State League One Round Nineteen Preview

All eyes will be at Popondetta Park on Saturday night when the clash of the titans takes place between the top two sides in State League One.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers welcome Gladesville Ryde Magic in what doubles up as the championship decider given there will be just three scheduled rounds left to play after this week.
The Magic have a five point lead over the Rangers, and know full well that a victory here will give them an eight point lead, and put one hand firmly on the premiership trophy.
There are so many duels across the park that are mouth watering, non more so between the best attack in the league up against the best defence.
Mt Druitt Town have scored 56 goals in 18 matches at an average of >3 per game. The experienced Todd Macrae, and speedster, Daniel Fogarty, lead the charge with 18 and 15 goals respectively, holding positions ?1? and ?2? in the top goalscorers charts, whilst rampaging midfielder, Nathan Ralph, has also chimed in with 8 goals for a healthy return from the centre of the park.
They?ll put Gladesville custodian, Kyriakos Tohouroglou, well and truly to the test, and the experienced goalkeeper will have to be at his very best to maintain his record of conceding less than a goal per game.
Skipper Ryan O?Shea has been a tower of strength in the midfield for Mt Druitt in 2012, ably supported by Glenn McPherson, playing a lot wider than usual these days, but equally as effective as he has always been against State League One opposition.
Gladesville Ryde Magic have recently acquired the services of Christian Care, a player who has seen it all across higher levels of football, and they?ll be turning to his vast big match experience to steer the team across the paddock. Teaming up with the technical Alistair McKie, the two playmakers will make the Rangers pay if allowed time on the ball.
Assisting them across the middle of the park will be the hard working Johnny Martinez and Scott Tonkin, real box to box midfielders whose efforts are spread equally both in defence and attack.
The first round match finished all square at Magdala Reserve, with Peter O?Doherty cancelling out Todd Macrae?s effort in an enthralling 1-1 draw, and another stalemate may be on the cards here again, although Mt Druitt will be keen on nothing less than a victory in front of their home fans to keep their title hopes alive.
The first match of the round is actually due to kick off earlier that Saturday afternoon at 3-00pm, with Northbridge FC eager to snap themselves out of a losing streak when they visit Southern Bulls at Ernie Smith Reserve.
The two remaining matches on Saturday evening sees Balmain SC entertain UNSW at Lambert Park, hoping their home ground advantage will steer them to victory, and keep them in touch with the top five, whilst a derby of sorts takes place at Arlington Oval between Stanmore Hawks and Inter Lions, two clubs with finals aspirations and in great form during the second round of the competition.
Sunday?s matches will close off Round 19, with Camden Tigers hoping for a valuable three points against Schofields Scorpions in their quest to remain in finals contention, whilst Fairfield City Lions will be eager to account for Hurstville ZFC and likewise keep their season alive.
SATURDAY, July 28                                                                                                  
Southern Bulls vs Northbridge FC @ Ernie Smith Reserve, 3-00pm
Stanmore Hawks vs Inter Lions @ Arlington Oval, 7-00pm
Balmain SC vs UNSW @ Lambert Park, 7-00pm
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Gladesville Ryde Magic @ Popondetta Park, 7-00pm
SUNDAY, July 29                                                                                                                                                                  
Schofields Scorpions vs Camden Tigers @ CSI Sport Ground, 3-00pm
Hurstville ZFC vs Fairfield City Lions @ Hurstville Oval, 3-00pm
State League One Top Goalscorers
18 ? Todd MACRAE (Mt Druitt Town)
15 ? Daniel FOGARTY (Mt Druitt Town)
11 ? Michael COLE (Northbridge FC), Miguel MARTINEZ (Inter Lions)
10 ? Ry HARDY (Northbridge FC)
8 ? Domenic DI MENTO (Inter Lions), Henry KAMLEITNER (UNSW), Nathan RALPH (Mt Druitt Town)
7 ? Johnny BUONAVOGLIA (Balmain SC), Steve BIVIANO (Stanmore Hawks), Damien STIVALA (Schofields), Ardahan KUMRULU (Fairfield City Lions), Neil PHILIPPOU (Stanmore Hawks), Ozcan CETINAY (Fairfield City Lions)
6 ?Peter O?DOHERTY (Gladesville Ryde Magic), Sebastian BENDALL (UNSW), Rafid HERMIZ (Southern Bulls)                                                                                                                                                                         
–By Frank Speranza