Round 8 Preview – League One Men’s
Approaching the end of the second month of FNSW League One Men’s action, there’s plenty to play for across the competition in round eight action.
Match of the Round: Hakoah FC v Northern Tigers; Sunday 30 March, 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Our match of the round takes us to Sydney’s East as Hakoah FC look to turn their season around against Northern Tigers at Hensley Athletic Field.
Hakoah FC come into this one on the back of three straight defeats while Northern Tigers sit fifteen places above them in first.
In fifteenth position, Hakoah FC will need to get a result in the near future to ease tension on themselves. Last tasting a victory on the second of March, they haven’t scored a goal since then in defeats to UNSW FC, Mounties Wanderers and Blacktown Spartans.
In their most recent defeat to the Spartans, they were second best in the first half of that one and paid the price. In a tricky period, the return of Nicholas Drummond is a welcome boost to the club who have a fair share of injuries at the moment. One thing is for sure, if they are to get a result here, they need to improve considerably.
They face a Northern Tigers side whose confidence will be high after back-to-back wins against Newcastle Jets and Macarthur Rams. In first position, they have scored in each of their games this season whilst holding clean sheets in four of those games.
Last weekend against Macarthur Rams they showed a clinical touch in front of goal in the second half with Kai Denton and Ryan Attard scoring. Attard earning the clubs internal man of the match award after breaking into the starting side in recent times. Elsewhere Koya Nakano is another player to keep an eye on, Nakano a key facet to their defensive record.
Reminder you can catch this one and every match of the round this season on the Football NSW youtube page under the live tab.
Bankstown City v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 29 March, 5pm, Jensen Park
Elsewhere, our focus turns to Jensen Park as two sides in good form face off as Blacktown Spartans visit Bankstown City.
The hosts come into this one on the back of a win against Inter Lions in round seven action. Three games without defeat, they have well and truly turned the corner after a shaky start to the season currently sitting in seventh position.
Back to last weekend, they worked their way into the contest after a bit of a cup hangover, Jonathan Grozdanvoski stepping up for his side with a brace in the second half. But there’s just as much to like at the other end conceding just three goals in their three matches.
Blacktown Spartans are in a pretty similar place to their hosts with four games unbeaten. After a shaky start which had them well down the table, they sit a point above their hosts coming into this one in sixth position.
Last weekend was perhaps their most pleasing performance of the season scoring a 3-0 victory away from home against Hakoah. Both Suleyman Bangura and Aedon Kyra are in good form while once again, they look to have settled defensively with two clean sheets in their la0st three games.
Quickfire Previews
Dulwich Hill v Bonnyrigg White Eagles; Saturday 29 March, 5pm, Arlington Oval
It’s not been an easy couple of games for Dulwich Hill. Hit by some injuries, they went down to Mounties Wanderers at home last weekend. Six points has them sitting just above the bottom two so they’ll want to pick up a result in the next few weeks perhaps eying the Macarthur Rams game next weekend.
Looking to swoop in, Bonnyrigg White Eagles will want to turn one point into three in this one. Consecutive derby games has seen them pick up two points in their last two, last week coming from behind to take a point against the SD Raiders. Last week also notable for the impact of youngster Aleks Zecevic off the bench in the final twenty minutes.
UNSW FC v Inter Lions; Saturday 29 March, 5pm, The Village Green
There would be a bit of disappointment in the UNSW camp after their match of the round draw against Rydalmere Lions last weekend. Taking a two goal lead through goals to Thomas Quilligan and Jack Fulton, they couldn’t quite hold on against their opponents. Two draws in their last three, they will look to respond like they did a fortnight ago.
Inter Lions on the other hand will be hoping their fortunes turn after a bitter defeat to Bankstown City last weekend. They couldn’t quite put things together in the final third in frustrating fashion. They did however welcome a few faces back into the squad so maybe that can help them to a result against their opponents here.
Rydalmere Lions v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 29 March, 5pm, Rydalmere Park
A performance to build on? Rydalmere Lions were pretty impressive against a top four UNSW in our match of the round last weekend. Striker Ahmad Taleb scored the goals, but it was the performance of Robert Eremugo which particularly caught the eye. This won’t be easy but if they put in a repeat performance at home, who is to say they can’t get a result?
Third placed Newcastle Jets will be looking to bounce back after one point in their last two games. Last weekend, they drew with Bulls FC Academy on the road taking the lead through a set piece before they were pegged back. It is important to acknowledge their threat from dead ball situations as they’ve demonstrated this season.
Hills United v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 29th March, 7pm, Valentine Sports Park
Sitting in mid-table, it’s been a tricky readjustment for Hills United to life in the second tier. Last weekend they went down in a surprise result against Canterbury Bankstown. Made more respectable by two late goals, there will be an emphasis on keeping up concentration throughout the 90 as they return home.
It’s a tricky assignment against Bulls FC Academy, who have made themselves tough to beat in recent times. Two wins and three draws in their last five, they drew with Newcastle Jets coming from behind with Zane Helweh scoring another goal. Last weekend also seeing the return to the side of several from the Aleague set up in the international break.
SD Raiders v Canterbury Bankstown; Saturday 29th March, 7pm, Ernie Smith Reserve
SD Raiders dropped their first points of the season last weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Playing away from home in the derby, they took a lead before they were pegged back by their hosts. That goal the first they conceded in four matches stretching right back to round two. They’ll be favourites here.
Though it will be a tougher ask than it was a week ago as they face Canterbury Bankstown. The Berries picking up a big three points to end their losing run, helped by two penalties before half time, they deserved the points against Hills United. Demitrius Kigeya and Dennis Jang are notable threats going forward for the visitors.
Mounties Wanderers v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 29th March, 7pm, Wanderers Football Park
It wasn’t too long ago that this was looking like a battle between two sides cut adrift in the standings. However now, Mounties Wanderers have stringed together a set of results to push them up the table. Last weekend Joshua Okan scored their winner but perhaps more pleasing is their defensive record with another clean sheet picked up.
For 45 minutes last weekend, Macarthur Rams were well in their match with Northern Tigers last weekend, however they couldn’t quite hold on in the second half. Now the important thing is that their heads don’t drop going forward as they look to breakthrough for their first win. A big game in that quest, is this the weekend they can pick up the result?
By Justin Smith
