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NSW Premier League Round 22 Preview (Final Round)[/size]
The 2010 NSW Premier League regular season draws to a close this weekend with all matches played on Sunday afternoon.
With the Premiership, and wooden spoon, already decided, all attentions turn to the battle for placings in the Top-Five, with Rockdale City the only side currently outside the Top-Five still a mathematical chance of finals football.
The Suns task at hand at Seymour Shaw will certainly be a tough one, even though the defending champions are out of contention for finals football in 2010. Mile Todorovski’s men will still be buzzing after the 2-0 defeat of Marconi Stallions last weekend, and will take a lot of confidence heading into this match. The Suns will be without captain Peter Apolevski for the clash, the Suns instrumental right-sided midfielder will be walking down the aisle on Sunday, though the Suns players will be up for a big showing against Sutherland, to give themselves every chance of sealing what would be a dramatic final round jump into the Top-Five.
The Suns chances of securing finals football do not lie completely in their own hands, as the Rockdale side will need the Stallions to drop all points against Sydney Olympic at Marconi Stadium. Marconi has struggled in-terms of results over the past six-weeks of the League, though their overall form is still positive. Lee Sterrey’s men have finals football qualification in their own hands, though will be wary of Sydney Olympic who recorded a very impressive 2-1 victory over Bonnyrigg White Eagles last weekend.
This clash between two former NSL giants always provides many emotions, and even though Sydney Olympic have very little to play for in this match, another emotion-packed encounter is expected on Sunday.
The newly crowned Premiers Bonnyrigg White Eagles will set-out to record a victory on Sunday against West Sydney Berries following two win-less weekends. In-front of their home supporters, it will be party-time for the White Eagles in anticipation of the finals series. Brian Brown’s men were good value against Sydney Olympic last weekend, despite losing the match, though Brad Boardman & Co. will be looking for goals ahead of the matches to come for the club. Bonnyrigg officials have indicated that there will be an official presentation with the Premiership trophy handed by Football NSW CEO Michael Quarmby at the conclusion of the match.
For the Berries, this weekend brings an end to a rather disappointing season. Coach Steve Karavatakis’ men will finish the season as ‘wooden spooners’ though the players, and supporters, will be expecting the team to fight ‘tooth and nail’ in the final match. The Berries stunned the White Eagles earlier in the season – where Bonnyrigg found a late equaliser to avoid defeat – and would love nothing less than to finish the campaign with a win.
A.P.I.A.-Leichhardt Tigers’ marvellous run in 2010 has secured the side a spot in the finals series, though the Tigers will not be letting up in the final match of the season against South Coast Wolves. Inspirational captain Franco Parisi has made a point of the Tigers fighting to finish as high up the ladder as possible, and a win on Sunday could see the side leapfrog Sydney United and Blacktown City FC into second spot – pending the results of both those sides.
South Coast Wolves will no doubt provide formidable opposition – Trevor Morgan’s team come off two wins with nine goals for and zero conceded. The return from injury of Dave Abel and Samet Kaynak has no doubt lifted the side’s performances of late; the Wolves certainly one of the strong finishers to the season after a rather difficult opening half of the campaign.
At Sydney United Sports Centre, the Reds will be confident of securing maximum points against Manly United FC to keep their hopes of finishing second on the League ladder alive. An Elsid Barkousir inspired Sydney united collected a massive 2-1 defeat of Blacktown City FC last weekend – Damon Collina and Luka Glavas claiming the goals – a major confidence booster following an indifferent run of results in recent weeks.
Manly United FC have lucked out in 2010, though their run home has been very positive. Craig Midgley’s men ended any last hope Sutherland Sharks had of playing finals football with a 2-1 defeat of the Sharks last weekend, and the side has proven already to be a thorn in the side of many ‘more fancied’ teams in 2010.
In the final match of Round 22, Blacktown City FC visit Bankstown City at Jensen Park in a bid to confirm second-spot on the League ladder. Blacktown dropped points against Sydney United last weekend, somewhat of a surprise considering the side’s good run over the past month.
Bankstown City’s final match of the season will be a special one with player/coach Peter Tsekenis expected to vest the red and black colours for the last time as a player. The former Young Socceroo and Olyroo has vested the colours of club sides Sydney Olympic, Newcastle United and Bankstown City, and will be hoping to close a rather disappointing season – results wise – this weekend against one of the Jensen Park side’s sternest rivals.
-By Joseph Carlucci
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