Round 29 Preview – League One Men’s
Two massive games at either end of the FNSW League One Men’s competition set the scene for a memorable round 29 of action.
With promotion and relegation spots to be decided (subject to eligibility), we have your Friday and Saturday night sorted. Check out the preview below.
Match of the Round: Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 17th August, 7pm, Popondetta Park
We’re making a special exemption this weekend for our match of the round as Mt Druitt Town Rangers host Bulls FC Academy in a top two battle at Popondetta Park.
Both these sides have struggled for consistency recently with the hosts holding a three point lead over their visitors.
So we’ll start with Mt Druitt Town Rangers who with a result here could all but seal a return to the top flight of NSW football. They come into this one in slightly better form than their opposition with five points in their last three fixtures including a draw with Hakoah FC last weekend in our match of the round.
In that one, they had to come from behind after conceding in the first half. From a individual perspective, Theph Theph was a important player in that result in midfield while also a threat at the set piece. While Daniel Wong continued his trend of scoring important goals, Wong scoring in their past three fixtures. They’ve been imperious at home this season with just one defeat so far.
Standing in their way are Bulls FC Academy who handed them their biggest defeat in the first round of fixtures back in May. However, the academy side have struggled in recent weeks with a draw last weekend halting a three game losing run.
They could be forgiven for that however with the downturn of form coinciding with the A-league side returning to preseason. Last weekend they drew with UNSW FC, Oliver Jones giving them the lead before Alexander Robinson stepped up with a big penalty save in the dying stages. Can they find their form again here?
It’s a big game which produced a big score line the first time these sides met, you can catch this one on the football nsw youtube page under the live tab.
Other Features
Nepean FC v Dunbar Rovers; Friday 16th August, 8pm, Cook Park (St Marys)
Potentially the biggest game of the season? Nepean FC host Dunbar Rovers in a showdown between two sides chasing survival.
Equal on points, the hosts hold the slight advantage on goal difference heading into this one with a relegation playoff position the reward for the winner.
These two sides exchanged positions last week with Nepean FC jumping their visitors courtesy of a midweek win. With four wins this season for our hosts, they have won two more games than their opponents, including a win back in round 14 in their previous meeting.
Last week, they secured that win against Inter Lions at Jamison Park before going down to Canterbury Bankstown last Sunday. In terms of players to watch out for here, Jack Hoban is one. Hoban securing a match winning brace against Inter joined by Luka Zepina on the score-sheet. While keeper Justin Biega has received some praise in recent weeks.
They face a Dunbar Rovers side who are leading the league… if it was decided on compromise and who has drawn the most. Yes, it’s been that kind of season for Christian Soares’ side who are at risk of dropping down to League Two.
Last weekend was a tough one for the Eastern Suburbs side going down to Northern TIgers at home. That game an exception to the mean in recent times as they have tightened up defensively of late picking up two draws against Macarthur Rams and Canterbury Bankstown. Look out for Daisuke Yamaguchi and Mondo Kagami here.
Quickfire Previews
Blacktown Spartans v Bankstown City; Friday 16th August, 8pm, Blacktown Football Park
Another fixture on Friday night takes us to Blacktown Football Park, a venue of which Blacktown Spartans have found some form recently. Last weekend however, they picked up a narrow 1-0 win against Macarthur Rams. Playing a structured defence, Aedon Kyra scored the breakthrough before half time, his first goal in three games.
Still a chance for the promotion playoff, this could be Bankstown City’s toughest task on route. In round 28 action, they spoiled the party at Bonnyrigg Sports Club with Chris Payne playing an influential role with a brace. While Vlado Suput played an important off the bench, in good spirits they could draw level with Bulls FC Academy if results go there way.
Last Meeting: Bankstown City 2-0 Blacktown Spartans
Canterbury Bankstown v Dulwich Hill; Saturday 17th August, 5pm, Jensen Park
A long time between drinks, Canterbury Bankstown finally broke their winless run last weekend. And it’s no surprise it happened when they got some bodies back on the field against Nepean. Leading the way in that one, Taiga Kawano opened their account before a Patrick Savor free-kick late made sure of the result.
They face a Dulwich Hill who will want to bounce back after a round 28 defeat last weekend. It was always going to be a tough ask beating a Rydalmere Lions side in good form and so it proved. Assured safety mathematically, can they finish the season with another win or two? They have only won twice away from home this season.
Last Meeting: Dulwich Hill 0-2 Canterbury Bankstown
Rydalmere Lions v SD Raiders; Saturday 17th August, 5pm, Rydalmere Park
Two sides who have hit fine form meet at Rydalmere Park, Saturday night. Not many would’ve picked Rydalmere climbing to ninth at the half way point of the season. Last weekend, they proved two good for Dulwich Hill with Isaac Cunningham scoring a brace, their high press proving hard to deal with throughout that one.
SD Raiders like their hosts haven’t dropped a point in their last five games. Thriving at the end of the season once again, they proved too much for Inter Lions to deal with last weekend. A key feature being their first half performances which saw Charlie Ragg and Yuto Sugiura find the back of the net. They have won their last three games on the road.
Last Meeting: SD Raiders 2-2 Rydalmere Lions
Northern Tigers v Hakoah FC; Saturday 17th August, 6:30pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Northern Tigers returned to the winners circle with a victory over Dunbar Rovers last weekend. They made sure they didn’t repeat the mistakes of the week before with an improved performance. Lachlan Lloyd and Kai Denton scored respective braces while Ally Brown was awarded the clubs internal man of the match.
Their season hanging by a thread, Hakoah FC couldn’t quite manage a result last weekend against Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Four games without a victory, the form of Cam Philpot has been a positive amongst the negatives regarding them. Perhaps a late season away trip could see them return to winning ways with two games left.
Last Meeting: Hakoah FC 2-1 Northern Tigers
Inter Lions v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 17th August, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Four games without a win is all too familiar territory for Inter Lions in season 2024. Last week they fell to two straight defeat at the hands of Nepean FC and SD Raiders away from home. Looking back on those games and indeed the season as a whole, it’s their defence where improvement is needed conceding 58 goals this campaign.
They face Macarthur Rams who sit thirteen points below them after 28 rounds. Now mathematically safe, they fell to a one goal defeat against Blacktown Spartans last weekend. One goal was an improvement on their defensive output recently and they seem to enjoy being on the road this season with four of their six wins coming away from Lynwood Park.
Last Meeting: Macarthur Rams 1-2 Inter Lions
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v UNSW FC; Saturday 17th August, 7pm, Bonnyrigg Sports Club
The 2024 season of Bonnyrigg White Eagles looks set to end on a disappointing note. Sitting in 11th on 35 points, they find themselves towards the lower end of the table. Last weekend, they couldn’t get the job done on a big day for the Serbian community conceding twice in the second half to succumb to their 13th defeat of the season.
While Bonnyrigg’s season is ending sourly like a lemon, UNSW have hit form in the past month or so. Thirteen points from a possible fifteen, they drew with Bulls FC Academy last weekend. An example of two points lost more than a point gained, they will be keen to right the wrong here. Matias Da Silva Santos and Jack Fulton players to watch out for here.
Last Meeting: UNSW FC 1-3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles
By Justin Smith
