SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 10 Preview
Only three points separate the top five clubs as round ten comes our way this weekend.
The competitiveness of the league is there for all to see and with yet more enticing fixtures this weekend, no one can deny the quality of football on display. There were also five remaining Mens 2 clubs in the Waratah Cup midweek so the busy schedule continues for some.
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown Berries Saturday 7pm, Lynwood Park, St Helens Park.
Bankstown Berries were fortunate to come away with the points last weekend so they will need an improved performance when they tackle Macarthur Rams on Saturday. The Berries are third in a very compact top five, just one point off first but only two from fifth so there is very little room to slip up. They will be facing a side who concede few goals, only seven so far but the Rams are also a bit goal shy, their tally of ten the equal lowest in the league.
Almir Dizdaric is their leading scorer with three, equal with Peter Halstead who has since moved on, so the goals will need to come from elsewhere. The normally prolific Shannon Hankin is the most likely, his single goal to date a lower than usual output.
The Berries don’t have trouble scoring, their nineteen goals “for” the second highest in the league. It would seem a case of the Berries frontline versus the Rams backline in this.
Bankstown City v Mounties Wanderers Saturday 7pm, Jensen Park, Sefton
It has been a busy time for Mounties Wanderers who will face their seventh game in twenty two days when they travel to Jensen Park on Saturday. They have come through that period though in flying colours, losing only the one league game, to Bankstown Berries, although they did also go out on penalties to Central Coast Mariners Academy in the cup. They have only conceded top spot in the league thanks to goal difference so a quick return will be their main objective.
Despite their recent run of poor results, Bankstown City can never be discounted. Simply put, the quality of their squad is too good to remain in the lower reaches for too long and a change in fortunes must surely come. The Lions have still only lost one league game at home this season and Jensen Park is a tough venue for any visiting side to take points. But Mounties did take a win in the earlier rounds of the cup so maybe they have the secret. Mounties Wanderers’ defence is tight with only seven against in nine games so Saso Petrovski and Gosue Sama will need to be flying for this one.
Fraser Park v Mount Druitt Town Rangers Saturday 7pm, Fraser Park, Sydenham
There is a shine out Fraser Park way with the announcement of their forthcoming ground upgrade. By the look of the proposed plans, it will be a top facility for Fraser and a fine addition to Sydney’s football stadia. It will remain now for Fraser Park to produce results on the field and where better to start than this weekend.
They have the visit of Mount Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday, a side desperately unlucky not to take something out of the game last weekend. If Rangers can produce a similar effort here, as they did in the second half last round, Fraser Park will have a fight on their hands. Neither side score frequently, Ben Vidaic being Fraser’s top scorer with four from the side’s eleven to date. Amazingly, Mount Druitt Town are yet to have anyone score twice this season, their ten goals being scored by nine different players (and one own goal).
If the Rangers can turn that statistic around, the season will look a lot more promising.
Sydney University v Hills Brumbies Saturday 7pm, Hensley Field, Pagewood
Hills Brumbies came off second best last weekend after some excellent results so they will be keen to get back to winning ways when they travel across town to Pagewood to meet Sydney University. It hasn’t been a good start to the season for Uni who have just the one win to date and some relatively hefty losses. Like a handful of clubs they are not prolific in front of goal, although Peter Crevani can be pleased with his five goals so far. Uni did run Sydney Olympic very close in the cup on Wednesday, only going down 2-1 so that result should give some confidence when meeting Hills this weekend.
Dragan Savic has started to hit the net for the Brumbies, two last weekend and also a double a few weeks ago. Currently Hills’ top scorer, Savic has found a nose for goals and his four so far equals his season’s tally for 2012. More of the same will keep the Brumbies’ wheels turning.
St George v Northern Tigers Sunday 3pm, St George Stadium, Kyeemagh
There were midweek Waratah Cup matches for both the Saints and Tigers with varying degrees of success. Northern Tigers were as close as could be to progressing against Sutherland Sharks, taking the Premier League side to extra time and having the lead until the 119th minute, before a late Sharks equaliser. With each then being successful with their first five penalties, it was only at the sudden death stage that the Tigers fell. It looks like the Tigers are back.
St George also went to penalties in their game against Parramatta FC but came out the winners. It will be interesting to see how they each cope after those exertions coming into this match, but one thing is for certain, there won’t be a lot in it. While St George might have climbed to the top of the league while the Tigers were heading in the opposite direction, that run of losses for the visitors ceased against Bankstown City last Sunday. It was no surprise to see Adam Biddle return to Mills Park after his departure from the Central Coast Mariners Academy side, and it was Biddle who scored on Wednesday night, while Max Glanville is also on the way back, so Northern Tigers will be looking ahead with a great deal of confidence.
St George also have the confidence which comes from winning in some high scoring matches. But Manny Spanoudakis will ensure that level heads prevail, the job really only now starting. But there can be little doubt that the Saints have the firepower. The front duo of Juan Chavez and Sam Messam have seventeen goals between them, a total higher than most of the clubs in the competition. Only the Berries have scored more than those two.
Spirit FC v Parramatta FC Sunday 3pm, Christie Park, Marsfield
Inconsistency appears to be the buzzword at both the Spirit and Parramatta FCs, as each try to gain traction in the league table. No sooner do either side gain some excellent results, such as Spirit at Macarthur and home to Bankstown City and Parramatta against the Lions, then they slip up. Trying to overcome those lapses in form must be the priority for both clubs as the wins they have achieved indicate their ability.
Parramatta just failed against St George in the Waratah Cup on Wednesday night, twice coming back from a goal down and looking the stronger as the game went on. There was little between the two, with both having good chances to win the game before St George eventually got up on penalties.
Spirit will be looking to the McKie brothers to get them home here, the pair having scored six of Spirit’s ten.
-By Peter Rowney
