Gibbs sounds Blacktown warning

Report by Peter Simcox

Joe Gibbs in action for Western Sydney Wanderers. Photo: Getty Images

Blacktown City has a rich football history with players such as former Socceroos striker Robbie Slater and current Sydney striker Bernie Ibini having pulled on the black and red shirt.

And there is no shortage of talent in the current squad with coach Mark Crittenden hoping to steer his side to PS4 NPL National Grand Final success against Bayswater City at Dorrien Gardens on Saturday

Striker Joe Gibbs is one of Blacktown’s current high-calibre crop capable of causing Bayswater headaches this weekend.

Gibbs was part of the Western Sydney Wanderers side that won the 2013-2014 Hyundai A-League title and has been in good form in Blacktown’s league title-winning season.

“It was a successful season for our club,” Gibbs said. “We achieved our goal we had at the start of the season, and that was winning the league. Unfortunately things didn’t go our way in the Top Five Grand Final against Bonnyrigg, but we believe we won the most important one, and that’s being the best team and top of the table at the end of 22 rounds.”

The 23-year-old, who also had stints at Sydney FC and Newcastle Jets, said Saturday’s game was huge for the club and NSW football, and praised the advent of the new national competition.

“It’s a new experience for me personally, having never competed in the competition before,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the game and I don’t think I’ve seen so many people excited for a long plane trip to Perth… the whole club is buzzing.

“I think it’s a great competition for the NPL leagues and I can see it really growing further in the next few years.”

Gibbs and his Blacktown teammates have watched Bayswater’s NPL Finals Series games and was impressed. But he felt Blacktown had the firepower to bring home the trophy.

“You can see they (Bayswater) are an experienced side with a number of A-League players in their side and that was a huge result last week,” he said of Bayswater’s 6-0 thrashing of Hobart’s Olympia.

“But we’ve performed well in the competition to date and we are confident of going over and getting a result.

Just 24 hours before a David Heagney hat-trick, a double from Borbor Sam and a goal from Gustavo Giron Marulanda sunk Olympia, Blacktown squeezed past Queensland’s Moreton Bay United 2-1 in their Semi-Final.

“We were happy with our game last week, especially the first half,” Gibbs said. “We got a bit complacent later on, allowing Moreton Bay back in the game, and we had to hold firm late. It was a good test for us leading into the big one this weekend.”




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