FOOTBALL
Hawkesbury City has achieved their best ever result in the FFA Cup after advancing past Woonona FC last Tuesday night.
Goals to Ahmed Khan and Evan Daglis were enough to give Hawkesbury a 2-0 win over the Illawarra Premier League side and book their place in the last 20.
Hawkesbury will host fellow State League 1 club Western NSW Mariners in the sixth preliminary round on April 29.
The Mariners upset NPL 2 club Hakoah Sydney City East 4-2 on penalties after the score was locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes.
Hawkesbury have already met the Bathurst-based club this season, losing 1-0 at Bensons Lane in their season opener.
Hawks coach Dean Bertenshaw said he was pleased with his team’s performance and was quietly confident of getting a result in the next round.
“The boys put in a good performance and didn’t cop a goal which was pleasing,” he said.
“We’ve only conceded three in our last seven games which is great because previously it (defending) wasn’t our strength.
“They (Woonona) were quite a fast and fit team, very young. They were quite physical and fast but I thought we were always reasonably in control.”
Two more wins for City would see them advance to the final 32 of the FFA Cup which involves A-League teams and a number of other club sides from across the country.
Hawkesbury came crashing back to earth when they returned to league action on Sunday – suffering a 5-0 defeat against Stanmore at Arlington Oval.
The game was still scoreless when Hawkesbury had John Mcrae sent off after he handled the ball from a corner.
The hosts scored the ensuing penalty to lead 1-0 at the break before Hawkesbury were reduced to nine men three minutes after the restart when Ryan Wilson was dismissed for a crude challenge.
Stanmore then went about making the most of the two-man advantage, scoring four goals in the second half to complete the rout.
The loss leaves the Hawks alone at the foot of the table after their postponed round two fixture against Rydalmere was washed out on Wednesday night.
The match has again been rescheduled for May 6.
It is another busy week for Hawkesbury who host the North Shore Mariners at Bensons Lane on Saturday.
