NSW Premier League Round 16 Preview
Blacktown Spartans v South Coast Wolves, Saturday 21st of July, 7:00 pm Blacktown Football Park
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 2 Blacktown Spartans 1
South Coast Wolves 6 Sydney United 58 FC 3
The ?red hot? South Coast Wolves will be out for more blood this weekend as it continues its giant killing form with a trip to Blacktown to face the Spartans.
Trevor Morgan?s side has been one of the form sides in 2012, and with season revelation Ricky Zucco taking the League by storm, the side from the South Coast could well be the dark horse come finals football.
In the front third, the Wolves have been menacing. The six goals scored against a normally strong Sydney United defence has the side playing full of confidence, though Morgan will be hoping his defence tighten things across the backline to annul the goals that have recently been conceded.
Blacktown Spartans have enjoyed a more than decent first season in the top-flight with some great results, though Ben De Haan?s men will be looking to add as many points possible between now and the end of the regular season to close in as much as possible to the top-five.
Captain Carlos Saliadarre and Greg Kondek have led the side by example on the pitch, and the two will be pushing their teammates to carry on from the closing stages of the Blacktown derby last weekend where the side pressed very late-on in a bid to share the spoils.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Rockdale City Suns, Saturday 21st of July, 7:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Last Week:
Manly United FC 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4
Sutherland Sharks 1 Rockdale City Suns 2
The League leaders will be brimming in confidence when it returns home this weekend following arguably the side?s best performance of the season at Manly United last weekend. The White Eagles have taken the league by storm this season as it comfortably leads at the top of the ladder with seven matches remaining.
The side will however need to be on alert this Saturday evening as Rockdale City Suns visit Bonnyrigg. The Suns too have been a revelation in 2012 following coach Mark Rudan?s arrival at the club ? the side sitting only one-point outside the top-five.
Bonnyrigg were ruthless against Manly United last weekend with Robbie Younis and Aleksander Canak both playing exceptional matches in the 4-1 win, meanwhile Rockdale City stunned Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw ? something only few teams have done over the past few seasons ? to return to Ilinden Sports Centre with maximum points.
Two well-organised sides with a lot of attacking flair, this clash is arguably one of the picks for this weekend.
Marconi Stallions v Blacktown City FC, Saturday 21st of July, 7:30 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 1 Marconi Stallions 2
Blacktown City FC 2 Blacktown Spartans 1
Two big guns meet at Marconi Stadium on Saturday as the Stallions host Blacktown City FC. These two sides, sitting third and fourth respectively on the League ladder, have both played some good football this season, and a win for either on Sunday will keep well and truly alive its challenge for a top-two finish.
Marconi fell agonisingly close to claiming a share of the spoils against Sydney Olympic last weekend, despite playing the entire second-half with only ten men following Andrew Mailer?s sending off late in the first period.
Coach Luke Casserly can count on the fine form of Joey Gibbs and midfield engine-man Shane Webb for this important fixture, meanwhile captain Nahuel Arrarte will be expected to slot back into the starting side after missing the Sydney Olympic clash.
Blacktown City clinched the bragging rights in the Blacktown derby win against the Spartans last weekend, in a performance dominated by Mark Crittenden?s men. The side, however, did make hard work of the win due to its inability to put the match to rest early following a plethora of chances. With chances not expected to come so frequently on Saturday, Blacktown City will need to be more clinical if it is to take any points from Bossley Park on Saturday.
Manly United FC v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 22nd of July, 3:00 pm Cromer Park
Last Week:
Manly United FC 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0 Parramatta FC 0
Tenth and eleventh on the League ladder meet at Cromer Park on Sunday afternoon as APIA-Leichhardt meet Manly United FC in a must win match for both sides. With both sides losing sight of the top-five with each passing week over the past month, points are a necessity to keep the finals football dream alive.
Manly United?s form has been very indifferent this season, and the side has been unable to take full advantage of the matches played at home over the past month. Craig Midgley?s men still have an extensive fixture list of home matches, and the likes of Colin Iley, Scott Balderson and Matt Sim will need to lead their teammates on the field if the side is going to stand any chance of figuring in the top-five.
APIA-Leichhardt?s season has followed the same path as that of Manly United, even though the side managed to reach the Waratah Cup Final. With a match in hand against Sutherland Sharks ? to be played this Wednesday evening at Lambert Park ? the Tigers season could well be determined in the following six days.
Coach John Turner has instilled his football philosophy very well, though the final execution has not been so consistent for the Tigers who return, for the first time, to the scene of the 2012 Waratah Cup Final loss.
Parramatta FC v Sydney Olympic, Sunday 22nd of July, 3:00 pm Melita Stadium
Last Week:
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0 Parramatta FC 0
Sydney Olympic 2 Marconi Stallions 1
Sixteen points separate fifth-placed Sydney Olympic and bottom-placed Parramatta FC when these two sides meet at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday.
The reigning champions have found the going tough this season with a complicated fixture list ? where the side has played many of its home matches away from home ? though recent wins against Sydney United 58 FC and Marconi Stallions has the side reliving some of the marvellous form that saw it win both the Premiership and Minor Premiership last season.
Chris Triantis continues to lead the way out of midfield with his consistent performances, though a lot of credit must go to the likes of Troy Danaskos, Zac Elrich and Peter Triantis for their constant development as footballers.
The Blues opponents this weekend, Parramatta FC, are desperate to find wins in a bid to assist the club in the Club Championship race to remain in the top-flight next season. Coach Lee Sterrey has been blessed to have a fine goalkeeper of Matthew Nash?s talent at his disposal this season, meanwhile youngsters Daniel Gullo and Devante Clut have also made waves since receiving a shot in the first team. Akiyoshi Saito remains a pivotal part of the Eagles? midfield, meanwhile Bruno Pivato has had experience in this League and he is a ?go to? man in the Eagles? bid to move off the bottom of the ladder.
Sydney United 58 FC v Sutherland Sharks, Sunday 22nd of July, 3:00 pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Week:
South Coast Wolves 6 Sydney United 58 FC 3
Sutherland Sharks 1 Rockdale City Suns 2
The pick of the fixtures on Sunday will take place in Edensor Park as Sydney United 58 FC ? coming off a hiding at the hands of South Coast Wolves ? host 2012 Waratah Cup winners, Sutherland Sharks.
The Reds managed to score three goals in Wollongong, something few teams have managed to do in recent seasons, though the side conceded six in the process. Stand in coach Mike Gibson will be looking for a much stronger showing across the backline, as striker Luka Glavas edges closer to a start after a long spell on the sidelines due to injury.
Sutherland?s run, Waratah Cup triumph aside, has not been the most enthralling, despite some very good footballing performances. Coach Robbie Stanton saw a ?flat? Sutherland take the field in the unexpected loss at home against Rockdale City Suns last weekend, and expectation on Sunday is for a return to the clinical side that netted four goals to clinch the Cup just over a week ago.
As is the case for APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sutherland?s next six days will be very important for the side?s season. Before the Sydney United clash, the Sharks meet the Tigers on Wednesday evening in a re-scheduled match, one that will be worth more than three-points as a win will provide a massive boost in the run towards the end of the regular season.
