Round 28 Preview – League One Men’s

Having crowned our Premiers, focus now turns to the playoff race at either end of the table as Round 28 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition takes place this weekend.

As such, our Match of the Round focus is on Bankstown City as they chase second place, while Northern Tigers face a big test against Bulls FC Academy elsewhere.

Match of the Round: Inter Lions v Bankstown City

Saturday 15 August, 5pm – Majors Bay Reserve

Can they do it on a cold night at Majors Bay Reserve?

That’s the equation for Bankstown City as they take on Inter Lions this Saturday evening in our Match of the Round.

We’ll start with Bankstown City, who are chasing a playoff spot and have been finding form at the end of the season.

Their last defeat came back in Round 19 against Blacktown Spartans, although the issue has been the number of draws, with five matches ending all square during that period.

Last weekend, they claimed three points courtesy of a controlled performance against Hurstville Zagreb at Jensen Park.

Alec Urosevski is back to his scoring ways with his third goal in two weeks, while Tomi Uskok, Blake Ricciuto and Fumoto Kamada all performed well across the pitch.

A win here will be important as they look to maintain the pressure on Northern Tigers above them.

Inter Lions will have a point to prove after going down to a heavy defeat against Blacktown Spartans last weekend.

Quite simply, they struggled to deal with a hard-working Spartans team that pressed high up the field from the outset, something the squad can certainly learn from here.

In saying that, they were able to create a few good chances in the second half after making several substitutions, with Harry Peek and Malcolm Ward arguably their best performers.

Inter have proved difficult to beat at Majors Bay Reserve, with just one defeat at the venue since Round 14.

Can they pick up an upset here and potentially turn the race for the top two on its head?

Last Meeting: Bankstown City 0-3 Inter Lions

Elsewhere

Macarthur Rams v Blacktown Spartans

Saturday 15 August, 4:30pm – Lynwood Stadium

A top-four clash is set to take place at Lynwood Stadium as Macarthur Rams host the newly crowned Premiers.

The Rams come into the game in good form, with three wins in their last four games, and are perhaps unfortunate that the teams above them have matched their form over the last month or so.

Last weekend, they edged out Dulwich Hill away from home, creating chances throughout and scoring through Paul Soravia and Takumi Kyutoku, while Michael Martin is in good providing form with another assist.

They face Blacktown Spartans, who could still break a record in regard to their points tally in 2026 if they reach 66 points.

Last weekend, they once again showed what they are capable of with a 4-0 win over Inter Lions at home.

It was their work out of possession which impressed the most, with their high press causing all sorts of issues for their opponents.

Both Ahmad Taleb and Felipe D’Agostini played key roles in leading the way there.

They are also just three goals away from equalling the best goal tally since the restructure.

Last Meeting: Blacktown Spartans 0-1 Macarthur Rams

Bulls FC Academy v Northern Tigers

Saturday 15 August, 5pm – Sydney United Sports Centre

Northern Tigers secured their third win in four games last weekend against Rydalmere Lions at NTRA.

Hitting form at the right time, their only defeat since Round 20 came against Blacktown Spartans three weeks ago.

Last weekend, it was two familiar faces who found the back of the net in Connor Rose and Austin Oates.

Oates scored his second goal in his last four games, while fellow impact players Jensen Vout and Tom Parkes provided the depth they perhaps weren’t sure they had not long ago.

Previewing non-academy sides is hard enough at this time of the year, but previewing actual academies like Bulls FC Academy is even tougher in terms of knowing what to expect.

They have their last two games coming up, including last weekend’s match against Hakoah FC.

Now they can potentially have a say in the promotion race.

If they do, you’d suggest Jordan Graoroski will have a say in it. The former Sydney FC academy player has scored four goals in seven appearances.

Bulls have five wins in 12 games at the venue this season.

Last Meeting: Northern Tigers 1-0 Bulls FC Academy

Rydalmere Lions v Prospect United

Saturday 15 August, 6:30pm – Rydalmere Park

A come-from-behind draw last weekend kept Prospect United’s chances of survival alive heading into the final three rounds.

They sit one point adrift of Western City Rangers above them in the relegation playoff spot, with games against Bankstown City and Hurstville Zagreb still to come.

Last weekend, they were the better team in the second half and could have stolen all three points.

Dimos Vlachos was particularly influential, with substitute Jakob Petterson grabbing the crucial equaliser in the 76th minute.

Can they pick up their third win of the season here?

They face a Rydalmere Lions side who are winless in three after a brief uptick in form a few weeks ago.

Making a habit of being in games but not quite turning their chances into goals, they went down 2-1 to Northern Tigers away from home last weekend.

Abbas Reda was the scorer there, with signs that they are giving minutes to players outside their regular starting eleven.

They have a mixed record at their home venue with four wins, four defeats and five draws.

Last Meeting: Prospect United 2-2 Rydalmere Lions

Western City Rangers v Hills United

Saturday 15 August, 7pm – Popondetta Park

Having missed a big opportunity last weekend to give themselves breathing space in their efforts to avoid automatic relegation, Western City Rangers will be keen to make their life a little easier with a result here.

A draw kept them above Prospect United, but it has to go down as a missed opportunity after they had the better opportunities across the first hour.

Reuben Awaritefe scored their goal, assisted by Rocco Pelle, who also impressed on the evening.

Rangers still have fixtures against Central Coast Mariners and Northern Tigers to come.

Hills United returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Canterbury Bankstown.

Sitting in sixth, they could well finish in fifth position with a strong finish to the season, with Jason Eager helping out on the coaching front.

In that game, Jesse Michel scored a hat-trick and has hit form in recent times, while Hunter Mateo also impressed and has cemented his position in the first-team squad of late.

Last Meeting: Hills United 2-1 Western City Rangers

Canterbury Bankstown v Hakoah FC

Saturday 15 August, 5pm – Jensen Park

Perhaps the weirdest result of the weekend, and perhaps the season, saw Canterbury Bankstown go down to a four-goal defeat against Hills United last weekend.

The first time they have conceded four goals in a defeat since March, they will be looking for a response here.

Indeed, with 61 goals scored and 48 conceded, they are probably the most entertaining side to watch this season.

William Kounnas is also still in with a shout for the Golden Boot, currently trailing Aedon Kyra by one goal.

Hakoah FC have the chance to make it three wins in four with another three points here.

The only side outside the top four in genuinely good form, they got the better of Bulls FC Academy at home last weekend to move into seventh position.

Eli Sheard and Samuel Young both made a big difference coming off the bench, with Sheard scoring while Young added control in midfield.

Valentin Cuny also scored his eighth goal of the season to secure the three points.

Last Meeting: Hakoah FC 2-5 Canterbury Bankstown

Newcastle Jets v Dulwich Hill

Saturday 15 August, 5pm – Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility

A draw last weekend was perhaps enough to keep Newcastle Jets out of danger and safe in the league.

Picking up points in four of their last five fixtures, they shared the spoils with Central Coast Mariners in the academy derby last weekend.

Once again, it was a tale of not being able to put together a complete 90-minute performance.

Jesse Hill’s goal was a deserved one, although they should have had a couple more, with a goal before half-time changing the momentum.

Unlikely? Yes, but Dulwich Hill are probably the one side in potential danger of being pulled into the bottom-two fight over the final three rounds.

As such, this is a good opportunity to confirm their place in the division with a result here.

They have secured four points in their last three games, although they went down narrowly to Macarthur Rams last weekend.

Liam Spiropoulos scored a potential Goal of the Season contender in that game from distance.

The first meeting between the two sides finished in a draw.

Last Meeting: Dulwich Hill 1-1 Newcastle Jets

Central Coast Mariners v Hurstville Zagreb

Sunday 16 August, 3pm – Pluim Park

Central Coast Mariners secured their first point since mid-June with a draw against Newcastle Jets last weekend.

Fielding a very young side during that period, the result should be enough to help seal their spot in the division.

They were good value in the second half, creating a lot of chances on goal but lacking a clinical touch.

Flynn Richards scored their goal after Luke Becvinovski squared the ball to him.

They won the first meeting between the two sides.

It will be tough for the Mariners, though, against a Hurstville Zagreb side who will be keen to bounce back after back-to-back defeats.

Last weekend, they put up a good fight but ultimately fell short against Bankstown City at Jensen Park.

That game was the first time they had been held scoreless since Round 11 against Northern Tigers.

These final three games provide Hurstville with an opportunity to improve their record away from home, having taken 11 points from 12 games on the road this season.

Last Meeting: Hurstville Zagreb 1-2 Central Coast Mariners

By Justin Smith