IGA NPL NSW Mens 1 Round 15 Preview
Some mouth-watering encounters await as Round 15 fixtures take place this coming weekend…
Central Coast Mariners Academy v Sutherland Sharks, Saturday 22nd of June, 6:30 pm Pluim Park
Last Week:
Central Coast Mariners Academy 3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4
Sutherland Sharks 4 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 2
Second-placed Sutherland Sharks visits Pluim Park this weekend, Robbie Stanton’s men all too aware of the obstacle the Mariners pose on their home turf.
The Mariners, who do occupy bottom-spot on the ladder, have made life difficult for teams who visit Pluim Park – the most recent to struggle against the side being the league leaders, Bonnyrigg White Eagles, who snatched a 4-3 win, though the side were made to work every single minute of the match for the three-points.
The Sharks have looked the goods this season with the side possessing the belief that had somewhat deserted it somewhat over the past two seasons. Stanton has his playmaker Panni Nikas in exceptional form meanwhile youngster Nicholas Olsen continues to show just how good he is with some tremendous outings this campaign.
The Mariners will have to be ‘switched on’ from the opening whistle, though the integration of the likes of Adriano Pellegrino certainly does make the closing stages of the season an interesting one for the side and its supporters.
With second facing last, the Sharks start overwhelming favourites though a much closer, and tense, encounter is expected in the opening match of Round 15.
South Coast Wolves v Marconi Stallions, Saturday 22nd of June, 7:00 pm John Crehan Park
Last Week:
Sydney United 58 FC 4 South Coast Wolves 0
Marconi Stallions 1 Rockdale City Suns 0
The Wolves have struggled to jumpstart its campaign in 2013, with some good performances still not consistently translated into wins. The visit of Marconi Stallions will again be a massive test for Richard Lloyd’s team. The Stallions are riding a very positive run of form with the last-ditch, dramatic, win over Rockdale City Suns last weekend a massive boost for confidence in the run towards the finals series.
Jean-Paul De Marigny is enjoying his current headache – one where he has a full squad of players to choose from after a horrible run of injuries and suspensions in the early part of the season.
New signing Elsid Barkhousir, who has been instrumental in each of his performances for the side, netted his first goal for the Stallions last weekend, and that may well have opened the gates for many more goals to follow.
De Marigny can also rely on the good form of Sean O’Connell and Tadgh Purcell – both with massive engines for the Stallions – meanwhile Milorad Simonovic and captain Nahuel Arrarte need no introduction whatsoever with both experienced campaigners enjoying fabulous seasons to-date.
The Wolves will be looking to make the most of home ground advantage as new signing Steve Hayes looks to bring back that winning feeling that has deserted the side this season.
Hayes’ temperament is unquestionable, and his experience and ability certainly do stand the side in with a chance of turning its fortunes around before the season’s end.
The Stallions, most definitely, start the match as favourite, with the Wolves looking to use this opportunity to turn its campaign around.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Manly United FC, Saturday 22nd of June, 7:00 pm Bonnyrigg Sports Ground
Last Week:
Central Coast Mariners Academy 3 Bonnyrigg White Eagles 4
Blacktown Spartans 1 Manly United FC 1
At Bonnyrigg Sports Ground, the White Eagles will be looking to keep their foot firmly pressed on the accelerator with the visit of Manly United FC on Saturday evening.
The White Eagles have been the most consistent side this season, their position at the top of the league ladder is enough proof of this, and the White Eagles’ supporters will be expecting of more of the same this weekend.
Brian Brown’s men were made to work hard for the win against Central Coast Mariners last weekend, the side once more coming up trumps after the referee’s final whistle, and the task at hand this weekend has been facilitated slightly with Manly United’s in form Brendan Cholakian out through suspension.
Manly United FC will need captain Matt Sim to lead the line, as will coach Craig Midgley be expecting a top performance from experienced duo of Roberto Hamad and Josh Lawson.
A lot to play for, for both sides, we can expect to see goals on Saturday evening.
Rockdale City Suns v Blacktown Spartans, Sunday 23rd of June, 2013, 3:00 pm Ilinden Sports Centre
Last Week:
Marconi Stallions 1 Rockdale City Suns 0
Blacktown Spartans 1 Manly United FC 1
On Sunday afternoon, Rockdale City Suns will be desperate to quickly turn the page after consecutive losses when Blacktown Spartans visit Ilinden Sports Centre.
The Suns phenomenal season has been halted with two heartbreaking, demoralising, injury-time losses, where the side has on both occasions had chances to win each match.
Branko Culina will be looking for his players to return to basics this weekend with the side needing a win to re-find the winning feeling that has accompanied the side this season.
Some concern surrounds the fitness of Richard Cardozo who came off the field with an injury. Culina will be asking his experienced campaigners to lift in front of Suns supporters, with the impressive youngsters at the coach’s disposal all more than capable of making a difference on Sunday.
The visiting Spartans have been an impressive side all season. The work of Ben De Haan has been exceptional, with the side collecting some big scalps thus far. The additions of Phil Makrys and Emmanuel Giannaros stand the side in very good stead to make a challenge for the finals and with a lot of pressure on the Suns this weekend to get a result and return to winning ways, the match may well prove the perfect opportunity for the Spartans to make a big claim for the top-five.
Blacktown City FC v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 23rd of June, 3:00 pm Lily Homes Stadium
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 3 Sydney Olympic 0
Sutherland Sharks 4 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 2
Blacktown City FC face APIA-Leichhardt Tigers at home on Sunday on the back of a very impressive win against Sydney Olympic last weekend. Blacktown City were flawless in the first-half, handing new Sydney Olympic coach Grant Lee his first league loss since taking over just over a month ago.
Travis Major inspired his side’s victory with a top performance – perhaps the only downer was that he only found the back of the net once after carving out a large number of opportunities.
Coach Mark Crittenden was more than pleased with his side’s showing after 90’ minutes, with the coach hoping to see some consistency over the coming weeks with some ‘up and down’ results over the first 14 rounds.
The Tigers on the other hand have continued to struggle this season with the side sitting in tenth-spot. Newest additions to the squad, Jason Oswell and Aaron Clapham have been big hits with some fine performances, and the side in general is certainly down to its last chance of making a last bid for the finals. Maximum points are required this weekend for the Tigers to stand any real chance.
Sydney Olympic v Sydney United 58 FC, Sunday 23rd June, 3:00 pm Belmore Sports Ground
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 3 Sydney Olympic 0
Sydney United 58 FC 4 South Coast Wolves 0
In the weekend’s Match of the Round, former NSL giants Sydney Olympic and Sydney United 58 FC lock horns at Belmore Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon.
There is no love lost between these two clubs that possess a very proud, and successful, history in Australian football.
Both sides have undergone a somewhat ‘topsy turvey’ season thus far, with both the Blues and Reds experiencing highs and lows along the way.
Heading into this encounter, the Reds will certainly be full of confidence following the last-ditch win at Rockdale City a fortnight ago before handing South Coast Wolves a walloping at home last weekend.
Coach Mark Rudan appears to have instilled the confidence that accompanied the side over the first quarter of the season, though somehow went missing after the superb start to the campaign.
The return of Mirjan Pavlovic reaped reward last weekend, and with the side awaiting Robert Mileski (from suspension) and Luka Glavas (from injury) to return, the run towards the end of the season looks to be a very promising one for the Edensor Park side.
Sydney Olympic’s season appeared to gain traction after Grant Lee’s arrival at the club, however last weekend’s heavy loss at Blacktown City FC would certainly have unsettled the Blues somewhat. Lee has had to make do with the loss of a number of players since his arrival, though the likes of Troy Danaskos, William Angel and Zak Elrich have all stepped up with some big performances.
The Blues will need to make the most of home ground advantage to ensure it keeps pace with the Top-Five. With only one-point separating the two sides on the ladder, a win will go a long way for the victors in making a stand for the title this season.
-By Joseph Carlucci
