Men’s State League One Round 3 Preview

It’s still early days in season 2014 but some familiar faces sit on top of the table, with Dulwich Hill and Granville Rage occupying the top spots.

Both teams look to keep their unbeaten records intact as we head into a round that will give us a much clearer indication of the year ahead.

Granville Rage v Hakaoh – Saturday 3pm at Garside Park

If the first two rounds are any indication then expect plenty of goals in Saturday afternoon’s clash between Granville Rage and Hakoah.

Rage have racked up 7 goals in 2 games and are fresh from a 4-0 rout over the Western NSW Mariners last week. Their captain and top goal scorer Dizdaric will lead from the front as the team look to keep their undefeated start to the season going, as well as maintaining their 100% home record.

Hakoah have rattled the back of the net 8 times already this season and will be riding high after last week’s 5-0 victory over Gladesville.  After the disappointing loss in round 1, last week’s performance will have Hakoah full of confidence ahead of this week’s game.

Hawkesbury City v Balmain FC – 5pm Saturday at Bensons Lane Reserve

Hawkesbury welcome Balmain on Saturday in a clash between two sides who are expected to be among the top teams in this year’s competition.

The Hawks started the season with a bang, winning 5-0 against Camden in the opening round. After last week’s washout a strong performance in this match will be the perfect opportunity for Hugh McCrory’s side to prove they will be challenging for top spots this season.

Balmain got their first win of the campaign last week by defeating Inter Lions 2-0 and will look to make it two successive victories away from home. Last year’s Golden Boot winner Occhipinti is already looking in ominous form, scoring a goal in each of the past two games.

Camden Tigers v Stanmore Hawks – 7pm Saturday at Ron Dine Reserve

Camden tackles Stanmore Hawks on Saturday night in a match that sees both teams chasing their first win of the season.

The hosts are yet to find their feet this year, losing both games and failing to find the back of the net. But despite the slow start Camden coach Makechnie has been pleased with the effort from his side and will hope to things turn around this week.

Stanmore Hawks were desperately unlucky last week coming away empty handed against Dulwich Hill. The Hawks created plenty of chances in a spirited performance but ultimately some wayward finishing cost them the points. Look for the Hawks to be in the winner’s circle sooner rather than later.

Gladesville Ryde Magic v Dulwich Hill – 3pm Sunday at Magdala Park

Gladesville’s first game of the season was less than ideal with a 5-0 loss at the hands of Hakoah. It’ s still early days however, and with their Round 1 fixture washed out, the team will head into this week’s game knowing that a win will put them right back on track.

Despite fielding a new look side this year, Dulwich Hill have picked up right where they left off and find themselves joint top of the table with two victories to start the campaign. Wally Savors side showed a great winning mentality last week by snatching a victory in a tough game against Stanmore, and will look to keep up the early season momentum against Gladesville.

Northbridge FC v Nepean FC – 3pm Sunday at Northbridge Oval

Northbridge will look to make it two wins in a row when they take on Nepean FC on Sunday afternoon. The ‘Bridge’ got their first win of the season last week over Camden and will be primed for a big game in their first match at Northbridge Oval. One noticeable omission for the game is Ricky Woodward who will miss the clash due to suspension.

Nepean’s campaign started with a close loss in round 1 to Inter and was followed by a washout last week. This match will give Adam Malouf’s side a clearer indication of how they will stack up against the better sides this season and should prove a real acid test as they chase their first points.

Western NSW Mariners v Inter Lions – 3pm Sunday at Proctor Park

Western NSW Mariners host Inter Lions on Sunday afternoon with the home side eager to open strong at home. Despite a loss to the Rage in round 2, the match was tighter than the score line suggests. The Mariners played some good football in patches and even had some chances to take the lead in the first half.  They will need a 90 minute performance to come up trumps in this fixture.

Inter Lions will make the long trek to Proctor Park on the back of a 2-0 loss to Balmain. The Lions conceded both goals in the first half and will be looking for a better start this time around.  Inter managed a draw in last year’s corresponding fixture and will be hoping to pick up some points on the road.

State League One – Round 2 Top Goal scorers

3 – Almir Dizdaric (Granville Rage)

2- Nenos Bobo (Granville Rage), Rosario Occhipinti (Balmain), Sebastian Comacho (Hawkesbury) Aaron Cordova (Dulwich Hill), Neil Jablonski (Hakoah), Jun Kato (Dulwich Hill), Lachlan Wright (Stanmore)

-By Diego Munoz