Round 13 Preview – League One Men’s
The number thirteen, unlucky for some but certainly not unlucky for fans of the FNSW League One Men’s competition with another great weekend of football ahead.
Our pick of the fixtures takes us up the motorway as Central Coast Mariners and Bonnyrigg White Eagles do battle. While elsewhere another top four battle takes place at Penshurst Park and Blacktown Spartans defend a good home record as they welcome NWS Spirit.
Our Pick: Central Coast Mariners FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC; Sunday 5 June, 3pm, Pluim Park
Pluim Park is the venue for Our Pick of the matches this weekend as a resurgent Bonnyrigg White Eagles make their way up the motorway to take on Central Coast Mariners.
Our competition leaders Central Coast Mariners return home after two games in Syndey’s South saw them take away four points from a possible six against both St George teams.
Reflecting on their performance last weekend against St George City in which they played out a scoreless draw. You could be forgiven for adopting either a glass half full or glass half empty perspective.
The positive? Andrew Christiansen’s side have conceded just one goal in over four and a half games of football, with the introduction of Cameron Windust in particular adding stability.
The negative? They would feel like they should have won the game or to put it another way. The academy side know how to win an open back and forth fixture, but they struggle that little bit more when the game has fewer chances.
Which makes this week’s opponents particularly dangerous in Bonnyrigg White Eagles. After a disappointing start to the campaign, Abbas Saad’s men have turned their form around in recent weeks.
And there was no better showcase of that than an utterly dominant round twelve victory over their local rivals in Mounties Wanderers last weekend.
Goals to Marie Gauthier, Asmir Kadric and Aaron Peterson secured the victory on a night where the club celebrated the milestone achievements of a few of their first grade squad.
But it is perhaps the weekend before against Northern Tigers which will show us what they can do to a top four side away from home. If they can manage it again in this one, they will be very capable of challenging the top four.
St George FC v SD Raiders FC; Saturday 4 June, 7pm, Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
Two sides who scored confidence building wins in round twelve meet when St George FC host SD Raiders, Saturday evening.
In a just reward for their recent performances, St George FC broke their three game losing streak in round twelve action last weekend.
A performance one can only describe as a statement victory, the Saints put six goals past their host Hakoah FC at Hensley Athletic.
And there was a lot to like about the way they went about it with Jay Mcgowan and Cam Philpot both playing important roles in the victory, both scoring braces. While Harry Jones and Anthony Morabito also found the net.
It’s the type of performance that could kickstart a season and make no mistake, the Saints have the potential to be one of the more entertaining sides to watch in the second half of the season.
Like their hosts this weekend, SD Raiders also broke an unwanted winless streak last weekend. Coming into their fixture with Hills United last weekend, they as well had lost their last three games.
However that is where the similarities end with the Raiders achieving victory in a different manner than their host instead having to grind out a result, striking twice late.
Key to it was the introduction of Anthony Proia at half time who gave Goran Ljuboja’s side a much needed spark in the front third before scoring their first. He was joined by Franco Maya on scoresheet late who added his first of the season.
This is a chance at back to back victories for the SD Raiders who have been desperately lacking consistency in their 2022 campaign. They triumphed 4-1 in their meeting earlier this year.
St George City v Northern Tigers FC; Saturday 4 June, 7pm, Penshurst Park
Another weekend, another top four showdown at Penshurst Park as St George City host Northern Tigers in round 13 action.
If we’re measuring teams by the glass half full, glass half empty meter this week. The sentiment from St George City last week was definitely the latter of the two.
Lining up against Central Coast Mariners, City put in a good defensive performance but didn’t meet their usual standard with the ball at their feet. As such, creating less chances than we’re used to seeing them create throughout.
Notably missing in that one was Stephen Athanaseris who picked up a knock in the buildup, though Matthew Keremelevski proved to be adequate cover. It would also be a mistake to overlook the influence of Troy Danaskos on his side, the left back tireless in his efforts on the left.
It’s a testing time of the season for City who face all over top four sides in the space of three weeks, a win here would hold them in good stead for their promotion push.
Yes, there are no easy games in the league, but the worry lines are beginning to increase for the Northern Tigers who have lost three of their last four league games.
Prior to that, the Tigers seemed comfortable sitting on top of the table, but two losses at home and one away suddenly have them in fourth position.
Last weekend, they couldn’t quite pick up where they left off in the cup the Wednesday prior going down to a determined Blacktown Spartans team who simply took their chances. Bailey Rule once again found the net to halve the deficit, but they couldn’t find a second.
It’s another tricky test for Adam Hett’s team visiting a venue which doesn’t suit their style, so any points will be well earned.
Hills United FC v Western Sydney Wanderers FC; Saturday 4 June, 7pm, Blacktown City Sports Centre
Hills United will be out to restore some pride when they take on Western Sydney Wanderers this weekend.
There’s not a lot to add regarding Hills United and their form at the moment. Last tasting victory back in round seven, it’s been a lean run of results as they’ve fallen to five straight league defeats.
Last weekend, their latest defeat came against SD Raiders at Ernie Smith Reserve. A match where they were perhaps unlucky to not get something from conceding twice late.
It was however a game where Jordan Parfait, Wade Giovenali and Eoin Montford all had chances to open the scoring.
If you cast your mind back to the first round of results, it was the Wanderers who triumphed in a blowout with a six goal victory. So, they’ll want to hit back here.
Whereas Hills United are struggling towards the bottom of the standings, Western Sydney Wanderers are challenging towards the top of the table.
Fourteen points from their last six fixtures, Western Sydney Wanderers have hit a purple patch of form in recent weeks having been bolstered by the return of a few players with A-league minutes in recent weeks.
Last weekend, they drew against fellow top four challenger NWS Spirit at the Arctic circle/Christie Park. Daniel Wilmering once again contributed to a victory with a goal in an impressive performance for Tomi Vidovic’s side. While Aiden Mostofi came off the bench to find a late equalizer.
It’s a game the Wanderers would love to win to put some breathing room from teams below them and it’s tough to see them losing this one.
It’s one of those fixtures you look forward to when the fixture list is released, and we can’t wait to see how it plays out this weekend.
Hakoah FC v Mounties Wanderers FC; Saturday 4 June, 7pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah FC and Mounties Wanderers will be looking to return to the winner’s circle when they meet in Sydney’s East.
One team in the cup, another in the league. Now the challenge for Hakoah FC is taking their cup form and transferring it to the league.
Last weekend, it was a tough outing for Hakoah who conceded six against St George FC on their own turf at Hensley Athletic.
However, since then they have notched up a victory over Sydney University in round six of the Australia Cup with Dominic Cox picking up a hat trick while being joined on the scoresheet my Steven Sohn who scored the goal of the game.
With results going the way they did last weekend, if they hold any hopes of a finals/promotion place, it’s time for Hakoah FC to get a move on as the weeks begin to run out.
They face a Mounties Wanderers side who will be definitely relieved to see the back of May after they went winless in the league throughout the month.
Last weekend, they were on the end of a dominant Bonnyrigg performance before putting in a more respectable performance during the week in a cup game against the same opposition going out on penalties.
With their next two fixtures against the A-league academies, you would suggest they need a result here before taking on two of the better sides in the competition.
Last time these two sides met, it finished all square in an entertaining two-all draw back in March, a result both sides will be looking to better here.
Blacktown Spartans FC v NWS Spirit FC; Saturday 4 June, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park
Get used to seeing Blacktown Spartans at home in the second half of the season as they host NWS Spirit FC in their second consecutive home game.
With a fair few home fixtures remaining. You would suspect a few teams are starting to look over their shoulder at the Blacktown Spartans.
If there is one thing Andy Montgomery’s team have shown this season, it’s their ability to bounce back from a loss as proved to be the case once again in round twelve with a character building win over the Northern Tigers.
Montgomery’s men did well to weather a tricky first half before rocketing out of gates early in the second with goals to both Hamish Lamberton and Emmanuel Gonzalez enough to see off the Tigers.
It’s another big game in the context of the Spartans season, another win here against top five opposition and they’re right back in the hunt for finals/promotion. They’ll potentially have to do it without Alex Gollan though who saw red last weekend.
In the past three meeting between these two sides, the away side has walked away victorious which is good news for NWS Spirit this weekend.
The Spirit are the form team of the competition at the moment, unbeaten in seven games (cup included) and sit just outside the top four on the standings.
Last weekend, they took the lead twice in the opening twenty minutes before being denied by a late equalizer. Musashi Kokubo continues to be a threat from a set piece, while Blake Ilitch also found the net in similar fashion.
David Perkovic’s side will welcome Grant Cornwell back into the lineup after a week’s suspension as they look to avenge their round two fixture.
By FNSW League One Men’s writer Justin Smith
