TeleChoice Premier League Round 22 Preview – Final Round

Newly crowned Premiers Sydney United face a difficult trip to a rejuvenated Manly United FC outfit at Cromer Park with the clash a perfect platform for sudden-death football, one week out from the finals series. Ante Milicic?s men are still smarting from the Round 11 defeat at the hands of Manly United FC, the 2-3 loss at Edensor Park ending the Reds unbeaten run to that point. .
Phil Moss has masterfully renewed the confidence of his men following a rather lean mid-season run. A long list of injuries certainly hampered the side, though the confidence bestowed upon the squad by the Cromer Park boss has paid dividends with a potential second-placed finish on the League ladder in case of a Manly United FC win on Sunday.
At Belmore Sports Ground, Marconi Stallions will be out for points in-order to keep their chances of a Top-Two finish alive. The Stallions have indeed gone off the boil in recent weeks, with the free-flowing football on-show earlier in the campaign a shaded memory for many supporters. The Marconi players have a fine chance of re-finding that form against perennial rival Sydney Olympic on Sunday, with Nick Theodorakopoulos? Blues out of the running for Finals football. With the Stallions secured of a spot in the finals series, other results will also determine the final standings for finals football to follow.
Penrith-Nepean United has the difficult task of hosting a ?red hot? Sutherland Sharks side at Cook Park. Robbie Stanton?s men too have picked themselves up following a difficult mid-season run, though recent results ? including a defeat of Penrith-Nepean in the TigerTurf Cup semi-final ? illustrate the confidence across the park for the Seymour Shaw side. A tough tackling, and very creative, midfield with the energy of Nick Stavroulakis and Neil Jablonski have really put the side?s engine in motion, with the fine ball play of Panni Nikas and Jim Bakis creating a large number of goals.
Penrith-Nepean has been a thorn in the side of many teams visiting Cook Park and the Sharks will need to be on their game to avoid dropping points. Player/coach Ante Juric has a very skillful side mixed with youth and experience, and a strong showing against the Sharks will be expected on Sunday afternoon.
At Gabbie Stadium, Blacktown City Demons will ?sign-off? against fierce rival Bankstown City Lions. These two sides have contested many heated battles over the years, and this encounter promises to be no different. Ken Schembri has assembled a fine squad that has produced some very good results in 2009, though perhaps a lack of experience along the way has cost the side a spot in the Top-Five.
Peter Tsekenis? Bankstown City on the other hand squandered their chance of challenging for top-spot following their 2-0 loss at home against Manly United FC last weekend ? handing Sydney United the Premiership. The Lions will need to bounce back quickly with finals football just around the corner. Once more, the genius of George Nohra out of midfield will be imperative for the side, as will the precision and flair of Daniel Severino and Hussein Salameh in the final third.
At Leichhardt Oval, pride ? along with club championship points ? are on the line as Sydney Tigers and Wollongong Community FC look to finish the season with a win.
The Tigers season failed to ignite after a promising pre-season campaign as Luke McGuire?s men have managed only four wins in 2009, with eleventh-spot on the ladder secured.
The bottom-placed WCFC have failed miserably in their attempt to replicate the achievements of last season?s Championship winning side ? Wollongong Wolves. Off season turmoil with the Wolves folding did disrupt the newly formed WCFC, and the disruptions have definitely affected the squad. Only one win for the side this campaign ensures the club will pick up the wooden-spoon in 2009, though against a very unpredictable Tigers outfit, the possibility of a second win is certainly strong.
In the final match of the round, West Sydney Berries and Bonnyrigg White Eagles go into battle at Lidcombe Oval in another ?dead rubber? in-terms of finals football.
The Berries run home has been very impressive, though a number of dropped points earlier in the season made the Top-Five unreachable for John Calleja?s men. The side has a fierce attacking contingent with the likes of John Tsironis, Dimitri Zakilas and Chris Gaitatzis keeping busy amongst the goals all season.
The White Eagles season took a massive turn for the better following the appointment of Brian Brown as coach, though some ?leaky? defensive displays over the past month have cost the side finals football in 2009. A very open encounter is expected at Lidcombe Oval on Sunday.
The battle of the Andreas Golden Boot will also go down to the wire as Sydney Olympic’s Matthew Mayora currently leads the charts with 14 goals followed by West Sydney Berries’ Zakilas with 12 and Sutherland Sharks’ Brad Boardman with 11 goals.
-By Joseph Carlucci