NSW Premier League Round 17 Preview
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sydney United 58 FC
Last Week:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Rockdale City Suns 2
Sydney United 58 FC 2 Sutherland Sharks 0
One of the competition?s fiercest rivalries will be rekindled this weekend as Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United 58 FC meet in a match that is worth not only three points, but bragging rights also in the Members Only match.
The White Eagles have been the side to set the bar this season with a near flawless campaign, yet recent defeats to APIA-Leichhardt Tigers and Rockdale City Suns have somewhat allowed the chasing pack a look-in as we close in on the finals.
Coach Brian Brown will be wary of Sydney United?s ability, keeping in mind the constant improvements of gun strikers Luka Glavas and Elsid Barkhousir who are both playing their way back into the fold following a period away from the playing field due to injury.
Bonnyrigg?s wide men, Tynan Diaz and captain Chris Tadrosse have been immense this season, and these two will be key in feeding the likes of Robbie Younis and Chris Payne in the front third.
The loss of exciting young prospect David Vrankovic in the backline to Hyundai A-League side Melbourne Heart will hurt the side in defence but the White Eagles know what this win could do to their chances of capturing that elusive title.
A win for Sydney United will keep its finals ambitions alive, meanwhile a three-pointer for Bonnyrigg will keep its nearest challengers away from top spot.
Manly United FC v Rockdale City Suns, Saturday 28th of July, 7:00 pm Cromer Park
Last Week:
Manly United FC 3 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1 Rockdale City Suns 2
Manly United?s defeat of APIA-Leichhardt Tigers last weekend will provide Craig Midgley?s men with the added confidence required to go about finishing the season off in style, though the task awaiting the Northern Beaches outfit on Saturday evening will be a mammoth one. Rockdale City Suns ? the giant killers of the past two months ? visit Cromer Park in tremendous form and full of confidence following the impressive win against Bonnyrigg last weekend.
Coach Mark Rudan will be after more of the same from his chargers as the side closes in on a finals berth ? one that seemed extremely unlikely when these two teams lined up against each other in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.
Manly United still has a handful of home matches to come this season, and the side will be looking to finish the campaign strongly following an indifferent run. Michael Daly was the hero last weekend with a brace against the Tigers as Adam Foti looks to keep his good form up with a positive showing against the Suns.
South Coast Wolves v Marconi Stallions, Saturday 28th of July, 7:00 pm John Crehan Park
Last Week:
Blacktown Spartans 1 South Coast Wolves 4
Marconi Stallions 3 Blacktown City FC 1
Second meets third in Wollongong this weekend as South Coast Wolves look to make good use of home ground advantage when Marconi Stallions visit John Crehan Park.
The Wolves have been in scintillating form this season, and the results have been testament to the side?s placing on the ladder.
Striker Ricky Zucco has taken the league by storm with a number of world class strikes thus far, and with the support of players like John Martinoski, Peter Simonoski and Sasho Petrovski around him, it would take a brave person to bet against the striker further adding to his impressive tally.
The Wolves however will need to be on alert with an equally impressive Marconi Stallions collecting some big scalps in recent weeks. The Stallions have looked relatively strong in defence, and with a number of outlets in the front third, are not at all short of goal scoring options.
This clash promises to be arguably the pick of the round this weekend as the winner attempts to further consolidate a spot in the top-three.
Sutherland Sharks v Blacktown Spartans, Saturday 28th of July, 7:00 pm Seymour Shaw
Last Week:
Sydney United 58 FC 2 Sutherland Sharks 0
Blacktown Spartans 1 South Coast Wolves 4
Sutherland Sharks return to Seymour Shaw this weekend in desperate need of points if its miniscule hopes of playing finals football are to remain alive. Standing in the Sharks way of securing three-points will be Blacktown Spartans who have been impressive in this debut season in the top-flight.
The Spartans created plenty of goal scoring options in Round 15 against the Wolves, though Ben De Haan?s men were not clinical enough in-front of goal.
Sutherland too has fallen victim of poor finishing in the front third, something that has not been helped by the departure of Blake Powell who will be plying his trade in the upcoming A-League season. With morale down following a series of poor results in the league, and the possibility of midfielder Nick Stavroulakis missing the encounter due to an injury picked up against Sydney United, the pressure will be square on the shoulders of the Sharks to make the result happen on Saturday. Potentially, a great chance for Blacktown Spartans to score a massive upset and continue to climb up the League ladder.
Sydney Olympic v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 29th of July, 3:00 pm Lambert Park
Last Week:
Parramatta FC 0 Sydney Olympic 4
Manly United FC 3 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0
Sydney Olympic?s form over the past month has been tremendous as the reigning champions look to finish the season off in much the same way as that of last season. The Blues were ruthless against Parramatta FC last weekend, running riot in a fine second-half display. The Tigers on the other hand have failed to ignite this season, despite some strong performances across the park.
Coach John Turner will be without Adam D?Apuzzo following his straight red card at Cromer Park as the Tigers look to re-group and finish the season as far away from the bottom places as possible.
A win on the weekend, with a catch-up match still to come against Manly United FC, could see the reigning champions push for a top-two finish come Round 22.
Blacktown City FC v Parramatta FC, Sunday 29th of July, 3:00 pm Lily Homes
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 3 Blacktown City FC 1
Parramatta FC 0 Sydney Olympic 4
Good mates Mark Crittenden and Lee Sterrey, respective coaches of Blacktown City FC and Parramatta FC, go head-to-head on Sunday as friendships will be put aside for 90? minutes of football. Both sides need points for very different reasons as the 2010 champions aim to consolidate a spot in the top-five, meanwhile Parramatta FC looks to move off the foot of the table.
Crittenden will look towards his captain Luke Roodenburg to lead the charge, with the likes of Yuchi Yamauchi and Ryuji Miyazawa expected to etch their names on the encounter with a strong performance.
Parramatta FC have failed to put together an entire 90? minutes of good football this season, perhaps due to the youthfulness of the players at coach Lee Sterrey?s disposal. The Eagles have pushed the ?bigger sides? in the competition, and should the side manage to bring a strong showing to Lily Homes for the entire 90? minutes, the time might be right to ?pip? the former champions after the loss at Marconi last weekend.
-By Joseph Carlucci
