A Dylan Macallister hat-trick has helped Rockdale City Suns to a comprehensive 4-2 victory against Sutherland Sharks in itsPlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Seymour Shaw on Saturday. 

Macallister’s three goals and a strike from Toufic Allameddine were enough for the Suns to secure all three points away from home.

It was a frenetic start to the match but it didn’t affect the Sharks who thought they had stolen the lead through Joshua Da Silva in the 7th minute.

Unfortunately Da Silva’s powerfully struck shot was wiped out when the ball went out of bounds before curling back in.

The Sharks high octane attack was in full flight early on and asked questions of the Rockdale defence.

Nick Petrillo replied for the Suns when his looping header sailed over the bar from a free-kick while Sutherland’s Jordan Figon lashed his shot from outside the box wide.

Rockdale skipper Daniel Petkovski chanced his arm when letting fly from 30-yards out which forced a save from Sharks keeper Nathan Denham.

Rockdale’s pressure was building and it took until the 38^th minute for a breakthrough when Macallister hit the back of the net for his first of the night.

Straight away the Sharks looked to bounce back and Figon skipped his way through the Suns defence but he failed to score with his audacious chipped effort on goal.

It had been a tight and tough encounter in the opening half and there was little suggestion the second would be any different.

It was the visitors who started the stronger and had the ball in the net again through Alameddine inside the opening 60-seconds.

The Sharks found its way back onto the scoreboard in the 48^th minute through James Andrew’s headed effort.

Macallister made it 3-1 for the visitors’ only moments later with a deft chip over the head of Denham.

Alec Urosevski replaced Peter Makrillos in the 68th minute and made his presence felt immediately.

Urosevski delivered an exquisite cross into the box with the outside of the foot for Macallister to finish off his hat-trick

Bradasevic didn’t know much about the save when Da Silva powered into the box in the 81st minute with the ball rebounded off his upper body to safety, the Sharks unable to turn a trick in front of goal.

With the match all but decided, Tomohiro Kajiyama’s sizzling run and goal did cut into the deficit but it was mere consolation for Sutherland.

Carlos Villazon said it was a far improved performance from his side.

“I think the situation is a little hard at the moment,” he said.

“When you have lost so many games the confidence of the players drops and it gets harder as the season goes on to lift the spirits.

“We continue to try our best. We are confident; we will lift ourselves and look to improve.”

Rockdale’s Matthew Ribarovski said his team started slowly.

“It took us a bit of time to adjust but we had a few stern words at half-time and the boys came out firing after the break.

“It was a great battle in the middle of the park and a good workout.

“We’re obviously happy with the three points although 4-1 would have been better.”

Match Stats
Sutherland Sharks  2 (Andrew 48’, Kajiyama 90’)
Rockdale City Suns 4  (Macallister 38’, 54’, 69’ Alameddine 46 )

Saturday 7th May, 2016, 2016

Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda

Referee: Craig Fisher

Assistant Referees: Andrej Giev & Joon Park

Fourth Official: Peter Liaros

Sutherland Sharks: 1. DENHAM Nathan ©, 3. MURAYAMA Takuya, 4. KAYES Stephen, 5. LITTLER Nick, 9. FIGON Jordan, 10. DA SILVA Joshua, 12. STERGIOU Lukas (16. CASTRO-GOMEZ Laureano 75’), 15. MOUSTAKAS Perry, 17. ANDREW James (8. McSTAY Chris 70’), 19. FITZPATRICK Callum, 35. KAJIYAMA Tomohiro

Substitutes Not Used: 7. PRESS Jack, 13. COX Jeremy, 21. LOE Nikolas

Yellow Cards: Kayes 27’, Moustakas 78’

Red Cards:

Rockdale City Suns: 1. BRADASEVIC David, 2. PETKOVSKI Daniel ©, 4. MCCLENAHAN Trent, 5. REID Paul (11. TANOSKI Hristiian 75’), 6. RICCIUTO Blake, 8. CANAK Alex, 9. MACALLISTER Dylan (3. HESKETH Steven, 83’), 10. MAKRILLOS Peter (7. UROSEVSKI Alex 68’), 15. PETRILLO Nick, 16. SAVOR Isaac, 17. ALAMEDDINE Toufic

Substitutes Not Used:  14. SAVOR Patrick, 22. BAZI Andrew

Yellow Cards:

Red Cards:

Player Ratings:
3 – Dylan Macallister RCS

2 –  Josh Da Silva SS

1 – Jordan Figon SS

-By PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s reporter Micky Brock