Round 29 Preview – League One Men’s
What more could you ask for? Twenty eight rounds in, It’s been a memorable FNSW League One Men’s season so far and the race for the title and in turn promotion is still yet to be decided approaching round 29.
Our match of the round takes us too Blacktown Football Park for a massive clash between Blacktown Spartans and SD Raiders. While elsewhere, UNSW will look to continue on their road to the title with two games in the space of four days.
Match of the Round: Blacktown Spartans v SD Raiders; Friday 22 August, 8:15pm, Blacktown Football Park
We’ve had some big games in the competition this season, however none match this one in terms of what’s at stake as Blacktown Spartans host SD Raiders at Blacktown Football Park.
Both these sides come into this one in good form with Blacktown Spartans winning their last two while SD Raiders are the form team of the competition with five straight wins.
The hosts are a point behind the visitors with three wins in their last five games. Conceding just three goals in their last four games, they’ve responded well from their defeat to UNSW back in round 24. Indeed there lies the question, What have the Spartans learnt from that game just over a month ago.
Last weekend, they scraped past Mounties Wanderers just down the driveway. An Aedon Kyra penalty proving the difference in a hardworking performance. They have won four of their past five games at the venue and have a score to settle after their first meeting back in May.
It’s a second straight match of the round for SD Raiders who will potentially come in as favourites in irresistible form. A run which has seen them pretty much end the top two hopes of both academy sides in recent times, they’ll be confident here.
Against the Jets, it was Mihael Marcic who had his fingerprints all over the win leading the Raiders attack. Though this one may require a slight tactical tweak with less space to put balls in behind the opponents defence. While Lachlan Everett has been an important players in their most recent run.
If there’s one game you can’t miss this season, it’s this one! You can catch it on the FNSW youtube page under the live tab.
Elsewhere
Northern Tigers v Canterbury Bankstown; Saturday 23 August, 4:15pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Northern Tigers had a return to form last weekend with a bit of pressure off them. In fourth position currently, they require a favour or two to give them something to play for in their round 30 clash with the students.
Last weekend, they blew Dulwich Hill off the park with a 7-0 win at Arlington Oval. The Tigers finding their goal scoring ways with Kai Denton leading the way with four goals joined by Jesse Spang who scored a brace off the bench.
They face a Canterbury Bankstown side who drew their 11th game of the season last weekend. Comfortably the side with the most draws in 2025, they shared the points with Bonnyrigg White Eagles in round 28 action conceding an injury time goal.
It’s that inability to extend the one goal advantage into two goals which is costing them the chance at three points. While from an individual standpoint, Zayn Moussa scored his second goal since breaking into the side back in round 24.
Bankstown City v UNSW FC; Saturday 23 August, 5pm, Jensen Park
Bankstown City could well be a difficult side for the visitors to face in this one. Coming in off back-to-back wins, those two victories came on the road in round 27 against Newcastle Jets and 28 against Hakoah FC last weekend.
An encouraging sign for Bankstown last weekend is how their defence stood firm under plenty of pressure. While Nikola Djordjevic and Jonathan Grozdanovski both scored goals either side of the half time break.
There can’t have been as many weeks like this for UNSW FC who are chasing the title in season 2025. They have a midweek game to take place Wednesday night against Dulwich Hill which will be followed up by this one against Bankstown City, Saturday afternoon. The reward if they win both? Going into the final round atop of the standings.
Last weekend, they got over the line against Hills United at the Village Green. A Nathan Roberts second half goal giving them the three points. It’s in their hands going into the final three games, can they finish atop of the standings?
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Rydalmere Lions; Saturday 23 August, 7pm, Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
For the first time in a long time, Bonnyrigg White Eagles find themselves off the bottom of the table heading into the weekends action. Seven points in their last three games, they look set to feature in the promotion/relegation playoff.
Last weekend, they drew with Canterbury Bankstown in dramatic fashion scoring a goal in the 92nd minute through Moussa Sanoh. This after a midweek win over Northern Tigers at home last Wednesday which stands as their best result of the season.
Hanging in the promotion race, Rydalmere Lions kept their season alive with a second straight win in round 28 action. Depending on the midweek catch up, they will come into this one three or four points outside the top two, so three points is essential.
They overcame Bulls FC Academy last weekend by a single goal margin, Abbas Saad’s side showing a new found defensive solidarity with three clean sheets in their last five games. If they can do so again, they’ll be favourites here with the leagues second best attack.
Hills United v Mounties Wanderers; Saturday 23 August, 7pm, Valentine Sports Park
Hills United were a frustrating opponent for UNSW FC in their fixture last weekend. Set up well without the ball, they gave everything against the students but ultimately came away without reward from the Village Green.
Now they have a chance to have a say at the other end of the table against Mounties Wanderers. Indeed a feature of their resurgence in season 2025 has been their form at home with five straight wins at the venue.
It’s become a little more desperate for Mounties Wanderers in their efforts to avoid going straight back down. Three positive results for Bonnyrigg saw Mounties drop to the bottom of the table after last weekends action, as such a result here is of up most important.
Last weekend, there was plenty of heart in their performance against Blacktown Spartans at home. The difference being a second half penalty which they conceded around the hour mark, the Wanderers unable to find a goal back in the final 20 minutes.
Bulls FC Academy v Hakoah FC; Saturday 23 August, 7pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
Not the only academy side to struggle in the past couple of months, Bulls FC Academy have slipped down into eighth position after the weekend just gone. Three straight losses, they’ll want to find three points before the end of the season.
Last weekend, they went down to Rydalmere Lions by a single goal away from home in a game which saw the likes of Dean Bosnjak and Zane Helweh return to the side. They won the first meeting between the two sides back in round 14.
Hakoah FC’s poor end to the season continued last weekend when they lost to Bankstown City at home. They are winless in their last seven games in that time drawing two games while losing five games.
Against Bankstown, they had some good periods at the start and end of their match but only came away with a Valentin Cuny consolation goal to show for it. The period in and around the half time break seeing them concede two goals which ultimately cost them.
Inter Lions v Dulwich Hill; Saturday 23 August, 7pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Last weekends result was a disappointing one for Inter Lions against Macarthur Rams away from home. After back-to-back victories, they couldn’t quite match it from a goal-scoring perspective against the Rams.
That’s where they’ll be looking to improve in this game against Dulwich Hill. needing to take the chances which they are presented. They also have the advantage in this one having not played midweek like their opposition.
What kind of response will we see from Dulwich Hill this weekend? After securing safety prior to last weekends game against Northern TIgers, they went down to the heaviest defeat of the season losing 7-0 at home.
Of course, we’ll have a good idea by Wednesday night when they play UNSW FC who are chasing the title. They can’t afford a performance like the second half last weekend in either of the two games.
Newcastle Jets v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 23 August, 7pm, Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
Newcastle Jets all but dropped out of the top two race last weekend with a defeat to SD Raiders in the match of the round. Three games without a win, they’ve lost their last two games and as such have dropped down to sixth.
It’s noteworthy the amount of players dropping in and out of the first grade side with other commitments, something we’ll probably see again with an Australia Cup game less than 24 hours after this game.
Macarthur Rams booked their place in the division last weekend with a scoreless draw against Inter Lions. On 29 points, both Bonnyrigg and Mounties can no longer catch the Rams who sit seven points below them.
Leading the side, Tim Aitken has done a real good job in charge of the side doubling up on his head of football role. While on the field, Connor Widdup put together a player of the match performance with Maxamillion Luburic also impressing off the bench.
By Justin Smith
