Men’s State League 1 Round 11 Preview
The second placed Hills Brumbies head out to Arlington Oval to face Dulwich Hill in a mouth-watering Match of the Round.
Rydalmere FC host Stanmore headlines a smorgasbord Saturday of football this Queen’s Birthday long weekend.
Balmain Tigers FC vs Granville Rage, Saturday 6th June, 3pm, Garside Park
Balmain want to build back-to-back wins this weekend against a solid Granville Rage side at Garside Park Saturday afternoon.
Joe Di Giulo was pleased with the last half hour of his side’s 2-nil win over Nepean last week hoping it will start a run into the top five.
It was two consecutive draws for the frustrated Rage. Finding the net has been a problem for Granville this season scoring only 13 goals.
Stephen Vukovic will be the gauge for the Rage’s performance in a tight tussle.
Gladesville Ryde Magic vs Hawkesbury City SC, Saturday 6th June, 4pm, Magdala Park
Fifth place hosts eleventh on Saturday afternoon at Magdala Park.
Hawkesbury enjoyed an improved May where they gathered six points while the hosts are clinging onto fifth spot with 14 points.
George Ganiatsas hopes the second successive home game can produce three points against a stubborn Hawkesbury side.
Again one player that will be in the spotlight will be their captain courageous, goalkeeper Kiriakos Tohorouglou who was in scintillating form in their last match.
Western NSW Mariners FC vs North Shore Mariners, Saturday 6th June, 73pm, Wade Park, Orange
North Shore head the table moving into the second half of the season traveling west to Orange on Saturday.
Joe Haywood was pleased the Mariners grabbed all three points last week and will expect the continuation of their high standards again this week.
Western NSW are undefeated in five after their 2-1 win against Stanmore, primed to test themselves against the leaders.
A lot has been spoken of their attack but the defence of North Shore led by the vocal Jay Wynter has only conceded eight goals all season.
Nepean FC vs Inter Lions, Saturday 730pm, Saturday 6th June, 730pm, Cook Park
Inter were blown away last weekend and will need a marked improvement away to Nepean on Saturday night.
The Lions started brightly through ace marksman Rosario Occhipinti before it predictably fell apart for them.
Nepean props up the table going into the second half of the season and are in desperate need to pick up valuable points.
It has not been the best of starts for the club but Nepean FC are working together in achieving better results.
Being tenth playing twelfth, there will an added spice to a contest that both teams need to win.
Rydalmere Lions vs Stanmore Hawks, Saturday 6th June, 730pm, Rydalmere Park
Rydalmere sit third after a blistering run smashing in 23 goals in eight games thus far to remain undefeated.
Head Coach Tony Basha has brought out the best in his young side highlighted by Zakeriya Elrich’s hat-trick last weekend brought the winger’s tally to seven.
Stanmore lost to Western NSW breaking their winning streak. Coach Soteri Mavrou hopes the challenge of the Lions will bring the best out of his players.
There are goalscorers at both ends with Costa Bakoulis leading the line for the Hawks and the possibility of Lloyd Owusu’s debut for the home side setting the scene for a thriller.
Owusu, a former English football star who also played for the likes of Adelaide United and Hakoah Sydney City East has become yet another prized signing for Basha’s squad.
Dulwich Hill FC vs Hills Brumbies, Sunday 7th June, 3pm, Arlington Oval (Match of the Round)
It’s a battle between the two lethal marksmen of Men’s State League 1 in this weekend’s Match of the Round.
Dulwich Hill were boosted by the signing of big Kiwi striker Sam Messam last weekend and combined well with Stephen Hrysanthos in their 4-1 win over Inter.
Hrysanthos has now become the goal-scorer Dully has been missing earlier in the season.
Mark Giovenali hopes last week was a blip in an impressive first half of the season for the Brumbies headlined by six straight wins and Daniel Morsillo’s goal-scoring feats.
Both teams enjoy scoring goals, scoring 22 and 27 respectively. So neither will be afraid to take each other on Sunday afternoon.
-By Justin Davies, Men’s State League 1 reporter.
