State League One Round 17 Preview

Camden Tigers vs Fairfield City Lions
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 6-00pm at Ron Dine Reserve & Fairfield City Lions vs Camden Tigers
Wednesday, July 12, 2011 @ 8-15pm at Norford Park
A twist in the scheduling occurs for the second time in successive weeks, with Camden Tigers and Fairfield City Lions having the arduous task of playing each other TWICE in the space of four days.
The two sides meet in a Round Six rescheduled match on Wednesday evening, before re-acquainting on Saturday to kick start Round 17.
After clinging to a spot just outside the top five for many a week now, the Lions do not have a better chance to finally make up some valuable ground. Results last weekend mean that the there are no less than six teams separated by just three points, and the Lions can catapult themselves into equal second with three points on Wednesday.
An interesting statistic going into these two matches is that it pits together the competition?s second best attack (Fairfield with 34)against the second best defence (Camden with 16), so expect a real arm wrestle in both of these encounters this week.
Inter Lions vs Schofields Scorpions
Saturday, July 16, 2011 @ 7-00pm at Crest Complex
Inter Lions and Schofields Scorpions meet at the Crest on Saturday in what shapes as a crucial match for the home side.
Inter suffered two defeats over four days last weekend to drop to last position, but worse still, are a depleted unit given the loss of quite a few players through injury and suspension.
The Lions will look to the experience of Rafael Bove, an anchor in the midfield, and the cunning of striker Anthony Ucchino, to drive their team mates to an improved showing this week.
Schofields have lifted their performances over the past month, but the feeling of occupying last position is still fresh enough in their mind to make sure they do everything to continue their incline.
Mounties Wanderers vs Balmain SC
Saturday, July 16, 2011@ 7-00pm at Cook Park
League leaders, Mounties Wanderers, return to league action this weekend following their foray last weekend in the Final of the Waratah Cup, when they tackle Balmain SC at Cook Park. 
The Wanderers have done themselves proud in an extraordinary run in the Cup, and will be almost relieved in some way to return to the ?bread and butter? of the league, and continue their march towards the premiership title and possible promotion to the Super League.
Balmain moved off the bottom of the ladder last week with a determined win against Fairfield Bulls, and will look to replicate the same effort in their bid to bring something home from a tough away encounter.
Stanmore Hawks vs Hurstville ZFC
Sunday, July 17, 2011 @ 3-00pm at  Arlington Oval
Arlington Oval will play host to an intriguing match between Stanmore Hawks and Hurstville ZFC.
The Hawks have steadied in recent weeks and moved gradually away from the base of the ladder, and will hopeful of a similar showing in front of their home fans.
Hurstville ZFC are coming in this one very fresh, courtesy of having last weekend off ? the match against Cup Finalists Mounties postponed ? so expect the ?chequers? to be in full swing in their attempts to move back into a semi final position.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Fairfield Bulls
Sunday, July 17, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Popondetta Park
Mt Druitt Town sparked life back into their season with last week?s triumph over UNSW, and will be hoping to continue their run when they tackle Fairfield Bulls at Popondetta Park. 
The Rangers are currently sitting on 20 points, four outside the top five, and only six points from second, so it is very much a crunch game for the home side.
The Bulls are sitting second and above the ?congestion? that entangles the top half of the ladder, but gave up a chance to extend their one point lead when they lost to Balmain 2-3 last week, so they will be ready mentally to to slip up again.
UNSW vs Gladesville Ryde Magic
Sunday, July 17, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Wentworth Park
UNSW will be hoping to correct their recent form when they welcome Gladesville Ryde Magic to Wentworth Park Complex on Sunday afternoon.
The ?students? have failed to score in their last two outings, both successive losses, being ?pulled back to the rest of the field? as a result.
Gladesville have had the opposite experience, with two successive wins catapulting them into the top five and just one point behind their opponents, so they will be aiming to maintain their form.
 Division One – Top Goalscorers Round Sixteen
The top goalscorer?s list is really hotting up as the season approaches the back end, with numerous interesting movements up the chart.
Nick Paradisis (Stanmore Hawks) and Hosyar Cakal (Mt Druitt) seem to be going hammer and tongs each week, matching each other?s efforts as they have now moved to 14 goals apiece at the top.
Camden?s Adam Smutek within striking distance on 12 goals, whilst Niriam Kanoun of the Fairfield Bulls has quietly gone under the radar and now finds himself on 11 goals.
The big mover this week was Ben Cronk (Fairfield City Lions), the young striker?s hatrick against Inter Lions moving him to 8 goals, just one behind UNSW?s Sebastian Bendall who is on 9.
14         : Nick PARADISIS (Stanmore Hawks), Hosyar CAKAL (Mt Druitt)            
12         : Adam SMUTEK (Camden Tigers)
11         : Niriam KANOUN (Fairfield Bulls)
9          : Sebastian BENDALL (UNSW)
8          : Ben CRONK (Fairfield City Lions)
7          : Paul GAGRO (Hurstville ZFC)
-By Frank Speranza