The Umbro Bankstown Premier League Previews make a return for Round 5 of the 2024 Season in preparation for an action-packed weekend of football.
Our Match of the Round sees Padstow United and Central Sydney Wolves go head-to-head at Padstow Park on Friday Night with both teams looking to remain undefeated to start the season.
Elsewhere, Bankstown Sports Stars host a red-hot Panania Diggers side at Nick Kearns, while Bankstown Sports Strikers welcome a high-flying Yagoona Lions to Crest Sporting Complex.
Revesby Workers will look to upset and in from Padstow Hornets at Marco Reserve, while Georges River Thistle and Birrong Sports both search for their first win of the season.
Match of the Round: Padstow United vs Central Sydney Wolves, Friday 19th April 7:30pm @ Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: Padstow united 2-2 Central Sydney Wolves – Rd 15, 2023
Padstow United and Central Sydney Wolves play at Padstow Park for the first time this season as they both look to remain undefeated to start the 2024 season.
When these two sides met in Round 15 of the 2023 Season, it was an 89th minute goal from Padstow United’s John Martinez which led to the points being shared by the two sides.
4th placed Padstow United have looked a much more organised side compared to their 2023 campaign with their new coach/player signing, Sergio Tarazona playing a crucial role to their positive start in 2024 as he brings a wealth of experience having played most recently with Gladesville Ryde Magic in 2024.
Rafa Coutinho and John Martinez have already proved to be handful upfront to start the season having found the net 3 goals between themselves in their opening matches. Expect the pair to be on the hunt for more goals this weekend.
Padstow United have been strong in defence this season having only conceded 3 goals in their opening three games. Their defence will need to be rock solid again this weekend as they face a Central Sydney Wolves side who have scored 14 goals so far this season.
1st placed Central Sydney Wolves have been the form side of the competition so far this season having won all four of their games so far this season.
Central Syndey Wolves have a lot of new faces this season and they have proven to be a well drilled attacking machine having scored 14 goals in their opening four matches with the goals being scored by multiple different players.
Shoji Mori has looked to be the danger man for Central Sydney Wolves to start the season. Expect Shoji to be the danger man as Central Sydney Wolves aim to break down a strong Padstow United defence.
An entertaining match should be expected with both sides looking to keep up towards the top of the table.
Bankstown Sports Stars vs Panania Diggers, Saturday 20th April 4pm @ Nick Kearns Reserve
These two teams haven’t met in the last few seasons.
Bankstown Sports Stars are keen to bounce back from their recent defeat and return to their winning form as they welcome the undefeated Panania Diggers.
7th placed Bankstown Sports Stars have demonstrated promise since their return to top-tier football in Bankstown after several years. They will aim for a positive result this weekend to stay competitive with the top teams in the league.
Despite securing a win in one of their first three games this season, Bankstown Sports Stars will be focusing on tightening their defence after allowing 9 goals in their last two matches.
2nd placed Panania Diggers are on a strong run to start their season with 14 goals scored in their opening four matches and yet to taste defeat.
Benjamin Ross has kicked off his 2024 campaign impressively, scoring 4 goals already. He, along with teammates Nicholas Vertsonis and Joshua Adams, who are also formidable in attack, will be keen to keep the momentum going.
This upcoming match promises plenty of offensive opportunities, as both teams will be determined to secure the three points.
Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Yagoona Lions FC, Saturday 20th April 4pm @ Crest Sporting Complex
Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 2-3 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Preliminary Final, 2023
Yagoona Lions will be looking to make amends for their defeat to Bankstown Sports Strikers in the preliminary final in 2023 as they take on a Bankstown Sports Strikers side eager to get three points and start climbing up the ladder.
When these two sides met in the Premier League finals series in 2023, Bankstown Sports Strikers remained resilient in defence and hang on for a strong 3-2 victory despite finishing the match with only 9-men.
6th placed Bankstown Sports Strikers have experienced a varied start to the season, winning just one of their first four matches. As the reigning 2024 champions, they need to start accumulating valuable wins to keep pace with the top teams in the league.
Striker Youssef Nasreddine has been a standout, scoring three times in the last two games. The Strikers are optimistic about their scoring abilities heading into this weekend, but they are particularly focused on their defensive performance as they prepare to counter a potent Yagoona Lions attack.
3rd placed Yagoona Lions are one of only two teams that have yet to drop a point this season, boasting three wins from their first three matches.
Despite losing 2023 Gold Medal winner Jamie Bazevski to NPL side Bankstown City Lions, Yagoona’s attack has not slowed down, scoring 11 goals in three games.
Dejan Simonoski is the key forward for Yagoona Lions, having netted 5 goals in his first three matches and aiming to maintain his scoring streak.
This match promises plenty of excitement, as Bankstown Sports Strikers seek a crucial three points after a shaky start to the season, while Yagoona Lions aim to continue their undefeated run.
Revesby Workers FC vs Padstow Hornets FC, Saturday 20th April 4pm @ Marco Reserve
Previous Meeting: Revesby Workers 1-10 Padstow Hornets – Rd 14, 2023
Revesby Workers are aiming to secure their first win of the season as they face Padstow Hornets, who are coming off a significant victory last weekend.
In their last meeting during Round 14 of the previous season, the Hornets dominated with a 10-1 win, a match that Revesby Workers would prefer to forget.
9th placed Revesby Workers earned their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw against Birrong Sports on Thursday night.
They are determined to bolster their defence to avoid a repeat of last season’s heavy loss to Padstow Hornets FC.
Despite not securing a win in their first four games, Revesby Workers have demonstrated potential and are hopeful of claiming their first victory of the season this weekend.
5th placed Padstow Hornets are riding high from a resounding 5-1 win over Bankstown Sports Stars last weekend and are looking to keep the momentum going with another victory this weekend.
Sean O’Connell, fresh from scoring a season-high five goals in a single match against Bankstown Sports Stars, will be eager to continue his scoring spree.
With a seasoned squad, the Hornets are aiming for their third consecutive win. Their attack is expected to be in top form as they seek to secure another win this season.
With the Hornets in good form and Revesby Workers striving to hit their stride, this match could provide one of the season’s more unpredictable outcomes, with both teams battling hard to secure the three points.
Georges River Thistle FC vs Birrong Sports FC, Saturday 20th April 4pm @ Coleman Park
Previous Meeting: Birrong Sports 2-4 Georges River Thistle – Rd 19, 2022
Georges River Thistle and Birrong Sports are both eager to notch their first wins of the season in a match that could be crucial for both teams.
In their last encounter, Georges River Thistle emerged victorious, scoring three late goals to secure a 4-2 win.
Despite losing their first four matches of the season and sitting in 10th place, Georges River Thistle remains optimistic. A win this weekend could spark a positive momentum shift for the remainder of their season.
Although they have only managed to score three goals in their opening four matches, all goals have come from Mohamad Elzein. His continued influence up front will be key if Thistle hopes to secure a much-needed three points.
8th placed Birrong Sports earned their first point of the season with a 2-2 draw against Revesby Workers, even playing with nine men for the final 15 minutes of the match.
Jacob Marszal has been in top form for Birrong Sports, scoring seven out of their nine goals this season. He is expected to pose a significant threat once again this weekend.
With both teams hungry for a win, spectators can anticipate an exciting 90 minutes filled with goal-scoring opportunities at both ends of the pitch.
