Round 7 Preview – League One Men’s
Some big games are set to take place in round seven of the FNSW League One Men’s competition this weekend. Headlined by our first look at our league leaders in Northern Tigers against top-four opposition, there’s plenty of other games involving teams in and around each other in the standings.
Match of the Round: Northern Tigers v Hills United
Saturday 21 March, 6:30pm – North Turramurra Recreation Area
Our match of the round sees our camera finally catch the league leaders as Northern Tigers host Hills United, Saturday evening.
Northern Tigers come into the game with six wins from six while Hills United also sit in the top four with four wins and two losses. Both sides are backing up from cup action during the week.
It has been over 500 minutes since Northern Tigers conceded a goal in round one against Canterbury Bankstown. Leading the league in goals scored in 2026 with 17 across six matches, they appear to be building week to week. Last weekend, they produced a 5-star performance to comprehensively defeat Dulwich Hill. Ryan Attard, Kai Denton, and Sebastian Cerecedo impressed alongside Austin Oates, who grabbed two assists off the bench. A strong team with a strong mentality—they’ll be tough to beat.
Hills United stand as a tough test after four wins in their last five games, sitting in fourth position. Narrow wins over promoted sides Prospect United, Hurstville Zagreb, and a 4-0 win over South Coast Flame highlight their form. Zen Gigliotti and Cameron Philp scored crucial goals, while Walid Moutaouakkil has hit good form, with the whole team contributing defensively. They have won their last two away games this season.
Catch this one on the FNSW YouTube page under the live tab Saturday evening.
Rydalmere Lions v Central Coast Mariners
Friday 20 March, 8pm – Rydalmere Park
A rare Friday night fixture kicks off the weekend. Rydalmere Lions have been one of the most entertaining sides with 25 goals scored at either end. Last weekend they fell short against Blacktown Spartans despite an Isaac Cunningham brace, Cunningham now sitting on seven goals in six games.
Central Coast Mariners were unable to bounce back from their round five defeat to Bankstown City last weekend, sharing points with Canterbury Bankstown in tough conditions at Pluim Park. They have drawn both games away this season against Prospect United and Hakoah FC.
Newcastle Jets v Blacktown Spartans
Saturday 21 March, 5pm – Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility
After claiming their first win of the season last weekend, Newcastle Jets will test where they are at the moment. Both Jake Goodwin and Ethan Debono scored braces last week, but their defence will be challenged here.
Blacktown Spartans have won three games by a single-goal margin this season, giving the team confidence. Last weekend, Aedon Kyra led a comeback win over Rydalmere Lions with two superb goals, joined on the score-sheet by young Milos Jankovic.
Western City Rangers v Bulls FC Academy
Saturday 21 March, 7pm – Popondetta Park
Western City Rangers face Bulls FC Academy in another big game. Rangers were competitive against Bankstown City last week, with Rocco Fragale scoring a second-half equaliser. Bulls FC Academy have beaten promoted sides consistently, including a 5-0 win over Prospect United last weekend, with Justin Cardozo scoring four goals.
Inter Lions v Macarthur Rams
Saturday 21 March, 7pm – Majors Bay Reserve
Inter Lions seek their first point of the season after losing their opening six games. Shane Cevenini recently resigned as coach, adding extra importance to this game. Macarthur Rams have drawn three of their past four games, conceding just eight goals this season. Michael Martin is the player to watch for a team that utilises width effectively.
Canterbury Bankstown v Hurstville Zagreb
Saturday 21 March, 7pm – Jensen Park
Canterbury Bankstown sit tenth with two wins, two draws, and two losses. Last weekend, Nicholas Azzi scored his first goal for the club in a draw with Central Coast Mariners. They are favourites to claim their first home win.
Hurstville Zagreb have struggled in recent draws against top-half sides, conceding 11 goals in three games. This could be the opportunity to bounce back.
Dulwich Hill v Bankstown City
Saturday 21 March, 7:15pm – Arlington Oval
Dulwich Hill come off a five-goal defeat last weekend and will look for a response. Bankstown City are clear favourites, securing their third win in a row last week with a 2-1 victory over Western City Rangers, Alec Urosevski scoring in injury time.
Hakoah FC v Prospect United
Sunday 22 March, 4:30pm – Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah FC face teams close in the standings and have struggled to convert points so far. Nick Drummond and Eli Sheard’s absence will be felt, with Cam Philpot potentially filling the void.
Prospect United showed they may be out of their depth with a 5-0 loss to Bulls FC Academy, conceding four goals in the first half. They have opportunities to claim their first win in upcoming games.
By Justin Smith
