Round 16 Preview – League One Men’s
The second half of the Football NSW League One Men’s season starts with some big round 16 fixtures this weekend.
Another big match of the round involving two teams in the race for the top two.
There’s also some big fixtures elsewhere.
Check out our preview below.
Match of the Round: Bulls FC Academy v Northern Tigers; Saturday 24 May, 7pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Meeting: Northern Tigers 2-1 Bulls FC Academy
Another week, another second against third match up as third placed Bulls FC Academy host the Northern Tigers at Sydney United Sports Centre.
The hosts for this one come into this is stunning form winning their last four, while Northern Tigers have seven points in their last five.
A four game winning stretch going back to the last match of the round they featured in. Bulls FC Academy sit just one point below their opponents in this one.
Last weekend, they proved a bit too clinical for Mounties Wanderers in a 2-0 win. Dean Bosnjak gave them their first inside the first five minutes before Zane Helweh scored their second on the hour. Indeed we have seen a stronger looking eleven in recent weeks so they will be a formidable opponent in this one.
Backing up for a second match of the round in as many weeks, Northern Tigers could well be boosted by a late gaol against UNSW FC last weekend to rescue a point. With teams closing in behind them, a result here could be important.
Substitute Lachlan Mills was the hero last weekend with the late goal. While their best on park was Connor Rose who started his first league game of the season. They will be without Oliver Franz however who saw red last weekend. They also have a cup fixture with Hills United to look forward which could see them feature on the national stage.
You can catch this one on the Football NSW youtube page under the live tab.
Elsewhere:
Blacktown Spartans v Rydalmere Lions; Friday 23 May, 8:15pm, Blacktown Football Park
Last Meeting: Rydalmere Lions 0-0 Blacktown Spartans
Our weekend kicks off with Blacktown Spartans host Rydalmere Lions in another Friday night game at Blacktown Football Park.
The hosts have won three of their last four games sitting in the bottom end of the top half. Last weekend, they overcame a rejuvenated Hills United side in the same time slot. Indeed back to back wins at home is a welcome change in their efforts to improve at the venue.
Christian Nascimben and Aedon Kyra both scored in that one as they came from behind. While youngster Milos Jankovic made a positive impact off the bench.
Rydalmere Lions have hit a mid season hurdle with two losses in their last three games. Struggling to replicate their home form on the road, they have tasted defeats to Bulls FC Academy and Bankstown City in recent times.
That being said, they are unlikely to feature in many games like last weekend where both sides were reduced to ten men. Their challenge for the second half of the season will be finding a way to pick up points on the road.
Hakoah FC v Dulwich Hill; Saturday 24 May, 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Last Meeting: Dulwich Hill 0-2 Hakoah FC
Edging further away from the bottom two last weekend, Hakoah FC will be wanting to bounce back from a somewhat disappointing result against Macarthur Rams last weekend.
There will be an increasing confidence that they can push further up the table with a better second half of the season. Valentin Cuny has returned to scoring ways while Cam Philpot also started his first game since round five.
Heading in the other direction in recent times, Dulwich Hill succumbed to their fourth straight defeat against SD Raiders last weekend. At one point last weekend, they held a lead against SD Raiders so can they take confidence from that.
So much of their fortunes in the second half of the season could come down to how many players they can keep fit. Watch out for Daniel Fornito who scored a brace last weekend who has scored three goals in two games.
Bankstown City v SD Raiders; Saturday 24 May, 5pm, Jensen Park
Last Meeting: SD Raiders 3-2 Bankstown City
Bankstown City returned to winning ways last weekend in a real arm-wrestle with Rydalmere Lions. They sit in mid-table obscurity at the half way point of the season, both nine points below Northern Tigers in second and eight points above the bottom two.
Back to last weekend anyway, they adjusted better than their visitors with Henry Davies scoring the solitary goal in the context.
They face a SD Raiders side who hold a five point advantage over second placed Northern Tigers at the turn of the season. Back-to-back wins over Blacktown Spartans and Dulwich Hill with a cupset in between, morale will be high for Goran Ljuboja and his side.
Once again last weekend wasn’t exactly straightforward in a come from behind win in the second half. Jairo Torne Fernandez scoring once again off the bench for the second straight week. They won the first meeting between the two back in February.
UNSW FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles; Saturday 24 May, 5:15pm, The Village Green
Last Meeting: Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2-1 UNSW FC
Halfway through the season, if you’re like me you could be wondering where UNSW FC could be at this point. Losing just two games so far this season, they have drawn six games including their match of the round against Northern Tigers last weekend.
Against ten men, Sean Woods gave them the lead just after the hour mark but they conceded in injury time to have the points taken off them. If they need motivation for this one, they just need to look back at round one where they lost 2-1 at Bonnyrigg Sports Club.
Speaking of, Bonnyrigg White Eagles didn’t take to the field in round fifteen with their game washed out. Their season away from home has been a tough one winless in eight games with just the one draw back in round six.
Sitting just outside the bottom two, they will need to overturn a horrid run of form to get a result, their last win coming back in round five.
Mounties Wanderers v Canterbury Bankstown; Saturday 24 May, 7pm, Wanderers Football Park
Last Meeting: Canterbury Bankstown 2-0 Mounties Wanderers
In a thirty week season, you begin to see patterns in how results come about for a team. As such, a familiar story came about in Mounties Wanderers loss to Bulls FC Academy last weekend.
For long periods of the game, they maintained their discipline and held their own but a couple of defensive errors costed them dearly. On twelve points, this is a game they can potentially get a result to get them out of the bottom two.
In the top half, Canterbury Bankstown nearly picked up a point against Newcastle Jets last weekend. A team who have made a pattern of gate-keeping the top half of the table this season, there’s room for improvement away from home.
Both Joel Beattie and Daniel Goni scored goals against the Jets to bring them level but they were unlikely to concede at the other end after an impressive second half of the fixture. They took out the first meeting this season 2-0.
Hills United v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 24 May, 7pm, Valentine Sports Park
Last Meeting: Macarthur Rams 0-2 Hills United
Well, this fixture looks a whole lot different the second time around. Hills United host Macarthur Rams with both sides desperate for a win.
The victors on that occasion were Hills United and those three points separate the sides on the ladder. Recently however, we have to go back to round six for their last win and three weeks for their last point at this same venue.
Focusing in on the Spartans game, Zen Gigliotti gave them a lead before they saw it slip away inn the second half. They have two wins from their seven home games so far this season.
With nine away games to come this season, Macarthur Rams are need to find a way to get more results on the road. Currently with four points in six games, they definitely have room for improvement under new coach Timothy Aitken.
One thing we do know about this side is they have character which was demonstrated in their 2-2 draw with Hakoah last weekend. Aaron Green stepping up to the spot in injury time to pick up the point.
Inter Lions v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 24 May, 7pm, Major Bay Reserve
Last Meeting: Newcastle Jets 2-1 Inter Lions
In a tight top two battle, these two sides are right up there with a chance heading into round sixteen. We’ll start with Inter Lions who come into this one having had a week off. Sitting in sixth, a win here and in their washed out fixture could see them on the cusp of the top two.
Prior to that washed out fixture, they have won four of their last five games while picking up a point in their other one.
They face Newcastle Jets who have won their last two to stay in the race towards the top two. And if there’s one thing to expect watching them in recent times, its goals with eight goals for and give against.
Last weekend, they did it in more difficult fashion than they would’ve liked taking a two goal lead on two different occasions. The difference being the influence of their bench with Ethan Debono scoring once again.
By Justin Smith
