Head of Football Mark Crittenden could not ask for a better way to start the season as his side let all know they will be a force this season. Leading 6-1 with ten minutes to go, Blacktown let two loose goals find the back of the net to take some shine off the win.
Playing without Captain Mario Shabow and star Danny Choi, Blacktown hit their paces twenty minutes into the match to lead 3-1 at the halftime break. Jak O’Brien, the second leading goal scorer in the competition last season, continued his hot form with two first half goals.
Jak O’Brien picked up his hat trick in the second half with another goal to give Blacktown a 4-1 lead. Joey Gibbs, the all-time second leading goal scorer for Blacktown and back home after three years playing overseas, was in the thick of it from the start proving a handful for the reigning premiers.
Late in the second half he set up a goal for his long time running mate Travis Major, to take an unassailable 6-1 lead. Major, the all-time leading goal scorer for Blacktown City, showed the combination will be not only exciting but lethal for opposing teams.
Last week, Blacktown travelled away to play newcomers to the NSW Premier League, St George FC. As predicted, Blacktown dominated the game but the goal scoring flurry dried up as the team could not find the back of the net.
St George’s tactic to pack the defensive end of the field was proving to be successful as numerous attacks on goal proved fruitless. In the end, St George were happy with the one point from a 0-0 draw while Coach Crittenden was frustrated his side let three points slip by.
Blacktown City are back at home on Saturday, March 2nd hosting their arch rivals Sutherland Sharks. Sutherland are coming off a hotly contested 0-0 draw against NWS Spirit FC last week in a game that saw three red cards issues.
Blacktown and Sutherland are always a heated contest and Saturday will be no different as Blacktown looks to get back to winning football games and the Sharks look for their first win of the season.
It will be a tough week for Blacktown City as they will back up on Wednesday, the 6th of March in an away fixture with Manly before coming back home to host Wollongong in their first Sunday game of the season on March 10.
The mid-week fixture is to accommodate the reintroduction of the playoffs by Football NSW. Game time for the Sunday fixture on the 10th will be 3pm.
Blacktown will also host Sydney United on Sunday, the 31st of March. As always this will be a fiery encounter.
Blacktown City Women get their 2024 campaign off the mark when they host Nepean on Sunday, March 3rd at Landen Stadium. New Head Coach, Michael Hawthorne, stated at the Season launch that he felt his side can be a top four contender in 2024 and chase the goal of elevation to NPL 1 within three years.
Upcoming fixtures:
Home Game - Blacktown City FC Men VS Sutherland Sharks – Saturday, March 2, 7:00pm, Landen Stadium, 5 Quinn Avenue, Seven Hills.
Home Game – Blacktown City FC Men VS Wollongong Wolves – Sunday, March 10, 3pm, Landen Stadium, 5 Quinn Avenue, Seven Hills.
Home Game - Blacktown City Women Vs Nepean FC – Sunday, March 3, 4pm, Landen Stadium, 5 Quinn Avenue, Seven Hills.
Bob Turner is the Executive Chairman of Blacktown City FC. Visit: www.blacktowncityfc.com.au
