Round 30 Preview – League One Men’s
After 29 rounds of the FNSW League One Men’s competition, it comes down to this weekend. Yes, round 30 will decide who takes part in the end of season playoffs at either end of the table.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles will be favourites to secure their place in second though St George have reason to believe. While Mounties Wanderers will need to win to avoid facing the second-best side in league two. So, for the last time in 2023, let’s preview all eight games to take place this weekend.
Match of the round: Hills United FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Landen Stadium
Well… This was supposed to be the premiership decider however there is still a lot on the line when Bonnyrigg White Eagles face off against Hills United at Landen Stadium.
Returning to the ground he called home last season, Brian “Bomber” Brown will be hoping for an improved performance from his Bonnyrigg side. Two losses last week have seen them not only drop off their opposition this week but mean they need to match or better the result St George get this weekend.
So how has this happened? Well simply put, they are struggling in front of goal in games against Inter Lions and Mounties Wanderers last week. With Mounties scoring two late goals in their most recent defeat. So, if they are to claim victory here, it will need to be on the back of Emmanuel Gonzalez, Radovan Pavicevic and others stepping up.
A victory is no formality here however against the 2023 premiers in Hills United. They have a formidable home record, and you could suggest they will still want to prove a point against their former coach.
The foundation for their success this season has been their defense conceding just 34 goals in 29 games, a stark difference to conceding 62 goals in a 22-game season last year. While Mitchell Smith leads their golden boot with 13 goals. Worthy champions, they’ll look to finish the season off in style here.
Set up for a thrilling finale to the season, can Bonnyrigg seal a playoff spot with a result here? Tune in to NPL.TV to find out.
Mounties Wanderers FC v St George FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Cook Park (Mt Pritchard)
Another game worth keeping your eye on, Mounties Wanderers host St George FC with one side trying to get into a playoff and the other looking to avoid one.
A victory last weekend has Mounties Wanderers sitting two points away from safety going into the final round. Not many would have fancied them against Bonnyrigg last weekend, but a win will mean Dunbar have to match them, Saturday night.
Back to last week though and it was Kuot Maliet who took the headlines with a brace in their 4-1 victory. Can they overcome their fancied opponents and pull off a great escape here?
Ready to pounce if Bonnyrigg slip up elsewhere, St George will come into this one with plenty of confidence. Three wins in a row and scoring plenty of goals in doing so, they will look to continue their sparkling form.
Last weekend’s victory over Dulwich Hill was perhaps the most dominant we have seen in a match of the round this season. Led by Conor Quilligan in central midfield, they were simply irresistible scoring four without conceding. Can they do what seemed impossible a few weeks ago in securing a playoff place?
Blacktown Spartans FC v Dunbar Rovers FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park
Safety will be on the mind of Dunbar Rovers as they travel west to take on Blacktown Spartans away from home.
After missing a couple of chances to ensure survival, Dunbar Rovers will face a nervous Saturday night as they look to fend of Mounties Wanderers below them and avoid a relegation playoff. With a two-point gap, it’s a case of winning or relying on St George taking a point or three for their survival.
Last weekend they simply were outclassed by an inform Inter Lions side in their final home game of the season, Samuel Tzanakes with his side’s consolation goal. Will we be talking about their survival or a playoff come full time Saturday night.
Like many teams playing across the weekend, this will be the last time Blacktown Spartans take the field in 2023. A weird season for Ben Rollison’s side, they haven’t quite met expectations at home this season with just four victories.
Yes, that’s something they know they must improve if they want to compete for the top spots next season. Looking forward to this one however, they will want to prove a point after a disappointing draw with Macarthur Rams last weekend.
Dulwich Hill FC v Hakoah FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Arlington Oval
Dulwich Hill have the chance to jump above Hakoah FC with a victory at Arlington Oval this Saturday night.
Having secured their survival status a few weeks ago, Dulwich Hill could secure their 10th victory of the season in this one. Five points in their last five games, they come into this one on the back of two consecutive defeats.
Last weekend however didn’t go to plan conceding four goals in our match of the round against St George FC. Yes, it was a tough night, one which not many sides could have tested the Saints. Can they end their season on a positive here?
Their opposition Hakoah FC sit just above them on the table with 33 points. It’s been a season where they have done just about enough to ensure they remain in the division while hopefully establishing some building blocks for next season.
Last weekend a rather youthful Hakoah side went down to Hills United at home. They could improve their away record to a better output then their home with a victory here.
Macarthur Rams FC v Canterbury Bankstown FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Lynwood Park
Canterbury Bankstown make the trip South-west to conclude their season with a meeting with Macarthur Rams.
It’s been an impressive season from Canterbury Bankstown in 2023. Sitting equal fourth after 29 rounds, they have well and truly exceeded expectations with 16 victories so far this season (the best of the new sides to the division).
Two things have led to such success, firstly their defense has been class conceding just 36 goals in 29 games. While Jairo Torne Fernandez has led the way going forward scoring his 13th goal of his season last weekend.
Like a few sides around them on the table, it feels very much like Macarthur Rams have been willing this season to end. On 32 points, they have only secured two points in their last four fixtures, last week drawing with Blacktown Spartans.
However, that was a good point to secure giving they played over a half with ten men. Leandro Guzman scoring a goal early in the second half before holding the Spartans out in the second half.
Inter Lions FC v Central Coast United FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Central Coast United will say farewell to the division with a tricky trip to Concord to face Inter Lions at Majors Bay Reserve.
As mentioned in the opening sentence, it stands as a tricky trip for the Pirates who will be wanting to make a mark as they leave the division. Last weekend they secured a much awaited fourth victory of their season over Rydalmere Lions.
Coming back from a goal down, they showed some character in doing so with Adam Woodbine and Cade Thomson finding the back of the net. Can they reach 20 points with a victory in this one?
It will be far from easy though against a side who have picked up plenty of momentum over the past couple of months. Yes, Inter Lions are flying only dropping two points in their last five games while managing cup fixtures as well.
As such, we could see some rotation in this one with a trip to Adelaide next week. Last weekend they secured a comfortable 3-1 victory with Oliver Green securing a brace.
Bankstown City FC v Northern Tigers FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Jensen Park
Bankstown City host Northern Tigers at Jensen Park with both teams’ seasons coming to an end in a battle of the big cats.
Another side in the congested lower mid table, Bankstown City sit on 34 points leading that pack in 9th position. With a game to go this season, holding onto that position will probably be considered a success all things considered.
Last weekend they went down to Canterbury Bankstown in a local derby. They were an improved side in the second half with the introduction of Nikola Todoroski which could see them carry momentum into this one.
Part of an exclusive group in the competition averaging over two goals a game, Northern Tigers have well and truly provided entertainment for those following the competition this season. Yet, finishing in a position outside the promotion places will still be considered a disappointment as the season comes to an end.
Last weekend they were edged out in a quality game with SD Raiders, Ahmed Sweedan finding the back of the net on the night not enough to secure another victory.
Rydalmere Lions FC v SD Raiders FC; Saturday 26 August, 7pm, Rydalmere Park
SD Raiders could hold on to fourth position with a victory over Rydalmere Lions away from home this weekend.
It’s been a season of improvement for SD Raiders who currently sit in fourth position. They both started and ended the season in positive fashion which has acquired them 52 points with 16 victories.
So, if they can just improve their middle third of the season next time out, who is to say they can’t finish in a higher position next season? Winning four of their last five, they claimed an impressive win in round 29 of the competition over Northern Tigers. Look out for goal scorers Noah Chianese and Mark Cindric here.
Well, I hear their social club is good… It’s been a tough run of results for Rydalmere Lions who haven’t roared to victory since round 22 nearly two months ago. Fortunately for them, they had secured safety well and truly before then so they will be back in the league next weekend.
Last weekend they went down to a disappointing defeat to Central Coast United away from home at Plum Park, Ahmad Taleb the goal scorer with his 12th goal of the season.
By Justin Smith
