SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 Round 16 Preview
After a week’s hiatus due to the Waratah Cup final, the SUPA IGA NSW NPL Mens 2 is back in action for round 16. Never leave us again!
The fixture Gods have dished up a cracking round of clashes with the stakes tangible and the nerves tingling. Parramatta have a chance to extend their lead atop the table when they visit Macarthur Rams, it’s 4th v 5th as Mounties host Northern Tigers, keepers of the ladder lair Spirit FC and Fraser Park do battle and Central Coast Mariners Academy welcome Mt Druitt to Pluim Park with the finals positions just a sniff away.
Match of the Round
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Mt Druitt Town Rangers – Saturday 6.30pm, Pluim Park, Lisarow
Last time they met: Rd 5 – Mt Druitt 0-5 Mariners Academy
Form guide:
Central Coast Mariners Academy – DWWWL 6th
Mt Druitt Town Rangers – DLWWL 9th
This week’s match of the round takes us to Pluim Park for the clash between resurgent sides Central Coast and Mt Druitt. Having lost just one of their last six fixtures, Mariners have their eyes squarely on breaking into the top five, with just one win separating them from fifth-placed Northern Tigers.
It’s been a bright few weeks for Jason van Blerk’s men with a last up defeat to Parramatta bringing to an end a run of three impressive wins on the trot.
With four of the top five teams facing each other, Mariners are presented with a prime chance to leapfrog either Mounties or Tigers and will be hopeful of doing that at fortress Pluim Park where they are yet to taste defeat in 2014.
In their way is a Mt Druitt outfit on the mend after a period of lull. Back to back wins against Fraser Park and Hills Brumbies proved vital, with Rangers still clinging to the chasing pack.
The week’s break will have served them well after last round’s 3-1 defeat to Spirit and they will be well aware that anything less than victory will put a major dent in their finals aspirations.
Expect an attacking affair with plenty of passion.
Bankstown Berries v Sydney University – Saturday 7.30pm, The Crest Athletic Centre
Last time they met: Rd 5 – Sydney University 4-2 Berries
Form guide:
Bankstown Berries – DWLLW 10th
Sydney University – DWLWW 7th
For much of the season, Sydney University have been lurking between the trees. They’ve now jumped out and have truly stamped their authority on the Mens 2 competition.
For a while there, things were looking gloomy as Raul Blanco’s men staggered towards the lower echelons. But three wins from four matches, including a 1-0 defeat of Bankstown City in the rescheduled fixture last Thursday, means there is plenty of optimism around the traps at Hensley Athletic Field.
The most impressive thing for Uni is that two of those wins have come against the second and third placed teams, further signifying the lack of a gulf between teams in this league.
Berries are another team that have enjoyed a revival to kick off the second round of fixtures with a couple of new recruits and the fresh tutelage of Wally Savor helping to give opposition teams reason for caution.
Only the top three teams have scored more goals than Berries but their defence has proved the downfall with the 34 goals they’ve conceded heavily contributing to their 10th placing.
They’ll head into this clash with plenty of confidence, though, having claimed the scalp of Northern Tigers in round 15 and will be on their toes to avoid Sydney University skipping well clear of them.
Bankstown City v Hills Brumbies – Saturday 7.30pm, Jensen Park
Last time they met: Rd 5 – Hills 2-1 Bankstown City
Form guide:
Bankstown City – WWDDL 3rd
Hills Brumbies – WDLDD 8th
Bankstown City had a good thing going until Sydney University wrecked all their fun last week. The 1-0 defeat was the Lions’ first loss in six weeks and prevented them jumping above Macarthur into second place.
All recent signs indicated it would take an almighty performance to knock off City and Sydney Uni were certainly made to work for their points.
Caretaker coach Peter Papoythis would be quite pleased with the way things are travelling at the minute but will be itching to get back to winning ways having dropped points in each of their last three outings.
The goals have been flowing, though, and there seems to be danger men across the park to get the job done for City.
Hills’ winless streak stretches back a week further than this week’s opponents with the round 15 draw against Fraser Park one that got away. Brumbies surrendered a 2-goal lead to take a point away, although coach Nestor Meneses would have had more positives than negatives in the post-match analysis.
Brumbies free-flowing football has been a trademark for them this season and their confidence in possession, mobility and ability to create chances in the first 45 against Fraser Park the ideal style of play.
It was also the case in the rescheduled clash with Parramatta last Thursday – another impressive first half performance but a two-goal lead thrown away to concede a 2-2 draw.
At the risk of beating a broken drum, travelling has been a particular difficulty for Hills this season and they’ll need to be on song for this tricky trip to Jensen Park.
Macarthur Rams v Parramatta FC – Saturday 7.30pm, Lynwood Park
Last time they met: Rd 5 – Parramatta 2-4 Macarthur
Form guide:
Macarthur Rams – DLDLL 2nd
Parramatta FC – DWDWD 1st
If only we had access to Doc’s DeLorean! Its first use would be to send us forward to Lynwood Park on Saturday night for this utterly pulsating match up.
Leaders Parramatta take on chasers Macarthur in a clash that could ultimately prove decisive in the race for first.
If Parramatta pick up a win, they’ll create an 8-point buffer over second-placed Rams and, judging by their recent form, will have one hand on the minor premiership.
The risk and reward is even greater for their hosts, who will remain within touching distance of the Eagles with a win but could slip to fourth with a defeat.
The form guide couldn’t be more polarising, with Macarthur still yet to win since they ousted Hills on May 10. It seems amazing, then, that they’re still in second place and it is the brilliant form at the start of the season that got them there which will be inspiration for Claudio Canosa’s men.
While their intimidation factor may have gone missing, Macarthur are still one of the most polished outfits in the competition and could embark on a rich run of form to head into the finals series.
Frank Cosentino’s Eagles will be well wary of their opponents and won’t prepare to face a team winless from seven matches but rather a team looking to steal top spot from them before season’s end.
Parramatta have barely put a foot wrong and recovered a two-goal deficit against Hills last Thursday to maintain nab a point.
Rams picked up all three points in a six-goal thriller last time these two faced off and you can bet there will be just as much excitement this time around.
Mounties Wanderers v Northern Tigers – Saturday 7.30pm, Cook Park, Mt Prichard
Last time they met: Rd 5 – Tigers 3-1 Mounties
Form guide:
Mounties Wanderers – WLDWD 4th
Northern Tigers – LWLWL 5th
Speaking of tight encounters, try this one on for size. Fourth-placed Mounties hosts fifth-placed Northern Tigers.
Wanderers head into the match having lost just one of their last eight matches in a run that has seen them surge into the top five. The challenge is remaining there with this ladder as fickle as they come.
Steve Appleby’s men have really hit their straps of late, banging in 12 goals in 5 matches. If things go their way, they could be sitting in second spot by the end of the weekend.
But the Tigers are faced with the same scenario and have been on a run more up and down than sugared-up kid on a pogo stick.
Each of their recent matches has been decided by the odd goal or two and they will be tough to break down.
But an energetic Wanderers outfit might prompt Tigers into life and their experienced attack hasn’t proved shy in front of goal, with Matthew West and Liam McConaghy sharing 13 goals between them.
Veto on predicting a winner here.
Fraser Park v Spirit FC – Saturday 7.30pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Last time they met: Rd 5 – Spirit 1-0 Fraser Park
Form guide:
Fraser Park – DLLDD 12th
Spirit FC – LLLDW 11th
The round concludes with a tense fixture of a different kind as cellar dwellers Fraser Park and Spirit FC face off.
There was finally cause for celebration as Spirit snapped an eight-game winless run in beating Mt Druitt 3-1 last round, with the result allowing Tony Walmsley’s side to head into this match with a five-point gap to their opponents.
Spirit have scarcely been dominated this season but have lacked the cutting edge in the final third on a number of occasions. The win over Rangers proved they are capable of turning up the heat on their day.
It was encouraging, too, to see mid-season recruit Gosue Sama pick up a brace.
Despite their dip in form around the halfway mark of the season, Spirit have the potential to challenge for the top five with positive results in the next seven weeks. It all rests on games like this.
Fraser Park would have been disappointed in the week’s break from play, with their fast-finishing display in the last round draw with Hills immensely encouraging for coach Mile Todorovski.
It’s clear the club has quality players in its ranks, but conceding soft goals has contributed to their demise. Another performance like that of their last two matches and Fraser Park will be a real shot at winning their first match for more than two months.
– By Mitchell Grima
