Harpas breaks City hearts and Croydon up to second | NPLSA RAA Goals Wrap | Round 11
Words by Thomas Perrotta
Croydon Kings have moved up to second and reduced Adelaide Comets’ lead at the top to just one point after running out 3-1 winners in their fixture on the weekend.
The Kings sat in third place and were four points behind their opponents entering the contest but boasted an impressive five match winning streak, compared to Comets’ shaky run over the previous three weeks.
The hosts drew first blood just before half time after Antoni Trimboli pounced on an errant pass in defence and ran the length of the field to cross into the box to an unmarked Nathan Munro, who headed home to open the scoring.
It did not take long for the Kings to double their lead as Joseph Macheda dribbled into the box before squaring for Trimboli, who fired through congestion into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.
Macheda helped put the result beyond doubt in the 83rd minute when he produced a sublime through ball to Munro, whose deft touch past an onrushing keeper rolled into the net.
A headed goal on 89 minutes by Tete Yengi served as scant consolation for the visitors, whose loss was their third in four weeks having conceded three or more times in each of those defeats.
MetroStars dismantled cellar dwellers Modbury Jets in a 5-1 victory, while Raiders snapped a six-match winless run with a 1-0 win over Para Hills Knights.
Adelaide Olympic earned a 2-1 win over Adelaide City and the spoils were shared between Adelaide Blue Eagles and Cumberland on Thursday night and Campbelltown City and Adelaide United on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Metro United produced a massive upset in the WNPL finals series, defeating hot favourites Salisbury Inter 3-2 after extra time to seal a grand final berth against Adelaide City.