Futsal Premier League Round 7 Preview
Futsal NSW Premier League round seven Saturday night has Dural against Enfield, Inner West face Campbelltown, UTS Northside meet Mountain Majik, while Mascot play South Coast. Visit the Football NSW website (Futsal tab) for full details.
Dural Warriors v Enfield Rovers
Dural Sport & Leisure Centre 7.05pm Saturday 5 December
Bring your sunglasses as Dural and Enfield face-off in one of the most glaring contests of the summer. Rovers have a measured record with the four-time champs (current top-four Enfield, Inner West and Campbelltown each have two wins and two draws against Dural over the past five summers), last season’s gallant 3-2 triumph a highlight, and Enfield was the last team to beat Dural to the regular season post (2011/12); the two combatants finishing one-two in the competition three times in the last five years. But perhaps the biggest attraction is the gladiator trial between the league’s two most prolific scorers – Shervin Adeli (78 goals in five summers) versus Greg Giovenali (70).
Inner West Magic v Campbelltown Quake
Valentine Sports Park 8.30pm Saturday 5 December
There’s perhaps no greater premier league rivalry than Inner West versus Campbelltown. They’ve met in six finals since the league’s summer move seven years ago (two going to a penalty shootout), won seven each in 16 encounters, and Quake beat Magic in the last trophy match not involving Dural (2009/10). The ‘Towners boast three of the league’s best seven scorers in the last five years – Mark Symington (59 goals), Danny Martinez (55) and Dean Lockhart (40), but they also have a desperation not felt at the club for quite some time. Inner West on the other hand have only lost to Dural since Christmas 2014, and they’ll be pumped to bury Campbelltown and stay in touch with the Warriors.
UTS Northside v Mountain Majik
Sydney Academy of Sport & Recreation 7.30pm Saturday 5 December
UTS Northside meet Mountain Majik in a do-or-die battle for both sides, and by all accounts this should be tight. UTS got up for their first win with a 2-1 dismissal of dismal Mascot while Majik have one foot still in the starting blocks with a solitary point to their name. The Mountaineers may be buoyed by Northside’s penchant for close affairs having endured four one-goal results so far this season, and the fact Majik’s tense 2-1 victory over UTS last year was followed by a 4-3 Northside win you’d put money on a goal being in it this time round too.
Mascot Vipers v South Coast Taipans
All Sorts Indoor Sports Centre 8.20pm Saturday 5 December
It’s been a while between drinks but Mascot finally meet South Coast again with a score to settle dating back four years. The Coasters only won twice in a frustrating 2011/12 premier league summer, a shock 4-3 victory over Vipers setting off a nine game Taipans win-less run broken just last week by a 3-2 success against UTS. Having said that, Mascot’s biggest ever league win was an 8-1 demolition of South Coast way back in October 2011 (we’re on our fourth prime minister since then)… at the same venue they’re playing at this weekend.
-By Dan De Nardi
