State League Division 1 Round 1 Preview

The off season is finally over, and the pre season is well and truly complete, as all augurs well for Round One in Division One commencing this coming weekend.
The players have been sweating it, running sand dunes no doubt the club officials have been busy crossing the ?t?s and dotting the ?i?s as the fans eagerly await to see how their team will shape up in the opening round.
Once again there are twelve clubs competing in this competition, two of which are new to the division, with tradition aplenty spread amongst some famous names rich in football history.
There?s nothing like a local inner west derby to open proceedings. One of four opening night fixtures on Saturday evening, Arlington Oval?s co-tenants, Dulwich Hill FC and Stanmore Hawks, lock horns in what promises to be an enthralling clash.
Both clubs met in last season?s Minor Semi Final, Dully prevailing in a 4-1 win, a result which helped them reach the Grand Final before losing on penalties in a thriller against Spirit FC.
Founded in 1968, Dulwich Hill will be hoping to go one better this time around, and coach Mark Strachan will hope a host of new signings, including Dusan Mihajlovic, Arron Scicluna, and Neil Philippou, will supplement the older experienced players like skipper Harry James to provide the spark for Dully to achieve glory.
Stanmore, on the other hand, have parted ways with coach Nick Orlic, and will be looking to exact revenge on their neighbours and start their season on a winning note.
Hajduk Stadium is the venue for Sydney Wanderers? opening day fixture, as they play host to newly promoted 2008 Conference League champions, Balmain SC.
The Wanderers squeezed into the top five final series last season with a spirited run home, going out to Stanmore after leading comfortably at one stage by 2-0. Not afraid to promote their youngsters, the Wanderers will have to do without the services of their top scorer of 2008, Bryan Soane, who has signed a contract with Singaporean club, Balestier Khalsa.
Balmain SC, founded in 1987, has steadily made progress over recent seasons, finally winning promotion to Division One with a dominating Conference League championship series win in 2008.
A significant move is that they will play all their home games this season at the compact Lambert Park, and coach Alex Kaltenegger will have to draw on all his tactical prowess in order to be competitive, especially given the loss of arguably two of their most influential players of last season.
Experienced stalwart defender Jeremy Pettenon has moved onto Inter Lions, whilst 2008 Conference League player of the year, and ex-A League star, Johnny Buonavoglia, suffered a torn ACL in a pre-season friendly match and will most likely miss the entire season. Huge blows to Balmain?s chances indeed, but the bulk of the championship winning squad has remained, and especially watch out for young wing back, Tom Sowden, who was being courted by other clubs before re-signing with Balmain, and new signing Steve Byrne from Lilli Pilli, a midfielder with an eye for goal.
Also on Saturday evening, Blacktown Spartans will play host to Hills Brumbies at Francis Park No.2 at 7-30pm.
The Spartans, founded in 2005, were one of the most attractive sides in last season?s competition, playing their part in many entertaining and high scoring matches.
A new coach has meant almost an entirely new squad of personnel ? but Ben de Haan comes with big credentials, having been influential in the success of Marconi?s Under 20 team last season. De Haan started his coaching career in the Blacktown district, so it is a homecoming somewhat for the experienced campaigner, and no doubt could be just what the doctor ordered to give the Spartans that push into the 2009 finals series.
Hills Brumbies, on the other hand, spent most of last season in the bottom half of the table, finishing the year in ninth position on the ladder. Hills will be eager to take something home from their visit to Blacktown, so look out for an enthralling match up.
Cook Park will play host to the Mounties FC ? UNSW clash, a match between two teams that will equally be hoping to improve on their 2008 performances.
The visitors, UNSW, escaped relegation to Division Two last year only by goal difference, grabbing a valuable point on the last day in a 1-1 draw versus Inter Lions which ultimately kept them up.
Mounties no doubt will prove to be a tough side to beat on their home turf and in front of their local support. They missed out on the finals series on the last day of 2008, and will surely be hoping they have prepared sufficiently this time around to be in the mix when the end-of-season spoils are handed out. 
The remaining two matches of the opening round will be played at 3-00pm on Sunday.
Norford Park No.2 will not be a place for the faint hearted with the battle of the ?Lions?, Fairfield City meeting Inter Lions.
Fairfield City will be smarting from their relegation from the Super League, and will hope to kick start their season on a winning note as they aim to bounce straight back up.
The proud club have remarkably had the same coach since they were founded in 2002, Aydin Cetinay, and he?ll be looking to draw on all his experience to bring some glory back to the club.
Captain Robert Issa brings plenty of Premier League leadership to the team, and a host of new signings, coupled with the attacking flair of Gerrad Aligiannis and Gokce Oncu, will make sure that Fairfield City are a force to be reckoned with in 2009.
Their opponents on the opening day, Inter Lions, have recruited the experienced Mike Urukalo as head coach, and he could provide all the discipline and experience the club need to spear head their push to promotion in 2009.
Club president, Carlo Ianni, has run a tight ship over the years, and his enthusiasm and experience, as well as an energetic team of staff, has guided the club to the brink of the top tiers of football in NSW.
Experienced campaigners Lachlan Wright and Adrian Vizzari have been re-signed and will once again lead the way, whilst  new signings Ivo De Jesus (ex-Olympic) and  Jeremy Pettenon (ex-A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers and Balmain) will be welcome additions to the squad and may provide the necessary ingredients for success. A top five finish, and beyond, are surely within the club?s grasp once again.
The final match of the opening weekend?s fixtures will see Schofield Scorpions play host to Hurstville ZSC at Bensons Lane, Hawkesbury.
The Scorpions promised much last season, but were disappointed to drop off and eventually miss the finals series, and would be working towards starting the competition with 3 points this time around and kicking on from there.
Coach Peter Daglis has recruited up to eight former Blacktown Spartan players with the likes of striker Glenn McPherson, hard working midfielder Marty McCaffery and defender Peter Hubbard to name a few have made the move to the Scorpions for season 2009. Scorpions skipper Scott Tyrell is hoping that three points come the club?s way this weekend.
Hurstville ZSC will be standing in their way, a formidable and competitive team, wishing to give their fans something to cheer about on their first away trip of the season.
Coach Vjekoslav Zoric will be hoping new talent from abroad will provide the team with the experience to stabilize their performances, and give them the results that will ultimately bring success to the fiercely proud club.
No doubt the team will be relying on big striker Steven Kostanic to once again hit the back of the net with regularity.
So there it is, the wait is over, and the stage is set for a cracking opening weekend of fixtures in the Division One competition, so on behalf of Football NSW, all the very best to all the clubs for the coming season, and let the action begin!
-By Frank Speranza