Parramatta Power moved back into the top 6 overnight with a 2-0 win over local derby opponents Sydney United and a favourable loss to South Melbourne and bye for Northern Spirit. Damien Brown's glancing header in the 18th min and Brett Holman's volley in the 39th set Power up but they couldn't add to the tally.
Power after their 7-1 drubbing of the Kingz in Auckland should have been fired up with confidence for their desperation race for the top six spot, despite the Kingz frightful recent play. Indeed assistant coach Stuart Munro said after the match that the team was now playing with "self belief and confidence." They again took the field with a strike force of young Matt Holman paired with utility man Damien Brown, backed up by Matthew Langdon roaming behind them.
Sydney United, who had battled well against Northern Spirit last Sunday, are playing with some heart and for their club's pride so this game was unlikely to be a forgone conclusion.
Power started well with Matthew Langdon getting forward in the 4th min on the left but his cross failed to find a team-mate. Then Ahmad Elrich did the same on the right but his cross was cut out by United with two Power players in close attendance.
In the 16th min Peter Bennett got in a cross from the left that cleared the defence but Langdon's shot was weak and at the Sydney United goalkeeper Vilson Knezevic.
In the 18th min Power's dominance continued and they won a free kick 30m out on the right. Langdon curled the kick across and in toward the goal. The United players seemed uncertain of how to deal with this and hung off Damien Brown, who drifted into space and with a glancing header put the ball past the keeper for a fine opening goal.
In the 23rd min Elrich slipped into space behind the defence and got the ball to Holman, who in turn knocked it back to Langdon. The diminutive flank man blasted his shot way over the cross bar from 12m out.
In the 25th min Elrich ran all of 45m on the left, cut inside, ignored any team-mates backing him up and blasted it well over the crossbar.
Parramatta continued to dominate possession and despite some good interchange by Sydney United in midfield it was only Power who looked dangerous. In the 30th min Holman cut back a cross from the left to Langdon who again wasted the opportunity.
A few minutes later Brown mesmerised young United defender Michael Cindric and got a cross into the area for Langdon to head wide.
In the 39th min after one of the rare raids by United into the Power defensive third, David Barrett knocked a long ball out of defence up the right touchline to Elrich who ran to the goal line on the far right and crossed straight to an unmarked Brett Holman. The young strikers side footed volley slammed between the keeper and the right upright to make it 2-0.
After the break, United looked more determined and coach Culina made two substitutions to turn things around. An interesting move was to bring Daniel Watkins on as a marker in defence, presumably to counter Holman's pace.
In the 59th min Eagleton slipped the ball to Holman, who was tightly marked but he still was able to get a strike in, albeit wide on the right.
In the 62nd min Brown got in a snap shot, from 25m and wide, as United's reshuffled side started to blunt the Power attack.
Former Power striker Brendan Santalab, started to gain some space for United, and in the 69th min he made a penetrating run on the left, cut the ball in but Menapi couldn't quite reach it.
2 mins later Santalab again got in to range, but shot straight at Liam Reddy in the Parramatta goal.
As Sydney United pushed up more Santalab again got a low shot in and this time it almost sneaked under Reddy.
Power eventually responded and in the 80th min Elrich got around the defence on the right, got into the goal area, and his cross to substitute Matthew Thompson was good enough however under pressure Thompson headed wide.
A last flurry by United through a Goran Talevski speculator from 30m, and Milan Bosnar's shot over the crossbar after a bustling run by Mendez.
All told, however Power dominated all the stats, and United didn't even win one corner.
The result pushed Power up into the top 6 overnight as South Melbourne lost to Brisbane, and Spirit had the bye.
Parramatta was best served by Steve Eagleton, Brett Holman, Damien Brown, Peter Bennett, Matthew Langdon (despite his profligacy), and David Barrett.
Sydney United's best were Gabriel Mendez, Brendan Santalab, Ante Deur and Michel Cunico.
Parramatta coach Stuart Munro said after the game that "they followed on from last week". "If we can win that last game in two weeks after our bye, and other results go our way we have a chance".
Branko Culina, the United coach said, "The last few weeks have been ordinary for us, but just putting a team on the park is an achievement. The better team won".