SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 13 Preview
Round 13 of the SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 dishes up six mouth-watering fixtures, with desperation providing the undertone for an exciting weekend of football.
Parramatta host Hills in this week’s match of the round, while the battle of Bankstown and clashes between the bottom four teams promise to write plenty of headlines.
Parramatta FC v Hills Brumbies – Saturday 7.30pm, Melita Stadium
Last time they met: Rd 2 – Hills 0-2 Parramatta
Form guide:
Parramatta FC – WWWDW 1st
Hills Brumbies – LWLWD 6th
Parramatta host Hills in this week’s match of the round as the Eagles take to the field for the first time as ladder leaders.
A gritty 3-2 win over Fraser Park on the weekend allowed Parramatta to leapfrog Macarthur, but with just one point separating first from second, Frank Cosentino’s men will be up to the task to ensure they hold firm.
It’s been an impressive run for Parramatta, who are now undefeated from their last seven matches, with a draw against Mt Druitt the only blip in that time.
Hills travel to Melita Stadium determined to snap their away day woes, with Brumbies yet to win away from home.
Artificial turf may be playing into Hills’ hands, but they’ll need to be on song if they are to claim their first victory on the road.
Mounties Wanderers v Macarthur Rams – Saturday 7.30pm, Cook Park (Mt Prichard)
Last time they met: Rd 2 – Macarthur 1-0 Mounties
Form guide:
Mounties Wanderers – WWWWL 5th
Macarthur Rams – WDDDL 2nd
Cook Park will play host to a belter of a match on Saturday as traditional powerhouses Mounties and Macarthur clash heads.
The last time these two met was in round two as Rams claimed a narrow 1-0 win. They went on different paths for the next few weeks after that result, with Wanderers picking up just one win from the five subsequent matches and Macarthur going unbeaten in their next five – and some.
This time around promises to be just as nail biting a fixture, with Mounties winning four of their last five and Macarthur having not tasted victory in four attempts.
Macarthur’s defeat to Bankstown Berries in round 12 was certainly the shock of the weekend and Claudio Canosa will expect his charges to come out fighting in a bid to reclaim the first place that they had occupied for much of the season.
Mounties went down to Central Coast Mariners Academy on Saturday night but provided the dangerous combinations in attack that will be vital to breaking down Macarthur’s stingy defence.
Sydney University v Spirit FC – Saturday 7.30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Last time they met: Rd 2 – Spirit 3-1 Sydney University
Form guide:
Sydney University – LLWDD 9th
Spirit FC – DLLLL 10th
It’s 10th v 11th as a struggling Spirit FC travel to face Sydney University. Spirit have had a difficult run of late, with four consecutive defeats seeing them slowly slip down the ladder.
The latest was Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Northern Tigers, in which Spirit looked very dangerous in patches. A first half littered with passing errors was replaced by much more coherent play in the second stanza and Spirit went close to bagging an equaliser before the game was put beyond reach when Joel Carter received a red card.
They’ll need to replicate that performance for 90 minutes if they are to make waves at Hensley Athletic Field, with Sydney Uni taking five points from their last three matches.
A draw against Hills saw Uni drop off the pace but taking all three points on Saturday night is essential for Raul Blanco’s men to keep in touch with the top five.
Bankstown City v Bankstown Berries – Saturday 7.30pm, Jensen Park
Last time they met: Rd 2 – Bankstown Berries 2-5 Bankstown City
Form guide:
Bankstown City – WWLDW 4th
Bankstown Berries – LLWDW 8th
A few weeks ago, Bankstown’s two teams were polar opposites. City rising to the top, Berries resigned to the bottom.
But with Berries having knocked off Macarthur Rams over the weekend, the Lions will be extremely wary of their neighbours.
The result continued Berries’ positive run of late, with two wins and a draw over the last three weeks pushing them into eighth place and just four points from the finals places.
Bankstown City have been just as solid over the last month and now sit in fourth, with a game in hand against Sydney University remaining.
There were goals aplenty in the round two clash between these two and it’s possible to foresee similar circumstances in the second instalment of the battle of Bankstown.
Fraser Park v Mt Druitt Town Rangers – Saturday 7.30pm, The Crest Athletic Centre
Last time they met: Rd 2 – Mt Druitt Town Rangers 1-0 Fraser Park
Form guide:
Fraser Park – LLLDL 12th
Mt Druitt – WLLDL 11th
The battle of the cellar dwellers takes place at The Crest Athletic Centre on Saturday night as 11th-placed Mt Druitt take on 12th-placed Mt Druitt.
The form guide isn’t pretty reading for either side, with Rangers’ only victory in the last five matches coming against this week’s opponents, while Fraser Park only have one point from a possible 15.
Mt Druitt have somewhat of a saving grace in that victory this weekend could lift them into eighth place, making this the best possible time to bounce back.
Fraser Park will be just as desperate to steal the win, well aware that anything less will bring them closer to the wooden spoon.
With desperation comes excitement.
Northern Tigers v Central Coast Mariners Academy – Sunday 3pm, Mills Park
Last time they met: Rd 2 – Central Coast Mariners Academy 2-2 Northern Tigers
Form guide:
Northern Tigers – LWWLW 3rd
Central Coast Mariners Academy – DLDDW 7th
The final match of round 12 sees Central Coast Mariners Academy travel to Mills Park to take on Northern Tigers, who reclaimed third place thanks to a win over Spirit on Sunday.
Jason Eagar’s men proved the 3-0 defeat to Hills a week earlier was a mere lapse and the likes of Matt West, Liam Mcconaghy, Max Glanville and Aram Tayebi carved out an abundance of opportunities in front of goal.
The more pertinent task for Tigers, though, will be to remain solid in defence, with Mariners’ youngsters continuing to wreak havoc in the final third.
Jason van Blerk’s side played with impressive fluidity, moving the ball around with the kind of accuracy that was void earlier in the season.
They seem to have come into their own and have a brilliant test of their resolve against Northern Tigers. Another quality fixture here.
– By Mitchell Grima
