State League One Round 12 Preview

If Lambert Park is deemed suitable for play, they will resume rivalries with Camden Tigers that started back in Division Two a couple of seasons back.
Camden won the first round encounter this season with a late goal by Mackechnie, but Balmain will no doubt be out for revenge if they are contemplating a move up the competition ladder.
The clash has an early kick off of 5-00pm on Saturday afternoon, and is the first of the Round Twelve matches this weekend.
Later on that evening at Second Ponds Oval, Hills Brumbies welcome the visit of the Stanmore Hawks at 7-30pm.
Hills started their season with a 3-2 away win against Stanmore back on March 21, courtesy of an injury time winner by their skipper, Terry Pannowitz.
They turn the corner at the halfway point of the competition with a five point lead, and have proven a stubborn side to crack, having suffered just the solitary loss.
The Hawks on the other hand have been inconsistent this season, but have done enough to squeeze into the top five, and will need to start grabbing points against the sides above them on the ladder if they are to be taken as serious contenders this year.
The remaining four matches are all scheduled to kick off at
3-00pm on Sunday afternoon, starting with the battle between Inter Lions and Mounties Wanderers at the Crest Complex.
Recent losses have seen both clubs drop out of the top five, so you can expect respective coaches, Nick Tarquinio (Inter) and Anthony Crea (Mounties) to have both of their sides primed and ready for a return to the winner?s circle.
Inter won the respective fixture back in Round One with a 3-1 away triumph at Cook Park, and will be confident of taking advantage of a Mounties side that is still without a number of their main players.
Ben De-Haan?s Blacktown Spartans travel to David Phillips Field to tackle UNSW whilst being in the midst of a fruitful few weeks in the club?s history.
The Spartans have scored the most amount of goals this season, with 30 in 11 games, headed by Glenn McPherson (9) and Todd Macrae (5).
They currently lie third on the ladder, and will be confident of continuing their good form against Luke Andrews? UNSW side that is struggling to replicate any of their 2009 performances.
The Spartans must also be congratulated for their marvellous form in the 2010 McDonalds Cup, where they have reached the quarter finals having acquired the prized Premier League scalps of both Rockdale City (1-0) and Sydney United (1-1, 4-3 pens).
They will now play Super League outfit, Granville Rage, on Wednesday, June 9, for a spot in the semi finals.
Hurstville ZFC are another club who have not taken the field for a number of weeks, and will no doubt be fresh as a result for the visit of Schofields Scorpions to Hurstville Oval.
The Scorpions won the early season encounter courtesy of four second half, unanswered goals, and will be warm favourites to repeat the dosage and keep up the pressure on Hills Brumbies at the top.
The final remaining match of the round will take place at Magdala Park, and sees Gladesville Ryde Magic face Fairfield City Lions.
The Magic have started to consolidate after their promotion from Division Two last season, and will be hoping to continue their slow incline up the competition ladder.
Fairfield, on the other hand, have moved ominously into fourth position, and with experienced campaigners like Yavos Ekinci and Robbie Issa in their ranks, you could expect plenty of goalmouth action, not too dissimilar to the 5-4 first round result earlier this year.
Division One Goalscorers
(Round Eleven)
11 – Ekinci (Fairfield City)
10 – Hijazi (Stanmore Hawks)
9 – McPherson (Blacktown Spartans),
8 – Smutek (Camden Tigers)
5 – Jeremiah (Fairfield City), Kabbara (Gladesville Ryde), Polistina (Inter Lions), Savic (Hills Brumbies), Macrae (Blacktown Spartans), Morgan (Camden Tigers)                                   
4 – Paradisis (Balmain SC), Pannowitz (Hills Brumbies), Darkoh (Hills Brumbies), Mitrovich (Hills Brumbies)
3 – Buonavoglia (Balmain SC), Todd (Blacktown Spartans), Iredale (Blacktown Spartans), Nastoulis (Gladesville Ryde Magic), , Baldock (Mounties), Schuman (Schofields), Wright (Blacktown Spartans), McKie (Gladesville Ryde Magic), Boyd (Schofields), Gbusseh (Hurstville ZFC), Squillacioti (Stanmore Hawks), Issa (Fairfield City Lions), Martinez (Gladesville Ryde Magic), Farrell (Hills Brumbies), Davelaar (UNSW)
-By Frank Speranza