NSW Premier League Round 21 Preview
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sydney Olympic, Saturday 25th of August, 7:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Last Week:
Parramatta FC 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1
Sydney Olympic 2 Sutherland Sharks 3
Bonnyrigg White Eagles will be officially crowned 2012 Premiership winners this weekend in-front of its home supporters ahead of the clash against Sydney Olympic on Saturday.
The White Eagles and Blues encounter pits first against second, however Bonnyrigg?s ten-point lead over the reigning champions with two matches to go makes this match one of insignificance, only as so far as the League ladder goes for Brian Brown?s men.
Even though the White Eagles? supporters will be in party mode, no team of Brian Brown will ever take a ?dead rubber? less serious than a ?live fixture?. The White Eagles will be looking to hand their supporters another victory and further extend its lead at the top of the table, to cap off what has been a phenomenal 2012.
Sydney Olympic?s task at hand will be a difficult one away from home, however Peter Tsekenis? side will be very eager to pick up a win and consolidate second spot on the ladder.
The Blues showed a lot of heart against Sutherland Sharks last weekend, playing a large part of the match with only ten-men, though in the end conceded late to lose the match. Without Peter Triantis for this clash the Blues? coach will need to re-evaluate the midfield, though there is no doubt that the Blues? players will be very intent on spoiling the White Eagles? party as Bonnyrigg will be presented the Premiership trophy that belonged to Sydney Olympic last season.
Sutherland Sharks v Blacktown City FC, Saturday 25th of August, 7:00 pm Seymour Shaw Park
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 2 Sutherland Sharks 3
Blacktown City FC 4 South Coast Wolves 0
Blacktown City will be looking to confirm its status amongst the top-five this weekend at Seymour Shaw when it lines up against Sutherland Sharks on Saturday, however the task at hand will be far from an ?easy? one.
The Sharks, despite a disappointing run this season in-terms of results, are coming off an emphatic win at Sydney Olympic, one that will certainly be spurring the Sharks players on this weekend at home.
Whilst coach Robbie Stanton looks to finish the season strongly, Blacktown City FC has other ideas as it aims to build on the sensational showing against South Coast Wolves last weekend. In arguably the side?s best performance of 2012, Blacktown City gave the Wolves nothing in a dominant display that saw Sean Rooney run riot in the front third. Perfectly assisted by the likes of Daniel Bragg, Travis Major and Yuchi Yamauchi out of midfield, and with captain Luke Roodenburg filling in at the centre of defence due to a shortage in playing personnel, Mark Crittenden?s men were flawless across the park. Should the same passing game be executed on the near perfect conditions at Seymour Shaw, Blacktown City will be odds on favourite to claim the points on Saturday.
Rockdale City Suns v Marconi Stallions, Sunday 26th of August, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Blacktown Spartans 1 Rockdale City Suns 0
Marconi Stallions 2 Manly United FC 0
Rockdale City?s finals aspirations hang in the balance as the team prepares for the Sunday afternoon showdown at home against Marconi Stallions. Recent losses have complicated the Suns? run towards the finals series and three-points are a must if the side is going to keep its hopes of figuring in the top-five alive.
Coach Mark Rudan?s task this week will be to ensure morale is high across the group with the side feeling the effects of recent losses. Along with Pece Cvetanovski, Sash Tirovski and Alec Urosevski will need to on their game against a Stallions side that re-found that winning feeling last weekend.
Luke Casserly?s players bounced back brilliantly from the poor showing at Bonnyrigg in Round 19, and Joey Gibbs? double, along with the fine performance of captain Nahuel Arrarte stand the side in good stead to claim the points, and consolidate its spot in the top-five, this weekend.
With a lot up for grabs on Sunday, an open and attacking encounter is expected by both these sides.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers v South Coast Wolves, Sunday 26th of August, 3:00 pm Lambert Park
Last Week:
Sydney United 58 FC 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 4
Blacktown City FC 4 South Coast Wolves 0
South Coast Wolves are in need of a win against APIA-Leichhardt Tigers this weekend to give itself some much needed confidence ahead of the finals series. The Wolves have been one of the standout performers this season, however a poor run of results of late ? culminating in the 4-0 loss at Blacktown City in Round 20 ? has the side down on confidence.
The Wolves? opponents this weekend, APIA-Leichhardt, come off a tremendous win at Sydney United. The Tigers have not enjoyed a great campaign, though the spirit of the group in the run home has been impressive. Billy McColl?s leadership since returning to the helm has once more reaped reward for the club as the Tigers have moved away from the bottom two places on the ladder.
The side will however be without Adam Casey through suspension and Franco Parisi with an ankle injury that could see him out for the remainder of the season, however the high spirits amongst the playing group do bode well for the final two matches.
Wolves? coach Trevor Morgan will need more intensity from his players at Lambert Park. The side was sluggish against Blacktown City and was duly punished. In the front-third, Mark Picciolini and Ricky Zucco will be hoping for more service from the midfield, meanwhile captain Jacob Timpano will be looking to bring calm across the backline in this difficult away trip.
Parramatta FC v Manly United FC, Sunday 26th of August, 3:00 pm Melita Stadium
Last Week:
Parramatta FC 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 1
Marconi Stallions 2 Manly United FC 0
Parramatta FC and Manly United FC have both experienced difficult runs in 2012 with results falling short of both sides pre-season objectives. Sunday afternoon provides both sides with a good opportunity of finishing the season on a high at Melita Stadium.
The Eagles have awoken from their slumber over the past month with some good wins to better its points tally and the side has been equally impressive with its performances. Parramatta FC?s newest additions to the squad, Daniel Rezo and Wandi Jajaw have both performed well as the club as a whole look to accumulate as many points as possible to avoid relegation on the Club Championship.
Manly United backup away from home for the second consecutive week, and the side will be looking to show more intensity than it did at Marconi last weekend. Scott Balderson and Michael Daly will be looked upon to lead the side into this fixture with Colin Iley still playing an important role for the side.
The three-points are vital for both sides, more so for the Club Championship than the respective positions on the Premier League ladder.
Sydney United 58 FC v Blacktown Spartans, Sunday 26th of August, 4:00 pm Melita Stadium
Last Week:
Sydney United 58 FC 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 4
Blacktown Spartans 1 Rockdale City Suns 0
Sydney United 58 FC has flirted with danger this season on the Club Championship ladder, though the side has certainly the ability, and an impressive array of talent, to finish the season with two victories, starting off with Blacktown Spartans on Sunday.
Influential striker Luka Glavas has had a difficult season due to injury, and the striker?s figure as he left the field on Sunday with another injury midway through the first-half did not look too positive. The side however does possess some raw talent, and striker Mirjan Pavlovic will be expected to lead his side from the front.
The Reds were left shell-shocked on Sunday when APIA-Leichhardt ran away with victory in the final 10? minutes, and the side will be looking to bounce back with a win in its final home match for 2012.
The task at hand will not be a straight forward one as the Spartans enter the tie coming off a very hard fought 1-0 win over Rockdale City. Ben DeHaan?s side will be without Djordje Degenek due to suspension, though the fine form of Jacob Ott, Christopher Gomez and goalkeeper and captain Carlos Saliadarre has been massive for the club.
