Round 16 Preview – League One Men’s
Can you believe we’ve reached the second half of the season already? After 400 goals in 119 games, we get set to go around again in the Football NSW League One Men’s Competition as round 16 awaits us.
A chance for sides to consolidate their round 1 victory or revenge depending on perspective, there is a lot to look forward too this Saturday night!
Let’s take a look below.
Match of the round: Rydalmere Lions FC v Inter Lions FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Rydalmere Park
Last Meeting: Inter Lions FC 6-1 Rydalmere Lions FC
Eighth hosts seventh as our match of the round focus turns to a battle between the Lions as Rydalmere hosts Inter.
Alright let’s touch on the elephant in the room first up. There has been a change in coach at Rydalmere Lions which occurred just over two weeks ago after Paul Fraser and the club parted ways. His replacement being the internal appointment of Anthony Harb.
Unfortunately though, things haven’t quite gone to plan after the change with one point in their two games since. Last weekend being a defeat to SD Raiders away from home. In that one, they just couldn’t quite adjust to adverse weather conditions. Sitting in 8th position, they’ll want to keep touch with teams above them with a result here.
In contrast to their hosts, Inter Lions will come into this game full of confidence on the back of victories in both the league and cup. Yes, after reaching the seventh round in the cup, Inter Lions now sit in seventh place on 24 points.
Last weekend they overcame Central Coast United away from home with two free kicks proving the difference for John Theodoropoulos’ side. One from Daniel Georgievski in the first half before Nicholas Paras stepped up in the second half. It’s hard to single out a player to watch out for but Owen Duke definitely stepped up his game last weekend.
Cast your mind back to round one and this was a one-sided result. Are we in for a repeat or will Rydamere buck the trend? Make sure to catch this one Saturday night!
Blacktown Spartans FC v Northern Tigers FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park
Last Meeting: Northern Tigers FC 0-1 Blacktown Spartans FC
Blacktown Spartans will be backing up from a midweek cup match with Apia Leichhardt when they host Northern Tigers.
Just one of those nights, it was a frustrating evening for Blacktown Spartans in round fifteen as the tasted defeat for the fourth time this season at the hands of Dunbar Rovers. At a tough ground to play, a red card in the second half ultimately cost them on the night.
Putting that result to one side however, it has to go down as a largely successful first half of the season as they sit five points adrift of second place in fourth position. A side built on defense, they have conceded just 5 times at home this season, although there is improvement to be had at BFP in the second half of the campaign.
It’s been a bleak run of form for Northern Tigers who find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table. Sitting in 10th position, it’s going to take a minor miracle for them to reel themselves back into the promotion race.
They would’ve been hoping to build off an encouraging performance against Sydney United in the cup midweek. However, Bankstown City saved their best performance of the season for their game at North Turramurra with goals to Cole Mutton and Luca Kmet only proving to be consolation. Goes without saying, but a win here is much needed for the Tigers.
SD Raiders FC v Dunbar Rovers FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Ernie Smith Reserve
Last Meeting: Dunbar Rovers FC 0-1 SD Raiders FC
One of a couple games which see two inform sides meeting, Dunbar Rovers make the trip South-West to face SD Raiders at Ernie Smith Reserve.
It’s going to be a tough ask for Dunbar facing a side who have won three of their past four games. Yes, it’s been a good start to the campaign for SD Raiders who have picked up eight wins and two draws to sit in third place, four points behind St George in second.
Making use of consecutive home games, they have knocked off Northern Tigers and Rydalmere Lions in back-to-back weeks. Last weekend it was Mark Cindric who took the headlines with a hat-trick extending his season tally to six. Definitely a player to watch out for here as they look for their third win in a row.
Dunbar Rovers will be aiming to do the same thing though as they have built up some crucial momentum in recent weeks. Seven points in their last three games has them four points clear of 15th in the relegation playoff position.
Last weekend wasn’t just about the three points though with Lucas Brandow Vidal scoring a goal on his return from a long injury layoff. The type of thing which can boost a side going forward into this one. With the bottom two playing each other. A point or three will be a great result for Dunbar in this one.
Canterbury Bankstown FC v Hakoah FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Jensen Park
Last Meeting: Hakoah FC 2-0 Canterbury Bankstown FC
Hakoah FC will be aiming to break a losing streak when they travel to Jensen Park to face Canterbury Bankstown.
Sitting on 24 points after the first half of the season, Canterbury Bankstown are sitting in a good spot heading into this one. Tasting defeat just once at home this season back in round two, they have built a foundation of their season at Jensen Park.
Last weekend, they scored an important bounce back victory after a round fourteen defeat overcoming Macarthur Rams. Coach Wally Savour credited his sides response with Joel Beattie and Brendon Mandizvidza both playing roles in their goals.
Much like Northern Tigers just above them, Hakoah FC find themselves in a disappointing 11th position at the turn of the season. Three losses in a row including two against sides below them in the table has made a top two finish highly unlikely.
Last weekend was potentially the low point of the season as well going down to a three-goal defeat at the hands of Dulwich Hill. With a thin squad, any hopes of salvaging something will depend on keeping players on the park during the second half of the campaign.
Mounties Wanderers FC v Central Coast United FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Valentine Sports Park
Last Meeting: Central Coast United FC 1-1 Mounties Wanderers FC
It’s a big game at the bottom of the standings as Mounties Wanderers host Central Coast United in what could be classified as a six pointer by the end of the season.
Sitting in 15th position at the halfway point, Mounties Wanderers are perhaps the most disappointing of the two sides. After showing improvement in defense between rounds eleven and thirteen, they have gone a step backwards conceding seven goals in their last two.
Not the first side to concede goals against St George however, they come into this one on the back of midweek cup game against Northbridge at Cook Park. It’s important that they pick up a result here and set the tone for the second half of the season.
In the context of the season, Central Coast United come into this one in passable form having gained five points from their past five fixtures. Unfortunately though, that has not been enough to avoid slipping to last place.
Capable of playing at the level of most sides in the division, they are just left wanting by a few moments right now. With the return of Daniel Mcfarlane on the horizon, it’s important that they keep touch with the sides above them and this stands as a big opportunity for their third win of the season.
Dulwich Hill FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Arlington Oval
Last Meeting: Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 2-1 Dulwich Hill FC
Another one of those in form clashes I mentioned earlier, Dulwich Hill face Bonnyrigg White Eagles having not lost in their last four games.
It’s amazing what a couple of good results can do for a side in the bottom half. Four games without defeat, Dulwich Hill have put some fresh air between them and the bottom two giving them reason to believe they can spring an upset here.
Last weekend was perhaps their best performance of the season against Hakoah FC, comfortably dispatching of them with a three-goal margin. Goncalo Paradanta, Mark Younes and Emmanuel Zervas all found the back of the net then. They won’t be easy to stop in this one.
That task falls to Bonnyrigg White Eagles who will return to the pitch after a weekend off. So the question becomes whether that is a benefit for a side who had won their previous three games prior.
Indeed, things have turned around for Bonnyrigg White Eagles who sit in fifth position with a game in hand over teams around them. Wins against Bankstown City, Inter Lions and Mounties Wanderers have spirits high as they chase down the top two.
Macarthur Rams FC v St George FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Lynwood Park
Last Meeting: St George FC 1-2 Macarthur Rams FC
After losing to the Macarthur Rams the first-time round, St George FC will be eyeing victory in their round sixteen fixture.
After a victory a couple weeks ago after their coaching change, things have returned to the norm for Macarthur Rams. Sitting in 13th position at the halfway point, they sit seven points above the bottom two in lower midtable.
It’s not like they aren’t showing glimpses of what they are capable of though as players begin to get used to the coaching methods of Darren Jones, the challenge being delivering on those glimpses in a consistent manner. They will take confidence from their round one victory over the Saints back in February.
And they have every chance of getting a result against a St George side who have struggled on the road in recent times. Yes, at the halfway mark, the Saints sit in 2nd position but have played three more games at home than away.
Last weekend however, they returned to winning ways after a couple of losses with victory over Mounties Wanderers. In which they found the back of the net through names we’ve become used too in Jay Mcgowan, Troy Danaskos, Shunta Nakamura and Anthony Morabito (one is not like the others).
Hills United FC v Bankstown City FC; Saturday 20 May, 7pm, Landen Stadium
Last Meeting: Bankstown City FC 3-3 Hills United FC
Fresh off a victory on the road against Northern Tigers, Bankstown City now face competition leaders Hills United at Landen Stadium.
Landen Stadium has become quite the fortress for Hills United this season with a perfect record at home so far. Like Bonnyrigg earlier in the preview, they had last weekend’s game washed out (will be played and streamed at a later date).
Obviously, it’s a bit harder to write a preview for a side who didn’t play last weekend, but a good story did emerge in that of Jordan Lane who along with his sister play for the same club and has returned to the fray after an injury. Conceding just eight goals at home this season, it will be a tough ask for their visitors this weekend.
Just maybe, they could do it however, let me explain. After threatening to do so for weeks, Bankstown City were able to put together a complete performance on the road last weekend which has them on the cusp of the top half.
One thing we haven’t really touched on yet is their defense with is one of the better ones across the competition just conceding 18 goals in 15 games. A foundation which could see them shock the competition this weekend. In terms of who to look out for here, keep an eye on Jeffrey Issa and Jordan Morfitis after last weeks victory.
By Justin Smith
