IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Round 9 Preview
Round 9 of the competition continues this weekend with the Match of the Round taking place on Sunday at Bonnyrigg Sports Ground between the White Eagles and Sydney United 58 FC.
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Manly United FC, Saturday 11th of May, 6:30 pm Pluim Park
Last Week:
Blacktown Spartans 4 Central Coast Mariners Academy 0
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 Manly United FC 1
Central Coast Mariners Academy host Manly United FC at Pluim Park on Saturday evening, still in search of its first victory of the season.
The young Mariners have shown some positive signs in recent weeks, though the problem still remains the inability to maintain the positives for the full 90’ minutes.
Last weekend’s 0-4 loss at Blacktown Spartans was perhaps harsh after the side made a strong start to the encounter, the wheels falling off after Brady Smith was given his marching orders at the end of the first-half – signalling the Mariners capitulation.
For the visiting Manly United, the disappointment of seeing the one-goal lead at APIA-Leichhardt vanish in injury-time is still present, though with such a close competition at present, a win this weekend could sky-rocket the team into top-five contention.
Craig Midgley’s men have proven they can mix it with the competition’s best, and should the travel not be too consuming for the Northern Beaches outfit, the side will certainly start the encounter as firm favourites.
Blacktown City FC v Marconi Stallions, Saturday 11th of May, 7:00 pm Lily Homes Stadium
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 3 Sydney United 58 FC 1
Marconi Stallions 1 Sutherland Sharks 2
One of the pick of the round fixtures takes place at Lily Homes Stadium with Blacktown City FC welcoming Marconi Stallions. With only one-point separating the two sides on the league ladder, the fixture promises to live up to the hype it always generates with some memorable encounters between the two sides over the years.
The home side will be riding high following the great showing against Sydney United 58 FC, ending the previously unbeaten side’s record for this season. Coach Mark Crittenden has found the right balance amongst his playing group and with Japanese import Ryuji Miyazawa in exceptional form, the side is more than capable of winning silverware this season.
The visiting Stallions too have been in great form, even though the reigning champions fine run over the past month came to a crushing end at home against Sutherland Sharks last weekend – another of the competition’s in-form sides.
The Bossley Park outfit is in the process of adding two major signings to the playing squad, a striker and a midfielder is the whisper ‘around the traps’.
With the club looking to finalise the signings before this weekend’s matches, we could see some additional big names added to bolster the squad at Jean-Paul De Marigny’s disposal.
Either way, this clash will without a doubt provide action aplenty on Saturday.
Sutherland Sharks v Blacktown Spartans, Saturday 11th of May, 7:00 pm Seymour Shaw Park
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 1 Sutherland Sharks 2
Blacktown Spartans 4 Central Coast Mariners Academy 0
At Seymour Shaw, a red hot Sutherland Sharks will be expected to bring Blacktown Spartans’ impressive run of three consecutive wins to an end when the two sides meet on Saturday.
The Sharks have been relentless in recent weeks with Robbie Stanton’s players really finding their feet with some devastating displays.
The usual suspects, Panni Nikas and Nick Stavroulakis, continue to lead the side with their class and experience, meanwhile new addition to the first team, Nicholas Olsen, has been a breath of fresh air for both the club and the competition.
Add to the mix Brad Boardman, who was in great touch against the Stallions last weekend, with Nathan Elasi and Nik Tsattalios, and the proposition of facing this side becomes an intimidating one to say the least.
The Spartans will enter the contest with nothing to lose, and so they should, with the side securing three wins on the trot over the past three weeks.
Andre Carle remains the man of the moment with his rich run of goal scoring form and coach Ben De Haan will be hoping he can continue his fine run this weekend at Seymour Shaw.
With both sides adapted to playing on perfect playing surfaces, the contest on Saturday promises to be an entertaining battle with some good football on show with the Sharks, no doubt, starting the match as overwhelming favourites.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Sydney United 58 FC, Sunday 12th of May, 12:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Centre
Last Week:
South Coast Wolves 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4
Blacktown City FC 3 Sydney United 58 FC 1
The Round 9 match of the round takes place at Bonnyrigg Sports Ground with the eagerly anticipated local derby between the White Eagles and Sydney United 58 FC.
The two sides in the competition thus far, there is no love lost between these two teams, and a passionate 90’ minutes of football is expected on Sunday.
Brian Brown’s men have been unbeatable this season, and the recent form of Robbie Younis and Mitchell Long on the South Coast last weekend, will definitely have the Reds defenders on high alert this weekend.
In midfield, Adrian Ucchino and Aleksander Canak have looked very strong – the latter netting the goal of the week for Round 8.
Sydney United too have been impressive, with the side only losing one game to-date – last weekend against Blacktown City FC.
Mark Rudan’s side possesses an equally impressive midfield, which will provide a stern test for Bonnyrigg, with this clash expected to test both defences. In the front-third, Yuichi Yamauchi will be pulling the strings with captain Luka Glavas’ availability not certain following a strain sustained against Sutherland in Round 7.
A win for Bonnyrigg will open up a healthy lead over its stern rival, meanwhile a win for the Reds, with a match still to come, could signal the opportunity for Mark Rudan’s men to challenge for the top-spot – both sides, however, both conscious of the movements of Sutherland Sharks who sneaked into second-spot following last weekend’s matches.
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers v Rockdale City Suns, Sunday 12th of May, 3:00 pm Lambert Park
Last Week:
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1 Manly United FC 1
Sydney Olympic 0 Rockdale City Suns 4
At Lambert Park, APIA-Leichhardt Tigers will attempt to find its first win of the season when Rockdale City Suns visit the Inner West, though the task for the Tigers will be far from an easy one with the Suns in exceptional form.
A massive 4-0 drubbing of Sydney Olympic has the Suns’ confidence sky high, the side proving it is more than capable of playing finals football this season.
Coach Branko Culina has instilled some big belief in his troops, and the results are starting to show. Richard Cardozo will be out to add more goals to his impressive tally thus far this season, meanwhile defensively, the side will be aiming for another clean sheet.
In the middle of the park, Culina will be awaiting on the fitness of Roberto Speranza who was amongst the best performers on the field prior to limping off with an ankle injury, meanwhile older brother Giorgio Speranza is closing in on a return after an injury of his own has kept him away from the first team.
APIA-Leichhardt is closing in on a win after some good performances, and the last-ditch effort against Manly United FC, where the side managed to secure a share of the spoils with a late goal despite playing the second-half with ten-men.
Franco Parisi will be called upon to be his usual creative self, meanwhile coach Nicola Rizzo may well need to utilise himself on the playing field to add some additional experience to the side.
The side will be without captain Marl Byrnes after his red card against Manly United, arriving at a bad moment for the Tigers who have fallen well behind the leading pack with only four points to show from the opening eight rounds to-date.
Sydney Olympic v South Coast Wolves, Sunday 12th of May, 3:00 pm Belmore Sports Ground
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic 0 Rockdale City Suns 4
South Coast Wolves 1 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4
In the final match of the round, Sydney Olympic will be very eager to eliminate the disappointment of the heavy 4-0 loss against Rockdale City at home. The Blues were flat throughout the encounter, not helped by some key players underdone for the clash following niggling injuries.
Coach Peter Tsekenis will be hoping to have Phil Makrys and Brett Studman fit and ready for the encounter, meanwhile a return to the goal scorer’s list for Elsid Barkhousir will definitely assist with the side’s goal for a win.
The visiting Wolves too have struggled for consistency this season, and the trip to Belmore, notwithstanding the Blues drop in form, will be a tough ask to say the least.
The side was second best for the entire 90’ minutes against Bonnyrigg White Eagles last Saturday night, and a major lift will be required on Sunday if there is to be a change in fortune.
Coach Richard Lloyd picked out some schoolboy errors made by his chargers, and he will be looking at his players to remove any more such mistakes against a Sydney Olympic side too, desperate to return to winning ways.
-By Joseph Carlucci
