BLACKTOWN City FC have claimed fifth spot in the Football NSW premier league, at least temporarily.
They moved a point ahead of Rockdale City Suns with a 3-0 win over a brave Parramatta Eagles at Lily Homes Stadium on Sunday.
With five rounds left, Blacktown can finish anywhere from second to nowhere. Bonnyrigg White Eagles stay runaway leaders on 38, followed by South Coast Wolves, 34, Sydney Olympic, 30, Marconi Stallions, 29 and, Blacktown 28.
David Cain's early opener appeared to put the hosts on their way on Sunday before Parramatta's luckless second-half surge was halted by late goals to Ryuji Miyazawa and Sean Rooney.
Said Blacktown assistant coach Kain Rastall: "Luckily for us they (Parramatta) missed their chances, but over the 90 minutes I think we were comfortably the better team."
Blacktown get their chance to better Sydney Olympic at Belmore Sports Ground this Sunday.
Meanwhile, brave was the word for Blacktown Spartans at Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday. Brave for their performance and brave for their debut season in the top league.
The Spartans were reduced to 10 men when Djordge Degenek received his second yellow card after 40 minutes.
Still, they regained their goalscoring touch, but so did hosts the Sutherland Sharks and Panni Nikas specifically.
He scored a hat-trick as the Sharks won 4-3.
It was just a few weeks ago that the Spartans were top-five contenders and they're well clear of the relegation zone in their first season, and host Bonnyrigg this Saturday night.
Said coach Ben de Haan: "I thought we were well structured tonight and played really well up until the send-off."