Round 14 Preview – League One Men’s

Our focus turns to the bottom end of the table in round 14 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition with some huge games as sides look to avoid the bottom two.

Macarthur Rams host our match of the round chasing their second win, while Hills United travel to Mounties in another important fixture.

That and more in our weekly preview.

Match of the Round: Macarthur Rams v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 10 May, 5pm, Lynwood Park

Our match of the round sees Macarthur Rams host Newcastle Jets as the visitors chase their first win in three games at Lynwood Park.

It’s approaching a crucial time for Macarthur Rams in the season where they need to pick up more results. While Newcastle Jets themselves haven’t won in three games slipping into eighth in the process.

Last weekend saw Macarthur Rams pick up their third draw in the last month. Sitting four points from safety, there will be an increased urgency to pick up some wins in the next couple of weeks.

Emmanuel Gonzalez seems a key man in those efforts leading from the front. While defensively they also showed some steel last weekend with Alex Gollan and Aaron Green stoic at the back. Worth keeping an eye on Jerome Narayan in goal as well who was their man of the match last weekend.

Newcastle Jets have seen themselves slide down the ladder in recent times. One win in their last five, they have also drawn two and lost their most recent two on top of that.

Last weekend, they saw a goal lead slip away from them in the second half against SD Raiders. It will be important that they exercise their creative muscles as well. Look out for Alexandro Nunes to play a key role here.

You can catch this one on the FNSW YouTube page under the live tab.

Elsewhere

Hakoah FC v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 10 May, 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field

Having turned the corner in recent weeks, Hakoah FC will look to make it three wins in a row in fourteen action. With a six point gap over the bottom two, they now can look upwards in the standings in the second half of the season.

Back to last weekend though, they came from behind scoring three second half goals against Bankstown City. A welcome boost being the return of Cam Philpot who came on as a second half substitute. Philpot also joined by Nicholas Drummond and Valentin Cuny from the spot in injury time.

This will be their toughest game on paper of the three in Bulls FC Academy. The young academy sitting in third position looking most likely of the sides looking to challenge the top two after back-to-back victories including one over an in form Rydalmere Lions.

There were impressive performances across the park but a few performances warrant a mention. Those of Ante Vojvodic and Matthew Jackson in defence, while scholar Frans Deli controlled the midfield. Zane Helweh and Levi Sciuriaga also getting a mention for their attacking threat throughout.

Rydalmere Lions v Bonnyrigg White Eagles; Saturday 10 May, 5pm, Rydalmere Park

Despite tasting defeat last weekend, Rydalmere Lions are looking a dangerous prospect in a crowded mid-table. Two wins in three games last week saw them move up into ninth position with eighteen points from their opening thirteen games.

If we take goal difference as a measurement, they have a better goal difference than three teams above them. Against the Bulls they did themselves proud in a hard fought fixture, it’s not often you will concede two penalties in a game after all. Robert Eremugo is a player to watch here, the ex-Bonnyrigg man in scintillating form in front of goal.

Last weekend saw Bonnyrigg White Eagles halt their losing streak with a scoreless draw against Canterbury Bankstown. Looking for their first win in two since round five, they could be helped by a few returning faces from injury in forthcoming weeks.

As such, they put priority on their defensive third last weekend which will hopefully inspire confidence further up the pitch. The likes of Aden Gardner, Nikola Krljar and Stefan Dubocanin singled out for their efforts last weekend.

Canterbury Bankstown v Northern Tigers; Saturday 10 May, 5pm, Jensen Park

Canterbury Bankstown are at the point where they need to figure out how to turn one point into three. Yes, four draws in their last five games has seen them stagnate in mid-table in recent weeks as they search for their sixth win of the campaign.

None of those draws more frustrating than last weekend against Bonnyrigg White Eagles from an attacking perspective at least. While defensively there was plenty to take from it keeping their fourth clean sheet of the season.

If there was any frustration in the Northern Tigers group after their round twelve defeat, they made sure to let it out against Dulwich Hill on the weekend. A ten goal turnaround saw them run riot at home with four goals in the second half.

Still sitting in first, this could be a test of their mental resolve though against a side who have proven tough to beat. If anyone can do it though, it’s the leagues top goal scorers I guess. Kai Denton and Jesse Spang in particular in good form in front of goal.

Dulwich Hill v Inter Lions; Saturday 10 May, 5pm, Arlington Oval

Dulwich Hill are looking to bounce back after a tough couple of results last weekend. Playing three games in the space of seven days was always going to be a challenge and two defeats to Rydalmere Lions and Northern Tigers proved exactly that.

As such, you’d suspect that the focus this week will be putting that quickly behind them. Indeed it’s the squads overall character which has seen them pick up some good results along the way. Look out for Jack Mitsoulas and Antonio Orlando here.

Based on recent results, Inter Lions draw against Macarthur Rams will go down as a disappointing one last weekend. Sitting in fourth position, they are seven points behind the top two after thirteen rounds with three wins in their last four.

There were still positives from last weekend though, Shane Cevenini’s side securing their fourth straight clean sheet. While James Khoury got some minutes in the legs returning from injury. You’d expect them to be determined to go one better here led by their inspirational skipper Sam Armson.

UNSW FC v Bankstown City; Saturday 10 May, 5:15pm, The Village Green

It is always a tough ask backing up from midweek football but UNSW FC should come into this one in high spirits after becoming just the third team to get the better of SD Raiders this season in Tuesday night action.

Prior to that, the students were in a frustrating sequence of form with three draws against teams below them.  Back to the SD Raiders game however, they benefited from a fast start to that one with Richie Blanco and Sean Woods scoring in the opening ten minutes before Thomas Quilligan scored their third before the half hour.

This stands out as an intriguing contest as Bankstown City look to respond from a heartbreaking defeat last weekend. Just when it looked like they could be set to go on a 2024 like run, they conceded three times in the second half against Hakoah at home.

A positive for Bankstown is the scoring form of Jonathan Grozdanovski who has scored four goals in two games. Something they have needed given there remains a few doubts about the side defensively, not keeping a clean sheet in seven game.

SD Raiders v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 10 May, 7pm, Ernie Smith Reserve

There seems to be quite a difference between how SD Raiders are playing at home in comparison to away from home. Winless in their last three games at Ernie Smith Reserve, they have had more joy away from in recent times.

Since we last previewed them, they won 2-1 away at Jets coming from behind once again. Before they dropped points against UNSW FC losing 3-1 in a midweek catch up game. That being the first time they’ve conceded three goals this season. Can they rid their home demons here?

Occasionally, you reach the mid-point of the season and you’re not sure how good a side is… In this case I am talking about Blacktown Spartans who have won back-to-back games after three straight losses before that. I suspect this week we could get an answer though when they face SD Raiders.

Last weekend, they proved too good for Mounties Wanderers at home after a sluggish start. Suleyman Bangura making a big difference with a goal and assist off the bench, while there’s reason to think Darcy Ellem could feature on the score sheet more in the second half of the campaign.

Mounties Wanderers v Hills United; Saturday 10 May, 7pm, Wanderers Football Park

Too early to call this a six pointer? Mounties Wanderers host Hills United in a big game at the wrong end of the table.

If Mounties Wanderers are to succeed in this one, you’d suggest they’ll need to keep in tight given they have only scored two goals in a game once this season. Last weekend they lost 2-1 against Blacktown Spartans in  the match of the round.

In that one, they certainly had chances early but struggled to apply a finish to capitalise. Will we see a response from the likes of Fikret Berisha, James Cakovski and Joshua Okan as they chase a much needed win.

Hills United have waited a bit longer than their hosts for a win with their last three points coming back in round six. Three draws in their last four has proved the difference between the two sides on the table coming into round fourteen.

Last weekend sharing the points with UNSW FC at home, Walid Moutaouakkil giving them a lead in the first half though they were pretty disappointing in all honesty. A big game for the NPL relegated side, can they stand up here?

By Justin Smith