Round 23 Preview – League One Men’s
With less than two months left in the FNSW League One Men’s competition, time is running out for contenders to make their move ahead of Round 23 of the competition this weekend.
A weekend which could well sort out who will push for a top two place, our Match of the Round will take us down the other end to check in on a team chasing survival.
Match of the Round: Dulwich Hill v Bulls FC Academy; Saturday 11 July, 5pm, Arlington Oval
Our featured match this weekend takes us to a side looking to secure survival in the league in Dulwich Hill who host Bulls FC Academy at Arlington Oval.
It’s been a long time since we’ve featured Dulwich Hill as our Match of the Round and as such, they’ll be keen to prove a point here. A win or two away from securing safety, they come in with confidence after securing a valuable point on the road against Bankstown City at Jensen last weekend.
In front of a healthy crowd, they came from behind twice with Marcus Lal and Samuel O’Connor both scoring. A result they needed after a tough run of form with their last win back in Round 15. A large factor in that being who has been absent, something they’ve looked to change with some additions. Lal and Harry Jones are two players to keep an eye on in this one.
Bulls FC Academy themselves are in the midst of a mixed run of form which has seen them win one of the last five games. They’ve had significant turnover in recent weeks with players either departing the club or scholarship players resting up before the forthcoming A-League season.
Last weekend, they went down to Western City Rangers at home, perhaps struggling in defensive transition on occasion. An intriguing addition for that one being Michael Paragalli who made the switch from Central Coast Mariners in the window. Other key players who could be a threat to goal include Ali El-Sabeh and Justin Cardozo.
Last Meeting: Bulls FC Academy 0-1 Dulwich Hill
Elsewhere
Macarthur Rams v Bankstown City; Friday 10 July, 8pm, Lynwood Stadium
Macarthur Rams will be pretty confident of picking up a result in this game having lost just one game since Round 15. Sitting just one point below their visitors here, they come in on the back of a 3-2 win over Inter Lions last weekend.
Coming from behind, Michael Martin played a big role in getting the result while fellow goalscorers Thomas Lopez and Paul Soravia also had good games. With just three home games remaining, they will be keen to use it to their advantage and reverse the first meeting result here.
They will need to be up for this as you’d suggest Bankstown City will be keen to respond after a disappointing draw in Round 22 action. Sharing the points with Dulwich Hill at home, they now are three points behind second with an inferior goal difference. Expectations are high at the club with the objective of promotion only on coach Panny Nikas’ mind.
A bright spot in the fixture being the return of Alec Urosevski to scoring ways, Urosevski joined by Jesse Photi who scored his maiden goal for the club. One of the better travelling teams this season, this stands as a crucial game.
Last Meeting: Bankstown City 1-0 Macarthur Rams
Hakoah FC v Hurstville Zagreb; Saturday 11 July, 4:30pm, Hensley Athletic Field
Five games unbeaten, Hakoah FC have figured out how not to lose, now it’s about turning one point into three on the regular with eight games remaining on the back of two score draws with Macarthur Rams and Prospect United on the road.
There were positives from their result with Prospect though having gone down to ten men in the first half. Samuel Young finding the back of the net in a bit of a throwback. They will be without Eli Sheard here though after said red card.
They face a Hurstville Zagreb side who have just one win in the last five games though there were reasons for encouragement after their narrow defeat to Canterbury Bankstown last Friday night.
Falling behind, there were signs that things started to click in the second half with chances to take something. New signing Max Buratto scoring a goal while there’s more to be added in the attacking third in the near future.
Last Meeting: Hurstville Zagreb 1-1 Hakoah FC
Northern Tigers v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 11 July, 4:30pm, North Turramurra Recreation Area
Last weekend was a good one for Northern Tigers who aren’t going away in the promotion fight in 2026. Securing a win against Hills United away from home, it’s the kind of result which will give them a massive confidence boost going forward.
Two players stood out in the fixture, firstly young goalkeeper Matteo Scali who has stepped into Bodie Denton’s shoes well. And secondly, the goalscorers Ryan Attard and Daniel Kepot who scored the winner, both playing well.
It doesn’t get any easier for Newcastle Jets who face another top two side on the road this weekend. On the back of a 7-2 defeat to Blacktown Spartans last week, they will be looking to take their lessons from that into this one.
Sitting in 14th, they are in need of a win in their next few with a big game in the relegation fight against Western City Rangers to take place in Round 24. Can they perform with the pressure off them this weekend?
Last Meeting: Newcastle Jets 2-2 Northern Tigers
Canterbury Bankstown v Prospect United; Saturday 11 July, 5pm, Jensen Park
Last preview, we framed Canterbury Bankstown’s fixture with Hurstville Zagreb as potentially their toughest test yet and it’s one they passed in confident fashion. Sitting four points behind second with a lot of games at Jensen to come, they could well be up there challenging come Round 30.
Reflecting on last weekend, goals from John Fotopoulos and William Kounnas gave them a two-goal lead before they showed resilience to hold Zagreb out late. They will be missing Fotopoulos in this one so it will be interesting who comes in while he serves his suspension.
Prospect United once again come into this game on the back of a draw having shared the points with Hakoah FC last weekend. A season in which they’ve drawn a total of 12 games so far, last weekend was an opportunity to convert into three points.
One of the more pleasing factors in the game was the attitude shown from the get-go with an exceptional first half performance. However, a red card for the opposition did change the pattern of the game, Reo Hiroese one of their best on the field throughout.
Last Meeting: Prospect United 1-1 Canterbury Bankstown
Inter Lions v Hills United; Saturday 11 July, 5pm, Majors Bay Reserve
Inter Lions return to home comforts for their Round 23 meeting with Hills United this weekend. A venue where they haven’t tasted defeat since Anzac Day, they have won their last five games at Majors Bay while also struggling a bit on the road.
Last weekend they were involved in one of the games of the weekend against Macarthur Rams succumbing to a second half comeback. Hence motivation should be high for this one, last weekend seeing Jordan Morfitis score on his return to the club.
Hills United would’ve been wondering how they didn’t get anything from their defeat to Northern Tigers last Saturday night. On top for a lot of the first half, they were on the wrong end of a second half comeback at home.
As such, the focus will be turning those periods of dominance into goals if they get the opportunity here, something they have struggled with in recent fixtures despite Jordan Small’s first half goal. Can they recapture some form here?
Last Meeting: Hills United 0-0 Inter Lions
Rydalmere Lions v Western City Rangers; Saturday 11 July, 6:30pm, Rydalmere Park
Aside from teams directly competing at both ends of the table, Rydalmere Lions are the side who have undergone the most change in the transfer window as they look to recapture form. As such, last weekend’s win over Central Coast Mariners could be an important one as they look to finish strong.
Taking a two-goal lead via goals to Marcus Sparacino and Kaito Satori, they managed the second half well while proving a threat in transition. If they need motivation here, they have struggled at home recently with their last win at the venue back in Round 10.
A Round 22 win has brought Western City Rangers right back in with a chance to escape the relegation fight with eight games remaining. Two points behind Prospect and six behind Newcastle Jets, another win here could pile on the pressure.
Back to that win over Bulls FC Academy, they simply took their moments despite being under pressure throughout. Chan Yelchan starring with a brace in the space of a couple of minutes. Goalkeeper Dylan Niski also playing a big role in the result.
Last Meeting: Western City Rangers 0-1 Rydalmere Lions
Central Coast Mariners v Blacktown Spartans; Sunday 12 July, 3pm, Pluim Park
Central Coast Mariners fielded an even younger side last weekend in defeat to Rydalmere Lions at Pluim Park. A week after they lost the likes of Michael Paragali, Ahmad Elhelou and Harvey James, they suffered a narrow defeat to Rydalmere Lions.
Coach Philippe Bernabo-Madrid nevertheless proud of what his young side showed in the match with a few missed chances early on potentially why they were on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
Competition leaders Blacktown Spartans start their four-game road trip on the back of one of their best attacking performances yet. Putting seven past Newcastle Jets, they maintained their five-point gap over second while adding some more security over third with Bankstown City now eight points adrift.
A lot of the damage against the Jets coming in the second half with six goals scored in the second 45 minutes. Indeed 16 more goals have been scored in second halves this season so far by the Spartans. Two new additions in Felipe D’Agostini and Ahmad Taleb are players to watch here.
Last Meeting: Blacktown Spartans 4-1 Central Coast Mariners.
