Round 25 Preview – League One Men’s
Two top seven clashes headline the round 25 offering of FNSW League One Men’s football this weekend.
With six rounds left in the season, there isn’t a lot of room left to drop points with the top seven separated by five points.
Match of the Round: Bulls FC Academy v UNSW FC; Saturday 26 July, 7pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Our match of the round this weekend sees Bulls FC Academy host UNSW FC at Sydney United Sports Centre, Saturday night.
Bulls FC Academy need a win to keep their top two hopes alive while UNSW FC have plenty of teams on their tale as they look to solidify their spot in second.
A scoreless draw against Bonnyrigg White Eagles extended the Bulls FC Academy winless streak to five games picking up just two points in that time. On 40 points, they are three points behind their visitors for this one though four sides sit between them.
Last weekend they had to show some defensive solidarity to hold onto their point coming under pressure from a desperate Bonnyrigg side. Look out for the likes of Luka Sterjovski, Andre Parks and Harry Menham who have featured for them throughout the season.
UNSW FC took out a six pointer at the top of the table last weekend with a convincing victory over Blacktown Spartans at home. Their twelfth win of the season, they are in a good position heading into this game this weekend.
Perhaps most pleasing from last weekend was the contribution of two new signings in Kai Kamikura and Nathan Roberts who both found the back of the net. While defensively it was yet another clean sheet this season, something they did manage in the first meeting between these two back in April.
Another big game in the top two race, you can catch this game on the Football NSW youtube page under the live tab.
Northern Tigers v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 26 July, 4:15pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Capping off a busy week which involved Australia Cup action, Northern Tigers are looking to put their round 24 defeat to SD Raiders behind them. Still sitting top, there’s no reason to panic but teams are coming up behind them.
It was an unusual showing from the Tigers who were well below their usual standards with and without the ball. Conceding twice in the opening half hour, they’ll be keen not too leave themselves with too much to do for this one.
Blacktown Spartans winning run was brought to a halt last weekend against UNSW FC. Coming into the game on the back of five wins, their hopes were extinguished early conceding twice in the opening half hour against the students.
As such, expect to see a response from the Spartans this weekend as they look to keep themselves in the top conversation with a result here. Last weekend also seeing the Spartans concede three away from home for the second time in the league this season.
Canterbury Bankstown v Dulwich Hill; Saturday 26 July, 5pm, Jensen Park
Momentum is a hard thing to turn around at this point of the season, an prime example of that being Canterbury Bankstown who are now winless in ten games stretching back to the middle of May against Northern Tigers.
Last weekend, they shared the points with Bankstown City in a nervy draw at Jensen Park. In amongst which, two under 20’s players combined for their goal in goal-scorer Zayn Moussa and Peter Marinos. While Jake Mcleod also made his first start for the club.
They face a Dulwich Hill side who overtook them on the competition ladder last weekend with a narrow win over Macarthur Rams. Three games in a row where they gave picked up points, its hard to see them getting dragged back into a relegation fight.
Samuel O’Connor scored the crucial goal to separate the sides while Stefan Visscher made his first start for the club. There’s no reason why they can’t be a banana skin for a few sides in the run home and that could apply this weekend.
Macarthur Rams v Rydalmere Lions; Saturday 26 July, 5pm, Lynwood Park
After a disappointing defeat last weekend, Macarthur Rams will look to bounce back on their home turf this weekend. On 25 points, they hold a seven point gap over the bottom two with six games to go in the season.
Back to last weekend however and they went down to Dulwich Hill by a narrow margin. They pushed in the final half hour but were unable to find an equaliser. They’ll come in outsiders for this one but perhaps that will suit them, they have won three of their last four at home.
Rydalmere Lions themselves reacted well to their own disappointment back in round 23. Picking up their twelfth win of the season over Hills United and third in four weeks, they now sit well within a crowded upper table chasing a top two place.
Robert Eremugo gave them the lead in that one before Julian Shalome doubled their advantage after halting some early momentum from the visitors. While in team news, Isaac Cunningham is back amongst the Lions contingent in recent times.
Newcastle Jets v Bonnyrigg White Eagles; Saturday 26 July, 7pm, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
In ominous form if you are above them, Newcastle Jets picked up yet another win to make it four wins in their last five games last weekend. Proving too good for Mounties Wanderers in the second half, they took another step towards a top two spot.
Last weekend, three of their front four got on the score sheet with Ethan Debono, Oliver Cockle and Xavier Bertoncello all scoring. While a number of players also played a part in their A-league preseason friendly during the week.
If Bonnyrigg White Eagles want to avoid finishing in a bottom two position, they need to start turning one point into three quickly. Sitting on 15 points, they also will complete a fixture against Bankstown City Tuesday night.
Last weekend against Bulls FC Academy, they had their chances throughout but just couldn’t breakthrough against the academy side. Look out for the likes of Daniel Bittar and Mabior Garang to right that wrong in these two matches this week.
Hills United v Hakoah FC; Saturday 26 July, 7pm, Valentine Sports Park
Hills United had their unbeaten run brought to a halt last weekend against Rydalmere Lions. Stretching back to round 16, they have well and truly recovered from a disappointing first half of the season as they sit well clear of the bottom two.
Back to last weekend and they were just starting to pick up momentum when they conceded their first goal which proved costly as they chased the game. This a good chance to return to winning ways as they have won their last three home games.
They face a Hakoah FC side who have hit another drop in form with one point in the last three games. Sitting in mid-table, they came from behind to take a point from their fixture with Inter Lions last weekend.
You would suggest that there will be some amount of shooting practice heading into this one after they were wasteful in the second half in front of goal. While Nicholas Drummond will sit this one out after receiving a red card.
Inter Lions v SD Raiders; Saturday 26 July, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Inter Lions turned in an improved performance last weekend against Hakoah FC. Out of contention for a top two spot now, it’s about building week-to-week in hopes of finishing the campaign as well as possible with their fixtures ahead.
They really should have had a multiple goal lead against Hakoah in the first half after creating some good chances. But as seems to happen when things don’t go your way, they ended up sharing the points despite a Samuel Portolesi goal early in the second half.
After a long wait between drinks, SD Raiders were finally able to pick up three points in round 24 with a win over Northern Tigers. Such was their start to the season, they are still in with a shot at a top two position if they can back that up with some wins in the last six games.
One big feature from their win against Northern Tigers last weekend was the influence of both Cooper Hanagan and Yonatan Sebhatu on either flank. While Riley Cox-Barlow and Noah Chianese both ended considerable waits for a goal.
Mounties Wanderers v Bankstown City; Saturday 26 July, 7pm, Wanderers Football Park
If Mounties Wanderers are too survive this season or avoid a playoff, this is a massive game for the club this Saturday night. Four straight losses has them flirting with falling below Bonnyrigg White Eagles so results need to improve.
Last weekend, they were beaten by an inform Newcastle Jets side at home. The Wanderers just unable to contain the Jets in transition while chasing the game themselves. Their goal scorer in that one being James Cakovski.
Curtailing a three game week, Bankstown City will come in favourites for this one. Writing a preview for this side has become rather tough in recent times with just one win in their last five, last weekend sharing the points with Canterbury Bankstown.
Last weekend against Canterbury Bankstown, they looked like a side who have taken a confidence hit. Shun Maeta gave them a lead right before half-time but they couldn’t hold on in the second half. They also will complete their fixture with Bonnyrigg White Eagles Tuesday night.
By Justin Smith
