Round 5 Preview – League One Men’s
A month into the season, teams are starting to settle into their rhythm as we approach round five of the FNSW League One Men’s campaign.
As such, our match of the round takes us to one side of two in Bankstown City who are still looking for their first win as they travel to take on Inter Lions. Elsewhere, Dunbar Rovers will be looking to do the same against Mounties Wanderers. While Hakoah FC hosting St George also stands out for different reasons.
Check out our preview below.
Match of the round: Inter Lions FC v Bankstown City FC; Saturday 4th March, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Our match of the round takes us to Concord as Inter Lions and Bankstown City face off in a highly anticipated clash, Saturday night.
It’s been a mixed week of action for John Theodoropoulos and his Inter Lions side. After a poor performance against St George FC last weekend in round four action, they bounced back with an impressive win against Hills United midweek (check out the review below for that).
As such, they now sit in eighth place with six points on their account and as that reflects, they are more settled as a team compared to their opponents. In terms of who to look out for, Owen Duke and Oliver Green stand out as menacing threats. While Thomas Quilligan was the player to give them the win midweek. Many tipped Inter Lions for good things this season and with our cameras on them for the first time this weekend, they’ll be keen to deliver.
We mentioned in our opening line that teams are beginning to settle into the competition. One place where that doesn’t apply however is Bankstown City. With two points from four fixtures, the ambitious club have parted ways with Ante Moric a month into the season. So, there will be a genuine interest to see how they respond here.
On the pitch, things are yet to click but there is a lot of quality there. James Mckenzie has played a key role in defense this season. While Ante Tomic has shown some leadership qualities (particularly in the absence of Nikola Todoroski), Todoroski who has just come back to fitness. A win here would most certainly settle the nerves.
Hakoah FC v St George FC; Saturday 4th March, 5pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Two sides full of confidence will meet in the Eastern Suburbs as Hakoah FC play host to St George FC.
Hosting the match, Hakoah FC will be full of confidence after their best victory of the season so far over a previously unbeaten Bonnyrigg White Eagles. The visitors that day were a class above the highflying Eagles particularly in the first half. Jesse Hirschowitz, Cam Philpot and Nicholas Drummond all found the back of the net, with Drummond in particular singled out as a player in form.
In similar fashion to their hosts, St George FC also had a good victory last Saturday night. The Saints are playing a brand of football which is easy on the eye, and it proved too much of a hurdle for Inter Lions. Starring in that one was Conor Quilligan who scored two spectacular goals from both a set piece and open play. Keep an eye out for him and others if you’re heading out to this one.
Blacktown Spartans FC v Central Coast United FC; Saturday 4th March, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans return home for the second time this season hosting Central Coast United at Blacktown Football Park.
The Spartans under Rollison have been impressive away from home in the first month and they’ll see this as an opportunity to capitalise on that with a victory here. Against Dulwich Hill last weekend, it took a goal from their hosts to kick them into gear. When they did however, they gave their opposition little chance with Hyungmin Yang, Robert Eremugo and Jovan Blagojevic all finding the back of the net.
In contrast, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for Central Coast United. With captain Daniel Mcfarlane still a few months away, they found the going tough again Northern Tigers who put four past them. And the draw isn’t any kinder this weekend facing an in-form Spartans side. They will be keen to improve defensively approaching this one.
SD Raiders FC v Macarthur Rams FC; Saturday 4th March, 7pm, Ernie Smith Reserve
On paper, this is up there with the best matches this weekend as SD Raiders host Macarthur Rams in an enticing South-West Sydney clash at Ernie Smith Reserve.
It’s been an unspectacular start for SD Raiders in 2023. Having a record of one win, one draw and two defeats in the opening month sees them sitting firmly in midtable. Last weekend, they went down to Hills United late away from home. Noah Chianese scored his first goal of the season while Mihael Marcic added to his tally for the season, Marcic proving to be a key man up front with three goals in four starts.
Macarthur Rams on the other hand have continued the form which carried them to the League Two championship in 2022. Still yet to complete their game against Hakoah, the Rams have a 100% record with two wins from two. Anthony Proia looks an inspired signing for Brett Hewit’s side scoring four goals so far. While Matthew Barkho also made good use of his first start this season.
Dunbar Rovers FC v Mounties Wanderers FC; Saturday 4th March, 7pm, Fraser Park
Dunbar Rovers host Mounties Wanderers looking for their first win of the season at Fraser Park.
The scoreline last weekend was perhaps a bit harsh on Dunbar Rovers who slumped to their fourth defeat of the season last weekend. They set out to prove a point and for the most part, they did so with the result coming down to both sides efficiency in front of goal. A step in the right direction, they’ll be looking to score their first point of the season against a side who also aren’t playing at their best.
This could go out of date quickly but Mounties Wanderers will be looking for a return to the winners column after a disappointing result last weekend. Against Canterbury Bankstown, a poor start left them with too much to do despite an improvement in the second half. They will be playing their third fixture of the weekend after lining up against Northern Tigers midweek, a game you can catch tonight on NPL.TV.
Northern Tigers FC v Dulwich Hill FC; Saturday 4th March, 7pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Northern Tigers will play their second home game of the week when they welcome Dulwich Hill to NTRA.
Well, this could either age really well or horribly by the time you are reading this. But Northern Tigers found their stride in round four action against Central Coast United last weekend. Adam Hett’s men were dominant from the get-go and were rewarded with a four-goal victory. And it’s hard to go past Kai Denton who has seemingly found his feet in the first-grade side after showing a lot of promise in the 20’s, scoring five in his last two at the time of writing.
They will meet a Dulwich Hill side who will take some positives away from their match of the round defeat to Blacktown Spartans. Paris Sviicich’s men took a surprise lead in the first half courtesy of a Aaron Pessego goal but couldn’t hold on to it. Indeed, it’s the second time in as many weeks that they have seen a lead disappear in the second half, perhaps a sign that fitness will need to improve.
Rydalmere Lions FC v Hills United FC; Saturday 4th March, 7pm, Rydalmere Park
Another fixture worth keeping an eye on Saturday night, Rydalmere Lions host Hills United at Rydalmere Park.
When talking about clubs who have adapted to the new competition the best, Rydalmere Lions are beginning to stand out. Push aside their round one defeat, the Lions have responded well with victories over Hakoah FC and Bankstown City. Key to that has been their defence who picked up their first clean sheet last weekend a week after holding Hakoah FC to one goal. If they do the same here, it will send out a bit of a statement.
And they are every chance with Hills United effectively playing their third game inside the space of a week. After a narrow high-scoring victory over SD Raiders last Saturday night, they struggled to replicate that in their midweek fixture with Inter Lions with saw them fall to their first defeat of the season. It will be interesting to see how they respond here against a Rydalmere side who could frustrate them.
Canterbury Bankstown FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC; Saturday 4th March, 7:00pm, Jensen Park
Concluding the round and following their first win of the season last weekend, Canterbury Bankstown FC host Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Jensen Park
Monkey off their backs! Canterbury Bankstown secured their all important first win of the season last weekend against Mounties Wanderers. Now returning home for their second home fixture in the space of a week, they will be keen to shock the competition with a win over one of the favourites. In terms of players to keep an eye on, look out for Nathan Manno and Jake Bradshaw who were both pivotal going forward last weekend.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles suffered their first misstep of the season last weekend. Against Hakoah FC, they took the lead early before conceding three goals before half time and couldn’t bring the game back despite improvement in the second period. Still with the quality across the park, you would expect to see a positive reaction here in a game they will be considered favourites. Either way, we’ll learn something about Bomber’s men here.
Round 3 Review: Inter Lions FC 2 (Owen Duke 3’, Thomas Quilligan 48’) v Hills United FC 1 (Cameron Philp 4’)
Inter Lions secured an important victory over Hills United in their postponed R3 match up at Majors Bay Reserve.
After the game was brought to a halt after 18 minutes 10 days ago, Inter Lions took control of the fixture and never really let go of it. Hills struggling to cope with the physicality of their opposition for large parts.
The decisive goal coming with 20 minutes left after the hosts created many chances previously. Thomas Quilligan perhaps inspired by his brothers showing last weekend, picking up the ball on halfway before taking it to goal and finishing from 20 yards out.
Hills best opportunity being a what if in as a penalty decision was overturned. Inter Lions will take confidence into the match of the round this weekend, while Hills face another side looking to prove themselves in the division in Rydalmere Lions.
Our recaps of Northern Tigers v Mounties Wanderers and Canterbury Bankstown v Rydalmere will be included in this weekend’s round 5 review.
By Justin Smith
