Rockdale City’s season is teetering on the brink after the Suns suffered an embarrassing 5-0 loss to APIA Leichhardt in their major semi-final on Saturday night.
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Rockdale will now take on Manly United in the preliminary final this Saturday night for a place in the grand final against APIA. But the Suns have been forced to give up home ground advantage for the clash with the Ilinden Sports Centre out of action due to the start of works on their synthetic pitch.
With Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda unavailable, the match has been moved to Manly’s Cromer Park.
Rockdale’s attempts to move the game to a number of grounds – including Seymour Shaw, Leichhardt Oval and Jubilee Oval, Kogarah – had been unsuccessful. Football NSW had given Rockdale until close of business on Monday to find a new ground or lose the match to Manly.
Rockdale’s heavy loss to premiers APIA halted the Suns’ momentum after they had gone unbeaten in their previous five matches. Sean Symons opened the scoring for the Tigers just before the half hour mark at Lambert Park before Symons turned provider for Jordan Murray to double the advantage a minute after half-time.
Symons set up a third for APIA on the hour mark, this time for David D’Apuzzo to nod home from close range. Murray added his second with six minutes to play before substitute Dominic Cox completed the rout.
Rockdale player-coach Paul Reid was disappointed with the result but said the Suns would look to bounce back quickly.
“It’s disappointing because we thought before the game that we were good enough to win today,” he said.
“We just weren’t at it and APIA to be fair played well. They pressed and played with plenty of intensity so it’s a bit of a wake up call for us.
“I am sure that the boys will bounce back next week and we have to pick ourselves up against Manly United. It’s fortunate that we were not eliminated from the finals series, so we’ve still got a chance next week even though Manly will be very tough.”
It was also a tough day for Rockdale’s under-18s side who lost their major semi-final 2-0 to Sydney FC. The young Suns will now take on Sydney United 58 in the preliminary final on Saturday night for a place in the grand final against the Sky Blues.
Meanwhile, premiers Sutherland have qualified for the under-20s grand final after a Jeremy Cox strike in extra-time gave the young Sharks a 2-1 win over Sydney FC.
Jake Borromeo had given Sutherland the lead early in the second half when he pounced on an error, only for John Iredale to equalise from the penalty spot for the Sky Blues 10 minutes later. The Sharks will await the winner of Sydney FC and APIA Leichhardt, who meet in the preliminary final on Saturday, in the decider.
2017 NPL 1 preliminary finals
1st grade – Rockdale City vs Manly United. 5pm.
Under-20s – Sydney FC vs APIA Leichhardt. 2.30pm.
Under-18s – Rockdale City vs Sydney United 58. 12pm.
All matches at Cromer Park on Saturday.
