SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 12 Preview
Here we are, the top of the hill. 11 rounds down, 11 rounds to go. The glass is very much still half full for all teams in the SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 competition, but there are undoubtedly some coaches happier than others at the halfway mark of the season.
Round 12 sees a replay of the season openers, with revenge likely to be a high priority for many teams. Before we get to the previews, here is a look at how some tables are shaping up.
Club Championship
First grade table toppers Macarthur Rams have had their exploits backed up the Under 18s and Under 20s side to help them sit atop the club championship ladder with 147 points.
In fact, the club championship standings almost read like a mirror of the first grade ladder, courtesy of the greater weight given to this age group.
Parramatta sit in second place, with Northern Tigers and Mounties Wanderers following close behind.
Fraser Park have developed some unwanted breathing space at the other end as they sit bottom with 70 points, 15 away from the nearest side Hills Brumbies.
Golden boot
The race for the golden boot is more of a pack than a tie with three players tied at the top on six goals.
Daniel Rezo (Parramatta FC), Dimitrios Zakilas (Bankstown Berries) and Gavin Forbes (Sydney University) have each bagged half a dozen goals.
The trio has four players in tow on five goals – Daniel Severino (Mounties), Liam Mcconaghy (Northern Tigers), Liam West (Northern Tigers) and Shayne Ardle (Parramatta FC).
Overall, an impressive 99 players have found the target in 2014, with most teams sharing the goals throughout their squads.
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Mounties Wanderers – Saturday 6.30pm, Pluim Park
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Mounties 1-0 Mariners Academy
Form guide:
Central Coast Mariners Academy – LDLDD 7th
Mounties Wanderers – LWWWW 3rd
Mounties grabbed a handy three points to kick off their season when the Mariners Academy visited Cook Park in March, but there was very little to separate the two sides as the 1-0 scoreline suggests.
We can expect more of the same this time around, with Mariners remaining quite consistent performance wise thus far and Mounties really hitting their straps in recent weeks.
While Mariners have put in some impressive shifts this season, their inability to close out games has cost them, with six draws from the first 11 rounds evidence of that.
The absence of Joshua Bingham through suspension will force Jason van Blerk into a bit of a restructure up front as his side look to get their season back on track.
On the counter, Wanderers have been quite lethal recently and will be looking to nab a fifth consecutive victory at Pluim Park. Expect a tight encounter.
Bankstown City v Mt Druitt Town Rangers – Saturday 7.30pm, Jensen Park
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Mt Druitt 2-2 Bankstown City
Form guide:
Bankstown City – DWWLD 5th
Mt Druitt Town Rangers – LWLLD 10th
Mt Druitt Town Rangers travel to a ground that is slowly becoming a fortress for Bankstown City, Jensen Park, on Saturday, looking to snap a three game winless run.
The Lions are yet to taste defeat at their home ground in 2014 and have picked up eight points from their last five matches to sit inside the finals position at the halfway point.
Despite a number of setbacks through injury and suspension, Bankstown City have proved they have sufficient depth to charge towards the top of the table in the remaining rounds.
Mt Druitt’s stocks have had a mini overhaul in recent weeks, with coaches Luis Contigiani and Nick Verdos moulding a side capable of taking moving forward for the rest of the season.
Life may not be pretty in 10th position but Rangers sounded a warning through a 1-1 draw with Parramatta on the weekend.
Controlling the likes of Dominic Hudap and Hussein Jasli will be the key for the visitors.
Hills Brumbies v Sydney University – Saturday 7.30pm, Lilys Football Centre
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Sydney University 1-1 Hills
Form guide:
Hills Brumbies – WLWLW 6th
Sydney University – WLLWD 9th
Lilys Football Centre has been Hills Brumbies’ parachute this season. All five of their wins have come on home soil, with Nestor Meneses’ men picking up just one point on the road. So three points on Saturday will be seen as a must for one of the competition’s most unpredictable outfit.
It is Hills’ enterprising attack that has them neatly poised in sixth place and they are certain to stay there even if they taste defeat on Saturday.
That excitement was on show over the weekend in the 3-0 win over Northern Tigers, with Hills putting in a resolute display for one of their most impressive wins of the season.
It’s been a mixed bag for Sydney Uni over the last couple of weeks, but a win and a draw from their last two outings would be filling Raul Blanco with cautious optimism.
But Uni have admitted they’re yet to hit their peak this season and there wouldn’t be a better time than this week to turn it up a notch, with the bottom half of the ladder still separated by the slenderest of margins.
There will be omissions on both of the side, with Hills defender Adam Savetta and Sydney Uni duo Niram Kanoun and Isaac Lee absent through suspension.
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown Berries – Saturday 7.30pm, Lynwood Park
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Bankstown Berries 1-2 Macarthur Rams
Form guide:
Macarthur Rams – WWDDD 1st
Bankstown Berries – WLLWD 11th
One team definitely hoping the second round of fixtures carries a new dawn is Berries. The Bankstown-based side had a start to forget and languished at the bottom of the ladder for a number of weeks before disposing of Mt Druitt 3-0 in round 7.
Although that was followed by two demoralising defeats, Berries bounced back and have now picked up points in consecutive games for the first time this season.
But with their last five games all coming against teams outside of the finals position, Berries will have to step it up a notch if they’re to better the round 1 scoreline in the reverse fixture.
Macarthur picked up a 2-1 win at The Crest and have kicked on with things ever since, remaining undefeated at the top with seven wins and four draws. Throw in the best defensive record and second best attack (23 goals) and coach Claudio Canosa must be pretty happy with how things are shaping up at this stage.
Rams have great incentive not to suffer their first defeat of the season on Saturday, with Parramatta breathing down their necks just two points behind.
Fraser Park v Parramatta FC – Saturday 7.30pm, Melita Stadium
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Parramatta 1-2 Fraser Park
Form guide:
Fraser Park – WLLLD 12th
Parramatta FC – WWWWD 2nd
Delays to the upgrade at their ground means Fraser Park will have to wait another week to experience the home advantage this season, with this fixture moved to Melita Stadium.
How deceptive a first round can be. When Fraser Park kicked off their campaign with a 2-1 win over Parramatta, they wouldn’t have expected to be sitting in last place at the halfway stage.
But a gradual slide down the ladder from there, despite some thoroughly impressive performances, has things looking a little gloomy in Marrickville.
Fraser Park will take solace from their efforts, particularly in the last six weeks, with the side often dominating the chances created stats but failing to kick on with matches.
They will be keen to provide stern resistance for Parramatta, who have had a dream run since the round five defeat to Macarthur, claiming five wins and one draw from their last six outings to sit in second place.
Frank Cosentino has his experienced players leading the charge and their defence has been just as efficient as their prolific attack.
Eagles do have a tough midweek FFA Cup qualifier against Sydney United 58 to contend with, but will be determined to keep the pressure on Rams in the league.
Spirit FC v Northern Tigers – Sunday 3pm, Christie Park
Last time they met: Rd 1 – Northern Tigers 2-1 Spirit FC
Form guide:
Spirit FC – DDLLL 8th
Northern Tigers – WLWWL 4th
You could be forgiven for thinking the superb round 8 comeback draw against Macarthur was going to be a turning point for Spirit FC. Alas, it was followed by three consecutive losses.
Ahead of a difficult month on the injury front and players missing for various reasons, Spirit are desperate to rekindle their Mens 2 flame and have plenty of impetus to do so, given they still sit in 8th and have often been the catalyst for their own defeats.
The positive is knowing where it’s going wrong, the task is rectify the errors and the signing of the experienced Gosue Sama could go some way to helping that.
Spirit host a fired up Northern Tigers, fresh off last week’s 3-0 loss to Hills which saw them knocked back into fourth place.
Apart from that result and a defeat to Parramatta four weeks ago, Tigers have been quietly going about their business in clinical fashion and have kept pace with the frontrunners.
The round one clash between these sides was a tight encounter, with Tigers taking a 2-1 lead into half-time and narrowly holding Spirit off.
Expect animosity and determination to be aplenty at Christie Park on Sunday.
– By Mitchell Grima
