Mens State League 1 Round 19 Preview

Hakoah still maintains their stranglehold on the competition as we enter the business end of the season, but the makeup of finals spots is yet to be determined and the race for survival has intensified at the other end of the ladder.

Meanwhile the reopening of Arlington Oval will also be one of the highlights of the round. 

Dulwich Hill v Camden Tigers – 3pm Saturday at Arlington Oval

The reopening of the historic Arlington Oval will kick off Round 19 when Dulwich Hill takes on a resurgent Camden Tigers.

Dulwich Hill come into the game on the back of a hard earned 3-3 draw against Northbridge FC. Norman Tome’s men maintain their grip on 5^th spot with a four point gap to 6^th placed Balmain, who have a game in hand.

Camden continued their recent turnaround with a 1-1 draw against league leaders Hakoah. The point makes it an impressive month for Camden, who have three wins and a draw in their last four matches, showing a remarkable turnaround in the later stages of the season.

Hawkesbury City SC v Granville Rage – 5pm Saturday at Benson Lane

A 3-2 loss to Gladesville last weekend leaves Hawkesbury’s final hopes hanging by thread. The Hawks will be ruing a second half collapse which saw a two goal lead evaporate, and a goal conceded in injury time saw the Hawks come away empty handed. With only four games to go, the gap to 5^th place is now seven points as the Hawks face an uphill battle to sneak into the finals.

Last week’s wet weather saw Granville Rage have the week off, but the side maintains 4^th position on the ladder with a game in hand.

Gladesville Ryde Magic v Northbridge FC – 5pm Saturday at Magdala Park

A battle for second spot takes place between Gladesville and Northbridge on Saturday afternoon.

With both teams locked on 36 points, this will be a real six pointer for both sides as only goal difference is keeping Northbridge in second place and Gladesville in third.

Despite showing character in a 3-3 draw against Dulwich Hill, Northbridge’s form has deserted them of late, with the side not registering a victory in the last month.

Gladesville meanwhile continue to go about their business and are looking well-placed for a charge in the finals, a stirring comeback last week with three goals in the second half sealing a 3-2 win over Hawkesbury.

Stanmore Hawks v Inter Lions – 7pm Saturday at Arlington Oval

Stanmore also return to their spiritual home in Round 19 with the Hawks hosting Inter Lions on Saturday night at Arlington Oval.

With both teams having their games washed out last week, only one point separates 9^th place Stanmore and 10^th place Inter Lions. While still mathematically possible, both sides look to be out of the running for a finals spot, though they will still be eager to finish as high up the ladder as possible.

Stanmore claimed all three points in the earlier fixture this year, and they’ll be looking for a repeat result in front of their home fans.

Nepean FC v Hakoah Sydney City East FC – 7pm Saturday at Cook Park

Nepean FC welcomes Hakoah Sydney City East FC on Saturday, with the home side desperate for a win.

Adam Malouf’s men sit 8^th on the ladder, but recent results have seen them dragged into the battle at the bottom of the Club Championship. The home side will need to be at their best to get any points against the league leaders.

Hakoah were held to a somewhat surprising 1-1 home draw by Camden last week. Despite the draw Hakoah still hold their 11 point lead at the top of the league, and if results go their way this weekend, they could find themselves clinching the Premiership for season 2014.

Balmain Tigers FC v Western NSW Mariners FC – 7pm Saturday at St George Soccer Stadium

Balmain tackle Western NSW Mariners on Saturday night with both teams having plenty to play for this week.

The Tigers will be looking to keep up the momentum in their bid for finals football, with the side four points away from 5^th placed Dulwich Hill. Although they still have a game in hand up their sleeve, they’ll need to keep their nerve to ensure maximum points.

The Western NSW Mariners find themselves in a tense battle to stay in the Division. With their game washed out last week and Camden picking up a draw, the Mariners now share bottom of the ladder with Camden.  With the stakes so high, this week would be a perfect chance for the Mariners to pick up their first points on the road this year.

– By Diego Munoz