Round 13 Preview – League One Men’s
Consistency is the name of the game as we approach Round 13 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition this weekend, with a lot of sides searching for it.
With Blacktown Spartans threatening to break away from the rest of the top four and a congested peloton behind them, it will be interesting to see what unfolds this weekend.
Match of the Round: Northern Tigers v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 2 May, 4:30pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Round 13 sees us take another trip to North Turramurra as Northern Tigers host Bulls FC Academy in a clash which pits second against fifth.
Hosting this game are Northern Tigers who, despite only having one win in their last six games, will come into this relatively confident of a good performance. Last weekend, they played out a scoreless draw with Rydalmere Lions away from home in a game they could have won in the final twenty minutes.
In that game, their defensive coordination was at the forefront against one of the league’s better attacking teams. An unheralded part of that defence was Oliver Franz at right back, who kept Isaac Cunningham rather quiet. Elsewhere, Lachie Lloyd was solid as ever in midfield along with Sebastian Cerecedo, while Kai Denton is two goals away from officially breaking a club record.
They face a Bulls FC Academy side currently sitting in 5th position after a dozen games. However, they sit five points below their hosts after an inconsistent run of form of late, with two wins in their last five. Anything but a win will see them fall adrift of the top sides in the division.
It’s perhaps unexpected that we can also speak about an A-League academy side in similar fashion from a defensive perspective. Conceding just 16 goals this season, they sit equal second in that regard. In attack, Justin Cardozo and Luke Zuvela have been leading the way for the academy side with seven and five goals respectively.
Elsewhere
Hurstville Zagreb v Central Coast Mariners; Friday 1 May, 8pm, Penshurst Park
Despite suffering their sixth defeat of the season last weekend against Bankstown City, Hurstville Zagreb gave a good account of themselves, with their only issue being a lack of finishing in the first half. In the middle of a run of home games, this is an important fixture, with Blacktown Spartans on the horizon in Round 14. Jonathan Maras is a player to watch after scoring a brace last weekend.
Central Coast Mariners also fell short in Round 12 despite a positive performance in the youth F3 derby. They looked set to take bragging rights before a late comeback from the Jets, with defender Michael Paragalli perhaps their best on the afternoon, his goal capping an impressive individual display. The young Mariners have taken nine points on their travels so far this season.
Prospect United v Rydalmere Lions; Friday 1 May, 8pm, Valentine Sports Park
Despite not claiming a second victory this season, Prospect United continued their habit of picking up points with a Round 12 draw against Western City Rangers. One point from safety, they secured their first clean sheet of the season while also creating chances to win in the final 20 minutes. This shapes as a tougher challenge against a top-four side.
Rydalmere Lions continued their unbeaten run with a scoreless draw against Northern Tigers last weekend. Their fifth draw of the season is something to watch as we approach the halfway point. On paper, however, they will be heavy favourites as they chase their fourth away win of the season. Look for the likes of Adil Toska to make a difference.
Blacktown Spartans v Macarthur Rams; Friday 1 May, 8:15pm, Blacktown Football Park
Blacktown Spartans stretched their lead at the top of the table to five points last weekend with a win over Inter Lions. It was the kind of game you win when you’re in form and drop points when you’re not, despite not being at their best. Still, their second-half response pleased the coaching staff, with Aedon Kyra once again leading the way with a brace. They have won six of their seven home games this season.
They face a Macarthur Rams side struggling to produce consistent performances. However, games against sides around or above them may suit their style. A key stat is that they have conceded just one first-half goal since Round 3, and only seven overall in that period. However, they must improve their scoring output in the second half of the season.
Hakoah FC v Canterbury Bankstown; Saturday 2 May, 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
If you are sensing a pattern among mid-table sides, you would be right, with Hakoah FC another team experiencing inconsistency. Last weekend, they went down to Bulls FC Academy away from home. In an entertaining fixture, the highlight for Hakoah was Stephen Varvaritis scoring his first first-grade goal against his former club. They also recorded a 4-1 win over Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the cup on Tuesday evening.
Looking for revenge after their recent HAHN Australia Cup defeat to Hakoah are Canterbury Bankstown. One place below the hosts after twelve rounds, they lost to Hills United last weekend by a single goal margin. It was one of those games where they failed to capitalise on chances in the first half and paid the price. They will also need to overcome a poor record against Hakoah, with their only win coming in 2023.
Bankstown City v Inter Lions; Saturday 2 May, 5pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Not at their best but collecting three points nonetheless, Bankstown City returned to the top three with a win over Hurstville Zagreb last weekend. It was a tale of two halves at Penshurst Park, overcoming a disappointing first half to secure the result. Peter Kekeris was a key contributor with a goal and assist off the bench, alongside Jonathan Grozdanovski, who scored his seventh of the season. They were also in Hahn Australia Cup action midweek, losing to Fraser Park with a rotated side.
It may have been another loss for Inter Lions last weekend, but there were positives in their narrow defeat to Blacktown Spartans. They disrupted the league leaders effectively in the first half, with Ned Armson giving them a surprise lead before an Aedon Kyra brace turned the match. Can that performance inspire them here?
Dulwich Hill v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 2 May, 5pm, Arlington Oval
Quietly, this shapes as one of the best fixtures of the weekend. Dulwich Hill come into this on the back of five games unbeaten, most recently defeating Macarthur Rams away from home. Their run has been built on defensive solidity, not conceding from open play in their last six games. Marcus Lal secured that win with a brace. In good form, they could overtake their visitors with a win.
Newcastle Jets continued their climb up the table with a derby victory over Central Coast Mariners last Sunday. With just one loss since the beginning of March, they are one of the form sides in the competition. As an academy side, selection can vary, but Lucas Scicluna impressed in midfield last week with an assist, while their bench contributed four goals.
Hills United v Western City Rangers; Saturday 2 May, 5pm, Valentine Sports Park
Hills United returned to winning ways with a much-needed victory over Canterbury Bankstown last weekend. It wasn’t always pretty, but they got the job done thanks to an improved second-half performance. Cam Philp marked his 100th game for the club with a goal, while Yuki Kanai also scored with a stylish finish.
Warren Grieve was largely pleased with how Western City Rangers responded in Round 12. After conceding five the week prior, they kept a clean sheet against Prospect United in a game they couldn’t afford to lose. Much of their recent struggles have been due to a lack of squad depth, something returning players may help address in the coming weeks.
By Justin Smith
