Mens State League 1 Round 14 Preview
With the ladder the tightest it has been all season, round 14 sees the stakes go up a notch as teams head into a crucial stage of the year.
Hakoah Sydney City East FC v Granville Rage – Saturday 3pm at Garside Park
Due to a venue change earlier in the season, Hakoah will play their home fixture against Granville Rage at Garside Park on Saturday afternoon.
Hakoah’s incredible 11 match winning streak came to an end on the weekend as they were held to a 2-2 draw against Gladesville. The draw still sees Hakoah maintain top spot with a 3 point lead over second placed Northbridge FC.
Granville Rage come into this week’s clash on the back of a 3-0 victory over Western NSW Mariners FC. The win sees the Rage still holding 3rd spot and they will be looking for revenge after a 3-1 loss in the earlier season fixture between the two sides.
Western NSW Mariners FC v Inter Lions SC – Saturday 5pm at Proctor Park
Despite a 3-0 loss last week to Granville Rage, there have been signs of improvement over the last few games for the Mariners. One of the reasons has been new overseas signing Johnny Rimmer, who has come on board after arriving from England a few weeks ago. A talented and imposing centre back, Rimmer has previously plied his trade for a few English clubs, including Hartley Wintney and Whitchurch United, where he was Captain for fixtures in the prestigious FA Cup Competition. He also played for Stanmore Hawks in 2012.
As Head Coach Andrew Fearnley continues to work hard with his young squad, he will hoping Rimmer’s experience and leadership can rub off on the players as the team looks to hit some form for the remainder of the season and maintain their Division 1 status. With an emphasis on youth development, the Western NSW Mariners will be looking to tie down Johnny Rimmer long term as they continue to harness the talent throughout the region.
Inter Lions meanwhile will be looking for a bounce back performance after a narrow 1-0 loss to Balmain over the weekend. With the club still gunning for finals action, this week’s matchup is looming as a must win encounter for the Lions as they look to cut down the 7 point gap to 5th place.
Nepean FC v Northbridge FC – Saturday 7pm at Cook Park
Nepean FC welcome Northbridge FC to Cook Park on Saturday night.
Without a win in 3 weeks, Nepean FC will be desperate for 3 points this round. Coach Malouf’s side managed a victory the last time these two teams met, but it has not been the best few weeks for Nepean as they find themselves slipping down the ladder.
Northbridge defeated Camden Tigers 2-1 over the weekend to make it seven wins on the trot. With Hakoah being held over the weekend the ‘Bridge’ now find themselves 3 points away from top spot, and if their current form is anything to go by they will take some stopping.
Dulwich Hill FC v Gladesville Ryde Magic – Sunday 3pm at Garside Park
Its 4th v 5th on Sunday afternoon when Dulwich Hill tackle Gladesville Ryde Magic at Garside Park.
Last week’s 3-3 draw against Stanmore Hawks leaves Dully hanging onto 5th spot on the ladder, but a loss this week could see Norman Tome’s side slip outside the top 5 with Balmain hot on their heels.
Gladesville caused a boil over last week by holding league leaders Hakoah to a 2-2 draw. The Magic led twice in the game but ultimately had to settle for a draw in one of their best performances of the season.
Stanmore Hawks v Camden Tigers – Sunday 3pm at Popondetta Park
In what was a tumultuous week off the field for Stanmore, a change in the coaching ranks saw former assistant coach John Theodoropoulos appointed first grade coach. A former player with Stanmore and previously the under 20’s coach, Theodoropoulos will look to guide the club as high up the ladder as possible as the Hawks look to consolidate for the remainder of the year.
On the field Stanmore battled to a 3-3 draw against Dulwich Hill over the weekend, and with a few younger players stepping into the line-up the side showed plenty of effort and commitment in a game that could have gone either way.
Camden meanwhile suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Northbridge over the weekend. In a much improved performance the side was once again unable to come away with any points, and the loss leaves the luckless Tigers bottom place on the ladder.
Balmain Tigers FC v Hawkesbury City SC – Sunday 3pm at Wentworth Park
Two teams pushing for finals football meet on Sunday afternoon when Balmain host Hawkesbury City at Wentworth Park.
Balmain continued their mid-season charge last week with a tight 1-0 victory against Inter Lions, a late Occhipinti strike sealing the points. The win now leaves Balmain only 2 points away from 5th spot and it is an impressive turnaround after a slow start to the season.
Hawkesbury claimed back to back victories last week to breathe life back into their campaign. A 2-0 victory over local rivals Nepean FC sees the Hawks back in contention for finals places after a mid-season slump saw them go five weeks without a win. A 3-2 win earlier in the season for Hawkesbury will have the side confident of victory.
-By Diego Munoz
