The Men’s Premier League had an early game of the season contender on Friday night as West Pymble and Hornsby Heights played out a 4-4 draw under the full moon. Elsewhere, Kissing Point, North Sydney and Knox United picked up important wins, whilst Northbridge won the match of the round with a late free kick.
West Pymble FC 4 – 4 Hornsby Heights FC
The opening game of the round on Friday night was nothing short of spectacular. The full moon at Charles Bean was a perfect setting for the clash, in which West Pymble were looking to continue their winning run whilst Heights were looking to find some consistency.
Mason Smith opened the scoring for Heights from outside the box, with Daniel Gatsi adding to the visitor’s lead in the 8th minute. As the half continued, Ashwin Rao stepped up for West Pymble and delivered a brace before half time to tie the game up.
Heights scored first in the second half through Ben Fisher before Joshua Owen To responded for the home side. Harry Frederick put the Hornets ahead in the 67th minute, and who else but Bailey Stevens to equalise in the 78th minute. Both sides pushed for a winner, but it was not to be with the game ending in a spectacular 4-4 result. West Pymble are proving to be the entertainers of the league, having scored 14 goals and conceded 8 this season.
Kissing Point FC 3 – 1 Chatswood Rangers
Auluba Oval was the setting for this clash, with both sides in need of a good result early on in the season.
This showed in the first half, with the scoreline holding at 0-0 heading into half time. Both teams made changes at halftime to try and make the difference, and it was last year’s golden boot winner, Lachlan Marlin, who was able to get Kissing Point ahead early in the second half. George Mannion added to the lead in the 68th minute, with Chatswood getting one back with a Harrison Benbow penalty late on in the game. Kissing Point responded to the potential comeback and were able to add a late sealer from Eddie Holland, giving them their second win of the season.
Berowra FC 0 – 3 North Sydney United
There was plenty of hype coming into this clash, with both teams posting non-stop on social media in the days leading up to the game. Whilst there was plenty of talk online, it would come down to who did the talking best on the pitch.
The first half was a tight match, but North Sydney United showed their desire with two late goals in the half from Inigo Castro Carrion and Rafferty McGuinness to put the away side 2-0 up at the break. In the second half, Colm Walsh added to last week’s hat trick with a goal to seal the game for North Sydney, with the Social Media Derby ending 3-0 to North Sydney.
Northbridge FC 1 – 0 Lindfield FC
This week’s match of the round saw an unbeaten Northbridge side coming up against a Lindfield side who had bounced back from their slow start after a big 6-1 win last weekend.
The game was tense, with two quality sides staying strong defensively throughout the first half and both teams showing that it was going to take a moment of quality to win this one. Northbridge won a free kick in the 74th minute, and up stepped Ryusei Masada to rocket the free kick over the wall and past the Lindfield keeper. Northbridge were able to see out the game 1-0 and move clear at the top of the table.
Congratulations to Ryusei Masada, whose moment of magic along with an incredible performance earns him the Player of the Round.
Willoughby Dalleys 0 – 2 Knox United
Coming into this one, both sides needed a win to get their season on track.
Knox United started quickly through Zavier Lim in the 8th minute, and the score stayed the same at half time. As they did in the first half, they scored again quickly in the second, with Toby Powell making it two in the 50th minute. It was a strong defensive performance from the away side, who were able to keep Dalleys out and keep the scoreline at 2-0.
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