Round 17 Preview – League One Men’s
The stakes in the FNSW League One Men’s competition continue to rise as we head into round 17 of the competition this weekend.
Headlined by a match involving the competitions form team in Inter Lions.
There’s also another six pointer down the bottom as well as plenty more.
Match of the Round: Rydalmere Lions v Inter Lions; Saturday 31 May, 5pm, Rydalmere Park
Our match of the round sees one of the inform teams in the competition Inter Lions take on Rydalmere Lions away from home.
Six games unbeaten, the visitors claimed an important 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets last weekend. While Rydalmere have hit a bump in the road recently after a good run of their own last weekend beaten by Blacktown Spartans.
A couple of weeks ago, Rydalmere Lions were looking like a side who can push on and compete further up the table and that may or may not have played a part in the selection of this game. Anyway, the Lions now sit six points below their opponents here in tenth position.
Last weekend, they went down to Blacktown Spartans away from home. The second straight week they’ve been reduced to ten, a slow start ended up costing them the points. As such, Kyle Sande will be sitting out this one, while last week also saw Amponsah Antwi get on the score-sheet.
No such worries for Inter Lions who are now eight games unbeaten heading into this one. It’s a run which has brought them to within three points of the top two with a game in hand to come against Bonnyrigg.
Crucial to this run has been their defensive ability keeping clean sheets in six of the eight games included in their run including last weekend against Newcastle Jets. The bench playing a big part in that one with James Khoury, Roger Djuma, Carlo Imola and Samuel Hovar all making an impact.
You can catch this one on the FNSW youtube page under the live tab.
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers v Mounties Wanderers; Saturday 31 May, 4:15pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Returning to league action after a cup tie midweek, this is a pretty important game for Northern Tigers in their chase of a top two place. Prior to which, they have drawn two consecutive league games 1-1 against UNSW FC and Bulls FC Academy respectively.
Last weekend saw them go ahead against Bulls FC Academy through another Kai Denton goal set up by Ally Brown before they were pegged back. They have a positive home record of late winning three of their last four at the venue.
The goal for Mounties Wanderers is simple approaching the second half of the season, match or better their result in the first round of games. They managed to do just that last weekend against Canterbury Bankstown with a 1-1 draw last weekend.
That being said, it could have been better than that after conceding a goal in the dying stages. Prior to which James Cakovski gave them a lead in a pretty pleasing performance from Brett Hewit’s side.
Canterbury Bankstown v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 31 May, 5pm, Jensen Park
Canterbury Bankstown will see room for improvement after their draw with Mounties Wanderers last weekend. Sitting in 8th position after sixteen games, they have one point in their last two with just one win in their last five.
Back to last weekend and they were spared some blushes with a late goal in injury time. This game arguably suits their style a little more, after all they did manage to take the three points against the same opponent back in round two.
This Bulls Academy side are a different prospect this time around though. Six games without defeat with four wins included, they sit one point below the top two, last weekend taking a point from their meeting with Northern Tigers.
In that one, they came from behind courtesy of you guessed it, another Zane Helweh goal. There have been some international call ups since our last preview, so this could be a rotated line up this weekend.
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown City; Saturday 31 May, 5pm, Lynwood Park
Macarthur Rams ended a nine week wait for a win last weekend with a victory over Hills United. In the process jumping off the bottom of the table, it’s a first win for new coach Timothy Aitken in charge who has picked up two results in his two games.
Back to last weekend and their were four players singled out as key contributors post game. Those being Alex Gollan, Michael Martin in defence while Jaidyn Dunn and Paul Soravia impressed further up the pitch. Can they pick up another result here?
Bankstown City produced a season best performance last weekend against competition leaders SD Raiders. Prevailing by three goals, it was an assured performance from a side who have struggled for consistency this season.
Seven points behind second, there’s not a lot of wiggle room in the remaining months but they have gone on impressive runs before. Unfair to single out players based on last week, Charles Eriku was a welcome addition to the score-sheet.
Dulwich Hill v UNSW FC; Saturday 31 May, 5pm, Arlington Oval
If any side needs a win this weekend, it’s Dulwich Hill who have lost their last five games in a row. As such, they still sit in a precarious position just ahead of the four teams below them on the ladder.
Last weekend, they went down to Hakoah FC away from home. Work to do at either end, they were held to their seventh clean sheet of the season. A tough spell with a point to prove, can they provide a shock in this one?
Form wise, UNSW FC will come into this one heavy favourites after a win last weekend moved them into second. They have lost the fewest amount of games this season with just the two losses while also having the leagues best defence.
Back to last weekend, they had to really fight for the three points against Bonnyrigg White Eagles. Coming from behind with Kevin Lopes and Liam Wood scoring their goals either side of half time. They took out the first meeting between the two back in round two.
Newcastle Jets v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 31 May, 7pm, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
A big game in the top two chasing pack, Newcastle Jets host Blacktown Spartans this weekend up the coast.
The Jets come into this one on the back of a disappointing loss against Inter Lions last weekend. Six points behind second, they were perhaps a little fortunate teams above them took points off each other last weekend.
Last weekend was a tough result to take with the game being played very much in their opponents hands, something they’ll be looking to change in this one, along with their fortunes in front of goal.
Creeping up on the teams above them, Blacktown Spartans have won four of their last five games. Last weekend they overcame Rydalmere Lions at home to pick up their eighth win of the season, four of which have come away from home.
The positive in the Rydalmere game being their controlled performance across the first hour before things got a bit crazy when the two teams were reduced to ten. Suleyman Bangura is in good scoring form while Christian Nascimben’s set pieces are another thing to keep an eye on here.
SD Raiders v Hakoah FC; Saturday 31 May, 7pm, Ernie Smith Reserve
Last weekend saw a rare slip up from SD Raiders who tasted their fourth defeat of the season. Results elsewhere meant their four point lead at the top stayed in tact but they’ll be keen to respond this weekend.
Back to last weekend, they were just not at the level they have been so far this season with Bankstown City on top throughout. If were looking for positives, they have made a habit of bouncing back well from defeats so far this season, can they do it again?
Contrastly, round sixteen saw Hakoah FC respond in positive fashion with a win over Dulwich Hill. They currently stand in the mid-table with nineteen points approaching this one.
Last weekend was a composed performance in overcoming Dulwich Hill. Nicholas Tooley opened their account in the 36th minute before Ben Fuchs doubled their tally in the second half for their fifth win of the season. Pressure will be off in this one against a side well above them coming into this one.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Hills United; Sunday 1 June, 5pm, Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Another week with another six pointer as Bonnyrigg White Eagles host Hills United to conclude our weekend of action.
This will be the first of a run of home games for Bonnyrigg White Eagles who will look to play themselves out of trouble. Sitting in last place, they are equal on points with two other sides including their opponents here.
Last weekend there were promising signs for Phil Pyliotis and his side with players returning from injury, Stefan Nikolic scoring their opener before they conceded two goals either side of half time.
They face a Hills United side who are looking for their first win with Gary Van Egmond at the helm. Last weeks loss to Macarthur Rams stretched their winless run to ten games, now sitting equal with the bottom two on points.
This game comes just four days after a cup tie, a competition where they are having a lot more joy in at the moment. It’s crucial they start finding a way to find the back of the net, scoring just three goals in their last six games.
By Justin Smith
