State League Division 1 Round 8 Preview

Kicking off the round at 7-30pm at Arlington Oval on Saturday is an interesting match between the two remaining undefeated teams in the Division.
Home side Dulwich Hill have some real experience in their side, and no doubt will draw on this, plus a solid defensive record, to try and preserve their unbeaten tag. Coming off a 3-1 victory over Sydney Wanderers last weekend, Dully will no doubt be confident of more of the same.
The visitors, Blacktown Spartans, are the surprise packet of 2009 thus far, still unbeaten, perched atop of the competition ladder with five wins and two draws.
They are a relatively young side, and most have been expecting their bubble to burst eventually, but the Spartans are defying their youth with workmanlike and disciplined performances of late.
Look out for a real arm wrestle in this one, with a score draw the most likely outcome if both teams are to remain without a loss.
Another classic looms at CSI Sports Ground on Saturday, also kicking off at 7-30pm, when old foes Schofields Scorpions and Inter Lions face each other.
Both teams are the Division?s two top goalscoring sides, and both defences and goalkeepers will need to be alert and on their toes to keep attacking forays at a minimum.
One thing that both have over opposing teams in Division One is that the goals can come from many a source within the ranks, with Inter having no less than eight players who have been on the scoresheet this season, and Schofields doing even better with ten goalscorers!
Look out for what promises to be a fierce battle between two clubs, both with high ambitions for 2009.
The third match of a peculiar round of fixtures, where the teams in the top six all face each other, Sydney Wanderers play host to Mounties on Saturday at Hajduk Stadium, commencing at 7-30pm.
The Wanderers will be hoping to hit some consistency in their results, and string some wins together in order to stay with the top pack.
Mounties FC visit on the back of four points in two games last week, and will be looking towards their experienced players to drive them through for another three pointer.
The final Saturday evening match up will be at Lambert Park, where Balmain SC take on Hills Brumbies.
Except for a final ten minutes against Stanmore a fortnight ago, Balmain have produced a solid start to their Division One season, but, at the risk of sounding like a broken record, are desperate to snag their first three points, and could very well do it this time against Hills.
All they need to do is convert their workrate and effort into goals ? sounds simple enough, doesn?t it? ? and they will no doubt come away with the spoils.
Hills will be no pushovers, however, despite a couple of recent thrashings, as they need the three points just as much, and will be hoping ?Lambert? Park will prove a happy omen given it holds the same name as their coach?s surname.
The first of two games on Mothers Day will see Arlington Oval in action for a second time in two days, with Stanmore Hawks playing host to Hurstville ZSC at 3-00pm.
Stanmore have been hitting the back of the net regularly of late, and will be confident of continuing the trend against last placed Hurstville ZSC.
But Hurstville will have other ideas, and given their improved performances recently, will go into the match confident of a maiden win in 2009.
Completing Round Eight will be Fairfield City Lions and UNSW, meeting at Norford Park on Sunday at 3-00pm.
Both teams have had better results of late, especially the Lions, who held the competition leaders to a draw last week.
Despite their lowly position, UNSW don?t leak many goals at all, so expect a tight tussle here as both teams will be desperate to take something from the match.
Division One
Top Goalscorers -Week Seven
A little bit of movement in the scorers chart this week, with Glenn McPherson still out in front following his goal against Stanmore. Hot on his heels is Sydney Wanderers striker Daniel Borg, with a host of players on four goals, including Wand Jajaw and Daniel Cornett of Blacktown Spartans, who together account for a stunning 80% of their team?s goals in 2009.
6      ? Glenn McPherson (Schofield Scorpions)
5      ? Daniel Borg (Sydney Wanderers)
4      ? Wand Jajaw (Blacktown Spartans), Daniel Cornett (Blacktown Spartans), Nabil Codmani (Fairfield City Lions), Domenic Dimento (Inter Lions), Wissam Hijazi (Stanmore Hawks), Stiven Kostanic (Hurstville ZSC)
3      ? Ben Shrimpton (Hills United), Eddie Adam (Sydney Wanderers), Shane Cevenini (Inter Lions), Ibrahim Sozer (Fairfield City Lions), Reece Iredale (Schofields Scorpions), Brad Gibson (Sydney Wanderers), Greg Baldock (Mounties FC), Steve Biviano (Mounties FC),Neil Philippou (Dulwich Hill).  
-By Frank Speranza