoice Championship Series will see Marconi Stallions tackle the Sutherland Sharks in the Preliminary Semi Final on Sunday 23rd August at Marconi Stadium, while Bankstown City tackle Manly United in the Elimination Semi Final on Saturday 22nd August at Jensen Park.

Sydney United have the bye.

The 2009 TeleChoice Premier League Grand Final will be played on Sunday September 13.

The 2009 TigerTurf Cup Final between Sutherland Sharks v Manly United will be played on the 15th of August at 3pm at Seymour Shaw.

-By Joseph Carlucci

 

Round 22 TeleChoice Premier League Results and Tables

 

Sydney Olympic 1 (Matthew Mayora 73m) Marconi Stallions 2 (Timothy McGowan 84m Benjamin Vidaic 89m),

 

Penrith Nepean United 0 Sutherland Sharks 2 (Bradley Boardman 56m Panagiotis Nikas 82m),

 

Manly United FC 2  (Jamie Garside 75m Craig Midgley 90m) Sydney United 3 (David Zdrilic 5m Luka Glavas 18/77m),

 

Blacktown City 3 (Luka Dukic 68m Raymond Miller 69m Christopher Bedzo 72m) Bankstown City 2 (Hussein Salameh 45m Robert Mileski 52m),

 

Sydney Tigers 6 (Robert Younis 3/19/46/76m Michael Hawrysiuk 48/58m) Wollongong FC 5 (James Monie 22m Steven Hayes 28m Ilija Prenzoski 38/80m Jamie McMasters 68m),

 

West Sydney Berries 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 0.

 

POS

 

TEAM

P

W

D

L

For

Ag

GD

Pts

1

 

Sydney United

22

13

7

2

42

22

20

46

2

 

Marconi Stallions

22

11

6

5

44

22

22

39

3

 

Sutherland Sharks

22

10

8

4

46

26

20

38

4

 

Bankstown City

22

11

5

6

39

31

8

38

5

 

Manly United FC

22

10

7

5

33

22

11

37

6

 

West Sydney Berries

22

8

6

8

37

37

0

30

7

 

Blacktown City

22

7

7

8

29

31

-2

28

8

 

Sydney Olympic

22

8

4

10

37

43

-6

28

9

 

Bonnyrigg White Eagles

22

6

8

8

28

39

-11

26

10

 

Penrith Nepean United

22

6

5

11

19

31

-12

23

11

 

Sydney Tigers

22

5

7

10

30

38

-8

22

12

 

Wollongong FC

22

1

2

19

20

62

-42

5