Round 17 Preview – League One Men’s
Rolling into the winter months, round seventeen of FNSW League One Men’s competition awaits us as the battle for second place heats up.
However, our match of the round takes us to the other end of the table as Dunbar Rovers and Dulwich Hill meet. Elsewhere there is plenty else to look forward to in and around the Sydney area.
Match of the Round: Dunbar Rovers FC v Dulwich Hill FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Fraser Park
Last Meeting: Dulwich Hill FC 2-1 Dunbar Rovers FC
Our match of the round this week takes us to the bottom quarter of the table as Dunbar Rovers and Dulwich Hill look for an important three points.
Yes, we can’t always focus on the battle up top and with this one having bottom two permutations down the line, this is worth a focus.
Dunbar Rovers come into this one on the back of a thud back down to earth last weekend, beaten 5-0 by SD Raiders at Ernie Smith Reserve. Prior to that however, they did pick up seven points in three so they’ll be hoping a return home can bring a positive result.
While Dulwich Hill sit three points above them in 13th on seventeen points after sixteen fixtures. They also tasted defeat last weekend, although they just went down by the one goal against an in-form Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
On first look at the table, you would suggest there won’t many goals in this one, however that would be ignoring them both being in relatively good form in front of goal recently. Olivier Beltran-Woodward and Reece Berelowitz would be most likely to find the back of the net for the Rovers. While Dulwich Hill have shared around the goals well this season.
Behind them, look out for Daisuke Yamaguchi to pull the strings for the hosts. While Daniel Fornito and Jamie Dib are well worth keeping an eye on for the visitors.
It’s an important game, so make sure you catch it this weekend on NPL.TV Saturday evening.
Central Coast United FC v Hills United FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex
Last Meeting: Hills United FC 4-1 Central Coast United FC
Bottom meets top as Central Coast United host Hills United to kick off our round seventeen action up the Coast.
We’ve seen stranger things in football but on the surface a victory here looks unlikely for Central Coast United. Sitting in last position, the pirates came off second best in an all-important clash at the bottom last weekend.
With a young side, they found themselves chasing the game on two separate occasions in that one, unable to peg Mounties back on the second time of asking. Two points in their past five games, a win is much needed sitting three points behind 15th.
The story couldn’t be any more different for Hills United who are six points clear at the top of the table. With their postponed fixture scheduled for June 7 against Bonnyrigg White Eagles, it could well be more in a few weeks’ time.
Last weekend, they overcame Bankstown City in a good contest at Landen Stadium. Keeper Ryan Wood was kept busy earning himself a man of the match honour, while Mitchell Smith and Wade Giovenali found the back of the net. Will the unbeaten streak continue here?
Hakoah FC v Rydalmere Lions FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Last Meeting: Rydalmere Lions FC 2-1 Hakoah FC
Two sides in need of a win meet in Sydney’s East as Hakoah FC host Rydalmere Lions at Hensley Athletic Field.
I touched on the struggles of Hakoah FC last week in the preview and not much has changed after round sixteen. Another loss, this time against Canterbury Bankstown has them winless in four games and you could almost be forgiven for looking nervously below them on the ladder.
That loss came after two late goals against the Berries after earlier equalising in the second half. Having conceded three goals in their past four games, it’s safe to assume that defense has been a focus in training ahead of this one.
In contrast to Hakoah, there was quite a bit to be positive about from a Rydalmere Lions perspective despite losing in round sixteen. In our match of the round, they played some good football, however they ultimately paid the price for not taking their chances against Inter Lions.
Two players worth highlighting in that performance are the Taouil brothers. Aidan for his part getting a goal while Andre as well looked good for Anthony Harb’s side. Winless in four, this is a big opportunity for a victory for the Lions if they want to keep pace with sides above them.
Blacktown Spartans FC v SD Raiders FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park
Last Meeting: SD Raiders FC 1-3 Blacktown Spartans FC
Two top half sides face off as Blacktown Spartans welcome an in-form SD Raiders to Blacktown Football Park.
This one is potentially the one to go too if you are a neutral. Blacktown Spartans come into it having scored two goals in injury time to rescue a point from their round sixteen opponents Northern Tigers.
However, Ben Rollison was keen to emphasize the need for that intensity to be shown throughout this one. With plenty of home games to come in the second half of the season, they’ll be hoping for three points here.
Taking to the road for the first time in four weeks, SD Raiders will have plenty of momentum behind them after taking maximum points from their home stand. Sitting in third position, it’s possible they will find themselves in the top two come weekends end.
Last weekend, they put five goals past Dunbar Rovers at Ernie Smith, indeed they come into this one in rich scoring form scoring the equal most goals so far this season. Look out for Scott Cusick who picked up a double in that one.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC v Macarthur Rams FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Last Meeting: N/A
After four victories in a row, Bonnyrigg White Eagles turn their attention to Macarthur Rams in a round seventeen clash worth keeping an eye on.
Four victories in a row, Bonnyrigg White Eagles continue to push their way up the table now sitting in the top four. Yes, victory over Dulwich Hill marked a positive return to the pitch after a weekend off and with a rescheduled date against Hills United locked in, they’ll want to make sure they head into that in good form.
The big positive coming from last weekend was their third clean sheet of the season against a Dulwich Hill side in good form. Conceding 21 goals this season, they stand as the equal fourth best defence in the competition. While goal scorers such as Emmanuel Gonzalez at the other end have seen results forthcoming.
There are sides that you just seem to get a result against in football, funny how it works like that. For Macarthur Rams, one such side is St George FC with the Rams taking the spoils in a hard-fought victory last weekend.
Coach Darren Jones was quick to praise the work rate of his side in defending a two-goal lead courtesy of a brace for birthday boy Daniel Bittar (belated happy 30th mate). If such a performance is repeated here, they could pick up a result here.
Bankstown City FC v St George FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Jensen Park
Last Meeting: St George FC 2-0 Bankstown City FC
The task doesn’t get any easier for Bankstown City this weekend as 2nd placed St George FC visit Jensen Park.
There’s plenty to be hopeful about from a Bankstown City perspective however after their round sixteen clash with Hills United. Despite the scoreline indicating otherwise, Sasha Tirovski’s side gave the competition leaders a scare away from home.
That on top of a couple wins and a draw in their last four give us plenty of reasons to believe they can get a result in this one. To do so however, they’ll have to keep one of the leagues best attacks in St George FC quiet.
And you could well argue that if there’s any time you’d like to come up against St George FC, it’s right now. The Saints are in the midst of a dip in results with just one victory in their past five games stretching back to round twelve.
Last weekend, it was defeat to Macarthur Rams away from home where they came up against a resilient defence. Earlier finding the net through, Shunta Nakamura who has scored in his past two. A better start will be required from St George in this one.
Northern Tigers FC v Canterbury Bankstown FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Last Meeting: Canterbury Bankstown FC 2-3 Northern Tigers FC
After securing their first point in their last five, Canterbury Bankstown await Northern Tigers at North Turramurra Recreation Area.
It’s been a nightmare few weeks for Northern Tigers who have four defeats and one draw in their past five fixtures. Sitting closer to a bottom two position than top, results will need to turn at some point.
And as things seem to do when they aren’t going your way, the Tigers somehow only came away with a draw in round sixteen having led by two goals at the 89th minute mark. Kai Denton returned to the scoresheet, and they’ll be hoping that isn’t a one off approaching this one.
Yet again, we are sitting here on the back of another Canterbury Bankstown victory as they refuse to give up their top half position. With eight victories so far this season, two of which have come in as many weeks, they sit just three points behind second.
Last weekend it was a confident performance against Hakoah FC which saw them take the three points. On the scoresheet, Brendon Mandizvidza, Stefan Dubocanin and Jairo Torne Fernandez all found the back of the net while Joel Beattie has been a notable contributor in recent times.
Inter Lions FC v Mounties Wanderers FC; Saturday 27 May, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Mounties Wanderers FC 2-1 Inter Lions FC
The only side yet to draw a game this season, Inter Lions host Mounties Wanderers ahead of a cup game next week.
Two victories in a row has stabilised Inter Lions season after two defeats previous. Occupying 6th position just four points behind second, they are part of a crowded pack in the top half of the table vying for the playoff position.
Anyway, back to the here and now, they overcame Rydalmere Lions in typical fashion last weekend, coming from behind in the late stages. A penalty giving them a sniff before Nicholas Paras scored an unlikely winner from the top corner of the box. With a cup tie against Rockdale Ilinden booked for next Wednesday, they will be looking to head into it in good form after this one.
They face a Mounties Wanderers side coming off an important round sixteen victory over Central Coast United. Important in the fact that it was a six pointer towards the bottom, the result giving them a bit of breathing room over Central Coast United below.
Now sitting one point behind 14th above them, the Mounties will be looking to build and complete a double over Inter Lions here. Look out for Anthony Windsor in this one, Windsor scoring a goal and giving us a match report last weekend (a man of many talents).
By Justin Smith
