SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 5 Preview
With the Hyundai A-League Grand Final blockbuster taking centre stage on Sunday, all matches this weekend will kick off on Saturday evening, providing a rare full round on the one day.
Mounties Wanderers v Hills Brumbies Saturday 20/4 7pm at Cook Park, Mount Pritchard
Mounties Wanderers have shot to the top of the league after an impressive start, recording three wins and a draw from the opening four rounds. Regarded as a dark horse prior to the season’s start, they have indicated early that last season’s success in making the finals was no one-season wonder. A visit to Cook Park is always a tough assignment and an impressive home record over recent years means that Hills Brumbies will need to be at their best come Saturday. The Brumbies have only played the three games so far, and had a good home win over Parramatta FC in round two, but generally it has been their away form where they have found most success. Brumbies’ Jeffrey Issa has done what he was signed to do, score goals, and he will be the one Mounties will need to watch.
Spirit FC v Bankstown City Saturday 20/4 7pm at Christie Park, Marsfield
After two consecutive losses to start the season, Spirit FC have gained ground taking four points from their past two matches, including a commendable win at Macarthur Rams last weekend. This is the form which was expected prior to the season start, and with a more experienced line up this season, the sort of results which should continue once Rob de Ceglie beds down his methods. The visit of Bankstown City to Christie Park will give a good indication of where Spirit may currently sit, bearing in mind the Lions’ strengths, and a positive result here will give great confidence for the future.
Bankstown City came from two goals down to draw at St George on Wednesday night, and there was plenty of resilience on show. Still undefeated, they will travel to Christie Park keen to turn those recent draws into wins and with Saso Petrovski having scored in each round, and already on six for the season, it is not hard to see where Spirit will place their focus.
Fraser Park v Macarthur Rams Saturday 20/4 7pm at Fraser Park, Sydenham
It has been a middling start for both Fraser Park and Macarthur Rams and the inconsistency is likely to continue when the two meet this weekend. It is two wins and two losses for the visitors with a win, draw and two losses for Fraser Park, so both clubs need the three points to avoid any semblance of a gap opening this early in the season. Both clubs expect to be challenging for the five this season, so a quick turnaround of positive results is required.
This match was an entertaining 1-1 draw last year, but another share of the points here won’t be welcomed by either side.
Sydney University v St George Saturday 20/4 7pm at Hensley field, Pagewood
It has not been a good start to the season for Sydney University who are yet to record a win in their four games to date, although indications are that they are not far from snaring that elusive victory. A draw last weekend at Jensen Park gives an idea of the ability of the Uni side and St George will be wary of taking too much for granted when they visit Hensley Field. They will be wise to keep an eye on ex Saint Peter Crevani, who has scored two this season.
Like Uni on the weekend, St George had a 3-3 draw against Bankstown City midweek, and they confirmed themselves as the league’s top scorers with fourteen in four games. But they concede a few too, and there have been twenty four goals in St George’s four games so far. At an average of six goals a game, anybody looking for entertainment and goal mouth action should head to Hensley Field on Saturday.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Northern Tigers Saturday 20/4 7pm at Popondetta Park, Emerton
Mount Druitt Town are also yet to gather their first win and with the visit of Northern Tigers being one of the tougher match ups, they will have to be at the peak to take a victory here. Last weekend’s heavy loss to St George will have to be put out of mind for this weekend but with players who have tasted success at this level previously, that experience should stand the Rangers in good stead. Northern Tigers seem to have continued where they left off last season, only a defeat at Parramatta FC being their undoing to date.
Amazingly, seven different players have hit the back of the net for the Tigers already this season, and so they clearly have the ability to score across the park, making the task even more difficult for Mount Druitt.
Parramatta FC v Bankstown Berries Saturday 20/4 7pm at Melita Stadium, South Granville
After only four rounds, Bankstown Berries are one of only three clubs still undefeated, but unfortunately for the Berries, three of those games resulted in draws. They have no trouble scoring but are yet to keep a clean sheet, with seven goals against. Improvement at the back will be one of John Calleja’s priorities as they visit Melita Stadium this weekend.
Parramatta’s only victory to date came against Northern Tigers, an impressive scalp, and so they should fancy their chances again this Saturday. The Eagles should really have more points than the four they do have, all gained at home, but this one could really go either way.
Rescheduled Round Three – Wednesday 17 April 2013
St George v Bankstown City
It was a fast and furious encounter at St George Stadium on Wednesday night as the Saints and Lions fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw in their rescheduled round three clash.
It was non-stop action between two sides which had two similarly tough matches last season and with six goals shared, the point takes Bankstown City within two points of the top.
Saso Petrovski put the Lions in the lead after pouching smartly after a quarter of an hour, but St George then raced to a 3-1 lead after Sam Messam drew the Saints level, Chris Gomez took ultimate advantage of a Lions goal kick blunder before David Dascal gave the home side a two goal buffer eight minutes before the break.
But as St George discovered last season, a two goal lead against the Lions is not enough. Some intense second half pressure saw the Lions drag a goal back when Nicolo Sama received an inch perfect pass before striking a rising shot into the roof of the net just before the hour, and then Simon Verrender headed home from a free kick with twenty minutes left on the clock.
Both sides sought the winner but in truth, neither team deserved to go home empty handed.
St George 3 (Sam Messam 20’, Chris Gomez 27’, David Dascal 37’) v Bankstown City 3 (Saso Petrovski 15’, Nicolo Sama 58’, Simon Verrender 70’)
In the Under 20s, St George hammered the Lions 6-0 with Stephen Grbevski notching a hatrick, while Andrew Grey, James Spanoudakis and Elias Xanthos also got their names on the scoresheet.
Under 20s: St George 6 v Bankstown City 0
-By Peter Rowney