State League One Round 22 Preview
The competition has been one of the most even and closely contested in recent years, with the battle for the top five placements changing hands so many times in 2011, and will no doubt go right down to the wire. Not to be outdone, the shuffling of places near the base has been very intense for quite a few weeks now, and will only be decided come 5-00pm Sunday afternoon.
Gladesville Ryde Magic and Fairfield City Lions consolidated top three positions with midweek victories in rescheduled matches, and whether they land in second or third will ultimately depend on their results this week?s final round.
Fairfield City Lions overcame Inter Lions 3-2 on Tuesday night, climbing to 37 points and 3rd spot on goal difference. Yavuz Ekinci notched in the 32nd minute before Ben Cronk and Ardahan Kumrulu made it three nil after 54 minutes. With their backs against the wall, the Lions tried to get back into the game and Anthony Foti scored in the 64th before Daniele Chiandotto scored in the 87th but it was too little too late for Inter.
Gladesville Ryde Magic accounted for Mt Druitt Town Rangers 3-0 on Wednesday evening, also moving to 37 points, but second on the back of a 5 goal better differential than the Lions. Scott Tomkin was the hero of the evening as he notched up a brace while Andrew McKie added a third in what was a great night for the Magic.
Let?s take a look at the final match ups this week, a list of mouth watering encounters that will have all fans on the edge of their seats as destiny unravels in Division One.
Stanmore Hawks vs Inter Lions
Saturday, August 20, 2011 @ 7-00pm at Arlington Oval
One game will be played on Saturday evening, and it brings together old foes Stanmore Hawks and Inter Lions at Arlington Oval, kicking off at 7-00pm.
Stanmore made a coaching change mid season, bringing in George Paradisis to great effect, and the wily coach managed to steer his side away from the base of the competition and to safety with some resolute performances. The Hawks resurgence was lead, amongst others, by captain, David James, and the league?s sharpest marksman, Nick Paradisis, who has 18 goals to his name so far this year.
Inter Lions have spent the season struggling to escape the bottom rungs of the Division One league, despite playing some really attractive football at times.
Their desperation for points has seen them throw caution to the wind a little over the past month or so, with some high scoring matches, but alas, mathematically they find themselves three points adrift of second last Schofields, so will have all to play for on Saturday.
The first time the two sides met resulted in a 4-2 win for the Hawks, a see sawing match where Inter twice came from behind to draw level, only to lose it at the death to a determined Stanmore side, so expect more of the same this time around.
Mounties Wanderers vs Camden Tigers
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Cook Park
The Division One Premiers, Mounties Wanderers, have one last opportunity in front of their home fans to showcase their effective style of football when they entertain fellow top five side, Camden Tigers.
Much has been said about the deserved success that the Wanderers have enjoyed this year, and with no bearing on their league position after this match, they are at their mesmerizing best when they throw men forward and come at their opposition from all angles.
With seven players who have scored 6 goals or more this season, it will be an arduous task for Camden to stop the flow at Cook Park on Saturday.
Camden Tigers form in recent weeks has been a little up and down, but they have benefited off their positive results to all but grab fourth spot with a round to play, meaning they will contest the Elimination Semi Final in week one of the Finals.
A competitive team with a solid structure defensively, the Tigers have been spearheaded by sharpshooter Adam Smutek, who has found the net regularly this year and is currently on 15 goals.
Balmain SC vs Gladesville Ryde Magic
Sunday, August 21, 2011@ 3-00pm at Lambert Park
Two sides in a rich vein of form do battle at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon, as Balmain SC welcome the visit of Gladesville Ryde Magic.
It is hard to imagine that Balmain were in dire straits a month or so ago, given their recent form, including a 6-2 win over Camden and 4-0 over UNSW.
Fairfield City?s victory over Inter Lions midweek has deemed Balmain SC safe from the drop, and after a season of high tension, they can finally enjoy their final regulation encounter without the pressure that goes hand in hand with sides at the bottom.
Uri Kaye has hit form at the right end of the season as far as Balmain are concerned, reaching double figures courtesy of last week?s strike, and with Johnny Buonavoglia a willing accomplice, the home side will up for a big finish to 2011.
Amongst many topsy turvy results in Division One during the final couple of months, Gladesville Ryde Magic have consolidated their top 3 spot on the back of some impressive wins.
The McKie brothers have combined to produce 13 goals between them this season, Alistair?s creativity on the ball complemented by the strong presence of brother Andrew as a big target man.
The Magic have based their structure on a solid backline, who have conceded a mere 22 goals this year, second only to Premiers Mounties Wanderers, and they have much to thank their experienced former Olympiakos goalkeeper for that, Kyriakos Tohouroglou, who has kept opposition attacks at bay time and time again in 2011.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Schofields Scorpions
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Popondetta Park
Schofields Scorpions travel to Popondetta Park on Sunday to tackle Mt Druitt Town Rangers, only three points ahead of last placed Inter Lions.
The Scorpions drew themselves away from the basement a little while ago, but the desperation in the performances, and subsequent positive results, of both Balmain and Inter Lions, drew them back to the field of late.
Mt Druitt finish off the season very disappointed indeed, having high aspirations in 2011 after dropping from the Super League in 2010.
On their day the Rangers were a formidable outfit for any side, as the Premiers, the Mounties, found out recently when the Mt Druitt beat them 3-1, but a lack of consistency meant they struggled to get out of the middle of the pack.
In Hosyar Cakal, they uncovered a gem of a striker who has managed 17 goals this year, and who has been going head to head all season with Stanmore?s Nick Paradisis for the Division?s top scorer award.
Fairfield City Lions vs Hurstville ZFC
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Norford Park No 2
Fairfield City Lions have started to hit some menacing form leading into the final rounds, seemingly scoring at will as they consolidated their top three semi final position.
The Lions boast the Division?s second best attack, behind Mounties, with 51 goals to their credit, but they are also known to leak goals, so they will be ut to put that record straight in the final game and build confidence going into the finals week.
Hurstville made their way into the top five at the peak of their season, but have fallen away very disappointingly towards the back end, dropping out of semi final contention, and have nothing but the pride in their shirt to play for at Norford Park on Sunday.
Fairfield Bulls vs UNSW
Sunday, August 21, 2011 @ 3-00pm at Hajduk Stadium
The fifth and final semi final position will be decided at Hajduk Stadium on Sunday when Fairfield Bulls and UNSW meet in what promises to be a cliff hanger.
Both sides sit on 30 points currently, but Fairfield Bulls have that fifth spot in their hands to lose, having a +7 goal differential better than UNSW.
Niriam Kanoun (12) and Rafid Hirmiz (9) have been consistently knocking in the goals for the Bulls in recent weeks, and will be looking to add to their respective totals come Sunday.
UNSW only have themselves to blame for being in the position they are in.
A couple of months out from finals football, they had climbed to the head of the chasing pack behind the Mounties, but a lack of goals and some indifferent form has seen drop out of the top five.
The ?students? do remain a formidable unit, however, and with so much to play for on Sunday, you can bet they will be up for the challenge and will be putting all on the line to salvage their season.
Division One – Top Goalscorers
Round Twenty – One
18 : Nick PARADISIS (Stanmore Hawks)
17 : Hosyar CAKAL (Mt Druitt)
15 : Adam SMUTEK (Camden Tigers)
12 : Niriam KANOUN (Fairfield Bulls), Ben CRONK (Fairfield City Lions)
10 : Sebastian BENDALL (UNSW), Uri KAYE (Balmain SC)
9 : Eli SQUILLACIOTI (Mounties), Rafid HIRMIZ (Fairfield Bulls)
8 : Daniel WILLOUGHBY (Mounties)
7 : Johnny BUONAVOGLIA (Balmain SC), Neil PHILIPPOU (Stanmore Hawks)
Paul GAGRO (Hurstville ZFC), Mark SYMINGTON (Mounties),
Greg BALDOCK (Mounties), Alistair MCKIE (Gladesville Ryde Magic)
-By Frank Speranza
