Men’s State League 1 Round 19 Preview
Heading into the final month of Men’s State League action, teams will jostle to play finals football in 2015. Inter Lions host the giant killer’s Hawkesbury City SC in our Match of the Round.
Dulwich Hill FC v Balmain Tigers FC, Saturday August 1st, 3pm, Arlington Oval
In their final engagement before the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32, Balmain are eager to halt rampaging Dulwich Hill.
Dully continued their form with a 3-nil win over Western NSW meanwhile Balmain Tigers had their worst game in their loss to Hawkesbury City SC.
Joe Di Giulio will lean on captain Ton Hyde to stop talented Dully attackers Stephen Hrystanthos and Sam Messam.
Sitting third and fourth respectively– Saturday night is a chance for finals series warm up.
Gladesville Ryde Magic v Hills Brumbies, Saturday August 1st, 4pm, Magdala Park
Hills Brumbies cling onto fifth place as they travel out at Magdala Park. Veteran ‘keeper Kiriakos Tohouroglou earned Gladesville Ryde Magic a point as Hills Brumbies lost 4-2 to Granville Rage.
Mark Giovenali hopes this a win weekend can start a turnaround for the Brumbies going into the final month.
Alastair Mckie will once again need to be on form, to get the Magic three points.
Nepean FC v North Shore Mariners, Saturday August 1st, 730pm, Cook Park (St Marys)
Nepean faces the tough task of trying to stop the unbeaten North Shore Mariners Saturday night.
North Shore Mariners grinded out a 2-1 win over Inter as Nepean FC fell 3-nil to Stanmore Hawks.
Now sitting last with a -25 goal difference, Jason Breton will endeavour to shutout the league’s most prolific attack.
Vvictory on Saturday night confirms the premiership for the North Shore Mariners with three rounds to spare.
Western NSW Mariners v Rydalmere Lions, Saturday August 1st, 730pm, Glen Willow Stadium
Luckless Western NSW welcomes an angered Rydalmere Lions to Mudgee this weekend.
Rydalmere were held to a scoreless draw while Western NSW Mariners were punished by Dulwich Hill.
Rydalmere coach Tony Basha will motivate his strikers to find the net to break their inconsistent results.
These two teams had a cracking 3-all draw back in round eight and if Saturday can replicate that, it’ll be a great spectacle.
Inter Lions v Hawkesbury City SC, Sunday 2nd August, 3pm, Fraser Park – Match of the Round
Hawkesbury City SC has made a habit of giant killing this season and head to Fraser Park confident to continue their run.
The Hawks struck late to down Balmain while Inter were plucky in their 2-1 loss to North Shore Mariners.
Lachlan Wright has inspired some impressive displays and the Inter Lions have to replicate that to beat Hawkesbury City.
Last time these two met – Hawkesbury City SC prevailed 3-1 through an Evan Daglis double.
Rosario Occhipinti re-found his scoring form in the Mariners loss and hopes it continues for another week.
For teams on the fringes of the finals, this weekend represents the time to get a move on to make a charge.
Granville Rage v Stanmore Hawks, Sunday 2nd August,3pm, Garside Park
Two last start winners clash at Garside park on Sunday afternoon.
Granville Rage produced a thrilling display to win 4-2 as Stanmore Hawks saw off Nepean FC 3-0.
Midfield general David Harding engineered most of Granville Rage’s crosses last weekend and will prove a handful for Stanmore Hawks.
Stanmore Hawks coach Soteri Mavrou will expect a much more convincing performance to lift his side into the top five.
by Justin Davies, Men’s State League 1 Reporter
