Reigning champion Campbelltown City downs Adelaide Blue Eagles to go top of NPL SA table

Coach Joe Mullen says Campbelltown City is ready to peak at the business end of the season after the reigning champion moved top of the National Premier Leagues SA table. See the highlights from all the weekend matches.

• 90 Minutes: Whisper builds to a Roar
• FFA Cup giant-killer faces City
• Northern suburbs’ team’s 21-0 rout

COACH Joe Mullen says Campbelltown City is ready to peak at the business end of the season after the reigning champion moved top of the National Premier Leagues SA table.

The Red Devils downed Adelaide Blue Eagles 2-0 at Marden Sports Complex on Saturday to leapfrog their local rival into pole position at the halfway point of the regular campaign.

City made amends for its Round 1 defeat to the same opponent to stretch its unbeaten streak to eight games.

Mullen said the result and performance demonstrated his team was gaining momentum for the run home, as it bid to defend last year’s trophy treble – the minor premiership, championship and national NPL title.

“There’s no doubt that we are progressing and we are improving as the season is going,” Mullen said.

Japanese playmaker Yohei Matsumoto grabbed Campbelltown City’s second to set-up the Red Devils’ success over Adelaide Blue Eagles. Picture: Adam Butler

Campbelltown City’s Joel Allwright battles for the ball in the top-of-the-table clash with Adelaide Blue Eagles at Marden. Picture: Adam Butler

Campbelltown exploded out of the blocks to gain a match-winning advantage midway through the first half against Blue Eagles.

Mullen’s son and former Adelaide United defender, Daniel Mullen, opened the scoring three minutes in when he picked up the ball just outside the box and steered home a low strike.

Japanese playmaker Yohei Matsumoto doubled the visitor’s lead a quarter of an hour later, as he applied a composed finish to a trademark slick transition from his teammates.

“Getting an early goal definitely helped, because then Blue Eagles needed to come out,” Joe Mullen said.

“That allowed us to play a little bit and, from that moment on, we controlled the majority of the game.”

Meanwhile, Croydon Kings plunged Adelaide City further into relegation trouble after its 2-0 win at Polonia Reserve.

Adam Martinello converted a penalty early in the second half, before Peter Mercurio slotted in a rebound after Ryan Veitch had parried Nathan Munro’s initial effort. The result lifted the Kings to seventh, but left City second-bottom and three points adrift of safety.

MetroStars bounced back from their shock FFA Cup SA exit at the hands of amateur league Elizabeth Downs with a 4-1 win over Para Hills at TK Shutter Reserve.

Andrew Butler handed the Knights a 10th minute lead, before second-half goals by Dylan Smith, Anthony Solagna, Matthew Charalambous and Hamish Gow sealed the host’s victory.

Dylan Smith grabbed one of MetroStars’ four goals in their comeback win against Para Hills. Picture: Adam Butler

Third-placed Adelaide Comets were held to a 1-1 draw with West Adelaide at Oakden, as Andreas Wiens’ early strike was cancelled out by Thanasis Lesi’s equaliser.

Terence Carter remained top of the goal scoring standings after notching Raiders’ opener in their 3-1 triumph over Adelaide United youth at the Parks.

A three-goal blitz in the opening seven minutes set up Adelaide Olympic’s 5-1 trouncing of cellar-dweller South Adelaide at O’Sullivan’s Beach on Friday night.

Ricardo Da Silva and Christos Pounendis grabbed a brace each, while Fausto Erba was also on target.