Seymour Shines for ‘Smithy’s’ Soft Launch Despite 2-0 Loss to APIA
It was a tough night at Seymour Shaw for the Sharks, going down 2-0 to a sharp APIA Leichhardt outfit in Round 13 of the NPL NSW Men’s. Despite a gritty first-half showing and some bright attacking moments, two second-half goals ultimately sealed our fate. Still, there were plenty of positives to take – not least the fantastic atmosphere in Smithy’s, our new Sports Bar, which was packed with Sharks fans for its soft launch. The energy was unreal, and it’s shaping up to be the best new spot to watch a game at the ground.
Sharks faithful enjoying the Smithy’s Soft Launch
The match began with APIA applying early pressure, forcing us to dig in defensively. We soaked up the heat well, with Danijel Nizic pulling off a string of fine saves, including one gutsy double stop that left him a bit sore but still standing tall. While they had the edge in corners and possession, we looked to play out rather than go long and managed to build some momentum with a few promising breaks. Sharks striker Richard Shoueiki went close early on, and APIA’s Presley Ortiz looked dangerous in behind, but both chances drifted wide.
Our best moment of the half came when Jerry Skotadis unleashed a long-range thunderbolt that had the crowd off their seats, only for the APIA keeper to tip it onto the post. It was a huge moment that deserved more, and you could feel the tide starting to shift in our favour as the break approached. APIA kept threatening with clever runs, and we looked composed in transition, creating enough to give the fans hope for the second half.
But just minutes after the restart, Seiya Kambayashi found space in the box, spun sharply and buried a low shot to give APIA the lead. We nearly hit back, but once again couldn’t find the finishing touch. Then, in the 73rd minute, Josh Symons tapped home a second after Danijel had initially saved from Sean Symons, and the visitors were two to the good.
We didn’t stop pushing. There was a late chance after a defensive slip, but the ball was dragged wide – a reflection of the frustrations we’re experiencing in front of goal at the moment. Still, the lads fought to the end, and some desperate defending at our own end prevented APIA from adding more.
The result wasn’t what we wanted, but the effort was there, and the backing from our fans – especially those making noise in Smithy’s – made it a memorable night for the club in many ways. We’re working hard to break our scoring drought, and with the belief and backing of our Sharks community, we know things will turn. On to the next.