Round 28 Preview – League One Men’s
Just three rounds of the FNSW League One Men’s competition remain in 2025 and we’re no closer to crowning a champion approaching round 28.
We’ve got plenty to look out for this weekend with our match of the round taking us back to Ernie Smith Reserve.
That and plenty more in our preview below.
Match of the Round: SD Raiders v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 16 August, 5pm, Ernie Smith Reserve
Headlining this weekends action will be SD Raiders hosting Newcastle Jets in a big game for both sides at Ernie Smith Reserve.
To borrow an F1 term, SD Raiders come into this one as provisional pole sitters after four straight wins while Newcastle Jets need a win to keep their top two hopes alive after one point in their last two.
Recent form does make you wonder where SD Raiders would be in the league without a cup run this season. That remains a what if for Goran Ljuboja and his side who have returned to form at just the right time this season, most recently securing a win over Bulls FC Academy last weekend.
Overall, SD Raiders were satisfied with their performance despite falling behind in the first half. Two recent recruits in Luka Knezevic and Ethan Beaven scoring before Riley Cox-Barlow made things safe with ten minutes remaining. They won the first meeting between these sides so they’ll be confident of a result.
Speaking of cup runs taking an affect on sides, Newcastle Jets went down to a disappointing defeat last weekend against Bankstown City at home. Now four points below SD Raiders, they need to win this and rely on a few favours if they are to take a top two spot.
The result last weekend as much about who was missing opposed to who was there particularly in the front third. It’s not often they’ve conceded four goals this season, so what kind of bounce back can we expect when they take the field this weekend?
A massive game in the title race, you can catch this one on the Football NSW youtube page under the live tab this Saturday afternoon.
Hakoah FC v Bankstown City; Saturday 16 August, 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Winless in their last six games, you get the sense that Hakoah FC are keen for the season to end. They have been in a lot of games but they haven’t quite been able to turn it into three points as they look set to settle in lower mid-table.
Last weekend, they went down to a narrow defeat against Bonnyrigg White Eagles away from home. A result which could well have stung a bit, they will look to bounce back positively ahead of this game.
Despite being in 10th position well outside the race for the top two, Bankstown City shocked the competition last weekend with a 4-1 win over Newcastle Jets away from home. A result which could bring momentum going forward, can they back it up here.
With not a lot to play for as a collective, there is an individual honour up for grabs with Jonathan Grozdanovski scoring a brace to take him to 17 goals this season chasing the golden boot. He was joined by Dimitri Kostopoulos and Jason Cakovski who also scored.
Rydalmere Lions v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 16 August, 5pm, Rydalmere Park
Rydalmere Lions picked up a big result in the match of the round last weekend over Northern Tigers. An outside chance at a top two place, they sit three points behind second though UNSW FC have a game in hand.
Against the Tigers, there were good performances at both ends of the pitch. Nikola Pintur putting in an impressive performance at centre back. While Robert Eremugo stole the show at the other end with a goal and two assists.
Bulls FC Academy find themselves out of the top two race after two straight defeats in recent times against Dulwich Hill and last week against SD Raiders. With the pressure off, can they find a route to three points in this fixture here.
Against SD Raiders, they took the lead through Atiya Waraga before a second half comeback from the Raiders halted them in their tracks. Any result will depend on how they perform in attack as they’re still struggling in the final third.
Canterbury Bankstown v Bonnyrigg White Eagles; Saturday 16 August, 5pm, Jensen Park
Canterbury Bankstown have a big role to play in their remaining fixtures over the next three weeks. They made life difficult for UNSW FC last weekend and could well have taken a draw but focus will turn to this one where they could well make things difficult for Bonnyrigg White Eagles.
This match will see Stefan Dubocanin come against the side he started the season with. While Patrick Savor and Zayn Moussa could both have an impact in this one after promising performances last week.
Meanwhile, Bonnyrigg White Eagles come into this one on the back of two wins in the space of four days. A win last weekend against Hakoah FC was backed up with a midweek victory over Northern Tigers last night at the time of writing.
After conceding a penalty in the first half, the hosts were able to score twice in the second half to take the three points. Fumoto Kamada has scored in their last two games so he stands out as our player to watch this week. While Luke Turnbull came up with some big saves against Hakoah.
Dulwich Hill v Northern Tigers; Saturday 16 August, 5pm, Arlington Oval
Speaking of sides who could play spoiler in the remaining weeks, Dulwich Hill have entered the conversation with games against Northern Tigers and UNSW FC in the space of five days. On 31 points, the pressure is well and truly off them heading into said fixtures.
Last weekend, they played out a high-scoring thriller with Hills United. Key to any hopes of getting a result here will be a better start to each half after paying the price for slow starts last weekend. While Mark Younes is our player to watch after scoring last week.
It has not been a good week for Northern Tigers who have dropped down to sixth after losing to Rydalmere Lions last weekend and Bonnyrigg White Eagles in their catch up fixture. Now their season is on the line in this game against Dulwich Hill.
In fact, it’s now four losses in a row and their attack has gone off the boil with three goals in their last four games. Something they’ll need to improve ahead of this one on their travels. They won the first meeting between the two by a five goal margin.
Macarthur Rams v Inter Lions; Saturday 16 August, 5pm, Lynwood Park
The equation remains for Macarthur Rams, one more win (or a favourable results elsewhere) and they secure a place in the division for season 2026. And they are a good chance of doing just that this weekend at home.
Last week, there were positives signs in their performance against Blacktown Spartans. Though the scoreboard tells a different stories, they had their chances particularly in the first half against a side sitting in the top two.
It won’t be easy though against an Inter Lions side who have won their last two fixtures. A chance to build momentum heading into the next campaign, they left it late to overcome Mounties Wanderers at Majors Bay last weekend.
A positive sign for the Lions has been their ability to bounce back from falling behind. Sam Armson leading the way with a brace joined by James Khoury who scored the winner in injury time. Shane Cevenini pleased that his side have found that extra edge they’ve been lacking.
UNSW FC v Hills United; Saturday 16 August, 5:15pm, The Village Green
Conceding just one goal in their last five games, UNSW FC will look to continue their top two charge with another victory this weekend. Now with a game in hand over teams around them, they could well return to the top with a win here and against Dulwich Hill.
Last weekend, they got the job down against tough opposition in Canterbury Bankstown. A performance which pleased their coaching staff considering the conditions, Jack Fulton scored a crucial goal midway through the second half.
Hills United aren’t far away from a top half finish in 2025, something they wouldn’t have thought possible after a disappointing first half of the season. Winning two of their last three games, they sit on 38 points which puts them three points behind Bulls FC Academy and Inter Lions.
Last weekend wasn’t their most convincing performance against Dulwich Hill however. The positives coming from their work in front of goal and in possession but there’s definitely improvement needed ahead of this one without the ball.
Mounties Wanderers v Blacktown Spartans; Saturday 16 August, 7pm, Wanderers Football Park
How did we not win that? That would’ve been the question in the Mounties Wanderers camp last weekend after a late defeat to Inter Lions away from home. Now they sit rock bottom in the competition with three games to go.
Back to last weekend, they took the lead twice against Inter Lions either side of half time through goals Jake Mcging and James Cakovski. Mcging and Amos Okumu singled out as their most impressive on the night.
Blacktown Spartans promotion hopes received a boost last weekend with a win over Macarthur Rams at home. Heading into the game on the back of a disappointing loss the week previous they scored three times in the second half to pick up the result.
Riley Chapple and Aedon Kyra were the goal scorers on that occasion complimented by an own goal. They will have to improve on an inconsistent run of form which has seen them slump to defeat the week after winning on two recent occasions.
By Justin Smith
