Blacktown city soccer
BLACKTOWN City FC live, at least for another week.
A clinical first-half performance saw them defeat a resurgent South Coast Wolves 2-1 in their Football NSW Premier league elimination semi-final in Wollongong on Saturday.
The portents weren't good when Travis Major failed to convert an early penalty, but from there Blacktown mastered the difficult conditions and goals came through Adam Jenner and Zac Cairncross.
The afternoon wind gave both sides problems, making high balls incredibly difficult to judge in both attack and defence.
Jenner scored his goal when he intercepted a weak clearance and struck a powerful shot from the edge of the box.
Cairncross capitalised from a set piece, when Matt Lewis's curled delivery caused havoc in the box.
South Coast can look back on a stellar season.
Blacktown FC look forward to a sudden death semi-final against Sydney Olympic on Sunday.
Ever the sportsman, Blacktown coach Mark Crittenden, complimented the hosts: "It was always going to be tough to come here."
"They've had a great season; the ground isn't the best in the league; and the wind made it very tough.
"It was never going to be a pretty game; it was a battle."
The battle is over for Blacktown City's under-20s. They lost their sudden-death game 1-0 to the Suns.
Blacktown had plenty of chances to equalise but lacked finish in front of goal, a defect that has cost them all season.
Still, coach Mark Strachan was upbeat: "If it were a league game, I'd have said a draw was a fair result. I firmly believe 20s football is about development and progression and I'm very proud of my guys and content with how they've developed."
Meanwhile, Blacktown Spartans live to play another day, the virtue of a top-three finish.
They lost 1-0 to Manly United and now meet the Rockdale City Suns this weekend.