Ï Êüóìïò ÓÐÏÑ THURSDAY 23 JUNE 2011 33 AROUND THE GROUNDS NSW PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 14 – PREVIEW Joseph Carlucci top of the table clash at the Wolves will need goals to Belmore Sports Ground close out matches. Sasho Petro- Aon Saturday afternoon vski will be back for selection as kick-starts Round 14 of the his understanding alongside NSW Premier League as Sydney Mark Picciolini has proven a Olympic locks horns with positive outlet for the Wolves Sutherland Sharks in what is ex- thus far. pected to be an epic battle. As for the Tigers, much atten- Placed first and second re- tion will surround new signing spectively on the League ladder, Adam D’Apuzzo who will cer- both sides have much to play for tainly add some good experience as a win for the Blues will open to assist with the Tigers’ run to- up a seven-point lead over the wards the end of the season. Sharks, meanwhile victory for With more also expected of the Sutherland will close the Blues side’s wiser heads, three points lead at the top to only one-point. will go a long way in kick-starting With much at stake for both the Tigers’ 2011 campaign. camps, the Blues hold home Blacktown City FC return to ground advantage with the pic- Lily Homes to face Parramatta turesque playing surface at Bel- FC on Sunday. Blacktown City more Sports Ground very suited have grown as the season has to the passing game instilled by progressed, and the side has coach Peter Tsekenis. found the wins to setup a spot a- Sydney Olympic have a busy mongst the League’s Top-Five. week with Waratah Cup action Unfortunately for the reigning prior to the blockbuster with Champions, last weekend’s nail Sutherland, as the side will need Round 14 biting defeat at the hands of to be switched on for the full 90’ TIME HOME TEAM AWAY TEAM VENUE Sydney Olympic has slowed minutes on Saturday. A rather 5:00 PM down the run of the Champions lackluster second period against Sat 25/Jun Sydney Olympic vs Sutherland Sharks Belmore Sports Ground though expectation around the Blacktown City FC last weekend 7:00 PM club is for a win against Parra- almost cost the Blues maximum Sat 25/Jun Bonnyrigg White Eagles vs Bankstown City Bonnyrigg Sports Club matta FC. points, and Chris Triantis and 7:00 PM The new boys to the Premier Robbie Mileski will need to be Sat 25/Jun Rockdale City Suns vs Sydney United Ilinden Sports Centre League for 2011 have struggled on their games to ensure the 3:00 PM in terms of results this season, Sharks rearguard have a busy af- Sun 26/Jun South Coast Wolves vs APIA Leichhardt Tigers John Crehan Park and the task at hand for Manny ternoon. 3:00 PM Spanoudakis who takes over at The Sharks too suffered late Sun 26/Jun Blacktown City FC vs Parramatta FC Lily Homes the club for his first League on against Manly United FC last 4:00 PM match this weekend is definitely weekend, though Robbie Stan- Sun 26/Jun Manly United FC vs Marconi Stallions Cromer Park a difficult one against Blacktown ton’s men were able to grind out City FC. Spanoudakis will be a 3-1 win. Once again, Sam looking to his experienced play- Awad and Matt Bailey’s goals Vrankovic and Nathan Elasi the reigning Premiers into seri- ries of the earlier encounter a- ers to lead the side away from will be priceless for the Sharks, have now certainly proven how ous contention for a top-two fin- gainst the Reds this season, won bottom spot on the ladder as we equally important will be the in- important these youngsters will ish, meanwhile a Lions three by Sydney United 6-1. inch closer to the end of the reg- fluence of Nick Stavroulakis in be in the White Eagles’ charge pointer will keep the Jenson Jean-Paul De Marigny’s men ular season. the midfield holding role along towards the playoffs. Park side in the hunt for finals returned to the winner’s list last In the final match of the with Panni Nikas’ creativity be- Despite Bankstown City’s football. weekend with a pleasing defeat Round, Manly United FC and hind the strikers. In a potential stop-start campaign to-date, any At Ilinden Sports Centre, of neighbours, Marconi Stal- Marconi Stallions meet at dress rehearsal for this season’s clash against Bonnyrigg White Rockdale City Suns face Sydney lions. More pleasing for De Cromer Park. Both sides are grand final, no holds barred in Eagles will bring the Lions up to United on Saturday evening with Marigny is the return to fitness coming off losses in Round 13, Belmore on Saturday. the plate to fight for the win. points a must for both sides for of a number of his players, in- albeit in matches where they did Over at Bonnyrigg Sports Added bonus for the Lions is the very different reasons. Much like cluding the likes of Elsid Bark- certainly pressure front runners Club, the White Eagles meet side’s important defeat of Rock- Bonnnyrigg, a win for the Reds housir and Ante Tomic who Sutherland Sharks and Sydney stern rivals Bankstown City in dale City Suns last weekend, sure will keep the side in contention have both missed a bit of foot- United respectively. another important encounter to add much confidence to the for the top two spots on the lad- ball over the past month. The home side will need to for both clubs. Bonnyrigg has squad in anticipation of facing der, meanwhile Rockdale City’s On Sunday afternoon at John make the most of the chances shown supporters and followers Bonnyrigg. New additions to the chances of sneaking into con- Crehan Park, South Coast created after spurning a number of the competition that it is back Lions’ playing roster Bilal Al Na- tention for finals football go on Wolves will take the field against of goal scoring attempts at Sey- for a serious tilt at winning the jjarine and Sean Mitchell will no the line as the teams above them A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers in mour Shaw last weekend, mean- title this season with some scin- doubt assist Blagoja Kuleski’s have started to make a break. another defining match for both while the Stallions too were cul- tillating performances over the men in pressing for a potential fi- Lee Sterrey’s men were left to these sides. Three points is a prits in the squandering goal s- past month. The side struggled nals berth this season, mean- rue a number of missed chances must for both camps who are coring chances. for a large part of the first-half while the exceptional goalkeep- in the last-ditch loss at aiming to move away from the Five points separate the two of the season though coach Bri- ing pro-wess of veteran Zlatko Bankstown City last weekend, bottom of the League ladder sides on the ladder, and a Mar- an Brown has managed to instill Joseski will again prove vital to something the side can no and potentially make a chal- coni win on Sunday will keep the the confidence that was missing the Lions’ chances – Joseski was longer afford in the run home lenge for finals football. Stallions in the mix for finals amongst his troops earlier on in phenomenal against Rockdale this season. The clash against The Wolves will be confident football. Manly’s run home is a the campaign. Alex Canak has City, producing some top class Sydney United will be a difficult of success, playing at home a- little more difficult, though a shown his worth with some stel- saves – including a fine penalty one without captain Peter gainst a Tigers side that has win on Sunday will keep Craig lar performances, meanwhile save to deny Peter Apolevski Apolevski who is suspended, struggled to find their groove Midgley’s side alive and kicking the additions to the playing ros- from the spot. meanwhile the side will need to this season, though despite some with a decent chance to push for ter of Blake Powell, David A win for Bonnyrigg will send completely block out the memo- strong showings in recent weeks, finals football. *All articles courtesy of Football NSW. To visit the website log onto www.footballnsw.com.au as well as www.nswpl.com.au for your NSW Premier League fix..