State League One Round 8 Preview

Balmain will no doubt be looking towards the experience of veteran campaigners, Con Paradisis and John Buonavoglia, to help snap them out of a three game losing streak.
The Spartans on the other hand are yet to taste defeat in 2010, and a win on the road at Leichhardt will propel them back towards the summit of the competition.
Two teams who were on the wrong end of the scoreline last weekend meet at CSI Sport Ground on Saturday night, with Schofields Scorpions taking on UNSW at 7-00pm.
Whilst the Scorpions are lying third despite last week?s reverse, things are more desperate for the ?students?, who are third from bottom, and they will be hoping for a repeat of last year?s semi final result at the same ground, when Michael Janov?s brilliant free kick ended Schofield?s season.
The ?match-of-the-round? is undoubtedly at Cook Park, also at 7-00pm on Saturday night, where Mounties Wanderers play Hills Brumbies in a clash between the currently, top two placed sides in the Division.
Both teams have powered to the top of the competition with four wins in their last five outings due to a mixture of determination and stability, so expect a real arm wrestle as both teams do like to attack and go for the jugular.
The remaining three matches are all due to be played on Sunday, all scheduled to kick off at 3-00pm in the afternoon.
Two teams that are yet to taste a victory in 2010 will meet at Magdala Park, with Gladesville Ryde Magic up against Hurstville ZSC.
Magic have two draws in their maiden season in Division One, whilst Hurstville are pointless, but something will have to give in this battle, both clubs desperate to start their incline up the ladder.
Norford Park No.2 sees Fairfield City Lions host Stanmore Hawks in a match between two teams with similar records thus far.
The Lions have a game in hand on the Hawks, but other than that the stats are similar between the two, with Stanmore the side in form following four wins in their last five outings.
The final match of the round will be at Ron Dine Reserve as Inter Lions travel to play Camden Tigers.
Inter?s form of late has seen them enter the top five on the ladder, and the inconsistent Camden will need to be on song if they are to take anything away from this match.
Division One Goalscorers
(Round Seven)
8 – Hijazi (Stanmore Hawks)     
6 – McPherson (Blacktown Spartans)
5 – Jeremiah (Fairfield City Lions), Ekinci (Fairfield City Lions), Smutek (Camden Tigers)
4 – Savic (Hills Brumbies), Polistina (Inter Lions)
3 – Paradisis (Balmain SC), Buonavoglia (Balmain SC), Todd (Blacktown Spartans), Iredale (Blacktown Spartans), Nastoulis (Gladesville R M), Darkoh (Hills Brumbies), Pannowitz (Hills Brumbies), Morgan (Camden Tigers), Baldock (Mounties),Schuman (Schofields)
-By Frank Speranza