CHASE CONTINUES WITH 8 WINS IN A ROW Blacktown hitting their stride

BLACKTOWN City FC continued their run for the 2023 NSW Premiership with a convincing 2-1 win last week against current number one team Apia Leichhardt.

It was the eighth win in a row for Mark Crittenden’s men as the defending Champs are clearly hitting their stride at the money end of the season.

In round 25 Blacktown hosted archrival Sydney United at Landen Stadium and out played their opponents for a 3-1 win in front of the largest crowd of the season.

New import Nacho Palacios scored his first goal since joining Blacktown in Round 20. The other two goals came from the boot of All-Time leading goal scorer Travis Major and another by Carlos De Oliveira who stepped up in the absence of 2023 leading goal scorer Jak O’Brien who was ruled out for too many yellow cards.

On top of the win, Blacktown City unveiled “GC’s Member Bar” out of respect for Life Member Graham Craw hall, a pioneer of the club.

Round 26 set up an all-important clash for Blacktown as they travelled away to Lambert Park to put their win streak to the test against the Number one Apia Leichhardt.

Blacktown were playing without 100 gamer and defensive ace, Lach lan Campbell, who had to sit out the game due to his tally of yellow cards. Despite giving up a penalty in the first half, Blacktown came out in the second half to dominate their opponents.

It was the combination of the new kids on the block, Nacho Palacios and Reuben Awaritefe, who provided the scoring with Nacho picking up his second goal in as many weeks and Reuben scoring his first goal since joining the team in Round 20.

There are now four rounds remaining in the 2023 NSW Premiership race. Apia, with two losses in a row still sit on top with 56 points.

Rockdale is a close second on 52 after a tough 1-0 win over fourth place Marconi last weekend. Blacktown, with eight wins in a row, total 49 points and will work to keep their win streak going this weekend while they hope Apia continue to falter. Season 2023 is first past the post so there will be no exciting playoff series as there was last season. The next four rounds see Blacktown home to St George, away to Bulls, back home to host Wollongong on the 20th of August before ending their season away to Rockdale Ilinden in Round 27 has Blacktown at home as they host 5th place St. George. St George are hot as they have won four of their last five games with the latest a 6-0 drubbing of Mt Druitt Town Rangers last weekend to put Mt Druitt in danger of relegation. The two sides clashed in Round twelve with St George scoring in the dying minutes for a 2-2 draw.

The two sides are intense rivals and with so much at stake for both teams a great match is on the cards. Game time on Sunday, August 6th is 3pm for the Men and 1pm for the Under 20’s.

Both games are at the Home of Blacktown City FC, Landen Stadium, 5 Quinn Avenue, Seven Hills.