Fourth placed Sydney United 58 host ladder leaders Blacktown City at Edensor Park in a mouth watering clash, says MATTHEW LOPEZ, who reviews this weekend’s round 12 of the Men’s 1 competition.
Sydney United 58 FC v Blacktown City, 3pm Sunday, at Sydney United Sports Centre:
The Reds’ impressive win last weekend over Sydney Olympic made the competition sit up and take notice.
It moved Mark Rudan’s side five points clear of Bonnyrigg White Eagles, who have a game in hand on their great rivals.
And the form and fitness of Panni Nikas has turned the Reds into a formidable force. Chris Triantis too, is fit and firing and the arrival of Richard Cardozo has added a surety in front of goal that was missing in the early part of the season.
Blacktown City won’t be afraid to take on United 58 though, and with only five points dropped this season, they are sitting on top on merit. They are one point ahead of APIA Leichhardt, but have a game in hand, and a win here would be a significant show of strength.
They are superbly marshalled at the back by Zac Cairncross and have the best defence in the league, only conceding 12 goals so far.
It all makes for one big match up on Sunday afternoon.
Bonnyrigg White Eagles v Manly United, 7.30pm Saturday, at Bonnyrigg Sports Centre:
Fifth placed Bonnyrigg host sixth placed Manly United on Saturday night. Manly have earned a reputation as giant killers this season and are stoked to be sitting up in sixth place after 10 games. Bonnyrigg boast as formidable a line up as any in the division and one feels they are not far away from stringing together a big run. They are still one of the competition’s best and their position on the ladder doesn’t reflect how dangerous a side they are.
Parramatta FC v Marconi Stallions, 3pm Sunday, at Melita Stadium:
Second last hosts last on Sunday afternoon in Sefton. Neither side have had much to cheer about this season, but for Parramatta the struggle was always going to be very real after their promotion from Men’s 2 last season.
For Marconi however it has been a sad decline for the side that won the Championship in 2012. Two wins and nine losses, with only eight goals scored and 31 conceded makes for grim reading, particularly for a club with as decorated a history as the Stallions.
Jeff Suzor has taken the reins from Paul Carter, but the job is a mammoth one and if they don’t take three points in this one, you would have to wonder where their next win will come.
♦ The rest of the draw for round 12 is:
Blacktown Spartans v Sutherland Sharks, 7.30pm Saturday, at Blacktown Football Park;
South Coast Wolves v Sydney Olympic, 5pm Sunday, at WIN Stadium;
APIA Leichhardt Tigers v Rockdale City Suns, 4.30pm Sunday, at Lambert Park
