State League One Round Eleven + Rescheduled Fixtures Preview
Both games involve four teams which are sitting precariously outside the top five, and a victory to any one of the four will catapult them straight into a semi final spot with two matches left to play.
On the synthetic surface at Seymour Shaw, eighth placed Stanmore Hawks tackle the in form, ninth placed Schofields Scorpions in an intriguing clash, three points to either taking them above a few clubs and straight into 5th position on the ladder.
Stanmore started the season very slowly, came into their own at the halfway point, but have stalled somewhat of late just when they needed to continue their momentum. In Steve Biviano, Nick Paradisis, and Neil Philippou, however, the Hawks have plenty of attacking experience, and players who thrive in the big game atmosphere, so the Scorpions will have their work cut out to keep their fourth clean sheet in as many games.
At Lambert Park, teams 7th and 6th on the ladder lock horns, as Balmain SC host Camden Tigers in a match that could very well determine whether either club plays on beyond the remaining fortnight?s fixtures.
Camden could in fact jump into fourth spot if they win by two clear goals, but the midweek trek to the Inner West could prove a tough test for the Tigers against a Balmain side who are eager to play semi final football for the first time since their arrival in Division One.
TUESDAY, August 6
Stanmore Hawks vs Schofields Scorpions @ Seymour Shaw Park, 8-00pm
Balmain SC vs Camden Tigers @ Lambert Park, 8-15pm
Round Twenty One Preview
Round Twenty One this weekend sees four matches on Saturday ? all kicking off at 7-00pm – and two on Sunday, both scheduled to start at 3-00pm.
Stanmore Hawks will play Northbridge at Arlington Oval in a must win for both sides ? the Hawks result on Tuesday will determine who has the ascendancy going into this six pointer.
Inter Lions will be hoping to keep the pressure on Gladesville Ryde Magic when they make the short trip to Leichhardt to take on Balmain at Lambert Park, who themselves will be hoping for three points and a spot in the five as a result.
Fairfield City Lions? season is well on truly on the line this weekend, and they couldn?t have asked for a tougher road trip than playing the high scoring Mt Druitt Town Rangers at Popondetta Park.
Camden Tigers should be too strong at home against bottom placed Hurstville ZFC, meaning they will be in with a shout for finals football going into the season?s final round the following weekend.
Sunday?s two matches sees Schofields Scorpions take on Southern Bulls at Ernie Smith Reserve, whilst the big match of the round is at Magdala Reserve when Gladesville Ryde Magic welcome UNSW.
The Magic currently lead the Division by three points, and know a victory here will mean destiny will be within their own hands during the final round of the competition. UNSW have suffered a few hiccups of late, but know they have the artillery to upset anyone on their day, and are keen to obtain a positive result so they don?t need to sweat it out in Round 22.
SATURDAY, August 11
Stanmore Hawks vs Northbridge FC @ Arlington Oval, 7-00pm
Balmain SC vs Inter Lions @ Lambert Park, 7-00pm
Mt Druitt Town Rangers vs Fairfield City Lions @ Popondetta Park, 7-00pm
Camden Tigers vs Hurstville ZFC @ Ron Dine Reserve, 7-00pm
SUNDAY, August 12
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs UNSW @ Magdala Reserve, 3-00pm
Southern Bulls vs Schofields Scorpions @ Ernie Smith Reserve, 3-00pm
Golden Boot
The season?s golden boot has come down to a battle between two team mates ? a remarkable situation given the circumstances. The two strikers in question both play for Mt Druitt Town, remarkable given their goals have not been enough to take the Rangers to the summit, as they currently sit in third spot on the ladder with two matches to go.
Todd Macrae leads the pack, the clinical marksman showing all his experience this season to net 20 times. Team mate Daniel Fogarty has managed 19 goals, often using his pace to get past opposition defences, and a great effort having played quite a few games less. With 39 goals between them in 20 matches, it is a great position for coach, Hugh McCrory, to be in, as you can say his side go into matches two up if his two deadly strikers are on the park.
Michael Cole has returned a healthy investment for a midfielder, the Northbridge player third on the list with 12 goals. Domenic Di Mento and Miguel Martinez of Inter Lions have swapped places continuously on the scorers charts, and have managed 21 goals between them for the second placed club. Other players to have reached double figures include pint sized Ry Hardy of Northbridge, and ?King? Henry Kamleitner of UNSW, the latter netting five in one fruitful match earlier this season.
The top goalscorers list with two weeks (and up to four matches for some players) to play is as follows.
State League One
Top Goalscorers
August 7, 2012
20 ? Todd MACRAE (Mt Druitt Town)
19 ? Daniel FOGARTY (Mt Druitt Town)
12 ? Michael COLE (Northbridge FC)
11 ? Domenic DI MENTO (Inter Lions)
10 ? Ry HARDY (Northbridge FC), Miguel MARTINEZ (Inter Lions),
Henry KAMLEITNER (UNSW)
8 ? Nathan RALPH (Mt Druitt Town), Damien STIVALA (Schofields)
7 ? Johnny BUONAVOGLIA (Balmain SC), Steve BIVIANO (Stanmore Hawks), Ardahan KUMRULU (Fairfield City Lions), Neil PHILIPPOU (Stanmore Hawks),
Ozcan CETINAY (Fairfield City Lions), Adrian VIZZARI (Inter Lions)
6 ?Peter O?DOHERTY (Gladesville Ryde Magic), Sebastian BENDALL (UNSW), Rafid HERMIZ (Southern Bulls), Andrew MCKIE (Gladesville Ryde Magic)
-By Frank Speranza
