Round 8 Preview – Futsal Premier League Open Men’s
After a blockbuster round seven, attention now turns to the second half of the Open Men’s Futsal Premier League season. And in round eight there’s plenty on the line for plenty of teams so let’s take a look at the action.
Campbelltown City Quake Futsal Club v Enfield Allstars; Saturday 29 October, 5:30pm, Minto Indoor Sports Centre
After giving Mountain Majik a scare last weekend, Campbelltown City Quake host Enfield Allstars to kick off the 2nd half of their season.
Yes, it took something special for the Quake to be defeated last weekend. After pegging the Majik back on three occasions they eventually succumbed to three late goals. Still it shows the progress this Quake side have made in the first half of the season. Look out for Harrison James who scored a hat-trick last weekend in their defeat.
The first team to secure three wins on the trot, Enfield Allstars will be entering uncharted territory in looking for their fourth and fifth this weekend. It’s a big opportunity for the Allstars to jump out to a lead and they are well aware of it. Last weekend, it was a good all-round performance after an early set back with Dominic Cox and the ever-reliable Shervin Adeli the standouts.
Previous Meeting: Enfield Allstars 7-3 Campbelltown City Quake
UTS Northside Futsal Club v Dural Warriors; Saturday 29 October, 5:30pm, PCYC Dee Why
Dural Warriors will be looking for a second top four scalp when they make the short trip to face UTS Northside.
And on paper, it comes at a good time for the visitors as UTS Northside have tasted back-to-back defeats. Last weekend, missing a couple of players due to suspension UTS went down narrowly to Eastern Suburbs Hakoah despite a spirited comeback. Lucas Rainbird picked up a double joined on the scoresheet by Mitchell Whalley. With 5 of their last 7 matches at home, they’ll be keen to set the tone here.
They face a Dural Warriors side who are preparing for the opposite, 5 of their last 7 matches away. However they will be going into that run having claimed an important win over rivals Inner West. With six different scorers in that one, it was described to us as a strong first half performance with coach Alastair Bruce praising his young players for stepping up in the fixture.
Previous Meeting: Dural Warriors 1-5 UTS Northside
Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club v Mascot Vipers; Saturday 29 October, 6:50pm, Morris Iemma Indoor SC
After an inconsistent run of form, Eastern Suburbs Hakoah will be eyeing revenge when they take on Mascot Vipers.
Take the three points and look to improve. You get the sense that was the message for Eastern Suburbs Hakoah after last weekends match. Holding on at the death against a fast-finishing UTS Northside squad. Goals for Noah Feilich, Gilad Swartz with a double and Jake Lees proved enough of an advantage to hold on too in a frantic final five minutes. A win here would set them up nicely for a fixture with Enfield the next day.
They face a Mascot Vipers side who are also in a mixed run of form. Going down to Enfield Allstars last weekend after holding a two-goal advantage early, there will be a focus on bouncing back as soon as possible coming into this one. And it was a rare week where a Quilligan didn’t score with Timothy Scott, Ethan De Melo and Nicholas Morales finding the net. If they hold finals hopes, consistency is needed starting right here.
Previous Meeting: Mascot Vipers 1-0 Eastern Suburbs Hakoah
Mountain Majik Futsal Club v Inner West Futsal Club; Saturday 29 October, 7:20, Valentine Sports Park
Leaving potentially the best game of the weekend till last Mountain Majik “host” Inner West in a return fixture at Valentine Sports Park.
Back in mid-September, this was perhaps our pick of round one action with the two playing out a seven-goal thriller and we are hoping for more of the same here.
Mountain Majik who are sitting in 2nd position at the turn of the season are coming in after back-to-back wins over Dural Warriors and Campbelltown City Quake. Last weekend, three goals in the final five minutes saw them claim victory with Jordan Guerreiro and Jamie Dib playing the lead role. Though with five different goal scorers, they are dangerous across the pitch.
You know how it is in a derby game, things can easily go to plan, but things can easily spin out of control. Unfortunately for Inner West last weekend, it was the latter as they conceded five times in the first half before they could respond. Yet when they did, it showed that they are a dangerous proposition with Anthony Haddad in particular worth keeping an eye on. They’ll be eyeing revenge from their round one encounter.
Previous Meeting: Inner West 3-4 Mountain Majik
R4 Catch up fixture: Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal Club v Enfield Allstars will also be played 6:50pm at Valentine Sports Park this Sunday.
By Justin Smith
