Ï Êüóìïò ÓÐÏÑ WEDNESDAY 31 AUGUST 2011 33 NSW PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND 17 (Re-scheduled round) – PREVIEW By Joseph Carlucci he NSW Premier League ing to lose come Sunday as the for the side’s tilt at defending their A tough encounter is expected regular season draws to a Tigers would like nothing less than title in the finals series. Sutherland with the Suns eager to further frus- close this weekend with to spoil their former NSL rival’s Pre- Sharks’ run home into the finals se- trate the pre-season favourites for the Round 17 clashes – miership aspirations. The Tigers ries has been less impressive with the title this season. previously re-scheduled have proven their ability to play a the side coming off consecutive At Cromer Park, Manly United FC Ôdue to a weekend washout follow- strong passing game across the losses over the past fortnight. The will sign off for 2011 with a home ing heavy rain across the state last park over the past month, with the Sharks were second best at Bon- clash against Parramatta FC. month – to answer a number of side claiming the scalps of Manly nyrigg two weeks ago, and the Coach Craig Midgley, along with questions posed by the top-five a- United FC, Bankstown City and home loss against South Coast the Manly United supporters, will head of finals football. Sydney United following a disas- Wolves was certainly not a reflec- be expecting nothing less than a Sydney Olympic and Sydney U- trous first three-quarters of the sea- tion of a side that has dominated all win against the bottom-placed Ea- nited will be battling for the top son. Caretaker coach Billy McColl adversaries at Seymour Shaw. gles. The home side will also be spot, with the Reds in need of a has instilled the confidence that Coach Robbie Stanton will be very eager to avenge the 5-1 loss at massive favour from A.P.I.A.-Leich- went missing following last sea- looking at his experienced players the hands of Parramatta FC in the hardt Tigers if they are to stand a son’s finals finish, and the Tigers to lift at Jensen Park against reverse fixture earlier in the season. chance of pipping the Blues for the will be out to finish the season on a Bankstown City on Sunday – a win The Eagles return to Premier Premiership title. high with a strong performance at will be the perfect remedy to kick-s- League football has been a difficult Meanwhile, Sutherland Sharks, Belmore. Sydney United’s tart a firm charge towards finals one with the side occupying bot- Blacktown City FC and Bonnyrigg chances of finishing Premiers de- football. tom-spot on the ladder for a large White Eagles – already sure of a pends ultimately upon Sydney Bankstown City’s season has spell this season. Knowing all too top-five finish – will be all mathe- Olympic’s result, though the Reds been a very difficult one with the well their capability of beating the matically in the hunt for a third- will still need a win at home against struggling to find consistency fol- Waratah Cup champions, Manny placed finish. Sydney Olympic fellow finalists Blacktown City FC. lowing a mass exodus of players at Spanoudakis will be hoping to lift plays host to the Tigers at Belmore Coach Jean Paul De Marigny will the end of last season. The Lions his troops ahead of the Cromer Sports Ground on Sunday after- be after more of the attacking foot- will be hoping to see off the season Park showdown as both sides noon, and the Blues have the luxu- ball his side has produced this sea- with a win in-front of their home bring to a close their 2011 first ry of holding their Premiership aspi- son in what will be a serious test a- supporters this weekend in a grade campaigns. In the final clash rations in their own hands. The gainst Blacktown City. Luka Glavas match between two sides that have of the round, Marconi Stallions and Blues, who hold a one-point lead and Ben Vidaic have both hit their never failed to produce entertaining South Coast Wolves meet at Mar- over Sydney United, can clinch the straps at the business end of the battles over the years. coni Stadium. Both sides have fall- Premiership with a win, though Pe- season, as goalkeeper Vedran Jan- Bonnyrigg White Eagles travel to en short of their finals ambitions, ter Tsekenis’ men will do best not jetovic has been in exceptional Ilinden Sports Centre in search of a though a win for either side could to underestimate a Tigers outfit that form behind Mark Rudan & Co. win ahead of the finals series. The seal sixth-spot on the League lad- has hit their straps over the past across the backline. White Eagles have played some der – pending Manly United’s result month. Blacktown City too have man- good football this season, though against Parramatta FC. The Blues showed they bounced aged to find consistency in their the results have not been forthcom- The Stallions were left to rue the back following poor showings a- performances over the second part ing. Brian Brown’s men will still be home draw against the Eagles two gainst Sydney United and Rock- of the season, though the side will feeling they deserved more than a weeks ago, which ultimately ended dale City Suns with a fine perform- be reeling following the home loss draw at Sydney Olympic last week- their finals aspirations. South Coast ance against Bonnyrigg White Ea- against Manly United FC last week- end, and the side will look to ‘up Wolves on the other hand have col- gles last weekend, even though the end. The side twice had the lead a- the intensity’ against the Suns on lected some very good results in team was denied the win late-on via gainst the Northern Beaches side, Sunday. Wally Savor’s Suns the run home this season, though a Blake Powell’s freakish goal in the though went down 4-2 with late clinched a hard fought win at Parra- number of dropped points over the 89’ minute. goals overwhelming the defending matta FC last weekend, and anoth- first part of the season in due Tsekenis will again be looking at champions. Positives for the reign- er one this weekend could see the course created a mammoth moun- his playmakers Robbie Mileski and ing champions have been the form side finish the campaign as high as tain to climb. The clash on Sunday Chris Triantis to make things hap- of captain Luke Roodenburg and sixth. Positives for the Suns have however still promises to be an en- pen in the attacking third, with Phil Milorad Simonovic, meanwhile been the return to form of Jason tertaining event with the Wolves in Makrys pulling the strings in the Sean Rooney and Travis Major Naidovski and James Monie in at- top-form and the Stallions eager to centre of midfield. have shown consistency in their tack, along with the solid showings sign off for 2011 with a win in-front A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt will have noth- performances, which augurs well of Peter Apolevski and Mirko Jurlj. of their home crowd. Sutherland Sharks pre-season prospects going to take on Sydney FC through their paces prior to the on 31st August commencement of the Hyundai A- NSW Premier League side League. Sutherland Sharks will tackle Admission is $5 for Adults while Hyundai A-League outfit Sydney Children Under 16 are free. FC on Wednesday 31st August at Seymour Shaw, Miranda with kick off set for 7.30pm. Sydney FC are 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian currently in the middle of its offi- Qualifiers – Third Round – cial pre-season campaign and are taking on opponents from both Group D – Match Day 2 the NSW Premier and Super the likes of Panny Nikas, Matt Bai- South Coast Wolves to League competitions with the ley, Nick Stavroulakis and Hayden take on Newcastle Jets Saudi Arabia v Sharks being the next target. It Morton to name a few itching to NSW Premier League side Qantas Socceroos will be a chance to see the likes of tackle their A-League opponents. South Coast Wolves will be taking Nick Carle, Mark Bridge, Karol on Hyundai A-League outfit New- Tuesday, 6 September, 2011 Kisel, Michael Beauchamp and Match Details castle Jets on Wednesday 31st of Pascal Bosschaart to name a few Sutherland Sharks v Sydney FC August at Memorial Park, Corrimal Prince Mohammed Bin Fahad lock horns with some quality Wednesday 31st August with kick off set for 7pm. Stadium, Dammam, Sharks players on show. Robbie Seymour Shaw Park, Miranda The Wolves will be using this Saudi Arabia Stanton’s men will be looking to- 7:30pm match as one of their final games Kick Off: 8.30pm AST wards finishing the season strong- Admission: Adults $10 – Kids Under 16 Free of the season as the NSW Premier (3:30am (AEST), ly prior to the NSW Premier *Canteen, bbq and bar facilities will be League season winds up while the Wednesday 7 September League Finals Series and will have available on the evening Jets will be further enhancing its.