NSW Premier League Round 20 Preview

The White Eagle shave been in good nick in recent weeks, illustrated by the fine run of results. Jamie McMaster and Daniel Severino have been immense for the side out of midfield, with the hard work of Milorad Simonovic to compliment the side both with and without the ball. Upfront, burly striker Brad Boardman has enjoyed a fine run of form, and will be up for a few more goals heading towards the finals series.
The visiting Rockdale City Suns hold an incredible record for draws in 2010, the side currently on eleven out of their nineteen matches played to-date. Mile Todorovski?s men are a very well-organised unit, and the White Eagles may well run into some difficulty in breaking the team from Rockdale down. Todorovski?s midfield men Dominic Hudap and Pece Cvetanovski will be key to the side?s chances, though the Suns will need goals to pull off an upset. Averaging one-goal a game, the Suns will need to secure maximum points to stand any chance of a late surge into the finals series.
At Seymour Shaw, Sutherland Sharks? finals ambitions go on the line when Blacktown City visit Miranda. The Sharks have slipped outside of the Top-Five, and will require a win against the second-placed Blacktown City FC to keep their finals ambitions alive. The Sharks trail A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers by two-points, though George Souris & Co. will be eager to make the most of home ground advantage this weekend.
Blacktown City?s run has been somewhat inconsistent in recent weeks, though the side does sit in second-spot. Despite the week off due to the McDonald?s Cup final last weekend, coach Aytek Genc will be hoping his prolific striker Tolgay Ozbey continues his rich vein of form in-front of goal, in-order for the side to secure second spot.
Marconi Stallions will be using their McDonald?s Cup triumph to finish the League regular season on a high, in time for finals football, as Manly United FC visit Bossley Park. The Stallions? League run has been a little worrying in recent weeks with the side collecting only one win from their last five matches. The last four matches have produced three losses and a draw. The reason behind the drop in results is no doubt due to the long list of injuries, though Lee Sterrey?s insistence on his young playing group has certainly paid dividends with the side winning the Cup last weekend.
Manly United will have their morale high for this one after securing a 1-0 win over West Sydney Berries last weekend, and easing their relegation fears somewhat. Joey Schirippa?s fine performance secured the win as Craig Midgley will be hoping his side continues Marconi?s indifferent run of results over this past month.
On Sunday afternoon at Sydney Olympic Athletic Centre, A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers start as overwhelming favourites against a luck-less West Sydney Berries. The berries have been hit by injuries and suspensions of late, not helping the side?s run in the competition. The loss last weekend against Manly United has almost certainly handed the side the wooden spoon, though a win against the Tigers on Sunday could well make for an interesting finale to the season.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers have been in tremendous touch, and anything less than a win will be acceptable for the club. The Tigers are currently in fifth-spot, three-points from Marconi Stallions in fourth-spot. Franco Parisi and Robbie Younis will again carry the weight of expectation in the attacking third, though the experience and youthful exuberance of Nick Rizzo and Hirofumi Moriyasu respectively out of midfield will be telling for the Tigers run towards the finals series.
In the final match of the Round, Sydney Olympic make the long trip to Wollongong to face South Coast Wolves at WIN Stadium. The Wolves trail the Blues by two points on the League ladder, and Trevor Morgan?s men will be eager to make good of home ground advantage ? despite the Wolves collecting better results on the road in 2010.
Sydney Olympic?s season has been disappointing after much promise in pre-season. Steve O?Connor?s men will be hopeful of finishing the season on a high, and as far up the League ladder as possible ? starting with a win at WIN Stadium on Sunday.

– Joe Carlucci