State League One Round 13 Preview

On the artificial surface at Hensley Athletic Field, Balmain SC host Schofield Scorpions in what promises to be a real ?six-point? battle at the bottom of the league.
Balmain was back in the winner?s circle last weekend in a pleasant return to form, smacking Fairfield City Lions 3-0 away from home to move to tenth spot on the ladder.
The strike pairing of Uri Kaye and Johhny Buonavoglia both got on the scoresheet to steer their side to victory in a great win, and will hoping for more of the same this week.
But they only have a three point lead on the last placed Scorpions, and the closeness of Schofields? results of late suggest they may be getting nearer to that elusive second win of the season.
The team sandwiched by Balmain and Schofields on the ladder and currently in 11^th position is Inter Lions, and they travel to Ron Dine Reserve to tackle Camden Tigers in a tough road trip.
Much to their relief, Inter picked up four points over two games last week, and moreso, scored five goals to boot, which was refreshing for a side that has struggled to hit the net all season.
Youngster Nick Ruoco scored a goal in each game to take his season tally to three, and he will no doubt be looking to feed off the multitude of chances created by his midfielders.
Camden Tigers have moved into second position on the ladder on 19 points, and are well placed with a game in hand to take a strangehold above a cluster of sides.
Adam Smutek has been hitting the net regularly of late for Camden, with his brace last week giving his side the three points against Stanmore Hawks, and seeing his tally go to nine goals for the season.
The remaining four matches are all scheduled to kick off at 3-00pm on Sunday afternoon, starting with UNSW against Stanmore Hawks at Wentworth Park.
The ?students? are on a high of sorts after becoming the first team to take anything from league leaders, Mounties Wanderers, last week, holding them to a 0-0 draw at Cook Park.
Michael Janov and Bradley Wiblen were instrumental in their side?s defensive efforts last week, and with captain, Andrew Harb, on the way back from injury, UNSW will be hoping for another clean sheet this week.
Stanmore have fallen from grace in recent weeks, and currently sit in 9^th position after a number of disappointing results.
The Hawks will be desperate for points this week to get their season back on track, and will depend on the tenacity of skipper, David James, and opportunism of Nick Paradisis, to steer them towards a much needed triumph.
The first round clash between these two finished in a 7-2 thumping victory for the Hawks, with Paradisis grabbing four goals, but UNSW will be keen to erase the nightmare from their memory with a home win.
Hurstville ZFC entertain Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Hurstville Oval hoping to continue their recent good form.
Two wins in as many matches has seen Hurstville climb to 14 points in eighth spot, just the solitary point behind their opponents, and they?ll be relying on more goals from Paul Gagro if they are to continue their ascent up the ladder.
Gagro will be no stranger to Mt Druitt, having picked up a hatrick for Hurstville in their 3-2 first round win over the Rangers.
Hosyar Cakal has been in scintillating form for Mt Druitt of late, his brace last week against Inter giving him 10 goals for the season, and Hurstville will need to keep an eye on him if they are to avoid defeat at home.
League leaders, Mounties Wanderers, welcome Gladesville Ryde Magic to Cook Park in what could be a banana skin for the league leaders.
Having dropped their first points of the season last weekend, the Mounties nevertheless enjoy a 15 point lead at the top of the league, and will hope the midfield generals, Daniel McCann and Ian McAndrew, rule the middle of the park as that will provide opportunities for the team?s goal hungry strikers.
The Magic are now in fifth position on 17 points, a win away from outright second spot, and are still hurting from their 0-4 reverse in the first round at Magdala Park. A tough match indeed for the visitors, and Gladesville will rely on Steve Biviano haunting his old club if they are to upset the odds in this intriguing clash.
The spectators will swarm Hajduk Stadium on Sunday for the Fairfield derby, with the Bulls and the Lions clashing in a what promises to be a ripper of a match.
The Bulls (4^th) and the Lions (6^th) are both placed in the top half of the ladder, but importantly have games in hand on the teams around them and could easily occupy second and third if they grab maximum points from these rescheduled matches.
The Lions need to urgently address a drop in form having lost heavily ? twice ?  in four days late last week, and will find the going tough against a Bulls side that seem to be the side slipping under the radar as they make their way up the competition.
Chris Sultan bagged a double in the first round as the Lions won 3-1, and a repeat here will be a right dose to address their recent slip in form.
Division One – Top Goalscorers
Round Twelve
10         : Nick PARADISIS (Stanmore Hawks), Hosyar CAKAL (Mt Druitt)            
9          : Adam SMUTEK Camden Tigers)
8          : Sebastian BENDALL (UNSW)
6          : Greg BALDOCK (Mounties), Eli SQUILLACIOTI (Mounties),
               Friday JEREMIAH (Mounties), Paul GAGRO (Hurstville ZFC)     
5          : Matthew CROSS (Camden Tigers), Daniel WILLOUGHBY (Mounties),
               Ben CRONK Fairfield City Lions), Niriam KANOUN Fairfield Bulls),
               Daniel McCANN (Mounties), Uri KAYE (Balmain SC)     
4          : Mark SYMINGTON (Mounties), Alistair MCKIE (Gladesville Ryde)
-By Frank Speranza