State League One Round Nine Preview

After a somewhat promising start to 2012, the Bulls have started to leak goals, and have been on the end of a couple of hidings over the past fortnight.
It doesn?t get any easier for the home side in Round 9, as they will be up against a Gladesville Ryde side that, despite dropping their first points of the season last weekend, have a six point lead at the top of the competition, having conceded just four goals all year.
Southern Bulls are just a couple of points outside the top five, so this could be just the motivation to make Saturday?s match their turning point of the season.
Stanmore Hawks will be hoping to draw level with Camden Tigers on the ladder when they welcome the Tigers to Arlington Oval on Saturday night
The Hawks had victory snatched from them at the death last week against Inter, and have since dropped back to last position as a result, but they are only three points from three clubs on 7, one of whom are their opponents on Saturday.
Balmain SC find themselves in the heights of 4^th position at the moment, and will be hoping to consolidate their spot against an inconsistent Fairfield City Lions at Lambert Park on Saturday night.
Balmain bounced back from the midweek Waratah Cup reverse against Bonnyrigg with a valuable 2-1 away triumph over UNSW, propelling them to 11 points as a consequence.
Fairfield City have been on somewhat of a roller coaster this season, but nevertheless sit just three points behind Balmain, with a game in hand, and with Yavuz Ekinci and Friday Jeremiah in the team, are capable of beating anyone on their day.
Arguably the match of the round will take place at Popondetta Park on Saturday night, with UNSW making the trek to tackle Mt Druitt Town Rangers.
Mt Druitt stopped the Gladesville juggernaut last weekend with a 1-1 draw at Magdala Reserve, but at a cost, and could be without up to four key players for this match in front of their home fans.
The second placed Rangers are four points in front of third, and six behind the leaders, so will be hoping to at the very least, consolidate their spot with a positive outcome here.
UNSW sit on 9 points from three wins and three losses, but do have up to two games in hand on some sides, so are in an ominous position on the ladder in 6^th spot.
Last week?s loss to Balmain came ?against the grain? given their recent exploits, but ?the students? are a formidable unit on their day and will be hoping to bridge that gap between themselves and the Rangers.
Another two sides separated by three points meet on Sunday afternoon, when Schofields Scorpions welcome the visit of Northbridge FC.
The Scorpions are one of the sides who sit just one victory away from last spot, and will have their hands full trying to account for a confident Northbridge side, who lie in 5^th spot after a thumping 5-0 victory over Southern Bulls last weekend.
One team who have turned their fortunes around in 2012 are Inter Lions, lying in third spot on 12 points, and who have tasted defeat just the solitary once this season.
It is a far cry from last season when Inter propped up the ladder, and with a staffing clean-out of sorts over the off season, the Lions are hoping another three points against Hurstville ZFC on Sunday will keep them towards the top end of the ladder.
Southern Bulls vs Gladesville Ryde Magic @ Ernie Smith Reserve, 3-00pm Saturday 19^th May
Stanmore Hawks vs Camden Tigers @ Arlington Oval, 7-00pm Saturday 19^th May
Balmain SC vs Fairfield City Lions @ Lambert Park, 7-00pm Saturday 19^th May
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs UNSW @ Popondetta Park, 7-00pm Saturday 19^th May
Schofields Scorpions vs Northbridge FC @ CSI Sport Ground, 3-00pm Sunday 20^th May
Inter Lions vs Hurstville ZFC @ Crest Complex, 3-30pm Sunday 20^th May
State League One
May 14, 2012
Top Scorers
8 ? Todd MACRAE (Mt Druitt Town)
5 ? Domenic DI MENTO (Inter), Daniel FOGARTY (Mt Druitt Town), Ry HARDY (Northbridge FC)
4 ? Steve BIVIANO (Stanmore Hawks), Friday JEREMIAH (Fairfield City Lions),
      Ardahan KUMRULU (Fairfield City Lions), Shane ARDLE (Mt Druitt Town),
      Peter O?DOHERTY (Gladesville Ryde), Damien STIVALA (Schofields),
      Andrew MCKIE (Gladesville Ryde), Seb BENDALL (UNSW)
-By Frank Speranza