SUPA IGA NPL Men’s Two – Round 22 Preview

With the final round this weekend, it is do or die for many clubs as they attempt to qualify for the finals series. Interestingly, as at the time of writing, virtually every match will have a bearing on which clubs will be successful and which will miss out, the Macarthur-Mount Druitt game aside after the Rams clinched second on Wednesday night. Expect a lot of score line updates to be swapped between grounds on Sunday afternoon.
Fraser Park v Parramatta FC Sunday 3pm, Fraser Park, Sydenham
This is the only fixture where two teams in contention are actually playing each other. How Parramatta go in their match against Northern Tigers on Thursday will play a huge part in their chance of success, a win at Mills Park would do the Eagles the world of good. After defeating Spirit last weekend, they will fancy their chances too but they will still need to do the necessary against Fraser Park on Sunday.
One advantage to Parramatta will be the suspension of Michael Frost for Fraser Park, the keeper having had an outstanding season again. Fraser need a Tigers win on Thursday and should that occur, a Fraser Park victory on Sunday will see them qualify.
Bankstown City v Bankstown Berries Sunday 3pm, Jensen Park, Sefton
Bankstown Berries will be half looking at events elsewhere too. They need results to go their way, a variety of combinations may suit them but certainly no better than a draw for Mounties at St George. But either way, they will need to beat Bankstown City to have any hope. That is certainly no forgone conclusion and one suspects that the Lions would enjoy denying the Berries finals football.
The fitness of Dimitri Zakilas may be a matter for concern, but without the suspended John Tsironis, the Berries may have no option but to take that chance in this game.
St George v Mounties Wanderers Sunday 3pm, St George Stadium, Kyeemagh
A win for Mounties Wanderers will see them through, maybe even a draw could be enough, so it will be tense afternoon for Wanderers fans. They could hardly have finished with a tougher game, having to travel to St George who have only lost twice in the league all season. The Saints have been the model of consistency this year, and you have to go back to the Hills Brumbies away game three months ago, to find the last time that St George conceded more than one goal in a game.
That suggests that the Mounties will need to be true to their name as they have a mountain to climb on Sunday. They lost 3-1 back at Cook Park in their previous fixture but won 5-0 at St George Stadium last year. The Mounties could only dream of a similar scoreline this season but a win by any margin will do.
Hills Brumbies v Spirit FC, Sunday 3pm, Blacktown International Sports Park, Doonside
Spirit’s draw against Macarthur on Wednesday has given them a two point gap ahead of fourth, at least prior to Parramatta’s game on Thursday. A win for the Eagles at Mills Park will see them usurp Spirit into third on goal difference, a valuable position to be in with one game to go. But should the Eagles fail in that attempt, Spirit will definitely finish third should they defeat Hills Brumbies on Sunday.
That won’t be a certainty of course. It finished in a draw earlier in the season and with Dragan Savic hitting good form at the tail end of the season, Spirit will need to be watchful. One more goal for Savic will see him hit double figures for the year, a target well worth achieving.
Macarthur Rams v Mt Druitt Town Rangers, Sunday 3pm, Lynwood Park, St Helens Park
In many ways, both clubs can relax in this game with both finishing positions already confirmed. Macarthur are assured of a home semi final next weekend and will appreciate the chance, after a tough game on Wednesday, to perhaps rest a player or two who may have picked up niggling injuries.
Mount Druitt may have finished last but again, they will be able to enter this game with little to worry about. With no relegation to be concerned with this year, Rangers are safe in the knowledge that they will compete in the Mens 2 competition in 2014. This should be one for the fans to enjoy an open game where the result won’t essentially matter.
Sydney University v Northern Tigers, Sunday 3pm, Hensley Field, Pagewood
The Tigers will be hoping that they enter this fixture in a better position than they were prior to Thursday’s match against Parramatta. Anything less than a win against the Eagles would see the Tigers’ season over so how much importance will be on this game on Sunday will depend on that result. The return to action of Tom Spencer in the final stages of last Sunday’s game will give the Tigers a boost. Spencer’s goals have been sorely missed lately although he still remains the Tigers’ top scorer despite missing a swathe of matches. Therein lies the reason for Northern Tigers’ difficult season, with even Liam McConaghy being second top with five goals, and he has hardly been sighted for much of the year.
Sydney University will finish eleventh irrespective of this result, the same position they finished in 2012. It has not been the best of season’s for Uni, results wise, but the foundations in playing style certainly appears to have been laid.
Spirit FC v Macarthur Rams
Rescheduled Round 15
Macarthur Rams confirmed second place after coming away from Christie Park with a 1-1 draw on Wednesday night, the gap ahead of Spirit remaining at four points with one round to go.
In a fast and furious game, Spirit were made to take the game to the Rams after they had gone behind after just three minutes. A deep corner had fallen to Shannon Hankin who shot low and hard across the face of goal where Almir Dizdaric then swept in at the far post.
The early lead was a boon to Macarthur and they almost got a second on the quarter hour when Dizdaric swept a curling shot against the upright.
It was not until the half hour that Spirit had a decent chance, Alistair McKie misconnecting when in a good position. This became Spirit’s best period of the half as Tim Simpson then had a fine shot saved by Chad Taylor and Brad Gibson had a short cleared off the line.
But it was proving tough to break through against the league’s best defence, and it was the Rams who then had a great opportunity to go two up but a good save by Murray Nelson from a Hankin break kept the scoreline down.
Spirit’ equaliser eventually came with just over twenty minutes to go. A quick counter which started when defender Michael Fakiye won possession near his own corner flag, a charge upfield saw him release Alistair McKie. McKie swept in a pin point cross for Andrew McKie to head in off the post. There was little the Rams could have done to prevent such a swift goal.
The competitive nature of the game continued despite the draw being sufficient for the Rams and they really should have hit the lead again but for what must be the miss of the season. Neftali Gonzalez did exceptionally well in getting past the Spirit defence to the byeline and cutting back for Alvaro Malmierca, who must have been no more than a metre or two out from an open goal But incredibly Malmierca lifted the shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Spirit piled on some late pressure but without success, the point moving Spirit two clear of a clutch of clubs, in what promises to be a tense upcoming Sunday afternoon.  They will also be keeping a close eye on the Eagles’ result on Thursday night.
Spirit FC 1 (Andrew McKie 68’) v Macarthur Rams 1 (Almir Dizdaric 3’)
Wednesday 21 August 2013
at Christie Park, Marsfield
Spirit FC: 1. Murray Nelson (c) 3. Michael Fakiye 18. Lachlan Harte 13. Ross Kethel 19. Tom Lovell 10. Alistair McKie 20. Brendan Hoyer (11. Callum Rogers 71’) 8. Matthew Clowes 6.Brad Gibson (7. Andrew McKie 46’) 2. Akwasi Agyei 9. Tim Simpson (14. Ossama Zaki 89’).
Subs not used: 41. Hayden Browne 4. Paul Nicolaou
Yellow Cards: Ross Kethel, Tom Lovell, Tim Simpson, Andrew McKie
Coach: Rob di Ceglie
Macarthur Rams: 1. Chad Taylor 16. Daniel Ramirez 13. Daniel Carrozza 5. Calum Fleming 2. Craig Cooley (c) 7. Ko Kimura 17. Adam Wither 12. Neftali Gonzalez 30. Luke Beezem (19. Alvaro Malmierca 70’) 9. Shannon Hankin 11. Almir Dizdaric.
Subs not used: 18. Joseph Cartisano 23. Aaron Farringdon 40. Augustin Machado.
Yellow Cards: Almir Dizdaric
Coach: Claudio Canosa
Under 20s: Spirit FC 3 Macarthur Rams 0