SUPA IGA NPL NSW Mens 2 Round 20 Preview

The late Josef Herberger – former manager of 1954 World Cup champions West Germany – once quipped: “The ball is round, the game lasts ninety minutes, and everything else is just theory.”

Three rounds to go, 270 minutes of football, nine points up for grabs. The equation is simple for teams chasing glory and those chasing survival. Any dropped points from this point mean danger, and isn’t that just a tantalising prospect for us fans.

Every match has important repercussions, with six teams still in the hunt to join Parramatta in the finals and the bottom five all within touching distance of the dreaded wooden spoon. Giddyup!

Match of the Round

Sydney University v Parramatta FC – Saturday 7.30pm, Hensley Athletic Field

Last time they met: Rd 9 – Parramatta 4-1 Sydney Uni
 
Form guide:
Sydney University –WWWDD 4^th 
Parramatta FC – DWWDD 1^st
If this fixture popped up on Tinder, Parramatta would happily swipe left and move onto next week. They travel to face a Sydney University outfit that heads in on the back of a six-game unbeaten streak and looking to put one foot into the finals series.
Uni have had a testing couple of weeks having faced three finals hopefuls in as many games, dispatching of Mounties before being held against Tigers and Bankstown City.
The form book gets thrown out during the finals series and Raul Blanco’s men are developing the sort of confidence that will make them a team to fear next month.
But Parramatta, too, have plenty of reason to fire. A win will all but seal them the Premiership, which will be guaranteed if Macarthur drop points.
Throw in the disappointment of an FFA Cup defeat and the hotly-contested Club Championship race and you can be assured there will be no complacency on the Eagles’ part.
Despite the 1-0 defeat to St Albans on Tuesday night, Parramatta played some tantalising football in the second half that prompted all the feels you expect from cup football.
At times Parramatta were untouchable and it will provide a major boost heading into this one.
The club maintains just a ten-point lead at the top of the club championship, with the three teams behind them still in with a realistic shot of promotion. With Sydney Uni expected to steal points in at least one of the other two grades, there is plenty on the line at Hensley.
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Bankstown City – Saturday 6.30pm, Pluim Park

Last time they met: Rd 9 – Bankstown City 1-0 Mariners Academy 
Form guide:
Central Coast Mariners Academy – LWLDW 6^th
Bankstown City – LDLDD 7^th 
Two sides closer than Mario and Luigi on the Mens 2 ladder do battle at Pluim Park in a traditionally early kick off on Saturday night.
Sixth-placed Mariners sit just one point ahead of seventh-placed Bankstown City in what looks like a four-way battle for the final two spots in the finals. With only two points separating Sydney Uni from the Lions, three points becomes invaluable in the final few weeks.
Mariners returned to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Spirit on the weekend and could make a big play for the finals, while also keeping their slim promotion hopes alive, with a win at home.
Jason van Blerk’s young brigade have been on a turbulent path since a positive mid-season run and risk giving themselves a mountain to climb with anything less.
Bankstown City have been up against it for a number of weeks now, with their cruise into the finals turning into nightmare voyage.
But despite ample setbacks, the Lions remain well and truly in the hunt. They have the toughest run home of any team in the competition, with matches against Parramatta and Macarthur to round out the regular season. This one will be unbelievable Jeff!
Macarthur Rams v Spirit FC – Saturday 7.30pm, Lynwood Park

Last time they met: Rd 9 – Spirit 3-3 Macarthur
 
Form guide:
Macarthur Rams – LLWDW 2^nd
Spirit FC – WLWDL 10^th
It seemed a case of Murphy’s Law for Macarthur just a matter of weeks ago. But Rams did their best Usher and performed a much-needed U-turn at the right time.
Another close 1-0 win moved Rams back into second place on the ladder and looked destined to cement their spot in the qualifying final.
At this stage of the season, performance will be more of a priority than results for Claudio Canosa, with Macarthur still undoubtedly one of the favourites for the title.
On the other side of the pitch is Spirit, who have experienced somewhat of a revival themselves. Although there have been a few defeats mashed in there, Tony Walmsley’s side look much more polished and seem to have fixed the finishing problem that plagued them earlier in the year.
It was a thriller the last time these met, one which Spirit will remember keenly and Rams will have erased from the memory. Spirit goalkeeper Murray Nelson popped up with a 90th minute equaliser to complete a comeback from 3-0 down and the visitors will need to call on that kind of fight to take any points at Lynwood Park.
Fraser Park v Mounties Wanderers – Saturday 7.30pm, Sydney United Sports Centre

Last time they met: Rd 9 – Mounties 3-0 Fraser Park
 
Form guide:
Fraser Park – DWWDD 11^th
Mounties – DLLDW 5^th
It’s been a laborious task but Fraser Park are finally off the foot of the Club Championship ladder. It’s by the slightest of margins, though. They sit just one point above Hills Brumbies and will be going tit for tat over the coming weeks in what will go down as one of the tightest races for survival in recent years.
Crucial to that rise has been the six game unbeaten run Mile Todorovski’s men are currently on. Although Saturday’s 0-0 stalemate with Berries was a potentially crucial missed opportunity, Fraser Park have developed consistency at the right time and look unfazed by any challenge in their wake.
That ambition will be called into overdrive against a Mounties side desperate to cling onto fifth place. Wanderers picked up their first three points in more than a month with a 1-0 win over Mt Druitt at the weekend to keep them well in contention to sneak into the finals.
Steve Appleby will be expecting a fiery opposition but will have little difficulty motivating his charges for another must-win.
Bankstown Berries v Hills Brumbies – Saturday 7.30pm, The Crest Athletic Centre

Last time they met: Rd 9 – Hills 4-1 Berries
 
Form guide:
Berries – WLLLD 12^th
Hills – DDLDL 8^th
It’s desperation personified. Berries – all but free from relegation but fighting to avoid the wooden spoon. Hills – in the relegation hot seat and still among five contenders for the spoon.
There is no room for error, no time for caution. It’s one of those occasions where the pain of losing will far outweigh the joy of winning.
All signs point towards a combative approach, with neither side experiencing much joy in recent weeks. Berries’ draw with Fraser Park ended a stretch of three losses on the trot in what has been an unusually frustrating season for the club.
The last time they met, Hills produced a commanding display to run out 4-1 victors, but the goals have dried up lately compared to the rampant form they have enjoyed in front of goal for much of the season.
Now winless from their last eight matches, Brumbies couldn’t pick a better time to weather the storm. Nestor Meneses’ men aren’t just playing for one another, they’re playing for the club.
Northern Tigers v Mt Druitt Town Rangers – Sunday 3pm, Mills Park

Last time they met: Rd 9 – Rangers 0-3 Tigers 
Form guide:
Tigers – LWWDD 3^rd
Rangers – LLLWL 9^th
Fresh from a weekend off after having the fixture against Parramatta moved to last weekend, Northern Tigers host Mt Druitt rejuvenated and ready to continue their impressive momentum.
The Tigers train has gathered speed in the back half of the season and they too have an ulterior motive, fighting for both finals and promotion.
The former looks like a mere formality, with Jason Eagar’s men proving more than worthy of a top five finish. But the Club Championship is a tad more elusive. Tigers were presented a chance to make up some ground on Parramatta when playing against the league leaders last round but could only manage a win in the Under 18’s, with draws in the other two grades.
With four teams hot on their tail, Tigers’ next duty is to wrap up a spot in the top three and a guaranteed second chance in the finals should they need it.
This week’s opponents were still in the finals hunt until a month ago. But four losses from five matches has left them playing for pride.
Rangers agonisingly went down to Mounties over the weekend and won’t be too concerned with their position on the ladder given the longer term objectives at play but will still be looking to bow out on a high.
– By Mitchell Grima