IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Round 22 Preview
A massive weekend of football awaits us as we reach the conclusion of the regular season. Sutherland Sharks hold the lead going into the last match, though with a difficult trip to Rockdale City on the cards, both Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Sydney United 58 FC, mathematically, stand a chance of pipping the side at the top.
The battle for the final two places in the top-five sees three sides in with a shout. Rockdale City and Blacktown City FC currently occupy the two spots, though with Marconi Stallions only one further point behind, each of the three sides will be desperate for a win to be sure of playing finals football.
At the other end of the table APIA-Leichhardt Tigers and South Coast Wolves will be hoping to avoid the wooden spoon, though the direct encounter between the Wolves and Central Coast Mariners Academy could determine which club is relegated after this season.
Sydney Olympic v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 18th of August, 2013, 3:00 pm Belmore Sports Ground
Last Week:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 Sydney Olympic 0
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 South Coast Wolves 1
Two heavyweights of Australian Football meet at Belmore Sports Ground, and despite both sides out of the running for finals football, there will be action aplenty on Sunday.
The Blues have not experienced a happy season after the side experienced a mass exodus midseason, meanwhile the Tigers precarious standing on the League ladder is a far cry from where the side was hoping to sit prior to the start of the season.
Sydney Olympic have looked great recently with the likes of Renato Franco Ramirez and Chris Godoy Bascur playing some fine football, though a lack of consistent goal scoring has seen the side fall away from the top-five teams.
APIA-Leichhardt’s season too has taken a number of hits, even with the side winning the Waratah Cup title. The Tigers currently sit in bottom spot on the ladder, and only a win will do to stand any chance of avoiding the wooden spoon.
Blacktown Spartans v Sydney United 58 FC, Sunday 18th of August, 3:00 pm Blacktown Football Park
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 1 Blacktown Spartans 0
Sydney United 58 FC 2 Marconi Stallions 1
At Blacktown Football Park, the Spartans will look to finish their season on a high with a big scalp in the form of Sydney United 58 FC. Ben De Haan’s team has enjoyed a very positive season, even though the final six weeks of the competition saw the side lose its way somewhat.
The challenge at hand on Sunday will be a big one with the in-form Reds visiting Blacktown Football Park. The Edensor Park side can still mathematically finish first or second, pending on the results of both Sutherland Sharks and Bonnyrigg White Eagles, so nothing less than a win will be accepted by coach Mark Rudan.
The Reds, bolstered greatly by the return of Luka Glavas who has immediately found his feet with some important goals, meanwhile defensively, the side has been tough to break down.
With Sydney United possessing such exceptional talent in its player roster, and the added motivation to press for a top-two finish on the ladder – the Spartans have secured their place in the top-flight next season – the side will enter this encounter with so much more motivation for a big showing and the three-points.
Blacktown City FC v Manly United FC, Sunday 18th of August, 3:00 pm Lily Homes Stadium
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 1 Blacktown Spartans 0
Sutherland Sharks 1 Manly United FC 1
Blacktown City FC needs the three points at home against Manly United FC if it is to stand any chance of playing finals football. Mark Crittenden’s men sit in fifth-spot on the ladder going into the final round, though with Marconi only one-point adrift, the side will need maximum points to be certain of a spot in the finals series.
Crittenden and assistant coach Kain Rastall have a difficult week ahead with a number of question marks over the fitness of many first team regulars, something that needs to be addressed if the side is to stand a chance of a win.
Manly United FC has really hit its straps in the closing stages of the season, and the side was only moments away from claiming the massive scalp of Sutherland Sharks last weekend before the League leaders snatched a point.
With Craig Midgley’s men more than capable of mixing it with the competition’s best sides, an enthralling encounter is expected on Sunday afternoon in Seven Hills.
Rockdale City Suns v Sutherland Sharks, Sunday 18th of August, 2013, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 Rockdale City Suns 5
Sutherland Sharks 1 Manly United FC 1
At Ilinden Sports Centre, Sutherland Sharks puts its Premiership ambition on the line as only a win will do to keep a hold of top-spot on the ladder. The Sharks uncharacteristically dropped points at home against Manly United FC last weekend, giving the side the difficult task of travelling to the red hot Suns to close out the regular season.
Stanton’s men have played some beautiful football this season, though the trip to the bumpy playing surface at Ilinden Sports Centre will certainly make for a difficult 90’ minutes of football.
The Suns on the other hand too need a win with its spot in the finals series not yet secured.
The side sits in fourth-spot at the moment, though with only one-point separating fourth and fifth, and a further point separating fifth from sixth, only a win will secure the side finals football.
In this weekend’s Match of The Round, action, and excitement, aplenty are expected.
South Coast Wolves v Central Coast Mariners Academy, Sunday 18th of August, 3:00 pm Hooka Creek Park
Last Week:
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 South Coast Wolves 1
Central Coast Mariners Academy 2 Rockdale City Suns 5
A big match awaits us on the South Coast with the Wolves, and Mariners Academy, looking to secure a win to finish on a high in what has been a rather disappointing season. A win for either will mean the side will avoid the wooden spoon, with APIA-Leichhardt Tigers still mathematically a chance of catching the Wolves should they score a win over Sydney Olympic and the Wolves lose.
Both sides have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and this battle could well be decided by either of the two ‘go to’ men.
Ricky Zucco’s brilliance for the Wolves, and Adriano Pellegrino’s finesse, have both proven successful for their respective sides in a season that has provided little joy.
An entertaining battle is expected, even though the two sides are languishing in the bottom three on the ladder.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Marconi Stallions, Sunday 18th of August, 3:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Ground
Last Week:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 Sydney Olympic 0
Sydney United 58 FC 2 Marconi Stallions 1
Another classic is expected at Bonnyrigg Sports Ground as both the White Eagles and Stallions need the win on Sunday.
Bonnyrigg need a win to keep the pressure on Sutherland Sharks at the top of the table meanwhile for Marconi Stallions, the reigning champions, only a win will do to keep alive its hopes of playing finals football.
The side returns to Bonnyrigg, the scene of last season’s phenomenal grand final victory, though with captain Nahuel Arrarte almost certain to be out after being stretchered from the field last weekend, the side will face an uphill battle on Sunday.
Coach Jean-Paul De Marigny will be looking for more phenomenal football by Milorad Simonovic to help the Stallions achieve its objective, as Robbie Younis & Co. look to gain some revenge for last season’s grand final loss by ending the Stallions hopes of retaining the title this season.
Arguably one of the ‘bigger’ picks this weekend.
-By Joseph Carlucci
