Round 26 Preview – League One Men’s
With Blacktown Spartans sitting pretty on top and a battle to survive set for next week, our focus turns to the top two playoff race approaching round 26 of the FNSW League One Men’s competition this weekend.
In said race, Bankstown City travel to take on Hills United away from home in our match of the round while Northern Tigers face a big test when they face Hurstville Zagreb at Penshurst Park. That and more in our preview below.
Match of the Round: Hills United v Bankstown City; Saturday 1 August, 5pm, Valentine Sports Park
Hills United are the next side in the way of Bankstown City and their promotion hopes as the two meet in this weeks match of the round at Valentine Sports Park.
Featuring in their second straight match of the round this weekend are Bankstown City. Two straight wins over Bulls FC Academy and Canterbury Bankstown has seen them move equal second with an inferior goal difference to Northern Tigers, abet with a more friendly run home.
Returning to the derby win over Canterbury Bankstown, they once again came up clutch in the final ten minutes, Bai Antoniou once again crucial in the comeback from an individual standpoint. A key stat this season being 12 goals after the 75th minute. They won the last meeting between the two courtesy of goals to Shun Maeta and Jason Cakovski.
They face a Hills United side who have been on an inconsistent run of form of late with a win, a draw and a loss in the last three. Last weekend losing on the road to Newcastle Jets 2-1 in their game at Lake Macquarie despite a strong second half showing.
At their best, they are capable of beating this weeks opponents, the question is will their best be on show? If they are to succeed here, the attacking quality of Walid Moutaouakil will be important who headlines a pretty strong team across the board. Noah Miller another player to watch after scoring in back-to-back games. Can I throw a spanner into the top two race here?
Last meeting: Bankstown City 2-0 Hills United
Elsewhere
Prospect United v Blacktown Spartans; Friday 31 July, 8pm, Blacktown Football Park
It’s a big couple of weeks for Prospect United who face the competition leaders before a big game against Western City Rangers next Friday. Still chasing their third win of the season, they drew with Inter Lions last time out.
Goalkeeper Stefan Giglio was crucial to their point saving a injury time penalty with Michael Singh scoring their goal earlier in the game. Having lost the first meeting between the two heavily, they’ll be keen to hit back.
After a few weeks on the road, Blacktown Spartans will enjoy a shorter trip to an away game here (if it’s considered a trip at all). Anyway back to serious stuff, its almost a matter of when and not if they claim the title after a big victory over Northern Tigers last time out.
There’s not a lot left to say about them on the park either, one big takeaway in that is how well they played once taking the lead scoring two further goals before the Tigers even created a chance at the other end. Christian Nascimben and Josh Bartolotto both stepping up into the eleven well in midfield.
Last meeting: Blacktown Spartans 4-0 Prospect United
Bulls FC Academy v Macarthur Rams; Saturday 1 August, 5pm, Sydney United Sports Centre
We’re all set for the second Macarthur derby for the season as Bulls FC Academy host their neighbours at Sydney United Sports Centre. Backing up from a late comeback win in an all academy battle at Pluim Park, they’ll be confident here.
It was done the hard way after not getting a goal when they were on top in the first half. Two set piece goals a key factor in the dying stages with Michael Paragalli and Jordan Graoroski scoring in that fashion before Alvaro Sato scored their third in stoppage time.
You’d suggest this is exactly the fixture Macarthur Rams will want to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Hurstville Zagreb last weekend. Four points behind Northern Tigers and Bankstown City, it will be a tough ask to catch them in the final five weeks but they could definitely have a say in that race.
Paul Soravia gave them the lead early in the second but they couldn’t hold on. They will be without Alex Gollan who got a second yellow in the frustrating conclusion to that one. Can they do the double over Bulls FC Academy in season 2026?
Last meeting: Macarthur Rams 1-0 Bulls FC Academy
Canterbury Bankstown v Dulwich Hill; Sat/urday 1 August, 5pm, Jensen Park
Back-to-back defeats for Canterbury Bankstown has essentially brought their top two hopes to a premature end in 2026. Backing up from a spirited performance against Blacktown Spartans, they lost the derby in heartbreaking fashion against Bankstown City.
One thing which will play a part here is a desire to put the record straight. They will have to do so without Dejan Bakrdanikoski though who will be serving a suspension. This game potentially the game on paper you’d expect them to win in the run home.
One side breathing a little easier in 2026 is Dulwich Hill who extended the gap to the bottom two to seven points with five games remaining on the back of a win over Western City Rangers last weekend.
Key to the win was the performance of midfielder Josh Da Silva who was central to everything good. Coach Berhan Alcamaz overall proud of his side and how they lifted for the game with four different goal scorers finding the back of the net.
Last Meeting: Dulwich Hill 0-0 Canterbury Bankstown
Hurstville Zagreb v Northern Tigers; Saturday 1 August, 5pm, Penshurst Park
Three wins in their last five games, Hurstville Zagreb come into their last home game of the season in form. Their only loss recently coming at the hands of Canterbury Bankstown, they got a 2-1 win over Macarthur Rams last weekend.
They bounced back well after going a goal down with Declan Sheldon scoring an equalised before Alessandro Lacalandra scored a penalty. They are set to face all teams occupying the top three in forthcoming weeks which should tell us how far they’ve come in 2026.
Well the good news for Northern Tigers is they don’t have to play Blacktown Spartans again this season who are the one side who have cracked their defensive code, the bad news? Their next fixture is perhaps the toughest away trip in the league to Penshurst Park.
Against the Spartans, they were competitive for an hour of their contest matching the visitors tempo but that half an hour where they weren’t proved costly, A real test of mentality in this one, will we see an instant response when they take the field here.
Last meeting: Northern Tigers 1-0 Hurstville Zagreb
Western City Rangers v Hakoah FC; Saturday 1 August, 6pm, Popondetta Park
Defeat last weekend and results elsewhere added a lot of pressure on Western City Rangers with five games remaining. They have an interesting run home which has them face Prospect United next weekend with tough fixtures against Hills United and Northern Tigers to come.
Back to last weekend and it was one to forget against Dulwich Hill going down to a four goal defeat at Arlington Oval. The visitors on that occasion struggling to match the intensity in the second half, can they learn from that here?
They face a Hakoah FC who returned to winning ways with a home win over Rydalmere Lions last time out. In tenth position, it was their eighth win of the campaign as they have made themselves hard to beat in this second half of the season.
That win came on the back of a moment of inspiration from Valentin Cuny in the second half with a class individual goal. While Nikolas Loe put in a good shift in between the sticks with a couple of good saves.
Last meeting: Hakoah FC 5-1 Western City Rangers
Rydalmere Lions v Newcastle Jets; Saturday 1 August, 6:30pm, Rydalmere Park
After playing four of their last five on the road, Rydalmere Lions return to their home this weekend looking to recapture their form after a hiccup last weekend against Hakoah FC at Hensley Athletic.
A close game throughout, both sides traded chances throughout and if not for a good performance from Nikolas Loe, it could have been a fourth straight win. Any efforts to get the win here will have to come without Adil Toska and Ethan Thomas through suspension.
It wasn’t pretty at times, but Newcastle Jets secure an important win last weekend to end a long winless run. Giving themselves room to breath over the bottom two, Jake Goodwin scored twice to give them a first half lead which they held onto in the second period.
And that’s where they’ll be looking to improve here in putting together a ninety minute performance. While congratulations should also go to Oliver Cockle, the most recent academy graduate to earn a debut in the A-league side.
Last meeting: Newcastle Jets 1-2 Rydalmere Lions
Central Coast Mariners v Inter Lions; Sunday 2 August, 3pm, Pluim Park
Phillipe Bernabo-Madrid’s young Central Coast Mariners academy side face a different sort of challenge in Inter Lions this weekend. After a few weeks taking on sides above them on the table, they now face a side below.
Last weekend, it was a tale of the first 65 minutes and the last 25 minutes. Impressing in that opening hour before a red card changed the game. Nevertheless, they were happy with the performance fielding a much younger side in recent weeks.
Results elsewhere last week simplified the equation for Inter Lions in as much that one more win in their last five should secure safety. However it has been five games since they last tasted victory with two draws and two defeats in that time.
Last weekend, they were held to a 1-1 draw with Prospect United at home. Thomas Whiffen giving them the lead early in that one while they couldn’t convert a late penalty to take the result. Will this be the weekend they seal their safety?
Last meeting: Inter Lions 1-5 Central Coast Mariners
By Justin Smith
