Round 6 Preview – League One Men’s
Another exciting weekend of FNSW League One Men’s action awaits with round six ahead of us this weekend.
Plenty to talk about after a drama-filled weekend just gone, let’s preview what’s ahead across three days this weekend.
Match of the Round: UNSW FC v Rydalmere Lions; Saturday 16 February, 7pm, The Village Green
Our match of the round takes us to a new venue as UNSW FC host Rydalmere Lions this Saturday night.
UNSW come into this one having lost their past two games, while Rydalmere Lions secured their second win of the season last weekend.
We’ll start with the visitors here as they had an important victory last weekend against Dunbar Rovers. There was slight frustration prior to that one because their results were not quite matching the performances they put in. Frustrations eased with the thumping victory.
Their hosts UNSW come into this one on the back of two narrow respectable defeats. Losing by the single goal margin against a couple of big names in the competition Northern Tigers and Bankstown City, they will be looking to bounce back with a victory here.
Last week’s result did make it easy for us when singling out threats in this Rydalmere side. The combination of Isaac Cunningham and Marcus Lal leading the way in that one. While Kent Mizukoshi and Samuel Taylor also made their debut. Coach Anthony Harb also wanting us to mention head of football Simon Doueihi for assembling his squad after the weekend.
The students are not without their own threat as well. Jack Fulton leading the way for the students, Fulton also dangerous from the set piece. While Gabriel Lopez and Richard Blanco should play a crucial role here. They should have a few players returning in the next few weeks.
You can catch this one and every match of the round this season on the Football NSW YouTube channel.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Nepean FC; Friday 15 March, 7:30pm, Popondetta Park
After their perfect start to the season, Mt Druitt Town Rangers will take on Nepean FC in a local derby this Friday night.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers will be chasing their sixth victory of the campaign while Nepean FC will be chasing their first when they take the field Friday night.
The hosts had to bide their time in their victory last weekend against a Macarthur Rams side wanting to prove their point. However, good sides find a way to win football games and Mt Druitt Town Rangers are certainly doing that.
After withstanding the Rams attack in the first half, both Charles Mendy and Samuel Hamilton scored in the 58th and 67th minute to give them the victory. If there’s something we’ve learnt so far this season, it’s how hard they are to peg back when they score first as they have done in every game so far.
Nepean went the closest they have been to victory last weekend against Bulls FC Academy. Jumping out to a 2-0 lead, they saw the lead slip away against the young Bulls who just wouldn’t go away. They also still have a game in hand to be played Tuesday against UNSW FC.
Matthew Crossley and Lachlan Sepping both found the back of the net last week. And despite results, they have hardly been blown away conceding just five goals in their four fixtures. Can they pull off an upset here?
Hakoah FC v Inter Lions; Sunday 17 March; 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah FC return home to face Inter Lions at Hensley Athletic on Sunday afternoon. Both these sides scored late in their round five fixtures to rescue a point after trailing at the end of 90 minutes.
We’ll start with Hakoah FC who did so in our round five match of the round against Blacktown Spartans away from home. In what was an enthralling fixture, they came from behind twice for their third draw of the season. This is just their second home game of the season, emerging victorious from their first against Canterbury Bankstown in round two.
Their opponents Inter Lions played out an equally entertaining match against Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Taking the lead in the first half, things didn’t quite go to plan in the second conceding twice and receiving a red card. But a late penalty scored by Ahmad Taleb gave them a share of the points.
So, who do we look out for in this one? For Hakoah, Nicholas Tooley and Jayden Tran pose a dynamic threat on the flanks. While Cam Philpot scored his first goal of the season off the bench.
Inter Lions also have plenty of threats in their attack with Fikret Berisha leading the way for the Lions with four goals so far this season. Joined by Ahmad Taleb and Ollie Green, this looks set to be an entertaining clash, Sunday afternoon.
SD Raiders v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 16 March, 5pm, Thomas Hassall Anglican College
Goran Ljuboja’s SD Raiders side will continue their hunt for consistency in round six acttion. And they won’t have many better chances then this one against Macarthur Rams. Noah Chianese stands out as a player to watch after his winning brace over Dulwich Hill last weekend.
Round five also saw the Macarthur Rams rough start to the season continue with their defeat to Mt Druitt Town Rangers last weekend. There were certainly positives to take away from the game particular in the first half. Is this the week they can turn their fortunes around?
Dulwich Hill v Northern Tigers; Saturday 16 March, 5pm, Arlington Oval
Dulwich Hill suffered a heartbreaking defeat last weekend in their round five contest against SD Raiders. Leading right up until the final ten minutes, they conceded twice to deny them the victory. Still, you get the feeling they aren’t far off a second victory of the season which could come in this one.
However, Northern Tigers could be a tough ask this weekend. The Tigers are roaring with four straight victories (last three of which finished 1-0). Last week saw the return of Ally Brown to the side, Brown scoring a stunning volley to give his side victory. While Jakub Prajza also performed well in that one.
Bulls FC Academy v Bankstown City; Saturday 16 March, 7pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Potentially the pick of the weekends action, Bulls FC Academy will be looking to bounce back from their first dropped points of the season against Nepean FC last weekend. Zane Helweh and Joel Bertolissio scored the goals in a ten-man comeback in that one. As such Oliver Jones will also miss this one due to suspension.
This is the Bulls toughest test yet however in Bankstown City. The visitors for this one have crucially turned their form around with victories over SD Raiders and UNSW FC. Last weekend emerging from a tough contest against the students with three points courtesy of a Chris Payne goal.
Canterbury Bankstown v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 16 March, 7pm, Jensen Park
Canterbury Bankstown will welcome another home game this weekend after tasting defeat in their round five match against Northern Tigers. The Berries have won their previous two games at the venue while also losing their three away games so far. As such they will be confident ahead of this one.
Blacktown Spartans on the other hand featured in our round five match of the round. They put together some good stuff on the pitch with some slick passing moves leading to both their goals. Daniel Araujo played a key role there while Christian Nascimben and Suleyman Bangura found the back of the net.
Dunbar Rovers v Bonnyrigg White Eagles; Saturday 16 March, 7pm, Fraser Park
Round five was a tough one for Dunbar Rovers who suffered a heavy defeat against Rydalmere Lions away from home. Conceding two first half goals, the score blew out with three second half goals and this week doesn’t look any easier. This venue is where they’ve secured their two points this season.
In retrospect, mentioning Bonnyrigg White Eagles away stretch was coming to an end was premature. Last weekend, they thought they had won against Inter Lions through goals to Daniel Bittar and Ryan Attard but conceded late. They sit 9 points behind the top two currently.
By Justin Smith
