An 81st minute Hristijan Tanoski goal has given Rockdale City Suns an inspired 3-2 PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s victory against a fast finishing Blacktown City FC.

Tanoski’s late goal at Ilinden Sports Centre on Saturday night sent the Rockdale fans into raptures as Paul Reid’s side delivered an entertaining performance against the reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues Champions.

Goals to Rockdale’s Tanoski, Dylan Macallister and Blake Ricciuto cancelled out strikes from Blacktown players Sasa Macura and Joey Gibbs.

It was an emotional win for the Suns who went into the match without usual starters Alec Urosevski and Steve Hesketh while midfielder Blake Ricciuto made an inspirational return after nearly a week in hospital.

It was a testing opening to the match with both Blacktown and Rockdale battling for early control.

The action went from end to end as neither City or the Suns could make their mark on the clash.

After 13 minutes it was Ricciuto who turned the game.

The midfielder gave Rockdale a 1-0 lead when he hit the back of the net from 15 yards out after receiving a pinpoint assist from Alex Canak.

With a one goal advantage Rockdale had the game in its hands and were unlucky no to double their lead in the 18th minute when Peter Makrillos curled a shot wide of the upright after beating three Blacktown defenders.

The home side didn’t have to wait long for its second goal with veteran striker Dylan Macallister scored in the 26th minute.

Macallister’s finesse touch guided the ball around Blacktown shot stopper Tristan Prendergast after a deadly cross from winger Toufic Alameddine.

Blacktown desperately needed a goal and battled through midfield to find a way back into the game.

On the 41 minute mark Blacktown finally hit the back of the net.

A dangerous run and clinical finish by Joey Gibbs from only 8 yards out took the score line to 2-1 just before the half time break with the prolific striker punishing some lazy defending from Rockdale.

Alameddine was the man to watch in the early stages of the second half.

The winger created problems for the Blacktown defence and was unlucky not to score in the 52nd minute when he fired high after a dangerous run into the penalty area.

Blacktown thought they had hit back in the 55th minute when Patrick Antelmi’s shot sailed past David Bradasevic in the Rockdale net but the linesman flagged for offside.

It had changed the momentum of the match and with the wind at their back, Blacktown levelled the scores in the 59th minute.

Antelmi found space out wide before delivering a cross to Gibbs on the back post who passed to an open Macura to smash into the top right corner.

Makrillos’ free kick from 22 yards out was a nervous moment for the visitors.

The former Stoke youth player curled his shot around the wall but it went narrowly wide in the 67th.

Blacktown was denied yet another goal on the very next play.

Joey Gibbs snuck in behind the defence to beat Bradasevic at his far post after another Antelmi cross. However, much to the dismay of Blacktown City, the linesman raised his flag for offside and the goal was disallowed.

The addition of Tanoski proved to be a game changing decision when the striker tapped home at the far post, after a knock on header from Macallister, to give the home side the lead with less than 10 minutes to play.

A desperate Blacktown pushed hard in the dying stages for a winner but it was too little too late as Rockdale clung on for victory.

Suns player-coach Paul Reid praised the performance of his players to secure victory against one of the competition’s best.

“Blacktown really pushed us throughout the match and we did well to find a late winner,” he said.

“I think the fact we got off to a fast start and an early 2-0 lead put us in a good position to build from. It was disappointing to concede two sloppy goals but we did well to find a way to win.”

Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden said it just wasn’t his team’s night.

“We were very unlucky to have two goals disallowed. We paid the price for laziness in defence and Rockdale were able to capitalise,” he said.

“Disappointing is the best way to describe the result. Some of our play was really impressive but at times we clocked off and it cost us three points.”

Match Stats

Rockdale City Suns 3 (Ricciuto 13’, Macallister 41’, Tanoski 81’)

Blacktown City FC 2 (Gibbs 41’, Macura 59′)

Ilinden Sports Centre, Ilinden

Saturday, April 30 2016

Referee: Chris Young

Assistant Referee: Andris Giev & Danny Horstead

Fourth Official: Jarryd McFarlane

Rockdale City Suns: 1.BRADASEVIC David, 17.ALAMEDDINE Toufic, 8.CANAK Alex,9.MACALLISTER Dylan (18. DASCAL David 90’), 10.MAKRILLOS Peter (11. TANOSKI Hristijan 75’), 4.McCLENAHAN Trent, 2.PETKOVSKI Daniel, 15.PETRILLO Nicholas, 5.REID Paul, 6. RICCIUTO Blake (19. SAVOR Patrick 83’), 16. SAVOR Isaac

Substitutes not used: 22. BAZI Andrew,,, 14. LEKOSKI Aleksander

Yellow cards: Macallister 43’, I. Savor 81’

Red cards: Nil

Blacktown City FC: 20. PRENDERGAST Tristan, 16. ANTELMI Patrick (12. GROZDANOVSKI Jonathan 90’), 19. CAIRNCROSS Zach, 10. EVANS Connor, 9. GIBBS Joey, 6. LEWIS Matt, 8. MACURA Sasa, 7. MAJOR Travis, 14. MALLIA Mitchell, 3. SPERANZA Giorgio (21. SASAKI Riku 80’) , 4. SPERANZA Roberto (11. CHOI Danny 72’)

Substitutes not used: 1. VEKIC Nenad,17. BEUMIE Lewis

Yellow Cards:  Evans 17’, Macura 60’, Gibbs 60’, Cairncross 75’

Red Cards: Nil

Player Ratings

3- Blake Ricciuto (RCS)

2- Dylan Macallister (RCS)

1- Joey Gibbs (BC)

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