IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Round 12 Preview
We commence the second part of the season this weekend with the first of the reverse fixtures to take place on Saturday and Sunday.
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Sydney Olympic, Saturday 1st of May, 6:30 pm Pluim Park
Last Week:
Central Coast Mariners Academy 4 South Coast Wolves 3
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0 Sydney Olympic 2
Central Coast Mariners Academy will be out looking for a second consecutive win in the competition after securing a first ever win in the State’s top flight, at home last weekend. The boys from the Central Coast will have a big test on their hands however, as a rejuvenated Sydney Olympic outfit makes the trip to Pluim Park.
The home side enjoyed a victorious Saturday evening last weekend courtesy of striker Chris Payne’s phenomenal four-goal haul. The former Sydney FC striker, who has the A-League experience to call upon, will carry the hopes of the home supporters’ on his shoulders this weekend as more of his goals will go a long way in improving on his side’s rather lean run in the first part of the season.
The Mariners have made life difficult for a number of adversaries this season, however the side has just not been able to maintain its level of concentration, and nerve, for the entire 90’ minutes. The win against the Wolves last weekend however will certainly go a long way in handing the side some additional confidence against Sydney Olympic.
The Blues too have enjoyed a change in fortune over the past fortnight following the arrival of coach Grant Lee. The new Blues’ boss has managed to restore confidence amongst his playing group following the departure of the coaching staff and a number of key players.
Lee will be seeking more of the form shown to-date by Amaury Gauthier and Will Angel, both players playing a big role for the side with their tenacity and exuberance.
A win for the Blues will keep them firmly in the mix to challenge for the top-three spots meanwhile a Mariners victory will further strengthen the side’s cause to move off the foot of the table and mount a challenge for a dash towards the top-five – still mathematically possible with eleven matches still to play.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Saturday 1st of June, 7:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Ground
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2
APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 0 Sydney Olympic 2
Bonnyrigg White Eagles will be expected to score another victory this weekend when APIA-Leichhardt Tigers visit Bonnyrigg Sports Ground on Saturday evening. The White Eagles regained sole-hold of the top spot after the win at Marconi last Sunday, and Brian Brown’s men looked very serious in the process.
The side suffered a very unexpected loss at Sydney Olympic one week earlier, in what was an uncharacteristic display by a side that is normally so very meticulous in its displays. Brown got the response he wanted from his troops last weekend though, and the signs look very positive with Adrian Ucchino, in particular, looking to be in some very good form.
The White Eagles will once more look to capitalise on its strengths in the middle of the park, meanwhile striker Robbie Younis would love to get back onto the scorer’s sheet with a goal against his former club.
The visiting Tigers do have a mammoth task ahead of them, and only a brave person would bet on the side returning from Bonnyrigg with anything to show.
Coach Nicola Rizzo has been able to implement a positive style of play since taking over the coaching reigns, and had it not been for some bad luck in-front of goal, the side may well be sitting higher up the ladder at present.
Rizzo’s men will have nothing to lose on Saturday evening, and playing away from the bumpy pitch at Lambert Park may very well play in the side’s favour. A proud club, with some very experienced campaigners, the Tigers could still give this competition a shake with a positive start to the second-half of the competition.
Blacktown City FC v Rockdale City Suns, Saturday 1st of June, 7:00 pm Lily Homes Stadium
Last Week:
Manly United FC 0 Blacktown City FC 3
Sutherland Sharks 2 Rockdale City Suns 2
Two of the competitions form sides meet on Saturday evening when Blacktown City FC play host to Rockdale City Suns. Both sides have played some exceptional football over the past two months, and both sit in equal-third spot with goal difference – in favour of Blacktown City – currently separating the two sides.
Mark Crittenden’s men were ruthless in the trip t Manly United FC last weekend, blasting three first-half goals away before calmly administering the second-half for the win.
Blacktown City has been in some great form with the likes of Harris Gaitatzis, Sean Rooney and Ryuji Mijazawa a constant menace for defenders. The side’s only downfall has been its inability to always close out matches – the finger pointed firmly at some very big lapses in concentration, specifically following spells where the side has totally dominated its opponent.
The visiting Suns come off a very good showing against Sutherland Sharks, where two goalkeeper errors ultimately cost the side maximum points.
Coach Branko Culina has successfully implemented his football philosophy amongst his playing group, and the youngsters – assisted greatly by the likes of Richard Cardozo and Paul Reid who do bring in a lot of experience – have been able to perform above expectation.
With the home side starting the encounter as favourite, one should not discard the Suns at all with the side looking to play finals football for the first time since joining the top-flight.
Sutherland Sharks v South Coast Wolves, Saturday 1st of June, 2013, 7:00 pm Seymour Shaw
Last Week:
Sutherland Sharks 2 Rockdale City Suns 2
Central Coast Mariners Academy 4 South Coast Wolves 3
Sutherland Sharks need the three-points to keep pace with Bonnyrigg White Eagles this weekend, and it recent form is any guide to go by, the side should be able to overcome South Coast Wolves at home on Saturday.
The Sharks have been one of the form sides this season, even though the side appeared to be a bit off the pace against Rockdale City last weekend.
Robbie Stanton’s men have been in a confident mood, improving on recent seasons with a larger amount of points collected on the road thus far in 2013.
Sutherland handed the Wolves a 4-0 hiding in the reverse fixture in the opening round, and with the Wolves struggling to get its campaign on track, another favourable result appears very possible.
A positive addition to the Wolves is the return to action, and form, of Ricky Zucco who has played some impressive football this season. The winner of the Round 11 goal of the week award has netted some impressive goals this season, and more goals on Saturday will give the Wolves every chance of returning to the South Coast with something.
Coach Richard Lloyd will be asking his defenders to remain compact and not cough up silly possession – the cause of a few too many early goals conceded in recent weeks.
Marconi Stallions v Blacktown Spartans, Sunday 2nd of June, 3:00 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 0 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2
Sydney United 58 FC 0 Blacktown Spartans 0
Marconi Stallions and Blacktown Spartans sit level on the League ladder this season and both sides will be looking for maximum points this weekend to keep pace with the top-five.
The Spartans handed the Stallions a shock first-up loss in the opening round this season at Blacktown Football Park, and the reigning champions will be looking to exact revenge on Ben De Haan’s team this weekend.
The Spartans have proven its ability to mix it with the best in the competition, though the side will need to offer goalkeeper Carlos Saliadarre a little more protection if it is to mount a challenge for the finals. Saliadarre has been in exceptional form since returning from his stint training with A-League side West Sydney Wanderers. The shot-stopper was completely responsible for the Spartans point gained at Sydney United 58 FC last weekend, making a huge number of timely interventions to keep the scores level.
Out of the Stallions camp, the run of results in recent weeks has not been great, with the side slipping from the form that saw the 2012 champions close in on the top-five.
Coach Jean-Paul De Marigny too has had his goalkeeper, James Chronopoulos in fabulous form, though perhaps it is his side’s inability to freely find the back of the net at the moment as the major problem.
The signing of Evan Berger will certainly start to reap reward as the former Stallion settles back into life at Marconi Stadium, meanwhile the Milorad Simonovic continues to show his experience and ability.
Action aplenty is expected in Bossley Park this Sunday afternoon.
Sydney United 58 FC v Manly United FC, Sunday 2nd June, 3:00 pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Week:
Sydney United 58 FC 0 Blacktown Spartans 0
Manly United FC 0 Blacktown City FC 3
In the weekend’s match of the round, Sydney United 58 FC will be desperate to return to winning ways after a lean spell in recent weeks has seen the side slump outside the top-five for the first time this season.
Reds coach Mark Rudan will need to make a couple of adjustments to his playing squad as both Mitchell Stamatellis and Stepjan Paric will miss the encounter due to suspension. The Reds’ supporters will be hoping for a first win on the club’s new playing surface as the side aims to put a halt to the current form slump.
Manly United will certainly provide the Reds with a testing encounter, even though the Northern Beaches side has struggled to find wins in recent weeks.
The loss at home against Blacktown City FC was somewhat heavy, and Craig Midgley’s men will need to start this encounter with some additional intensity if it is to stand any chance.
Manly too will be without an important element for this encounter, Graeme Forbes picked up a red card last weekend and will be ruled out for the trip to Sydney’s west. Colin Iley will carry the weight of expectation in the front-third with the side in need of further support from Matt Sim and Sean Seavill.
With a lot of pressure on the home side to return to winning ways, this encounter could provide Mark Rudan’s team with the ‘push’ it needs to get back into the top-five.
-By Joseph Carlucci
