NSW Premier League Round 18 Preview
Blacktown Spartans v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Saturday 4th of August, 7:00 pm Blacktown Football Park
Last Week:
Sutherland Sharks 4 Blacktown Spartans 3
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4 Sydney United 58 FC 0
Runaway League leader, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, face a tough Saturday evening clash this weekend as it travels to Blacktown Football Park to face the Spartans. The White Eagles have been a level above the rest of the competition this season, and following the demolition of Sydney United 58 FC last weekend, the same will be expected in Round 18. Brian Brown?s men, however, will do best to not underestimate Ben De Haan?s Spartans ? the side has already claimed some big scalps this season, proving the side has adapted to life in Football NSW?s top flight.
The Spartans players will need to keep close tabs on the likes of Chris Tadrosse and Tynan Diaz who ran riot last weekend, meanwhile in the front third, the side will need to be more clinical if it is to stand a chance of a springing a surprise. The Spartans have created a number of goal scoring chances in this campaign, though the conversion rate has not been overly impressive. Should the side start the match with the same intensity it finished the Round 17 clash against Sutherland, a real cracker will be expected in this matchup.
Marconi Stallions v Sutherland Sharks, Saturday 4th of August, 7:30 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
South Coast Wolves 1 Marconi Stallions 0
Sutherland Sharks 4 Blacktown Spartans 3
Marconi and Sutherland always provide observers with an entertaining battle, and the same will be expected when the two sides meet this weekend. The Stallions have been in great touch in recent weeks, consolidating a spot in the top-five despite a nail biting loss against South Coast Wolves last weekend ? where the side created enough goal scoring chances to even win the match.
Sutherland?s run has been less impressive in-terms of results, and even though the side?s hopes of reaching the finals series seem unlikely ? still mathematically possible, however ? coach Robbie Stanton will be expecting an improved performance in Bossley Park.
With a top-two spot still on the radar for Marconi, the Stallions will be aiming to make home advantage count on Saturday evening and all but end Sutherland?s miniscule hopes of figuring in the top-five.
Sydney Olympic v Blacktown City FC, Sunday 5th of August, 3:00 pm Lily Homes Stadium
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1
Blacktown City FC 3 Parramatta FC 0
Sydney Olympic?s run of ?home? fixtures played away from home this season continues this weekend as Belmore Sports Ground remains unavailable to the reigning champions.
The Blues have been unfazed about forfeiting home ground advantage with most recent scalps Sydney United 58 FC and APIA-Leichhardt Tigers both failing to make the most of a second shot at the Blues on their own home surface.
Blues? coach Peter Tsekenis has a ?red hot? Chris Triantis terrorising opposing defences with his speed, skill and composure on the ball, meanwhile the quickness and intensity of David Gullo and both Elrich boys, Zac and Kutaiba, have seen the side put behind them the indifferent run of results seen in the first part of the season.
Blacktown City FC will be aiming to take advantage of the fact that the match will be played at Lily Homes Stadium, with Luke Roodenburg leading the troops into battle. Mark Crittenden?s men need a win this weekend to keep Rockdale City Suns ? in sixth-spot – one-point adrift on the ladder. Japanese duo Ryuji Miyazawa and Yuchi Yamauchi have brought about a fine brand of football to the club, and more of the same goals these two have scored and created since the start of the season will be needed for the side to consolidate a spot in the finals.
Arguably the pick of the round this weekend between two sides that are not afraid to express a direct, physical style of play.
Manly United FC v Sydney United 58 FC, Sunday 5th of August, 3:00 pm Cromer Park
Last Week:
Manly United FC 2 Rockdale City Suns 2
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4 Sydney United 58 FC 0
Sydney United needs maximum points this weekend in its trip to Cromer Park to face Manly United if it is to play finals football this season. Coming off a positive win against Sutherland Sharks in Round 16, the Reds were given a hiding by Bonnyrigg last weekend to place a question mark over its finals ambitions.
Luka Glavas and Elsid Barkhousir are closing in on a starting spot following a long spell on the sidelines due to injury, however Ante Tomic?s conditions are very precarious after he was stretchered from the field with an injury last weekend.
The trip to Manly is definitely a tough one as the Cromer Park side has started to find its feet on the new artificial surface. The showing against Rockdale City by the Northern Beaches outfit was a fine one ? a 2-2 draw against one of the form sides of the competition ? and much like Sutherland Sharks, the side can still make some noise in the run home to the season?s end.
Colin Iley and Michael Daly have been immense for the side, as has Adam Foti with some important goals over the past month. These three will be key to Manly?s chances of victory this weekend.
Rockdale City Suns v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 5th of August, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Manly United FC 2 Rockdale City Suns 2
Sydney Olympic 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1
The high flying Rockdale City Suns look to return to winning ways after a slight hiccup in the 2-2 draw at Manly United last weekend. The Suns have been in tremendous form this season with coach Mark Rudan leading a talented playing group to within one-point of the top-five, five matches out from the end of the season.
Despite Dylan Macallister?s spell at the club coming to an end, the side has still a number of goal scorer?s available. Alec Urosevksi has been a tremendous acquisition this season, with the likes of Sash Tirovski too playing a big role for the side.
Defensively the Suns have been sound with Josh Lawson and Askin Oygur constantly growing in confidence, and should the Suns maintain the intensity shown over the past month, the side is well and truly in with a shot for finals football.
APIA-Leichhardt?s season, the Waratah Cup Final achievement aside, has not been an overly enjoyably one for the former NSL club. John Turner?s men have managed to play good football, though a lack of goals in the front third, and a number of goals conceded, see the side languishing in eleventh-spot.
With five matches remaining, the Tigers will look to collect as many points as possible to stay as far away from the bottom places as possible.
Parramatta FC v South Coast Wolves, Sunday 5th of August, 3:00 pm Melita Stadium
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 3 Parramatta FC 0
South Coast Wolves 1 Marconi Stallions 0
Parramatta FC has the chance to bring some light to its supporters this weekend with absolutely nothing to lose in the home match against second-placed South Coast Wolves. The Eagles? campaign has been far from good with only eight-points to show from seventeen matches thus far, as coach Lee Sterrey would like nothing less than to see his side hand its loyal supporters a massive three-points.
The visiting Wolves sit comfortably in second-spot as it continues its pursuit of Bonnyrigg. Trevor Morgan?s side has been one of the surprises this season, with the likes of Mark Picciolini, Ricky Zucco and Sasho Petrovski posing a massive threat to all opposing defences.
With both sides in need of points ? for two very different reasons ? an open match is expected at Melita Stadium on Sunday.
-By Joseph Carlucci
