Round 12 Preview – League One Men’s
A Super Saturday of Football NSW League One Men’s action awaits us in round 12 of the competition this weekend.
Seven games spread across Saturday ahead of us, the match of the round sees a side in the bottom two trying to make up ground. While a local derby and top five clash also catch the eye.
Match of the Round: Canterbury Bankstown v Dunbar Rovers; Saturday 27 April, 5pm, Jensen Park
Our match of the round is another important contest for a side in the bottom two as Canterbury Bankstown host Dunbar Rovers at Jensen Park Saturday evening.
Round 11 saw both these sides pick up a result with the hosts winning their game in a high scoring affair against UNSW FC, while Dunbar Rovers drew with Macarthur Rams at Fraser Park.
We’ll start with the visitors Dunbar Rovers for this one as it’s a more important game for them. Sitting in 15th position, they have picked up just two points in their last five games including one last weekend against Macarthur Rams.
Three points away from the team above them in 14th, a result here could be important going forward. In their draw last weekend, goalkeeper Ben Wrigley was important in his sides clean sheet (their first of the season), while Jeremy Siarakas could have stolen the win for his side late. They also were knocked out of the cup Wednesday night away at Blacktown Spartans.
Their opponents and hosts for this one Canterbury Bankstown picked up their fourth win of the season last weekend against UNSW FC. After conceding early, the Berries responded exactly how their coach would’ve wanted them too with four goals inside half an hour of game time.
Comfortably in mid table, two players have stood out in recent weeks in Taiga Kawano and Marco Turpeinen. Both key features in their attack, Kawano picked up a brace last weekend taking his season tally to five. Two positive results in a row, can they add a third here?
You can catch this one on the Football NSW youtube page this Saturday evening.
Other Features:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v SD Raiders; Saturday 27 April, 7pm, Bonnyrigg Sports Club
It’s time for another local derby as Bonnyrigg White Eagles host SD Raiders at the Bonnyrigg Sports Club, Saturday evening.
Both sides have hit form leading into this one which sets us up for an intriguing match in Sydney’s South West.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles have three victories in their past four fixtures including a win over Dulwich Hill last weekend. Sitting in 10th position, they will be confident that the worst of the season is behind them with plenty of games at home from here on out.
Coming from a goal down, Maksim Jez drew them level before Brad Bartels scored the winner with just under 20 minutes left. They could move as high as 8th with a victory here. A potential season defining week following this one with clashes with Bulls FC Academy and Bankstown City on the horizon.
Like their hosts, SD Raiders also find themselves in good form with back-to-back wins in rounds 10 and 11. Last weekend they picked up a season best victory over Bulls FC Academy at home following on from their win over Dunbar Rovers the week previous.
Against Bulls FC Academy, their win was down to a well organised defensive performance, their press causing the young Bulls issues particularly in the second half. Riley Cox-Barlow involved in their two goals so he stands out as a player to watch.
Bulls FC Academy v Rydalmere Lions FC; Saturday 27 April, 3pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Finally the last featured game of the week sees Rydalmere Lions under a new regime take on Bulls FC Academy away from home.
Rydalmere Lions will want to put the last week behind them and make a statement here. On the back of a loss in round 11 to Blacktown Spartans, they parted ways with their coach Anthony Harb before a hefty cup defeat to Cringila Lions away from home midweek.
The last win the visitors did manage was actually against a top two side against Mt Druitt Town Rangers five weeks ago. So they can do it though turning the form around will be a tough task for the coaching team to balance.
It won’t be easy though against the best young team in the division who will want to bounce back themselves. After a couple of weeks where they scored twelve goals and conceded one, Bulls FC Academy were brought back down to earth last weekend against SD Raiders.
They found the going tough there with a deflected shot and mistake in defense costing them a result. Luca Pecora scoring earlier in the game to give them the lead. They bounced back emphatically after their last defeat, can they do it again here?
Quickfire Previews
Nepean FC v Bankstown CIty; Friday 26 April, 8pm, Cook Park (St Marys)
Last weekend was a disappointing one for Nepean FC who went down in our match of the round. Four straight defeats including a heartbreaking one last weekend, they need a result. If they are to get one, look out for Kye Soares to play a role with his distribution from midfield.
Bankstown City will see this as a chance to bounce back after taking just one point from their last two. Last weekend however, they were arguably the better side against Hakoah FC with Mabior Garang scoring two goals. If they play the same way going forward, they’ll be right up there come the end of the season.
Blacktown Spartans v Mt Druitt Town Rangers; Saturday 27 April, 7pm, Blacktown Football Park
Three wins in their last four games, Blacktown Spartans will be looking forward to welcoming a former coach of theirs to Blacktown Football Park. They picked up an important win at home last weekend against Rydalmere Lions. Four games unbeaten at home and with Aedon Kyra in good form, they could well claim a win here.
They face a Mt Druitt Town Rangers side ready for their first away trip in a month. Last weekend, they were involved in a hard-fought tussle with Inter Lions at Popondetta Park. They have had good success on the road this season with three wins in their four away trips. Andre Martins continues to be their main man going forward.
Inter Lions v Dulwich Hill; Saturday 27 April, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Two mid table sides face this weekend at Majors Bay Reserve. Inter Lions will be encouraged from their bounce back last weekend against the competition leaders. Jordan Morfitis put them ahead and they could well have taken three points from it. They also prevailed against Macarthur Rams in the cup midweek.
Dulwich Hill also can take positives despite falling to a defeat last weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Creating many goalscoring opportunities, they paid the price for not building upon a goal lead at the break. Micaiah Te Rata and Steve Kuzmanovski their best in that one.
Macarthur Rams v Northern Tigers; Saturday 27 April, 7pm, Lynwood Park
Macarthur Rams continued their unbeaten run of results with a draw against Dunbar Rovers away from home last weekend. However, they were against ten men for the last half-hour so there will be a focus on improving in the final third. Midweek action also saw them go down in a penalty shootout against Inter Lions.
Northern Tigers picked up an important win last weekend to break a four game winless streak. It came in dramatic fashion against Nepean FC with Ethan Oliver scoring the winner deep into added time. Lachlan Lloyd also finding the back of the net in an impressive individual performance.
UNSW FC v Hakoah FC; Saturday 27 April, 7pm, The Village Green
A clash between two sides with opposing fortunes in their past five fixtures, UNSW will be keen to bounce back after four straight defeats in the league. Beyond the results though, last weekend was a positive one going down narrowly against Marconi in the cup and Canterbury Bankstown in the league. Keeghan Burke picking up a brace last weekend.
Hakoah FC on the other hand have won their last four fixtures sitting in equal second on the table. Last weekends win over Bankstown City showing the depth of their squad with George Tuson-Firth and Nicholas Tooley scoring after coming on. They will be backing up from a cup clash with Rockdale Ilinden midweek.
By Justin Smith
