Round 30 Preview – League One Men’s
For the final time in 2024, we look ahead to a full slate of FNSW League One Men’s action to take place this Saturday afternoon.
With both the top and bottom two to be sorted, there’s three fixtures to keep an eye on this coming weekend. Check out our preview below.
Match of the round: Bulls FC Academy v Hakoah FC; Saturday 24th August, 3pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Our match of the round this weekend takes us to Sydney United Sports Centre as Bulls FC Academy take on Hakoah FC looking to get a win heading into a potential promotion playoff.
Despite both sides being in the top four, they both have struggled for form recently with both sides picking up their last win back on the 13th of July.
The last couple of weeks has seen Bulls FC Academy sort out their defensive issues after a four game losing streak. Thankfully for them, they built up enough points before that to ensure a top two position with an outside chance of the premiership heading into round 30.
Last weekend, they played out a scoreless draw with Mt Druitt Town Rangers. Football sometimes is about luck in key moments and it wasn’t on their side when Flynn Madden struck the base of the post there. While the defensive pairing of Sebastian Krslovic and Oliver Jones did well in reducing the threat of their opposition. Can they find their attacking form once again here?
Things can change quickly in football… When we locked this in as the match of the round, it looked like a potential decider in who goes into the playoff. Unfortunately however, Hakoah FC have struggled since then with five games without a win.
Last weekend, they were far from their best going down to Northern Tigers away from home. Just the fifth time they’ve been held scoreless this season, they will want to respond here. They should welcome Mitchell Knight back for this game after suspension while Cam Philpot is their best goal outlet across the season with 11 goals in 16 starts.
You can catch this one on the FNSW youtube page under the live tab, Saturday afternoon.
Other Features:
Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Dunbar Rovers; Saturday 24th August, 7pm, Popondetta Park
Champions elect? Mt Druitt Town Rangers host Dunbar Rovers who are chasing a spot in the relegation playoff.
Holding a three point lead over Bulls FC Academy, the hosts just need a point to return to NPL football, while Dunbar Rovers need at least a point to avoid going down automatically in last position.
Andy Montgomery’s Mt Druitt Town Rangers side did what they needed to do last weekend in the top of the table clash. After going down to a 7-1 defeat against Bulls FC Academy in the first round, they held them to a draw this time out to put them in the box seat this weekend.
It was a team effort across the pitch without the ball, with Dylan Niski making some important saves throughout. In front of him both Tom Whiteside and Adrian Delmoni had good games as well. This weekend is a different challenge though and expect Andre Martins to expect a big role unlocking the visitors defence.
They will face a Dunbar Rovers side who will be prepared to fight for their survival come Saturday evening. Although they haven’t picked up a win since the 13th of July, they have picked up three points in their last five games while conceding just seven goals in those fixtures.
Last Friday night, they took the lead against Nepean FC before they eventually shared the points. Their best spell coming in the first half before holding out for much of the second half. Samuel Tzanakes scored their goal last weekend and they will be looking to him alongside Mondo Kagami to create something in this one. A big game for the club, this would be quite the result if they can pull it off.
Rydalmere Lions v Nepean FC; Saturday 24th August, 7pm, Rydalmere Park
The last of this weekends fixtures which will effect the respective playoff races, Nepean FC make the short trip east to face Rydalmere Lions.
The task is simple for Nepean FC this weekend, match or better the result of Dunbar Rovers and they enter a playoff the week following. In the better form of the two, they were perhaps a tad unlucky to walk away from their meeting with the Rovers last Friday with only a point.
In that one, it was goal scorer Daunte Cervo who stood out as their best on the night. However if they are to pull off a result here, they will be relying on their defence led by keeper Justin Biega to get the job done against a roaring Lions attack. A nervy 90 minutes ahead, they will need to turnaround a 3-1 defeat in the first meeting between the two.
Standing in their way are Rydalmere Lions who are the in form side in the competition with six straight wins. Most impressively however is they’ve turned around their goal difference to a positive number with a 17 goal turnaround in that time.
Last weekend, they scored an impressive win over SD Raiders at the same venue. In which, Jihad Alsayed stepped up with a brace in the second half. Alsayed impressing in attack while Mohammed Khamis marshalled his side from the back. The chance to end the season on a positive note, they will be favourites for this one.
Quickfire Previews
Bankstown City v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 24th August, 5pm, Jensen Park
Bankstown City’s season came to a disappointing end last weekend against Blacktown Spartans. If they won that game, they would have been one point behind Bulls approaching this week but that’s a hypothetical now after a 5-1 loss. This will be the last game of Chris Payne’s career at the level, so they’ll want to send him out a winner.
For the most part, it’s been a disappointing season for Macarthur Rams who will finish in the bottom four. They have picked up five points in their last four games including a high scoring draw with Inter Lions last weekend. Emmanuel Gonzalez, Paul Soravia and Michael Martin all found the back of the net before their hosts staged a come back there.
Last Meetiing: Macarthur Rams 0-2 Bankstown CIty
Northern Tigers v SD Raiders; Saturday 24th August, 6:30pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Two sides who have found form in recent times face off in round 30 action. A win last weekend was Northern Tigers fourth in their past five games. They proved too good for Hakoah FC with Lachie Lloyd, Ally Brown and Jakub Prajza all finding the back of the net. They could overtake their opposition with a win here.
The visitors were dealt their first defeat in a while against Rydalmere Lions last weekend. In a entertaining fixture, both sides exchanged chances in the first half before the Lions took control. A first defeat since the beginning of June, they will want to carry that momentum into the start of next season starting this weekend.
Last meeting: SD Raiders 3-0 Northern Tigers
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Canterbury Bankstown; Saturday 24th August, 7pm, Bonnyrigg Sports Club
I don’t quite think this season has gone to plan for Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Preparing for the last game of the season, they have picked up just ten wins in their opening 29 games, the last which came against Dunbar four rounds ago. And last week could’ve been the lowest point, going down 6-1 to UNSW FC at home.
Canterbury Bankstown have put together an improved showing in recent weeks. Welcoming back some players from injury, they have solved their goal problems scoring twice to win against Nepean and go down to Dulwich Hill in a high scoring affair. Patrick Savor has scored in both the aforementioned games so his our player to watch this weekend.
Last Meeting: Canterbury Bankstown 1-1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
Inter Lions v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 24th August, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Having looked like they turned their form around a month ago, injuries unfortunately saw the form of Inter Lions tumble. However last weekend we saw a glimpse of what they still can do with a comeback draw with Macarthur Rams. Owen Duke, Ollie Green and Lachlan Everett found the back of the net for their 10th win of the season. You’d suggest the off season reset will be welcome at Majors Bay Reserve.
The stability at Blacktown Spartans seems to have paid off in season 2024 with a top half finish. Sitting 12 points behind 2nd isn’t a bad output and come into this one having won games. Last weekend they ended the season of Bankstown City with Christian Nascimben scoring a brace joined by Aedon Kyra, Suleyman Bangura and Jamie Percevski who also found the back of the net.
Last Meeting: Blacktown Spartans 3-2 Inter Lions
UNSW FC v Dulwich Hill; Saturday 24th August, 7pm, The Village Green
There’s a lot to like about how UNSW have come together in recent weeks. Proving they are a side to keep an eye on heading into 2025, they have five wins in six. Speaking of six, that’s how many goals they put past Bonnyrigg White Eagles last weekend with Jack Fulton scoring the pick of the goals. They could finish as high as sixth with a win here.
Their opposition Dulwich Hill have also turned the corner in recent times, sitting well clear of the bottom two after 29 games, they secured their 7th victory of the season last weekend. Jake Bradshaw was influential while Daniel Fornito scored a memorable winner towards the end of regulation time. They will look to turnaround a two goal defeat in this one.
Last Meeting: Dulwich Hill 2-4 UNSW FC
By Justin Smith
