SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 16 Preview

The lack of action over the past fortnight should be behind us with the clearing weather of the past week likely to ensure a full round of matches, at last, this coming weekend.
Macarthur Rams v Fraser Park Saturday 7pm, Lynwood Park, St Helens Park
League leaders Macarthur Rams welcome Fraser Park to Lynwood Park on Saturday, the Rams looking to consolidate their hold on top spot. Macarthur were not entirely out of action in recent times, recording a win over Sydney University  in the only round 14 fixture to take place. Interestingly, Macarthur have only lost one game in their past ten and that was to Fraser Park just over a month ago so they will have the opportunity to avenge that loss this Saturday.
Fraser Park have suffered a couple of heavy home defeats lately, 0-4 to Northern Tigers and 0-3 to Bankstown Berries on Tuesday, so their form will need improving if they want to retain hopes of a final five spot. They will have Pat Cappuccio back this weekend after suspension.
St George v Sydney University, Saturday 7pm, St George Stadium, Kyeemagh
Sydney University are the only club to have been unaffected by the fixture turmoil of the past three weeks. They managed to play both their matches as scheduled, and even managed to squeeze in a rescheduled game to boot, taking a good point away from Northern Tigers last Thursday. A win and a draw from their past two games has lifted them to tenth, above Hills Brumbies now, although with all their matches played, expect some changes to the standings to those clubs around them. Jamie Watt has been the one to watch recently, the striker taking his tally for the season to eight after scoring the equaliser against the Tigers. University will be without their main creative force in captain Peter Crevani who will be away in China with the Beach Socceroos this weekend.
It remains to be seen how much the lack of match action affects the rest of the competition. St George haven’t played since their Waratah Cup semi final although one suspects that that may have been a turn for the good considering their injury and absence toll. The chance for some of the longer term injured to recover may actually have been to the Saints’ benefit but all the same, it will be interesting to see how the Saints compete against the match hardened University. 
Bankstown Berries v Parramatta FC, Saturday 7pm, The Crest, Bass Hill
The Berries and the Eagles will clash in a vital fixture for both clubs, none more so than Parramatta who now look to be in a finals stoush with predominantly, Mounties Wanderers and the rising Northern Tigers. Bankstown’s win on Tuesday kept them in third but they are now just two points behind Macarthur, going into the final third of the season. The Berries will have to cope without Alex Becerra and Dimitri Zakilas who are both unavailable for the immediate future, but they managed quite ok on Tuesday against Fraser Park, without both.
Parramatta have found themselves four points adrift of fifth now, courtesy of not playing, so they will relish the chance to get back on the park at last. They face a tough month meeting a host of fellow finals contenders so their season will be largely determined now by how they go in the next few weeks. A win against the Berries, a scoreless draw last time they met, will suit the Eagles just fine.
Hills Brumbies v Mounties Wanderers, Sunday 3pm, Blacktown International Sports Park, Doonside
Hills Brumbies have been active over the past week playing two rescheduled matches, gaining a point at Spirit but coming away empty handed at Northern Tigers. It has been slim pickings lately with the Brumbies not having won for two months. After a solid start, Hills have slipped to eleventh and are now facing an uphill battle to claim a top half finish, no doubt a target for the club. With Mounties Wanderers visiting this weekend, and not having played for three weeks, Hills may have the legs on Sunday.
The Wanderers dropped to fifth on goal difference after the Northern Tigers’ victory midweek, the lowest position they have been in all season. They won’t take too kindly to that out at Cook Park, the club having known nothing but success for the past few years. This will be a tough game for both clubs, with a lot riding on this one.
Bankstown City v Spirit FC, Sunday 3pm, Jensen Park, Sefton
This is the classic mid table fixture, with neither club looking in danger of dropping much lower, but both also a few games away of creating a problem for those above. With Spirit and Bankstown City showing such inconsistent form, it is hard to see much change over the next two months. Both clubs have some excellent results to their name, Spirit’s recent win at Northern Tigers worthy of mention, while the Lions defeated the Berries away not that long ago, so they can produce, but it is just not happening enough at the moment.  The Lions were defeated by Sydney University two weeks ago in their last match while Spirit did gain a point against Hills last midweek but time is running out, a run of wins is required if their respective seasons are to be extended.
Northern Tigers v Mount Druitt Town Rangers, Sunday 3pm, Mills Park, Asquith
Northern Tigers have made the most of the dryer weather of the past week catching up with two of their postponed fixtures, taking four points in the process. They were somewhat frustrated in not taking full points against Sydney University last week, but moved to fourth following their victory over Hills Brumbies on Tuesday. They may have been a little fortunate with the fixture being switched from Hill’s home ground to Mills Park, but the win will be taken all the same. This weekend, they will have their third home game in a row, all against the bottom three clubs, when Mount Druitt Town Rangers visit. Anything less than a win will not satisfy the Tigers.
Mount Druitt Town are still on the bottom and have drifted to five points away from eleventh after initially getting to within two points of their nearest rivals. This will be a difficult fixture in which to make some ground especially after the Tigers took all three points in a 3-0 win at Popondetta Park.  But the Rangers will be keen to improve on that result, and the Tigers have been known lately to drop some unexpected points.
Rescheduled Matches
Fraser Park v Bankstown Berries
Round 15
The enforced break doesn’t appear to have done Bankstown Berries any harm as they comfortably accounted for Fraser Park on Tuesday night, a double to John Tsironis setting the Berries on their way.
Both sides were without key players with Bankstown Berries missing their central defensive pairing of Gary Hill (suspended) and Alex Becerra (unavailable) while Fraser Park were also missing Pat Cappuccio, Paulo Oliveira and David Wilson (all suspended), but at least for the Berries, the absences made little difference.
It was the six yard poaching of Tsironis which gave the Berries a handy lead before half time. Both goals were similar in execution, Tsironis knocking in on both occasions after low, and near, crosses from the right. The first came after good work from Kyle Ewart, while the second arrived after Ante Deur outpaced the Fraser defence, his low cross falling neatly to Tsironis who had the simplest of tasks to score.
Fraser Park weren’t without their own chances though and Hussein Akil might regret not rounding George Bouropoulos when the score was still 0-1. But Akil attempted to shoot low past Bouropoulos, when clear, and the keeper did well to save. Mitchell Davidson also had a chance but sliced his shot wide.     
If there was any doubt about the result, that was extinguished on the hour when Matthew Trotter shot low from outside the box to put the Berries 3-0 up and well on their way to victory.
Akil and Davidson again had a couple of chances for Fraser Park but it was Dimitri Zakilas who came closest to scoring again. On for the final twelve minutes, Zakilas almost scored immediately but Michael Frost pulled off an excellent save to deny the Berries’ leading scorer.
The win for the Berries draws them to within two points of leaders Macarthur Rams with even matches played. 
Fraser Park 0 v Bankstown Berries 3 (John Tsironis 17’, 40’, Matthew Trotter 58’)  
Tuesday 9 June 2013
at Fraser Park, Sydenham
Fraser Park: 1. Michael Frost 3. Andrew Vitucci 19. Nick Dimitropoulos 2. Rocci Gabey 6. Davide Tadone 15. Sash Tirovski (14. Daniel Fornito 60’) 13. Thomas Taylor (29. Shivan Swamy) 11. Carlo Musumeci 18. Mitchell Davidson 20. Hussein Akil (12. Andrea Russo 80’) 7. Kevin Oliviera.   
Subs not used: 40. Wayne Estavao 33. Aaron Pessego
Yellow Cards: Hussein Akil, Kevin Oliviera, Carlo Musumeci.
Bankstown Berries: 1. George Bouropoulos 12. Yianni Tsattalios 21. Nathan Mastroianni 5. Shannon Burgin 3. Adem Kir 7. Chris Gaitatzis 33. Matthew Trotter 8. Ante Deur (9. Kodjo Adjassou 64’) 14. Nick Paras 13. Kyle Ewart (22. Peter Zorbas 85’) 10. John Tsironis (19. Dimitri Zakilas 78’).  
Subs not used: 40. Nestor Tsioustas 28. Daniel Rees.
Yellow Cards: Shannon Burgin, Nathan Mastroianni, Nick Paras, Yianni Tsattalios.
Coach: John Calleja
Hills Brumbies v Northern Tigers
Tuesday 9 July 2013 at Mills Park
Round 15
The switch in venue suited Northern Tigers down to a tee and they took full advantage as they overcame the designated home side Hills Brumbies 2-0 to rise to fourth spot in the table, their highest position since round seven.
Adam Biddle and Tom Spencer, scoring for the third game in a row, hit the back of the net for the Tigers as they claimed all the points. Spencer has now taken his tally to eight for the season.
Hills Brumbies 0 v Northern Tigers 2 (Adam Biddle, Tom Spencer)
Northern Tigers v Sydney University
Thursday 4 July 2013
Round 11
A late equaliser to Sydney University snuffed out Northern Tigers’ hopes of exerting some pressure on the league leaders, the 1-1 result lifting the Tigers into the top five, nonetheless.
The Tigers had taken an early lead through Tom Spencer, but despite a number of decent chances, just couldn’t score another. Sydney University made them pay the price, Jamie Watt scoring on the counter with just minutes remaining.
Northern Tigers 1 (Tom Spencer) v Sydney University (Jamie Watt)
Leading Goalscorers
11 –       Juan Chavez                 (St George)
10 –       Saso Petrovski             (ex -Bankstown City)
9 –        Sam Messam                (St George)
8 –        Danny Choi                   (Parramatta FC)
            Tom Spencer                (Northern Tigers)
            Jamie Watt                    (Sydney University)
-By Peter Rowney