NSW Premier League Round 11 Preview
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Blacktown City FC, Saturday 9th of June, 7:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1
Blacktown City FC 1 Sutherland Sharks 0
Round 11 opens with an absolute cracker as League leader Bonnyrigg White Eagles plays host to second-placed Blacktown City FC on Saturday evening.
Both sides have been regular Top-Five finishers in recent seasons, and 2012 is proving to be another successful campaign for both clubs who are vying for silverware come the end of the season.
The White Eagles have been immense in their performances to-date, as Brian Brown?s men have shown experience across the park, despite some very young chargers in the group.
David Vrankovic and the Bonnyrigg defence will be up against a direct forward line comprising James Monie and Luke Roodenburg, meanwhile Japanese duo Ryuji Miyazawa and Yuchi Yamauchi have shown their spectacular ability with the ball at their feet, posing the League leader with a tough assignment on Saturday.
Blacktown City?s rearguard will also need to be alert as Robbie Younis and Mitchell Long have already proven to be lethal for the White Eagles. With both sides also possessing strong, physical midfields, the action should be flowing on Saturday evening.
A win for Bonnyrigg will give the White Eagles a massive injection of confidence, with an equally impressive lead at the top of the ladder, heading into the second part of the season, meanwhile a win for Mark Crittenden?s men will see his side move to within a win of the leaders.
Blacktown Spartans v APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Saturday 9th of June, 7:00 pm Blacktown Football Park
Last Week:
South Coast Wolves 3 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 2
Blacktown Spartans 3 Sydney United 58 FC 0
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers will be looking to bounce back from a heart-breaking defeat on the South Coast against the Wolves last weekend as Blacktown Spartans host at Blacktown Football Park on Saturday evening.
The Tigers squandered a two-goal lead against the Wolves, leaving the players deflated after a fine first 60? minutes.
Coach John Turner will be looking at his new addition Adam Casey to shine, alongside the Tigers? finest finding of the season thus far, Andrew Bevin.
The Spartans enter the encounter on a high after claiming the scalp of Sydney United 58 FC last weekend. Led marvellously by captain, and goalkeeper, Carlos Salidarre, the Spartans worked hard for the win against the Reds, thoroughly deserved on the balance of what was seen at Blacktown Football Park.
Coach Ben De Haan has guided his side well in this first part of the season, and a win away to APIA-Leichhardt could see the side reach the middle of the ladder in anticipation of the second part of the season.
Sutherland Sharks v South Coast Wolves, Saturday 9th of June, 7:00 pm Seymour Shaw
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 1 Sutherland Sharks 0
South Coast Wolves 3 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 2
Sutherland Sharks play some of the most attractive football in the competition, however the side?s run over the past three weeks has been far from pretty. Losses against Parramatta FC, Sydney Olympic and Blacktown City FC have many pundits doubting Robbie Stanton?s men and their ability to make a challenge for silverware this season, however the signs from the most recent loss at Blacktown City do seem positive for a turn in fortune.
South Coast Wolves will provide a huge obstacle for the Sharks on Saturday evening, though the home surface should surely play in favour of the home side. Stanton will again be looking at his playmaker Panni Nikas to pull the strings in the attacking third, meanwhile Nick Stavroulakis and Yianni Fragogianis made a good pairing in midfield last weekend. Defensively, since George Souris? injury, the side has failed to ooze in any confidence, though the partnership struck by Paul Cotte and Tyson Rhodes did show much promise. The Sharks will miss striker Blake Powell however as the youngster has accepted a trial with Thai First Division side Buriram United.
The visiting Wolves have been very impressive this season, even away from home. Trevor Morgan?s men have played some great football, and have frustrated many of the more fancied Premier League sides in the process. With Sasho Petrovski and Mark Picciolini leading the attack, and with an in form Peter Simonovski out of midfield, the Wolves will make Sutherland?s task a mighty difficult one this weekend.
Manly United FC v Sydney Olympic, POSTPONED
Rockdale City Suns v Parramatta FC, Sunday 10th of June, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 2 Rockdale City Suns 0
Parramatta FC 1 Manly United FC 3
Mark Rudan?s Rockdale City Suns have proven one of the form sides over the past month, despite the side falling at Marconi Stadium last weekend. The Suns will start this home encounter against Parramatta FC as overwhelming favourite, especially with the fine form of Alec Urosevski and Pece Cvetanovski. The Suns will also be looking at Dyllan Macallister to lead the side in the front-third, the attacking player slowly settling into the team at Rockdale.
Parramatta FC is in desperate need of points if the side is going to make a charge off bottom-spot on the ladder. Coach Lee Sterrey?s men have collected some positive performances, though with only five-points to show from ten matches, the side?s chances of making it up the ladder appear slimmer with each passing week.
Sterrey will once more look at his speedy striker Kwabena Appiah-Kubi to find the goals, with Akiyoshi Saito to provide the link between midfield and the strikers.
The Eagles have performed better in matches where they have not been expected to secure any points, and with the Suns? fine run under Rudan has Rockdale City as overwhelming favourites for this clash.
Sydney United 58 FC v Marconi Stallions, Sunday 10th of June, 4:00 pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Week:
Blacktown Spartans 3 Sydney United 58 FC 0
Marconi Stallions 2 Rockdale City Suns 0
In the final fixture for Round 11, another classic is expected when former NSL heavyweights Sydney United 58 FC and Marconi Stallions lock horns.
The Reds are still seething after the heavy loss at Blacktown Spartans last weekend, meanwhile the Stallions? season took a positive turn with a comfortable first-half showing to secure a 2-0 win over Rockdale City.
The Reds have struggled with the absence of Luka Glavas up front, as Mirjan Pavlovic settles back in at the club with Elsid Barkhousir still returning to full fitness following his injury layoff.
The Reds will need to quickly eliminate last weekend?s loss from their minds as Marconi have started to string together some good performances. Nahuel Arrarte?s leadership has been phenomenal, as have the performances of Shane Webb and Jamie McMaster.
With both sides sitting on 14-points, a win for either could pave the way towards the Top-Five. These two sides always produce goals when they meet, and more of the same will be expected this weekend in a vital clash for both teams as the first half of the season draws to a close.
