State League One Round 1 Preview

12 clubs will be on hand in hoping to realise their dream of gaining promotion into the Super League in 2012 while many would be doing everything in their powers to avoid the dreaded drop to State League Two.
State League One welcomes two new faces into the competition with former State League Two Champions Fairfield Bulls and relegated Super League outfit Mt Druitt Town Rangers both making their debuts in what will be a highly contested league in 2011.
Round 1 will see a number of mouth-watering fixtures so here we go:
Inter Lions v Mt Druitt Town Rangers (Crest Complex) ? 7pm
Saturday evening will see a huge match-up between two competitive sides as Inter Lions tackle former Super League outfit Mt Druitt Town Rangers at the Crest Complex.
The Lions will look towards players such as Anthony Ucchino, Devrim Huseyin, Ben Ellis and Anthony Mansueto to name a few in getting a positive start for Nick Tarquinio?s squad.
The Rangers will be hoping to commence their State League One campaign in a promising fashion with their aim to climb back up towards the Super League and will look for former NSW Premier League players Nathan Ralph and Ryan O?Shea to get things started.
Mounties Wanderers v UNSW (Cook Park) ? 7pm
Cook Park at Mount Pritchard on Saturday will see the Mounties Wanderers face UNSW in what should be a blockbuster of a match.
The Mounties will have a number of quality stars at their disposal for 2011 with former Bonnyrigg White Eagles keeper Ali Akbal, Daniel Willoughby, Daniel McCann, Friday Jeremiah and Reece Iredale just some of the players on offer to coach Aidan Desmond.
Cook Park may prove to be a fortress for any opposing clubs travelling to tackle the Mounties who hope that home form will take them to where they?d like to be, at the front of the standings.
UNSW will be looking towards building from 2010 but understand that it will be a tough year ahead however coach Anton Ivancic will no doubt spearhead his chargers for the first match against the Mounties.
The likes of Andrew Harb, Nikitas Papastamatis, Tom Pavlou and Lee Davelaar will be ones to look out for throughout the season.
Schofields Scorpions v Hurstville ZSC (CSI Group Ground) ? 7pm
Schofields Scorpions who many have tipped to be a hot side for 2011 will play host to Hurstville ZSC on Saturday.
Scorpions coach John Caruana has assembled a decent squad which will surely shake up the competition with William Stuart, James Lowery and Daine Merrin hoping to have huge years for the club.
Hurstville?s boss Ivan Gargo will certainly want a bigger effort from his troops in 2011 as his club hope to create a few surprises.
Once again a lot of importance will be placed on the head of veteran attacker Vjekoslav Zoric who took out the State League One?s Player of the Year in 2010 while the likes of Daniel Golac, Tomislav Dejanovic and Daniel Jurleta will also be one?s to watch for.
A positive result against the Scorpions will certainly go a long way in boosting the confidence of the Hurstville squad.
Balmain East Tigers v Fairfield City Lions (Hensley Athletic Field) ? 7pm
Balmain East Tigers will test out the Fairfield City Lions at their new ground and on the artificial plush surface of Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday.
All eyes will once again be fixed on former NSL striker Johnny Buonavoglia who will once again lead the squad while Alex Leris and Paul Milazzo will also be on the club?s radar for players to watch out for.
Tackling Balmain first up will be Aydin Cetinay?s Fairfield City Lions who had terrific 2010 season.
Elusive attacker Yavuz Ekinci and the likes of other stars such as Chris Theodosiou and Benjamin Cronk will hope to get the points needed in their first hit-up for 2011.
Stanmore Hawks v Camden Tigers (Arlington Oval) ? 7pm
Tass Fiakos? Stanmore Hawks are hoping to get all three points when they entertain Camden Tigers at Arlington Oval on Saturday.
Fiakos has managed to recruit the likes of Omar Obeid, gun marksman Neil Phillipou and Lorenzo Machuca in assisting him with this season?s campaign.
The club?s desire to play Super League is at an all-time high so look for the Hawks to hopefully be flying in 2011.
Camden Tigers are pushing their claims also for a good start to the year and will see the Hawks match as a great test to see how their pre-season has gone for them.
Grant Mackechnie will hopefully be amongst the goals while the likes of veteran star Benjamin Green and Wes Horne to be ones to look out for in 2011.
Fairfield Bulls v Gladesville Ryde Magic (Hajduk Stadium) 3pm
The competition?s only match on Sunday pits the new boys on the block Fairfield Bulls taking on the Gladesville Ryde Magic at Hajduk Stadium.
Head Bulls coach Michael Mamoo will understand the importance of the club?s first game and will be pumping his chargers to what he hopes will be a memorable year for the Fairfield based side.
Nirary Kanoun will be leading the team?s attack while Luke Hormis, Sargon Georges and midfielder Paul Oudicho will be going out all stops in pushing the Bulls claims to stay alive in the State League One.
The Magic will need to be on their toes but will count on their impressive youth footballers who did remarkably well in 2010.
Andrew McKie, Steven Biviano and Ahmed Kabbara will want to do well against the Bulls as they hope to take the club into the finals series of 2011.
-Football NSW Media Release