Round ten of the Bankstown Umbro Premier League marks the start of the second half of the competition, where a two-way battle for top spot will see plenty of action.
Our round 10 Match of the Round sees Yagoona Lions take on Bankstown Sports Strikers as the Strikers look to retain top spot this weekend.
Earlier, Panania Diggers host an in form Central Sydney Wolves Thursday night, while Georges River Thistle play Padstow United at Coleman Park.
Elsewhere, Revesby Workers will host Bass Hill Rangers as the Rangers look to secure their first points of the season coming off a 9-3 victory in the Bill Cullinan Cup a week ago.
Match of the Round: Yagoona Lions vs Bankstown Sports Strikers, 20th May 5pm @ O’Neill Park
Previous Meeting: Bankstown Sports Strikers 2-0 Yagoona Lions – Rd 7, 2023
Yagoona Lions are looking to find their form once again in this competition as they take good momentum into this match off a 3-2 victory against Padstow Hornets in Round 8, while Bankstown Sports Strikers look to extend their win-streak to 5 wins in a row.
When these two sides met in round seven of the competition this year the Yagoona Lions were met by a resolute Bankstown Sports Strikers defence as they held out Yagoona Lions fire power in attack and went on to win the game 2-0.
After a very strong start to the competition, the Yagoona Lions have only been able to win two out of their past five matches in the competition which has seen them slip four points off the competition leaders in Bankstown Sports Strikers.
Yagoona Lions attack has been a focal point to their success in 2023, however, they will be focusing on their defence this weekend once again as they have been unable to keep a clean sheet so far in this competition.
If Yagoona can tighten up their defence this weekend, they will go a long way to winning this match.
Bankstown Sports Strikers come off a strong 3-2 victory over Georges River Thistle in Round 9 as they made it 4-wins on the trot and sit in first position on the ladder heading into the second round of the competition.
Bankstown Sports Strikers have been improving in front of goal in recent matches having netted twelve goals in their last four matches as they look to be finding the net from all different positions across the field.
They will take confidence heading into this weekend’s fixture having already taken the three points against Yagoona Lions this season and they will look to replicate their performance in round 7 if they are to win this match.
With plenty at stake for Bankstown Sports Strikers, look for them to try to be at their ruthless best, while Yagoona Lions will hope to continue their hard work and close the gap between them and the top 2 spots.
Panania Diggers vs Central Sydney Wolves, 18th May 8:30pm @ Kelso South Field 1
Previous Meeting: Central Sydney Wolves 2-3 Panania Diggers – Rd 7, 2023
Panania Diggers got back to winning ways in Round 9 as they sit second behind Bankstown Sports Strikers on goal difference, while Central Sydney Wolves are looking for their third straight victory after their 5-0 victory over Bass Hill Ranger in round 9.
When the sides met in round 7, Panania’s Mitchel Jeffs proved important his two goals led hid Panania to a 3-2 victory over Central Sydney Wolves.
Panania will hope to get back to their defensive best as they have conceded five goals in their past two matches.
Panania only sit behind Bankstown Sports Strikers on goal difference as they look to get back to the top of the competition, if Panania get on top in this match, they will look to be confident in front of goal and score as many goals as possible as goal difference may be a factor towards the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Central Sydney Wolves are starting to find their form in this competition as they won back-to-back games for the first time this season and sit fourth on the competition ladder.
They will be out for revenge after suffering a 3-2 loss to Panania in Round 7 as they aim to continue to climb up the ladder towards business end of the competition.
The Wolves number 9, Vitor Fernandes da Guia has been pivotal for Central Sydney Wolves recent success having scored four goals in the last two fixture and he will look to add to his goal tally in round 9.
In a 2nd vs 4th clash and 3-points vital again this weekend, expect there to be no shortage of goals as both sides chase success.
Georges River Thistle vs Padstow United, 20th May 3pm @ Coleman Park
Previous Meeting: Padstow United 2-3 Georges River Thistle – Rd 8, 2023
Georges River Thistle look to return to winning ways as they suffered a loss to Bankstown Sports Strikers and slipped out of the top five, while Padstow United suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season as they look to turn their season around in the second half of the competition.
When these two sides met in round 8 this season, Thistle’s Watcharin Pasarak scored an 86th minute winner to help his side to a 3-2 victory.
After going on a winning run in the competition, Thistle have only been able to claim one victory in their past three matches as they sit just outside of the top 5 on goal difference.
Thistle’s Adam Tahere has proven to be a goal scorer for his side this season as he netted two goals in round 8 against Padstow United. Thistle will look to him once again in this match if they are to get an important three points this weekend.
Thistle faces the best attacking side in the competition in Padstow United as they have scored 28 goals so far in the competition. If Thistle are to win this match, they will need good focus and structure in their defence to hold out United’s attacking pressure.
Meanwhile, Padstow United will hope to tighten up defensively after they shipped four goals at Padstow Park to Panania Diggers last week.
Their top goal scorers in, John Martinez and Rafa Coutinho continue to find the back of the net week-on-week and they will continue to be the main threat in attack for United.
Padstow United know how to carve out chances in a match; if they can hold strong defensively, they can work their way to a big win over the Thistle this week to move closer to the top 5 spots on the ladder.
With only three points separating both two sides on the ladder, this clash could have big ramifications on the final standings and team’s positions moving forward.
Revesby Workers vs Bass Hill Rangers, 20th May 5pm @ Marco Reserve Field 3
Previous Meeting: Bass Hill Rangers 0-3 Revesby Workers – Rd 9, 2023
Revesby Workers return from the bye ready to continue their challenge of moving away from the bottom of the ladder, while Inner Bass Hill Rangers fell 5-0 to Central Sydney Wolves in Round Nine.
Revesby Workers got the better of Bass Hill Rangers when they clashed Round Eight earlier this season, where Bojan Hadzic proved to be the difference in this match as he scored a brace.
Although they sit second last on the ladder, they will take a lot of confidence from their only victory of the season against Bass Hill Rangers and look to win again and move 6-points clear from the bottom of the ladder.
If their defence can hold strong once again in this fixture, they will be confident their attack can create enough attacking chances to go on and win this match.
Bass Hill Rangers struggled in the first half of the competition as they have been unable to register a point all season.
Although sitting last on the competition ladder, they have remained competitive in most of their matches this season and will see this as their best opportunity to find points this season.
They are coming off a massive win in the FNSW Bill Cullinan Cup as they defeated Kemps Creek United 9-3, and they will look to replicate that confidence and attacking flair in this fixture if they are to walk away with the three points.
With a rested Workers side chasing their second win of the season hosting a battle-hardened Rangers side with plenty to give, expect there to be no shortage of goals as both sides chase success.
