State League One Round 13 Preview
Wednesday?s night?s victory at Garside Park over Super League side, Granville Rage, sees the Spartans in the lofty heights of a semi final birth, but the fact is that they have to get back to the bread and butter of the league this weekend, hosting Stanmore Hawks at Francis Park on Saturday night (kick off at 7-00pm).
With both sides inside the top five and separated by three points, there?ll be plenty to play for, with the match pitting two of the league?s top marksmen against each other, Glenn McPherson (Blacktown) and Wasim Hijazi (Stanmore).
CSI Sport Ground will be the venue for old foes, Schofields Scorpions and Inter Lions, the match scheduled to start at 7-00pm.
Inter have had a couple of reverse results in recent matches, and this game is a real six pointer for the Lions, given they now sit just outside the top five, five points behind the third placed Scorpions.
The final 7-00pm Saturday night match up is the clash at Cook Park as Mounties Wanderers tackle Camden Tigers.
The Mounties are one side who have been happy enough with the recent wet weather and subsequent postponement of matches, given their large injury toll, and will be looking to get one over Camden, both teams sitting equal 7th on 14 points.
The remaining three matches are all scheduled for Sunday afternoon with 3-00 o?clock kick offs.
It?s top versus bottom at Hurstville Oval as Hurstville ZFC welcome competition leaders, Hills Brumbies.
With one win for the home side this season, and a solitary loss for the visitors, it?s hard to go against a Hills victory, but the ball is round, and stranger things have happened in football.
Magdala Park is the venue that brings together Gladesville Ryde Magic and Balmain SC, two teams that find themselves near the base of the ladder.
Balmain will be absolutely desperate to get on the park, given the fact that it?s been a number of weeks now since they played a match, and a win here will give them a much needed three points and take them above the Magic.
Fairfield City Lions host UNSW at Norford Park hoping for another three points to keep them on the heels of Hills Brumbies at the top of the ladder.
Fairfield boast the best attack in the league with 32 goals, and the ?students? will find it difficult indeed to keep them out in front of the avid Lions? fans.
Division One Goalscorers
(Round Twelve)
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) , Cronk (Fairfield City)
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
