NSW Premier League Round 14 Preview
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Saturday 30th of June, 7:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Last Week:
Sutherland Sharks 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1
Marconi Stallions 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0
League leader Bonnyrigg White Eagles opens Round 14 proceedings this weekend with a home clash against Waratah Cup Final bound APIA-Leichhardt Tigers.
Holding a seven-point lead over second-placed South Coast Wolves, the White Eagles will be eager to take full points at home after being held to a 1-1 draw by Sutherland Sharks last weekend.
The visiting APIA-Leichhardt have had a phenomenal run in the Cup competition, though the side?s run of results in the League have been far less impressive. A 2-0 loss at Marconi Stallions last weekend did the side no favours in its attempt to move away from the bottom three places, as John Turner looks to his players to find some form, and confidence, in the run home to the business end of the season.
Marconi Stallions v Parramatta FC, Saturday 30th of June, 7;30 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Parramatta FC 1 Blacktown Spartans 1
The Stallions defeat of APIA-Leichhardt Tigers last weekend saw the Bossley Park side move into fourth-spot on the League ladder. Having had an inconsistent run of results over the course of the first part of the season, Luke Casserly?s men appear to have re-found the confidence they oozed early in the campaign. Nathan Elasi and Daniel Severino have been immense in attack, meanwhile the return of Wade Oostendorp to the club in the defensive line has added further stability to the Stallions? backline.
Parramatta FC still occupy bottom spot on the ladder, yet the side has proven a big obstacle for a number of clubs this season. Lee Sterrey?s men have put together some good performances with a number of talented players at his disposal, though the side?s inability to put together consistently strong performances over the entire 90? minutes has proven to be its undoing.
Sterrey returns to Marconi Stadium, a club he has previously coached, and the Eagles boss would like nothing less than to get one over his former side to give Parramatta FC a shot in the arm to get its season going.
Sydney Olympic v Blacktown Spartans, Sunday 1st of July, 2:00 pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 2 Sydney United 58 FC 1
Parramatta FC 1 Blacktown Spartans 1
Reigning champions Sydney Olympic claimed a morale boosting win against Sydney United 58 FC last weekend, and coach Peter Tsekenis will be hoping for more of the same from his chargers when they line up against Blacktown Spartans at Sydney United Sports Centre.
In a tough first part of the season, the Blues boss claimed that the reverse fixture against the Spartans earlier in the season was the most difficult match his troops have faced. The 2-2 draw saw the new boys frustrate the Blues, and last season?s grand-final winners will be looking to continue its run up the ladder with a win this weekend.
Sydney Olympic will welcome back captain Phil Makrys from suspension, though defender Brett Studman will miss the clash after accumulating five yellow cards.
Blacktown Spartans continue to frustrate the NSW Premier League sides with a hardworking approach to each of its matches. The Spartans sit in seventh-spot on the ladder ? two-points behind fourth-placed Marconi Stallions.
With the expectation to be placed squarely on Sydney Olympic to score an easy win, Ben De Haan?s men may well be up for causing a massive upset this weekend.
Manly United FC v Sutherland Sharks, Sunday 1st of July, 3:00 pm Cromer Park
Last Week:
Manly United FC 0 South Coast Wolves 2
Sutherland Sharks 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1
Manly United FC is in desperate need of points this weekend when Sutherland Sharks visit Cromer Park. Manly United currently occupy eleventh-spot on the ladder, and consecutive home losses against Blacktown City FC and South Coast Wolves have left the side with a mammoth task ahead of them if finals football is to be a possibility this season.
Sutherland?s football has been a pleasure to watch for many followers of the competition, though the Sharks? too need to find points to keep their hopes of finals football alive.
Robbie Stanton?s men have their minds also on the upcoming Waratah Cup Final, though attentions must be fixed on the clash at hand at Cromer Park this weekend to remain on track for a top-five finish.
A tense encounter is expected on Sunday, though the first side to settle will have a big say in the final outcome.
Rockdale City Suns v South Coast Wolves, Sunday 1st of July, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 2 Rockdale City Suns 3
Manly United FC 0 South Coast Wolves 2
At Ilinden Sports Centre, the high-flying Rockdale City Suns will be looking to further improve on its sixth-placed standing on the ladder when South Coast Wolves visit.
The Suns have scored some fine victories in recent weeks ? the two wins against Sydney Olympic and Blacktown City FC over the past fortnight are certainly testament to the fine work of new coach Mark Rudan since his arrival.
The Suns will however need to be switched on for the entire 90? minutes, as an equally impressive South Coast Wolves looks to keep pace with Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Trevor Morgan?s men were ruthless in the late showing against Manly United FC last weekend, and more of the same will be expected as Sasho Petrovski & Co. look to further improve on the tremendous campaign to-date.
With two sides that have certainly figured amongst the goals of late, more of the same will be expected on Sunday in Rockdale.
Sydney United 58 FC v Blacktown City FC, Sunday 1st of July, 4:00 pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 2 Sydney United 58 FC 1
Blacktown City FC 2 Rockdale City Suns 3
A blockbuster awaits us at Sydney United Sports Centre as Sydney United 58 FC and Blacktown City FC lock horns in the late kick-off on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds have struggled in recent weeks to get going with some poor results matched by some under-par performances, though a big clash against fierce rivals Blacktown City FC could well be the perfect opportunity for the side to return to winning ways.
Mike Gibson has taken over as first grade coach at the club, and the boss will be looking for a more stable performance from his defenders this weekend.
In the attacking third, the Reds are eagerly awaiting Luke Glavas? return from a long injury lay-off to bolster an attacking third that has lacked goals of late.
Blacktown City FC will enter this account seething after the home loss against Rockdale City Suns last weekend. Mark Crittenden?s men finished the match strongly, though failed to claw back the 2-3 deficit in the closing stages. The former champions will be wanting to keep pace with Bonnyrigg on the ladder, meanwhile Sydney United?s precarious ninth-place standing is of some concern as the competition moves into the last eight rounds of the season.
