State League Division 1 Round 3 Preview

Mounties Wanderers have bolstered their team with some big name, off season signings, and the proof is in the pudding as they boast two wins from two games with ten goals to boot.
The star of the show has been one of the Mounties own, veteran Greg Baldock, who has shown the way with a brace of goals in each of the team?s opening two matches.
Even though it?s early in the piece, the Mounties coaching pair of Aidan Desmond and Glenn Lockhart seem to have got it right thus far, with their troops handing out two thumpings ? 6-0 vs UNSW and 4-0 vs Gladesville Ryde Magic ? to kick start their season with a bang.
Tagged the league?s ?entertainers? in 2010, Fairfield City Lions have continued where they left off following?s last season?s highly charged Grand Final triumph, with two wins of their own, only trailing Mounties on goal difference thus far.
The Lions have parted way with a number of last year?s heroes, namely inspirational skipper Robbie Issa, who has retired, brother George, Ozcan Cetinay, and striker Friday Jeremiah, who comes up against his old club in this match up.
The two teams met in a pre season friendly just a few weeks ago, with the Mounties winning comfortably, but friendlies can paint a picture of disguise, so what better way to end the working week than a top of the table football match on a Friday night? Get out to Cook Park for a 7-45pm kick off for what promises to be a great confrontation.
Camden Tigers return home to Ron Dine Reserve on Saturday evening with a 6-00pm kick off against Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Not that Camden are complaining too much about their travels, following two clean sheets in their opening two matches and four competition points. The Tigers backed up their scoreless draw against Stanmore Hawks with a resounding 4-0 win against the highly fancied Inter Lions, and will back themselves to continue the run against Mt Druitt, who surprisingly came unstuck at home against Hurstville last Sunday.
Two clubs of Greek extraction clash at Arlington Oval on Saturday evening at 7-00pm, with Stanmore Hawks entertaining Gladesville Ryde Magic.
The Hawks exploded last week with seven goals against UNSW, and their attacking prowess will be difficult for the Magic to halt in what will be Stanmore?s third home match in succession.
The Magic themselves will be licking their wounds following a 0-4 reverse last weekend against the Mounties, and will no doubt travel with the sole intention of getting their season on track.
The Hensley Athletic Field plays host on Saturday evening to an intriguing match between Balmain and Hurstville ZFC.
Both sides are sitting comfortably in mid table following unexpected but satisfying away victories last weekend.
Balmain completed a snatch and grab 2-0 win at Schofields on Saturday night, whilst Paul Grago?s hatrick gave Hurstville a 3-2 win at Mt Druitt.
A win here for either side will put them up amongst the league?s leaders and set up a great foundation for the 2011 season.
Both matches on Sunday afternoon kick off at 3-00pm, and involve four teams coming off the back of losses last weekend.
Inter Lions are a little under-done at present, according to coach Nick Tarquinio, and will look to bounce back from their home loss last week against Camden by dismantling UNSW at the Crest Complex by focusing on attack.
The Lions certainly have an impressive line up on paper, but it is on the park that the football is played, and the ?students? will have ?done their homework? and be out to eliminate the memory of their poor start to the season.
The final match of the round is an interesting clash, with Fairfield Bulls welcoming Schofields Scorpions.
Both sides suffered two goal defeats last weekend, the Bulls in the Fairfield derby, whilst the Scorpions were left empty handed against a cunning Balmain SC.
Get out to Hajduk Stadium to see how the action unfolds as both teams look to grab their first points of the competition.
Division One Top Goalscorers
Round Two
4              – Greg Baldock (Mounties), Nick Paradisis (Stanmore Hawks)
3              – Chris Sultan (Fairfield City Lions), Paul Gagro (Hurstville ZFC)
2              – Daniel Willoughby (Mounties), Nathan Ralph (Mt Druitt), Matthew Cross (Camden Tigers)
-By Frank Speranza