IGA NPL NSW MENS 1 Round 16 Preview
Sutherland Sharks and Bonnyrigg White Eagles meet in the pick of the Round 16 clashes this weekend, with the Sharks holding home ground advantage to extend its lead at the top of the table meanwhile the White Eagles could reclaim top spot with a win on Saturday.
Elsewhere on Sunday, four former NSL sides feature in two matches with Marconi Stallions and Sydney Olympic locking horns at Marconi Stadium, while APIA-Leichhardt Tigers travel to Edensor Park to face Sydney United 58 FC.
Blacktown Spartans v South Coast Wolves, Saturday 29th of June, 7:00 pm Blacktown Football Park
Last Week:
Rockdale City Suns v Blacktown Spartans – Cancelled due to wet weather
South Coast Wolves 4 Marconi Stallions 1
Blacktown Spartans and South Coast Wolves open Round 16 proceedings this weekend with the visitors looking to make it consecutive wins on the trot on Saturday evening.
The Wolves were ruthless against Marconi Stallions last weekend, netting four goals in the process. Coach Richard Lloyd has a young group at his disposal, and due to injuries and suspensions, the Wolves boss has not been able to select from his best playing squad consistently. Things do appear to be on the up for the side with the end of the season coming up, and a second consecutive win this weekend may well ignite a last-ditch dash towards the finals series for the Wolves.
Blacktown Spartans come into this clash after having the weekend off following the big wet that struck Sydney. The Spartans sit in a much more favourable position on the ladder than the Wolves, and Ben De Haan’s men have already proven, on several occasions this season, its ability to mix it with the top sides.
The fixture this weekend will see new signings Phil Makrys and Emmanuel Giannaros line-up in the Spartans colours for the second time this season, with much enthusiasm surrounding the Spartans’ supporters in what has been a very positive season to-date.
The home side starts this clash as favourites, though the side will need to be on high alert with a Wolves team that has started to show signs of life over the past month.
Sutherland Sharks v Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Saturday 29th of June, 7:00 pm Seymour Shaw Park
Last Week:
Central Coast Mariners Academy 1 Sutherland Sharks 6
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 Manly United FC 2
The weekend’s Match of The Round takes us to Seymour Shaw Park on Saturday evening with the top-two sides on the ladder locking horns in what is expected to be a thriller.
The Sharks replaced the White Eagles at the helm of the ladder last weekend following the White Eagles conceding a late goal to draw with Manly United FC, and Brian Brown’s men will be very eager to get one over the Sharks this weekend to return to the summit as we close in on the end of the regular season.
The White Eagles played a very good match against Manly United FC with both Aaron Peterson and Adrian Ucchino – the two goal scorers – showing just how good they both are with some fine performances in recent weeks.
The only real concern for Brian Brown has been the uncharacteristic slip-ups in the back that has seen the side concede goals that have proved costly.
Out of the Sharks camp, coach Robbie Stanton has further exemplified his football philosophy with his playing group consistently getting the performances right, week-in, week-out.
New sensation Nicholas Olsen has been a breath of fresh air, meanwhile the ever reliable Panni Nikas, Nick Stavroulakis and Brad Boardman have maintained their high level of concentration and application to the club’s cause. The most impressive points for the Sharks have been the additional value that the likes of Nik Tsattalios and Nathan Elasi add in the front-third for the side, something that is becoming very hard for adversaries to handle at present.
At Seymour Shaw, the Sharks rarely leave points behind, and the new League leaders will prove a massive obstacle for Bonnyrigg to reclaim top-spot on the ladder.
Even though we are still seven weeks out from the conclusion of the regular season, a win for Sutherland will open up a four-point lead at the top of the table, something that may well spur the side forward even further in the run home to the finals series.
Action aplenty is definitely expected on Saturday night.
Manly United FC v Rockdale City Suns, Sunday 30th of June, 7:00 pm Cromer Park
Last Week:
Bonnyrigg White Eagles 2 Manly United FC 2
Rockdale City Suns v Blacktown Spartans – Cancelled due to wet weather
A rampant Manly United FC will be looking for more of the form that saw the side snatch a late draw away at Bonnyrigg White Eagles last weekend when it faces Rockdale City Suns this Sunday.
The Northern Beaches side has struggled to find consistency in-terms of results this season, though the heart and determination shown last weekend has the side in good stead heading into the Suns encounter.
Coach Craig Midgley has managed to assemble a good playing squad, though perhaps the lack of depth across the park has been somewhat detrimental to the side’s chances this season.
The visit of the Suns – a side that has hit a form slump over the past three weeks – will still pose Manly United a massive challenge. Rockdale City has played great football all season, though two late, last-ditch, losses have proven a massive pain for the Suns.
With the side coming off a weekend with no football, with all the wet weather that hit Sydney, Rockdale City will be looking to return to winning ways to keep its top-five hopes alive.
An intriguing battle is expected with both sides – Manly United included – still a mathematical chance of reaching the finals series with a late surge.
Blacktown City FC v Central Coast Mariners Academy, Sunday 30th of June, 2013, 3:00 pm Lily Homes Stadium
Last Week:
Blacktown City FC 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1
Central Coast Mariners Academy 1 Sutherland Sharks 6
At Lily Homes Stadium, Blacktown City FC has the chance to make further ground on the top-two sides in case of victory over the Central Coast Mariners Academy, with the Sharks and White Eagles meeting on Saturday evening.
A win for Mark Crittenden’s men will further confirm the side’s positive run of form which has seen the side gain a firmer hold on third-spot. The side has been led marvellously by Sean Rooney with some very important goals by the striker, meanwhile the fine form of Harris Gaitatzis too has played positively for the side.
Defensively the side has looked more consistent in recent weeks, as the side will look to take full advantage with the visiting Mariners not possessing a positive record on the road in 2013.
The Mariners have made life difficult for adversaries this season, though the side has conceded way too many goals to have mounted a strong challenge in each encounter.
The side has the bonus of entering this encounter with the ‘underdogs’ tag and this may just allow the side to play without any pressure.
Blacktown City FC start the match as the outright favourite and it will require a massive effort by the Mariners to return to Pluim Park with anything from this match-up.
Marconi Stallions v Sydney Olympic, Sunday 30th of June, 3:00 pm Marconi Stadium
Last Week:
South Coast Wolves 4 Marconi Stallions 1
Sydney Olympic v Sydney United 58 FC – Cancelled due to wet weather
Round 16 presents two encounters with four former NSL sides going head-to-head on Sunday afternoon.
At Marconi Stadium, the Stallions play host to Sydney Olympic with this encounter never failing to deliver in-terms of passion on the pitch.
The reverse fixture earlier in the season saw the two sides share the spoils, though a lot has happened to both squads since then.
Both squads have gone through a ‘topsy-turvy’ campaign to-date, however both remain in the thick of it for finals football, and eventual silverware.
The Stallions have enjoyed a successful past five weeks, though the fine run came to an abrupt end last weekend with the side falling, quite heavily, on the road against the Wolves.
Jean-Paul De Marigny will be hoping home ground advantage will see the side return to winning ways, with a Sydney Olympic side, who is also struggling for results at the moment, visit on Sunday.
The Blues enjoyed a mighty start under the tutelage of Grant Lee, however the loss at Blacktown City FC, and a weekend off due to the rain in Sydney, has the side somewhat on alert as the end of the regular season beckons.
With two of the most passionate sides in the competition, both with a very proud history, meeting on Sunday, an enjoyable encounter is forecast.
Sydney United 58 FC v APIA-Leichhardt Tigers, Sunday 30th June, 3:00 pm Sydney United Sports Centre
Last Week:
Sydney Olympic v Sydney United 58 FC – Cancelled due to wet weather
Blacktown City FC 2 APIA-Leichhardt Tigers 1
In the final clash of the Round, another two former NSL sides meet when Sydney United 58 FC host APIA-Leichhardt Tigers on Sunday.
The Reds have re-found the form that saw them start the season like a house on fire, though the washed out round, last weekend, no doubt did come up at a bad time.
Coach Mark Rudan has added Mirjan Pavlovic back into the mix – the striker already scoring some important goals – meanwhile Yuichi Yamauchi and Glen Trifiro continue to lift their respective games for the good of the team.
The challenge facing the Reds will be a stern one with APIA-Leichhardt showing signs of fight in the run home to the end of the season. The Tigers League run has been disappointing, though a fabulous run in the Cup, where the side has qualified for its second consecutive grand-final, has somewhat lifted the confidence around the squad.
Jason Oswell has been a massive coup for the side over the second part of the season, as has the addition of Michael Hawrysiuk into the midfield.
With Adel El Jamal marshalling the defensive line and the side starting to score goals more consistently, the Tigers may well be worth a shot for a late dash – as they have already proven in recent campaigns.
Another intriguing Round 16 encounter awaits us in Sydney’s West on Sunday.
-By Joseph Carlucci
