NSW Premier League Round 6 Preview
Blacktown Spartans v Sutherland Sharks, Saturday 5th of May, 7:00 pm Blacktown Football Park
Last Week:
South Coast Wolves 2 Blacktown Spartans 1
Sutherland Sharks 1 Sydney United 58 FC 1
Blacktown Spartans will be looking for their second win of the season when they entertain Sutherland Sharks at Blacktown Football Park on Saturday evening. The newly promoted side have already proven they can match it with their more experienced Premier League adversaries, and Ben DeHaan?s men will be eager to add points this weekend.
The Spartans created many scoring chances in the trip to Wollongong last weekend, though the goals were not forthcoming as the team succumbed to a 2-1 defeat. Louis Bozanic?s form has been a highlight of the side?s season thus far, and the young midfielder will be looking to further improve on his goalscoring tally so far.
The Sharks away form has been of some concern for the club in recent seasons, so Robbie Stanton?s men will need to be on full alert against the Spartans. Positives for the side include last weekend?s fine showing to come from behind and almost snatch a win against Sydney United in a performance completely dominated by the Sharks. The goals leaked in defence, however, do remain somewhat of a concern.
Parramatta FC v Blacktown City FC, Saturday 5th of May, 7:00 pm Melita Stadium
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 2 Parramatta FC 1
Blacktown City FC 1 Marconi Stallions 1
Lee Sterrey?s Parramatta FC will be looking to make full use of their home ground advantage when Blacktown City FC visit Melita Stadium on Sunday. The Eagles have struggled to find points this season ? one from five matches thus far ? with the club ambitious to make a stand in the competition.
Despite being outplayed for large spells against Sydney Olympic last weekend, Sterrey?s young team did show a lot of determination in changing the result. Key for the Eagles this weekend will be to keep possession of the ball in the front-third, something the side has failed to do consistently this season.
The visiting Blacktown City FC will be without influential captain Luke Roodenburg after he was given a straight red card in the last ditch draw against Marconi Stallions. The former champions have made a habit of finding goals late-on in matches, keeping their supporters with their hearts in the mouth until the final whistle.
Once more, coach Mark Crittenden will be looking at his Japanese duo Ryuji Miyazawa and Yuchi Yamauchi to showcase their fine skill in the font-third, as front-man James Monie searches for his first goal of the season.
Marconi Stallions v South Coast Wolves, Saturday 5th of May, 7:30 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 1 Marconi Stallions 1
South Coast Wolves 2 Blacktown Spartans 1
Marconi Stallions have fallen off the pace somewhat since collecting two first-up wins for the season, and the side will be very eager to return to the winner?s list when South Coast Wolves visit Marconi Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Stallions were denied at the death at Lily Homes last weekend, conceding an injury-time goal to see the three-points slip from under their grasp against a ten-man Blacktown City.
Nahuel Arrarte & Co. will need to be pumped for a big performance as the Wolves have already demonstrated just how hungry they are this season. The side from the South Coast sits in second-spot on the ladder, with their impressive results thus far including the scalp of Sydney United away from home.
Both sides possess an attacking brand of football, setting this encounter up as the pick of the Saturday evening matches.
Rockdale City Suns v Manly United FC, Sunday 6th of May, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Rockdale City Suns 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 2 Manly United FC 2
Both Rockdale City and Manly United are in need of points this weekend when the two sides meet at Ilinden Sports Centre with the two sides occupying two of the bottom three spots on the ladder.
The Suns have played some good passing football to-date, though Wally Savor?s men have only one-point to show for their efforts. Sash Tirovski?s form in the middle of the park has been impressive, as have been the performances of Giorgio Speranza and Tommy Cirjak, though the side?s finishing has been way off.
Savor will need to lift the morale of his players up for the Manly United clash following arguably the side?s poorest performances this season against Bonnyrigg, and the vocal Suns? supporters will no doubt play their part in supporting their side with another fabulous turnout on Sunday.
Manly United, much like the Suns, have played some good football this season, despite missing a number of regular starters. A major positive for coach Craig Midgley has been the return of Adam Foti who bagged a brilliant goal against APIA-Leichhardt last weekend, meanwhile Chris Payne continues to show his worth on the pitch.
A win for either side on Sunday ? both searching for their first of the season ? could certainly provide the springboard to kick-start their respective campaigns.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers v Sydney Olympic, Sunday 6th of May, 3:00 pm Lambert Park
Last Week:
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 2 Manly United FC 2
Sydney Olympic 2 Parramatta FC 1
Two former NSL giants meet at Lambert Park on Sunday afternoon with APIA-Leichhardt Tigers in need of points to lift their morale in what has been a frustrating start to the season. With only four points to show from their opening five matches, the Tigers have been let down by some wayward finishing, and sluggish defending. John Turner?s men have displayed their ability to play good football, though the side has failed to maintain the intensity for the entire duration of their matches. Andrew Bevin has been a breath of fresh air for the Tigers with his goals, though the side will need to keep things tight in defence against the defending champions on Sunday.
The Blues have proven they know what it takes to win championships, and the most worrying sign for adversaries thus far this season has been the Blues ability to win matches, still some way off their best form. Peter Tsekenis? men seemed to play within themselves against Parramatta FC, though the Triantis brothers and Phil Makrys will need to lift the tempo for their side to give the Blues an edge against a dangerous Tigers outfit that appears primed to ?kick-start? their season.
Action aplenty will be expected at Lambert Park as the Blues aim to stay in touch with the front-running White Eagles and APIA-Leichhardt look to get cracking after their slow start.
Sydney United 58 FC v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Members Only Match
Last Week:
Sutherland Sharks 1 Sydney United 58 FC 1
Rockdale City Suns 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2
Sydney United and Bonnyrigg White Eagles face off in a battle that always produces passion on the field. The two sides are living rather different moments of form at the moment, with Bonnyrigg cruising in top-spot, meanwhile the Reds of Sydney United sit seven-points adrift. Form heading into an encounter between these two sides counts for very little, as has been proven in previous meetings between the sides.
Sydney United were well below-par against Sutherland Sharks last weekend, and the side will be without Tomislav Mijic after the left-sided winger was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Coach Jean-Paul DeMarigny will also be sweating over the fitness of Michael Cindric who was forced to leave the field last weekend at Seymour Shaw.
The Reds boss will look at Luka Glavas to spearhead the attack, the former A-League striker lives for these big matches and will be hoping for more goals this weekend.
Bonnyrigg has made an exceptional start to the season, despite the large number of changes made to the playing roster following last season.
Brian Brown has confirmed the abilities of David Vrankovic and Alex Mansueto in the middle of defence, with Ben McNamara in exceptional form between the sticks.
Up-front, Robbie Younis will be looking to add to his impressive tally of seven goals for the season, though the fitness of both Mitchell Long and Jordan Simpson will be monitored until the last minute before a decision is made on their involvement.
-By Joseph Carlucci
