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Central Sydney Wolves Reserve Grade team and Padstow Hornets 1^st grade team booked their grand finals spots last weekend in their respective competitions.

This weekend will see Yagoona Lions and Bankstown Sports Strikers go head-to-head in both grades as they battle it out for the final spot in the Grand Final’s next weekend.

Reserve Grade Major Final: Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Yagoona Lions, 19^th August 3:30pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 1-5 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Rd 10, 2023

Bankstown Sports Strikers took a shock loss to Central Sydney Wolves in extra time of their semi-final last weekend which will have them more focused for their fixture this weekend against Yagoona Lions as they are eager for a Grand Final spot in 2023, while Yagoona Lions came back from 1-0 down to defeat Panania Diggers 3-1 to keep their Grand Final hopes alive.

When these two sides met previously in Round 10, Bankstown Sports Strikers defeated Yagoona Lions 5-1 on Yagoona’s home turf courtesy of a hattrick hero as Strikers Ali Messelmani helped his side to victory. Bankstown Sports Strikers were also victorious in their round 7 clash which sees the Strikers as the favourites heading into this match.

1^st placed Bankstown Sports Strikers will be looking for an improved performance after they lost 3-2 to Central Sydney Wolves last weekend in extra time. Bankstown Sports Strikers had defeated the Wolves heavily both times throughout the season, however, despite being the heavy favourites for the match they were defeated. Expect Bankstown Sports Strikers to look to right the wrongs of last weekend.

Bankstown Sports Strikers have been the best defensive side this season having only conceded 19 goals coming into this match. They have only conceded 1 goal against Yagoona Lions in their previous two meetings, Bankstown Sports Strikers will look to limit Yagoona’s chances in front of goal to prevent Yagoona finding a goal and giving Yagoona any hope of winning this fixture.

Strikers Mark Albro will most likely be their main target in attack as they look to find the back of the net in this match, however, with both Shervin Vargha and Ali Messelmani scoring a handful of goals when these two sides met in Round 10, Strikers look to have threats across their whole front line.

2^nd placed Yagoona Lions fought back from a goal down early in the first half to defeat Panania Diggers 3-1 and continue their push for a grand final appearance. Yagoona Lions will feel like they need to do it tough this weekend as they face an opponent in Bankstown Sports Strikers who they have not defeated this season.

Yagoona Lions used their full squad to their advantage last weekend as they brought on 1^st grade prolific goal scorer Jamie Bazevski, who scored 2 goals late to help his side to victory. However, Yagoona may be weary of bringing Jamie Bazevski on this weekend as their first-grade squad are also in a knockout fixture this weekend.

Yagoona Lions will look for a resilient defensive performance to limit Bankstown Sports Strikers chances in the match. The longer the games go on without Bankstown Sports Strikers scoring a goal, the more likely Yagoona will be to win this match.

Although Bankstown Sports Strikers have dominated Yagoona in previous meetings, anything can happen in finals football. Expect this one to go down to the wire as both sides look to secure their spot in the Grand Final next weekend.

1^st Grade Major Final: Yagoona Lions vs Bankstown Sports Strikers, 19^th August 5:30pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 4-3 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Rd 10, 2023

1^st vs 2^nd will clash in the 1^st grade major final this weekend with only one spot up for grabs in the grand final next weekend. Yagoona Lions unbeaten run came to an end last weekend as they lost 3-2 to Padstow Hornets after extra time which was their first loss since Round 8, while Bankstown Sports Strikers come off an important 3-2 victory against Panania Diggers to keep their Grand Final hopes alive.

When these two sides previously met in Round 10, there were 5 goals scored in the last 15 minutes as Yagoona Lions held onto a 2-goal advantage late to win the game 4-3. However, these two sides also clashed in Round 7 which saw the Strikers hold off Yagoona’s electric attack in a 2-0 victory with not much to split these two sides on paper.

1^st placed Yagoona Lions could not hold onto a 2-0 lead last weekend as they conceded two goals late in regular time to Padstow Hornets before conceding again in extra time to lose the game 3-2. Yagoona Lions will need to pick themselves up and stay positive after losing their first game since Round 8 this season.

Yagoona Lions are attempting to make their first grand final appearance in 1^st grade since 2011 which will have their squad determined to be victorious this weekend. They will be without Benne Owusu who has been a consistent starter for their side this season after he was red carded in their semi final last weekend.

Yagoona Lions will be looking to win again this weekend through their attack which has been their biggest weapon this season, however, Yagoona will need to learn from their lapse in concentration last weekend and make sure that if they’re to go in front this weekend, they will need to have better game management and hold onto their advantage.

2^nd placed Bankstown Sports Strikers are looking for another Grand Final appearance this weekend as they eagerly look to make up for their loss in their Grand Final last weekend.

Bankstown Sports Strikers will take confidence in being the only side who have been able to keep Yagoona Lions deadly attack to zero goals in a match this season and will understand the importance of their defence this weekend if they are to win the match and progress to a Grand Final for a second consecutive season.

Bankstown Sports Strikers a play like a well-oiled machine with every player understanding their responsibility in the team, expect them to stick to their strengths as they look to defeat Yagoona Lions this weekend through their unique football style.

Expect a big crowd for an exciting 1^st grade fixture as both sides prepare to fight for 90 minutes with the winner progressing to the Grand Final next weekend.

After Round 1 of the Bankstown Umbro Premier League finals series, only four teams remain in both the Reserve Grade and First Grade Competition. This weekend will bring another exciting weekend of BUPL finals football as we will see two teams knocked out of the competition and two teams book their spot in their respective Grand Finals.

Yagoona Lions and Panania Diggers Reserve Grade sides will go head-to-head for their first final of two for their clubs with the loser of this game being knocked out of the competition, while Central Sydney Wolves and Bankstown Sports Strikers Reserve Garde sides battle it out with the winner of this game booking a spot in the Reserve Grade Final in two weeks’ time.

While in 1^st grade, Bankstown Sports Strikers and Panania Diggers looked to keep their seasons alive as they clash in the 1^st grade knockout Semi-Final, while Yagoona Lions return from their week off to take on Padstow Hornets in an important battle to secure a Grand Final ticket.

Reserve Grade Knockout Semi-Final: Yagoona Lions vs Panania Diggers, 12^th August 12:30pm @ Marco Reserve Field 2

Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 2-5 Panania Diggers – Rd 16, 2023

Yagoona Lions suffered a disappointing loss to Central Sydney Wolves in last week’s 2^nd vs 3^rd preliminary final and will be looking to keep their grand final hopes alive as they take on Panania Diggers who were defensively strong in their 1-0 win against Padstow United last weekend.

Panania Diggers were dominant when these two sides last met in Round 16 as a Jack Amy hattrick led his side to a 5-2 victory. Yagoona Lions look to have struggled against Panania Diggers Reserve Grade side this season with Panania Diggers also beating Yagoona 1-0 in their Round 5 meeting.

2^nd placed Yagoona Lions will be looking for a more energetic start to their game this weekend after they conceded two goals in the first half against Central Sydney Wolves which meant they had to fight back into the match from two goals down.

Yagoona Lions, Dejan Simonoski was able to get onto the scoresheet last weekend as he has continued to be a threat up top for the Yagoona side, expect him to be the spark for his side if they are to push for the victory this weekend.

Although Yagoona Lions finished second on the ladder this season, Panania Diggers look to be a bogey side for them this season. If Yagoona are to win this weekend, they will need to put their previous results behind them and have a much stronger start to the game this weekend.

4^th placed Panania Diggers overcame their first finals test last weekend as they won 1-0 against Padstow United in their preliminary knockout final. Their finals series journey does not get easier as they need to overcome a side that finished above them on the ladder to continue their progress in this year’s finals series.

Liam Binnington was the hero for the Panania side last weekend as his goal in the 57^th minute split the two sides to give Panania the win. However, Panania victory ultimately was due to their rock-solid defence which has been strong all year and produce another stellar performance.

Panania will look for another resilient defensive performance this weekend if they are to limit Yagoona’s attacking opportunities and push them to victory.

Knock-out finals don’t get better than this as both sides look to keep their seasons alive in a blockbuster clash this weekend.

Reserve Grade Semi-Final: Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Central Sydney Wolves, 12^th August 12:30pm @ Marco Reserve Field 4

Previous Meeting: Central Sydney Wolves 0-4 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Rd 13, 2023

Reserve Grade Premiers Bankstown Sports Strikers return from their weekend off as they look to book a grand final spot for the second year in a row as they take on Central Sydney Wolves who defeated Yagoona Lions last weekend and face their toughest test yet against a strong Bankstown Sports Strikers side.

When these two sides met in Round 13, Bankstown Sports Strikers put on a dominant performance which saw them win the game 4-0. Bankstown Sports Strikers look to be the massive favourites in this match as they were also victorious 4-0 in their first meeting back in Round 4.

1^st placed Bankstown Sports Strikers have been dominant in the Reserve Grade Competition this season picking up 13 wins in 16 games whilst also scoring the most goals and conceding the fewest goals in the competition.

Strikers Mark Albro has been a consistent goal scorer this season for his side and looks to be a player that Central Sydney Wolves have struggled to contain in their recent meetings with Mark scoring a total of three goals in their two meeting this season.

Despite Bankstown Sports Strikers being dominant in their two meeting with Central Sydney Wolves this season, they will know from past experiences that anything can happen in finals, and they will need to be at their best if they are to book a grand finals spot this weekend.

3^rd placed Central Sydney Wolves proved last weekend that they are one of the top teams in the competition when they defeated Yagoona Lions 2-1 in the 2^nd vs 3^rd preliminary final and will now look to overcome the best team in the competition so far to book a grand final spot this weekend.

The Wolves Mayas Hamdan continued his goal scoring form last weekend when he scored the first goal of the game against Yagoona Lions last weekend, expect him to try and lead his side to another important victory this weekend.

Although Central Sydney Wolves have scored the second most goals in the competition this season, they were unable to score a single goal in their two fixtures against Bankstown Sports Strikers this season and will need to find a way to create more chances in front of goal this weekend.

A spot in the grand final for the winner this weekend will have both sides fired up, expect both sides to be energetic from the start with a result that could go either way.

1^st Grade Knockout Semi-Final: Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Panania Diggers, 12^th August 2:30pm @ Marco Reserve Field 2

Previous Meeting: Bankstown Sports Strikers 2-1 Panania Diggers – Rd 15, 2023

Bankstown Sports Strikers return off their 3-1 preliminary final loss last weekend to Padstow Hornets as they take on Panania Diggers who found their form back last weekend against Central Sydney Wolves and look to continue their progress through the finals series this weekend.

When these two sides last met in Round 15, it was a fiery match which saw 14 cards handed out including three red cards as Bankstown Sports Strikers won the match 2-1. Bankstown Sports Strikers have won both of their meetings with Panania Diggers this season which includes their 3-1 victory at Kelso in Round 8. Panania Diggers will be needing to find a way to breakdown the Bankstown Sports Strikers side as they have not been able to do in the past.

2^nd placed Bankstown Sports Strikers would be disappointed with their result last weekend after taking an early lead in the first half before conceding three unanswered goals in the second half which stunned the onlooking crowd last Saturday night.

Bankstown Sports Strikers are now left with no second chances in the final’s series meaning they will need to win all their matches if they are to make the grand final this season. However, Bankstown Sports Strikers are a team with players who have experienced finals football in the past and know how to find a result this weekend.

Cameron Campisi has scored three out of the five goals for Bankstown Sports Strikers when they have met Panania Diggers this season; expect Cameron to try and create chances for his side in attack to break open a resilient Panania Diggers defence this weekend.

5^th placed Panania Diggers showed their fighting spirit last weekend in their preliminary knock-out final last weekend against Central Sydney Wolves when they went a goal down in the 60^th minute before scoring three goals late to win the game 3-1 and progress to the next round of the BUPL finals series.

Panania’s central defender and captain Douglas Nabaki scored the first goal back for his side last weekend as he led his side to victory. He will be important for his side once again this weekend as Panania’s boast a youthful squad and will need his leadership in an important match.

Although they have been unable to defeat Bankstown Sports Strikers this season, expect Panania to play with confidence as they look to be the underdogs in the 2023 1^st grade finals series.

1^st Grade Semi-Final: Yagoona Lions vs Padstow Hornets, 12^th August 2:30pm @ Marco Reserve Field 4

Previous Meeting: Padstow Hornets 3-3 Yagoona Lions – Rd 17, 2023

First Grade Premiers Yagoona Lions returns off a week off as they look to continue their successful 2023 season and book a grand final spot this weekend as they take on Padstow Hornets who will be buzzing after their 3-1 victory against Bankstown Sports Strikers last weekend and looking to use their positive momentum to grab another victory this weekend.

When these two sides last met in Round 17, they were the two from teams of the competition as they drew 3-3 after Yagoona’s Jamie Bazevski scored a 30-yard freekick to rescue a point for his side. Padstow Hornets have not been able to defeat Yagoona Lions this season as they suffered a 3-2 loss to the premiers in Round 9 which was the last time Padstow Hornets lost a game this season.

1^st placed Yagoona Lions have proven this season that they have deserved the title of premiers in the 1^st grade competition, and they will be looking for another five-star performance this weekend to book a spot in their first grand final appearance since 2011.

Yagoona’s Jamie Bazevski will look to be the spark in attack for the Yagoona side this weekend as he has done all season. Jamie Bazevski has found the back of the net four times against Padstow Hornets this season, so expect him to be tightly marked by the Padstow Hornets side as they look to prevent Bazevski from finding chances in front of goal.

Yagoona have proven in 2023 that they are an attacking machine of a team, however they have conceded five goals against Padstow Hornets this season and they will be needing to be resilient in defence to hold out Padstow Hornets quality attack this weekend.

3^rd placed Padstow Hornets are a team in form and understand how to win finals matches as they came from behind to defeat Bankstown Sports Strikers 3-1 last weekend.

Padstow Hornets attackers Mike Cklamovski and Neil Philippou have continued their goal scoring form in the second half of the 2023 season after they both scored in their finals victory last weekend and will be looking to score more goals this weekend.

If Padstow Hornets are to defeat Yagoona Lions for the first time this season, they will need to limit Yagoona’s chances on goal and be clinical with their chances in attack to win the game this weekend.

This fixture shapes up to be a blockbuster of a match as both sides will be desperate to secure a Grand Final spot with a win this weekend.

The Bankstown Umbro Premier League season has come to an end and after eighteen thrilling rounds of the regular season we head into an exciting weekend of finals football at Padstow Park this Saturday.

The first clash this Saturday will see Panania Diggers Reserve Grade team take on Padstow United’s Reserve Grade team in a 4^th vs 5^th knockout clash, before Yagoona Lions Reserve Grade team and Central Sydney Wolves Reserve Grade team go head-to-head with the winner of this game taking on the premiers of the Reserve Grade competition Bankstown Sports Strikers next weekend.

Our first 1^st grade finals fixture will see Central Sydney Wolves battle with Panania Diggers as both sides look to keep their Grand Final hopes alive in a knockout final, before last year’s grand finalists meet with Bankstown Sports Strikers readying for battle against Padstow Hornets with the winner of this match taking on the premiers of the competition Yagoona Lions next weekend.

Reserve Grade Premiers, Bankstown Sports Strikers have a bye this round.

1^st Grade Premiers, Yagoona Lions have a bye this round.

Reserve Grade Knock-out Final: Panania Diggers vs Padstow United, 5^th August 1pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Panania Diggers 2-3 Padstow United – Rd 17, 2023

Panania Diggers will look to win their first of two knock out final fixtures in the BUPL this weekend as they take on 5^th placed Padstow United who look for a tough win as they are the underdogs in the final’s series.

When these two sides met in Round 17, Padstow United came down from a 2-1 deficit to win the game 3-2 which at that stage of the competition looked to all but confirm their spot in the final’s series.

4^th placed Panania Diggers had a strong start to their season as they remained in the top two positions for almost the entirety of the campaign, however, in their final three games of the season they were only able to pick up one win which saw them slip out of the top two and into fourth position.

Defensively this season Panania Diggers have been one of the strongest teams in the competition having kept 8 clean sheets out of their 16 games this season. Panania were able to keep a clean sheet against Padstow United in their 1-0 win when they met in Round 9, however, they will be looking to be stronger in defence after their last game when they conceded three goals to a determined Padstow United in Round 17.

Panania Diggers goals this season have come from all over the pitch having lacked a consistent goal scorer in their squad. Panania Diggers Number 8, Jack Amy has scored 5 goals in their past 5 games as he could prove to be one of Panania’s biggest threats this weekend, however, with threats all over the pitch, Panania could look to threaten Padstow United’s defence from many different areas.

5^th placed Padstow United had a rocky start to their season having lost four of their opening six games, however, they had resurgence during the season and finished strongly to push themselves into a finals position.

Notably, Padstow United have proven to be a side this year who can cause an upset as they are the only team left in the Reserve Grade Competition to defeat the premiers as they beat Bankstown Sports Strikers 4-0 back in Round 11.

Padstow United have won their past two games which will give them some positive momentum heading into this match. Padstow United have a mix of experience and youth in their squad and will certainly be determined to win this match as they are the only Padstow United team appearing in the BUPL finals series due to their 1^st grade squad not making finals.

Both sides have proven all season that they are two strong teams, with both sides having won a fixture each against each other this season, expect this knockout final to be anyone’s to win.

Reserve Grade Preliminary Final: Yagoona Lions vs Central Sydney Wolves, 5^th August 3pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 3-1 Central Sydney Wolves – Rd 14, 2023

Yagoona Lions and Central Sydney Wolves Reserve Grade Squads meet for the 3^rd time this season as both sides compete for the chance to play the premiers, Bankstown Sports Strikers in the semi finals next week and avoid a knockout final with the winner of the Reserve Grade Final played before them.

Yagoona Lions have looked to have the upper hand when these two sides have met this season as they defeated Central Sydney Wolves 3-1 in their most recent fixtures in Round 14 after the two sides drew 1-1 in Round 8.

Although Yagoona Lions finished 2^nd on the ladder, these two sides were only separate by a 1-point after 16 rounds as this fixture looks to be a thriller on paper.

2^nd placed Yagoona Lions are one of the form sides in the Reserve Grade finals series as they have managed to win six of their past seven matches, heading into this fixture with some positive momentum.

Yagoona Lions come off a massive boost in their final game of the regular competition having defeated Georges River Thistle 5-0. They also had five different goal scorers in the match which highlights their attacking strength across the pitch.

With Yagoona Lions First Grade side finishing 1^st, they will be eager to win this match to guarantee both of their BUPL sides playing in the top Semi-Final next week to give both their sides a chance at an automatic Grand Final Spot.

3^rd placed Central Sydney Wolves had the ideal finish to their season as they won their final two matches which saw them sneak in to the top three positions on goal difference.

Central Sydney Wolves play a very attacking brand of football which has seen them score 49 goals this season with multiple players in their side scoring four or more goals this season.

Central Sydney Wolves have a strong team on paper including last year’s BUPL Reserve Grade Gold medallist Mayas Hamdan who captains the side and will look lead them to a Grand Final spot this season.

With two very strong sides eager to win this match to avoid playing a knock-out Semi Final next weekend, this clash should provide plenty of entertainment.

1^st Grade Knock-out Final: Central Sydney Wolves vs Panania Diggers, 5^th August 5pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Panania Diggers 2-3 Central Sydney Wolves – Round 10, 2023

It doesn’t get more exciting than this, Panania Diggers and Central Sydney Wolves will prepare to go into battle for the first of two-1st grade final matches this weekend which will see one of these two teams knocked out of the 1^st Grade finals series in 2023.

When these two sides met in Round 10, Central Sydney Wolves were able to come back from a 2-1 deficit to win the game 3-2 after Kallie Bangura scored a last-minute winner for Central Sydney Wolves. However, when the sides met in Round 7, Panania Diggers won the match 3-2 as there doesn’t seem to be much splitting these two sides.

4^th placed Central Sydney Wolves were able to jump Panania Diggers into 4^th place as they won their final two matches 7-1 and 9-2 to give them massive encouragement heading into this knock-out final.

Saed Al-Zebdeh who joined the club from Bankstown Sports Strikers this season has given their side a massive boost in attack as he has scored the most goals for his side this season, he will look to be a constant threat to the Panania Diggers defence.

Central Sydney Wolves will play on Padstow Park for the seventh time this season which is a ground where may feel like they have a slight advantage to the rest of the competition having not lost in all their six games this season at Padstow Park and only conceded one goal.

With sixteen goals from their past two matches, expect the Wolves to continue to fire in attack this weekend.

5^th placed Panania Diggers were the competition leaders for much of the 2023 season, however they have recently had a drop of form in their final five matches which has seen them only win one fixture.

Panania Diggers come off a bye in Round 18 which has given them an opportunity to have a week off before the finals series as they look find their best form back in a must win game this weekend.

Panania Diggers Joshua Adams has been one of the stars of the competition this season which has seen him be a consistent goal scorer and playmaker for his side this season. He will most likely play a key role in this game if his side are to get the important victory Saturday Night.

Arguably the most exciting finals match to be played on Saturday Night will see one side knocked out of the 1^st Grade Finals series, expect this match to go down to the wire.

1^st Grade Preliminary Final: Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Padstow Hornets, 5^th August 7pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Bankstown Sports Strikers 2-3 Padstow Hornets – Rd 16, 2023

The two 2022 Grand Finalists will go head-to-head for the third time this season in the first week of the final’s series in a fixture in the last few years that has proven to be a blockbuster every single time these two sides have met.

Both times these two sides have me this season the game has been split by one goal with Bankstown Sports Strikers victorious in the first meeting before Padstow Hornets went on to win the second time, they met in Round 16.

2^nd placed Bankstown Sports Strikers have strong form coming into this fixture having won four of their past five matches, however, they will be out for revenge having taken their only loss in the last five weeks come at the hands of Padstow Hornets in Round 16.

Bankstown Sports Strikers finished the season off strongly last weekend against Revesby Workers as the won the game 8-3 with their main man up top, Robson Aparecido De Souza scoring five goals which will give him some confidence in front of goal heading into an important finals fixture.

Coach Ali Hassan has his side playing a unique style of football where they look to hold onto the ball and break down their opposition, if his side can stick to their tactics and not allow Padstow Hornets many chances in front of goal, they will go a long way to winning this game.

3^rd placed Padstow Hornets found their feet after a rocky first half of the season which has seen them undefeated in their last nine games of the season which included seven wins.

Padstow Hornets are a side who understand how to win games in finals as they have won the competition numerous times over the last few years and will be eager to retain their champions status again this season.

Padstow Hornets attackers Mike Cklamovski and Neil Philippou have led their side in attack during the second half of the season as they charged up the ladder. They have combined for 26 goals in their last nine matches, and they will look to be in goal scoring form once again.

The final match of the BUPL finals this Saturday is going to be a blockbuster, it’s anyone’s match to win as the 2022 Grand Finalists go head-to-head.

With three games remaining in the Bankstown Umbro Premier League competition, this weekend brings us one of our most exciting games yet as we see two top four clashes in Round 16.

Our Match of the Round this weekend sees Yagoona Lions go head-to-head with Panania Diggers as Yagoona Lions look to extend their win streak to seven games.

Earlier, we get round two of our 2022 Grand Final rematch as Padstow Hornets host the Bankstown Sports Strikers on Friday night, before Georges River Thistle look to keep their finals hopes alive as they take on Revesby Workers.

Elsewhere, Padstow United look to extend their unbeaten streak to three matches as they host Bass Hill Rangers at Playford Park.

Central Sydney Wolves have a bye this round.

Match of the Round: Yagoona Lions vs Panania Diggers, 15^th July 4pm @ O’Neill Park

Previous Meeting: Panania Diggers 2-1 Yagoona Lions – Rd 5, 2023

Yagoona Lions took another step towards Minor Premiers honours in Round 15 as they defeated Bass Hill Rangers 5-1 at Padstow Park, while Panania Diggers dropped down to 3^rd position on the competition ladder after they were defeated 2-1 to the Bankstown Sports Strikers in Round 15.

When these two sides clashed in Round 5, Panania’s striker Nicholas Vertsonis as he scored a brace for his side to come back from a goal deficit and win the game 2-1.

1^st placed Yagoona Lions have won six games straight and will look to continue their winning form; with three rounds left, if Yagoona were to win all their matches, they will claim minor premiership which would be in the back of their minds heading into this match.

Yagoona Lions will look to use their pace in wide areas to get behind Panania’s defence and create goal scoring opportunities which they will need to convert.

Jamie Bazevski will look to be Yagoona’s main target in attack once again as he looks to continue his run of goalscoring form, expect Panania Diggers to apply a lot of pressure to him in defence to limit his chances in front of goal.

3^rd placed Panania Diggers will be eager to get back to winning ways and not suffer back-to-back losses for the first time this season after they lost 2-1 to Bankstown Sports Strikers last weekend.

Panania Diggers will be without Hayden Probert who has scored in back-to-back matches after he received a second yellow card and was sent off in their match against the Strikers.

A loss this weekend could be detrimental to the Diggers as they could fall to 4^th position if results don’t go their way; Panania would be eager to finish in the top 3 this season which will have them fired up for a winning performance this weekend.

Every match becomes critical for both sides heading into the final three weeks of the season; expect both sides to be craving success this weekend as they look to finish as high as possible on the ladder.

Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Padstow Hornets, 14^th July 8:30pm @ Stuart Street Reserve

Previous Score: Padstow Hornets 3-4 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Rd 6, 2023

Bankstown Sports Strikers will look for three wins on the trot after they won 2-1 against Panania Diggers in Round 15, while Padstow Hornets had a minor setback as they drew 2-2 with Georges River Thistle in Round 15.

These two sides met in what could be this year’s game of the season back in Round 6, Bankstown Sports Strikers were down 3-1 with ten men before they came back to win 4-3.

2^nd placed Bankstown Sports Strikers showed their resilience in defence as they went up 2-1 against Panania Diggers in 58^th minute before holding Panania out for the rest of the match to win the game 2-1.

Bankstown Sports Strikers were the better of the two sides in attack as they created many chances in front of goal against a strong Panania defence, however they lacked the finishing touch as they will look to be more clinical in front of goal this weekend.

Bankstown Sports Strikers will be lacking a few members of their squad for this clash as their top goal scorer Robson De Souza and Abbas Saleh were sent off Round 15 against Panania Diggers.

With their top goalscorer out this weekend, Bankstown Sports Strikers will look too Cameron Campisi who scored a double in their Round 6 clash and has looked a threat all season.

4^th placed Padstow Hornets had won four games on the trot before they had a minor setback last weekend as they drew 2-2 to Georges River Thistle.

The Hornets will welcome back Mike Cklamovski this weekend as he was missed in their clash against Georges River Thistle having been suspended for five yellow cards this season.

Padstow Hornets also picked up a suspension of their own in Round 15 as the experienced Sean O’Connell who has previously played NPL 1 football for the powerhouse Marconi Stallions was sent off against Georges River Thistle.

With a win this weekend potentially taking Padstow Hornets up to 2^nd position, expect them to bring enthusiasm to this match as they look to continue their climb up the competition ladder.

The Grand-Final rematch returns for the second time this season and if their Round six clash is anything to go off, this is a clash you won’t want to miss out on.

Georges River Thistle vs Revesby Workers, 15^th July 4pm @ Coleman Park

Previous Meeting: Revesby Workers 1-5 Georges River Thistle – Rd 5, 2023

Georges River Thistle picked up a strong point in their 2-2 draw against Padstow Hornets in Round 15, while Revesby Workers will be feeling refreshed off a two-week break as they had a bye in Round 15.

When these two sides met in Round 5, Georges River Thistle were dominant as they won the game 5-1.

6^th placed Georges River Thistle were strong in their 2-2 draw to Padstow Hornets in Round 15 but were unable to hold their 2-1 lead to claim a much needed three points.

Georges River Thistle now sit five points off Central Sydney Wolves in 5^th position, however, with a game in hand a win this weekend could see Thistle move two points off a finals place.

Georges River Thistle have struggled with consistency of late, however with there finals still a possibility, expect Georges River Thistle to come out firing from the start of this match.

8^th placed Revesby Workers return off a bye as they look to finish their season on a good note.

After a season where they have struggled to put in strong performances each week, Revesby Workers will be starting to plan for next year’s competition.

Revesby Workers recent struggles have been defence and they will be hoping to put together a stronger 90-minute performance to deny Georges River Thistle goal scoring opportunities.

One team with it all to play for and another playing for pride, don’t expect this to be any easy match for Georges River Thistle as results have been unpredictable this season.

Padstow United vs Bass Hill Rangers, 15^th July 4pm @ Playford Park

Previous Meeting: Bass Hill Rangers 3-4 Padstow United – Rd 7, 2023

Padstow United come off a 2-2 draw against Central Sydney Wolves in Round 15, while Bass Hill Rangers conceded three late goals as they lost 5-1 to league leaders Yagoona Lions in Round 15.

When these two sides met in Round 7, Padstow United’s Rafa Coutinho was a hatrick hero as he led his side to a 4-3 victory.

7^th place Padstow United were strong in their 2-2 draw against Central Sydney Wolves as their marquee striker, John Martinez scored two goals for the hosts.

Padstow United’s season did not go how they would have liked this year as they considered themselves one of the front runners for finals position this year, however they will be eager to finish their season on a good note to take good momentum into next season.

Rafa Coutinho was the hero when these two sides met earlier this season, however he has been out for several games this season as they will look to other members of their squad to put the ball in the back of the net this weekend.

9^th place Bass Hill Rangers lost 5-1 to league leaders Yagoona Lions in Round 15, however they were more positive in their approach to the match as they scored their first goal in five matches and held the Lions at bay for a long period of the match.

Bass Hill are another side who have seen their season slip away unable to win a match all season, however with two matches to go they will be eager to finish their season on a good note and try to pick up a victory in their remaining matches.

Bass Hill Rangers took it to a strong Padstow United side when they met in Round 7 and expect them to do the same this weekend with pride to play for.

Although two teams clash this weekend who can not make finals; expect an exciting match with a lot of attacking flair as both sides will still give their all this weekend.

It will be an action-packed weekend of football in the Bankstown Umbro Premier League Competition as movements on the ladder look likely this weekend.

Our Match of the Round this weekend sees Padstow Hornets back on home soil as they take on Georges River Thistle who must win.

Earlier, Bass Hill Rangers take on the red-hot Yagoona Lions on Friday Night at Padstow Park, while Padstow United return from their bye to take on Central Sydney Wolves.

Elsewhere, Bankstown Sports Strikers look to go equal on points with Panania Diggers when they clash this weekend.

Match of the Round: Padstow Hornets vs Georges River Thistle, 1^st July 5pm @ Stuart Street Reserve

Previous Meeting: Georges River Thistle 1-4 Padstow Hornets – Rd 2, 2023

Padstow Hornets return to Stuart Street Reserve for the second week in a row as they take on Georges River Thistle who look to keep their finals hopes alive with a victory this weekend.

When these two sides met in Round 2 this season, Georges River Thistle had a poor start to the season which saw them fall to Padstow Hornets 4-1 with Mike Cklamovski scoring a hat trick for the Hornets; with a crucial three points on the line this weekend, expect the result to be much closer this time around.

Padstow Hornets have started to hit form at the right time of the season as they have won their past four matches straight which has seen them begin to climb towards the top of the ladder.

Padstow Hornets strong recent form has been due to the side beginning to score more goals this season.

The Hornets attacking duo, Mike Cklamovski and Neil Philippou have dominated up front in their four recent wins scoring a combined 16 goals; expect them both to combine up front this weekend to continue their strong form in front of goal and lead their side to another victory this weekend.

With Padstow Hornets back at Stuart Street Reserve for the second time this season, look for them to be firing once again to put on a strong performance for their home crowd.

Georges River Thistle come off a disappointing 3-2 loss to Panania Diggers last weekend after showing a lot of spirit to come back from 2-0 down before conceding late in the match.

Although they may come into this match as the underdogs this weekend, Georges River Thistle have shown this season that they are willing to compete with teams for the full 90 minutes to try and get a result.

Georges River Thistle have started to score more goal recently with 11 goals scored in their past two matches, however, they face a tough task this weekend coming up against the best defensive side in the competition this weekend.

There is plenty on the line for both sides, where a defeat would be detrimental to both of their seasons; expect Padstow Hornets to fire up and Georges River Thistle to fire back.

Bass Hill Rangers vs Yagoona Lions, 30^th June 8:30pm @ Padstow Park, Synthetic

Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 3-2 Bass Hill Rangers – Rd 2, 2023

Bass Hill Rangers will be eager to make a statement this weekend as they take on Yagoona Lions who are looking for their sixth straight victory.

Yagoona Lions were victorious when these two sides clashed in Round 2 after they came back late from 2-0 down and scored in stoppage time to win the game 3-2.

The 9^th placed Bass Hill Rangers come off a forfeit in round 14 to Bankstown Sports Strikers as they are slowly beginning to let their season slip away.

Bass Hill Rangers recent struggles has seen them lose their last four straight matches without scoring since their 1-1 draw with Revesby Workers in Round 10.

A much-needed win could see them climb off the bottom of the ladder this weekend; however, the Rangers need to find some much-needed energy as a squad to put together a more complete performance this weekend.

Conversely, 2^nd placed Yagoona Lions are on their best run of the season which has seen them win their last five games straight.

A win this weekend could see them guarantee their side a finals spot in 2023, however, they are a side determined on exceeding expectations and will looking to continue their winning run to try and finish minor premier’s this season.

With Jamie Bazevski scoring 2 or more goals in their past six fixtures, expect him to be a menace for the Bass Hill defence.

This game is crucial for both sides for different reasons, Bass Hill Rangers look to climb off the bottom of the ladder and finish their season on a positive note, while Yagoona Lions could go to the top of the table this weekend; this game could bring anything.

Padstow United vs Central Sydney Wolves, 1^st July 4pm @ Playford Park

Previous Meeting: Central Sydney Wolves 2-2 Padstow United – Rd 2, 2023

Padstow United return from their bye looking for two straight victories, while Central Sydney Wolves look to bounce back from their 4-1 loss to Yagoona Lions in Round 14.

These sides couldn’t be separated when they met in Round 2, where the Central Sydney Wolves had to hold off a determined Padstow United for the final ten minutes of the match after they went down 10 men in the 81^st minute.

7^th placed Padstow United have had a disappointing season for their standards as they sit 11 points off the top five on the ladder this season.

After five straight losses, a dominant win in Round 13 against Revesby Workers saw Padstow United return to winning ways; they will look to use that as positive momentum to end their season on a high.

John Martinez scored two goals when they play Central Sydney Wolves in Round 2, expect him to be the spark for Padstow United this weekend.

5^th placed Central Sydney Wolves were disappointing in their 4-1 loss to Yagoona Lions last weekend which saw them drop two spots on the competition ladder.

With a finals spot still not guaranteed for Central Sydney Wolves, look to use that as added motivation this weekend.

Defence will look to be a focus for Central Sydney Wolves this weekend as they face a strong attacking side in Padstow United.

With two strong attacking sides going head-to-head and plenty at stake, expect there to be plenty of chances at both ends which could see one moment play a key part in determining the outcome of this match.

Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Panania Diggers, 1^st July 4pm @ Crest Sporting Complex

Previous Meeting: Panania Diggers 1-3 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Rd 8, 2023

Panania Diggers remained at the top of the table as they defeated Georges River Thistle 3-2 last weekend, while Bankstown Sports Strikers will be feeling fresh as Bass Hill Rangers forfeited their games in Round 14.

When these two sides met in Round 8 this season, Bankstown Sports Strikers were too strong as a Cameron Campisi double helped his sides to a 3-2 victory.

3^rd placed Bankstown Sports Strikers have had mixed fortunes in recent weeks as they have last two of their past five matches and struggled to put sides away in their victories.

Bankstown Sports Strikers will hope for back-to-back victories for the first time since Round 9 as they look to be more consistent heading into finals.

A win for Bankstown Sports Strikers will see them jump Panania Diggers on the competition ladder and they could move to 1^st place if results go their way this weekend, expect this to give the Strikers added motivation this weekend.

League leaders Panania Diggers will have to do it tough this weekend if they are to remain at the top of the league.

Panania Diggers will be looking to improve on their second half performance from last weekend which saw them give up a 2-0 lead before scoring late to win the match 3-2 against Georges River Thistle.

One thing’s for certain, Panania have work horses all over the park and if they can win the midfield battle in this match, they could go along way to winning this match.

As far as matches go for the battle for top of the table, 1^st vs 3^rd is as big as they get, and the winner of this matchup will take a large step towards the goal of minor premiership.

Round 14 of the Bankstown Umbro Premier League competition saw the battle for top five take another turn as teams begin to build momentum heading into the business end of the competition.

The match of the round this week saw Yagoona Lions score two late goals to defeat Central Sydney Wolves as Yagoona extend their win streak to five.

Earlier, Panania Diggers retained 1^st position on the competition ladder as they were victorious against Georges River Thistle, while Padstow Hornets were too good for Revesby Workers at their return to Stuart Street Reserve.

The game between Bankstown Sports Strikers and Bass Hill Rangers was forfeited by Bass Hill Rangers due to insufficient numbers on the field.

Padstow United had a bye this round.

Match of the Round: Yagoona Lions 4-1 Central Sydney Wolves

Reserve Grade Score: Yagoona Lions 3-1 Central Sydney Wolves

Yagoona Lions continue their run of winning form and their resurgence up the ladder after they defeated Central Sydney Wolves 4-1 at O’Neill Park.

Yagoona Lions are undefeated at their home ground this season and they came out eagerly looking for a fast start to continue their winning run at home alive in front of their home supporters.

Yagoona Lions had the better start of the two sides as they opened the scoring in the 13^th minute through a goal by Steven Kotevski giving his side a 1-0 lead early into the match.

With Yagoona Lions defending their lead early, Central Sydney Wolves struggled to find an equaliser in the first half.

The game looked to be going into halftime with Yagoona Lions having a 1-0 lead, however, in the 43^rd minute Central Sydney Wolves Saed Al-Zebdeh found the back of the net for his side to bring the scores back level at 1-1 going into halftime.

Yagoona Lions were given a penalty in the 63^rd minute of the match which Jamie Bazevski stepped up for and found the back of the net as Yagoona Lions had their 1-goal advantage once again in this match.

Jamie Bazevski then continued his goal scoring form as he found his second goal of the match in the 80^th minute to give Yagoona a 3-1 lead with 10 minutes of the match remaining.

Yagoona Lions received their second penalty of the match in the 84^th minute of the match which Steve Nastevski stepped up for as he converted the penalty to give his side a 4-1 lead in the 85^th minute.

The game ended with Yagoona Lions defeating Central Sydney Wolves 4-1.

Yagoona Lions remain in second position as they look ahead to their fixture against Bass Hill Rangers in Round 15, while Central Sydney Wolves fell to 5^th place as they take on Padstow United in Round 15.

Panania Diggers 3-2 Georges River Thistle

Reserve Grade Score: Panania Diggers 2-0 Georges River Thistle

Panania Diggers remained league leaders after they defeated Georges River Thistle 3-2 as Thistle’s finals hopes take a major setback.

Panania were handed an early setback before the match as one of their leading goal scorers in Nicholas Vertsonis was unavailable for the match.

On a cold Friday Night at Padstow Park, both teams looked eager and determined to win from the first minute of the match.

Panania Diggers looked to have the better of the possession in the opening stages of the match and they rewarded with a goal in the 14^th minute of the match as Panania’s Benjamin Ross scored his second goal of the season to give Panania a 1-0 lead.

Panania would then extend their lead to a 2-goal advantage in the 38^th minute as Hayden Probert scored his first goal of the season after missing the first nine rounds of the competition due to a lengthy spell in the stands due to injury.

Panania controlled the first half of the match as they went into halftime with a 2-0 lead.

Georges River Thistle came out in the second half as a team ready to fight to the end as they needed to get a result in this match to keep their finals hopes alive.

Georges River Thistle were rewarded in the 46^th minute of the match as Jake Cassacchia found the back of the net to bring the score back to 2-1 and spark a comeback for the Thistle side.

Thistle then brought the score back all square in the 66^th minute of the match as Watcharin Pasarak found the back of the net as we headed into an exciting final 25 minutes of play.

With not long to go, Panania’s James Dedoudis found the back of the net in the 83^rd minute of the match to give his side the lead once again in this match.

Although Georges River Thistle pushed to find an equaliser, the game ended with Panania Diggers winning the game 3-2.

Panania Diggers remained in 1^st position as they play Bankstown Sports Strikers in Round 15, while Georges River Thistle remained in 6^th position as they play the inform Padstow Hornets in Round 15.

Revesby Workers 1-10 Padstow Hornets

Reserve Grade Score: Revesby Workers 1-3 Padstow Hornets

Padstow Hornets put on a show in their returning game to Stuart Street Reserve as they defeated Revesby Workers 10-1.

Padstow Hornets started fast in front of a big Hornets crowd as Hornet’s Costa Fiakos and Neil Philippou scored in the 4^th and 5^th minute to give Hornets an early 2-0 lead.

Moments later, Hornets Mike Cklamovski scored his first goal of the match in the 8^th minute as Hornets had a 3-0 lead in the first ten minutes.

Mike Cklamovski would then score two quick goals in the 20^th and 26^th minute to give himself a first half hattrick and give Padstow Hornets a 5-0 lead.

Neil Philippou scored his second goal of the match in the 33^rd minute to give Padstow Hornets a 6-0 lead going into halftime.

Padstow Hornets would then start the first half as they finished last when Mike Cklamovksi scored his fourth goal in the 53^rd minute to give the Hornets a 7-0 lead.

Neil Phillipou would then go on to score his third and fourth goal of the match in the 63^rd and 65^th minute of the match to give the Hornets a 9-0 lead.

Revesby Workers would then go onto score a consolation goal in the 68^th minute of the match as Mark Zakhia scored in the 68^th minute of the match.

After a quiet final 20 minutes of the match, the Hornets Ryan Bateman scored in the 87^th minute of the match as the Hornets went on to win the match 10-1.

Revesby Workers remained in 8^th position as they have a bye in Round 15, while the win for Padstow Hornets saw them move up to 3^rd position as they play Georges River Thistle at Stuart Street Reserve in Round 15.

The final five rounds of the Bankstown Umbro Premier League are upon us as the battle for the top five spots continues to heat up.

The match of the Round this week sees a crucial 2^nd vs 3^rd clash as Yagoona Lions host Central Sydney Wolves, where the winner from this game could move up to the top of the ladder.

Earlier, an important game between Panania Diggers and Georges River Thistle as Thistle look to keep up with the top five teams, while Revesby Workers take on Padstow Hornets as Stuart Street Reserve opens its gates once again to Premier League football.

Elsewhere, Bankstown Sports Strikers look to bounce back off a loss as Bass Hill Rangers visit.

Padstow United have the bye this round.

Match of the Round: Yagoona Lions vs Central Sydney Wolves, 24^th June 4pm @ O’Neill Park

Previous Meeting: Central Sydney Wolves 4-3 Yagoona Lions – Rd 8, 2023

Yagoona Lions return off a bye in Round 13 and are in their best form of the season with four straight victories, while Central Sydney Wolves have won four of their past five matches and come off a massive victory against Bankstown Sports Strikers with halfway screamer earning them a 1-0 victory.

When these two sides met in Round 8, Central Sydney Wolves claimed all the three points after they scored four goals in the first half and then held off Yagoona Lions late to win the match 4-3.

2^nd placed Yagona Lions have climbed up the ladder and only sit one-point behind the leaders, however, with a game in hand on the teams above and below them, they average the most points per game this season.

Their main man in attack, Jamie Bazevski, has scored 13 goals in their past four matches, all games in which they have won. Expect Bazevski to be menace for Yagoona once again to help his side power onto victory.

Yagoona have struggled to hold off the top sides in the competition from scoring against them, however, with only 1 goal conceded in their last two matches, expect an improved defensive performance by the hosts.

Yagoona Lions have won all their games at home this season, they are playing at O’Neill Park again this weekend so expect the hosts to come our firing to continue their 100% win record at home.

3^rd placed Central Sydney Wolves knocked over Bankstown Sports Strikers for the second time this season last weekend as they look to use that victory to power on moving forward.

Their defence has improved dramatically in recent weeks with three clean sheets in their past five matches; look for the Wolves to make that a focus once again as they look to spring with pace in attack.

With multiple goal scorers in the Wolves attack including the likes of Vitor Fernandes da Guia, Abdulraman Kamara and Kallie Bangura, expect the Wolves to look to be dangerous in attack when going forward in transition.

A win for Yagoona Lions could take them as high as 1^st place if results go their way, whereas if Central Sydney Wolves lose, they could drop as low as 5^th place with teams behind them having a game in hand; the three points is crucial for both sides and these teams will give their all to push for victory.

Panania Diggers vs Georges River Thistle, 23^rd June 8:30pm @ Padstow Park

Previous Meeting: Georges River Thistle 1-3 Panania Diggers – Rd 1, 2023

Panania Diggers come off a disappointing 2-1 loss to the Padstow Hornets in Round 13, while spirits are high in the Georges River Thistle squad after their biggest victory of the season as they put Bass Hill Rangers to the sword in a 9-0 victory last weekend.

When these two sides clashed in Round 1 of this season, Panania Diggers scored three late goals in the second half to claim all three points.

1^st placed Panania Diggers have been one of the standout teams in the competition this season, however, in one of the tightest competitions to date, a loss this weekend could see them drop to as low as 3^rd place and only sitting 4-points away from 6^th place.

Following a loss last weekend, look for Panania Diggers to come out looking to prove to the competition why they are at the top of the ladder.

Look for Panania’s Joshua Adams and Nicholas Vertsonis to be their main men in attack as they look to potentially open the gap between themselves, and 6^th place to 10 points and almost guarantee themselves finals football this season.

6^th place Georges River Thistle have it all to play for in this match as they look use their positive momentum from their 9-0 victory over Bass Hill Rangers last weekend to continue to push for a top five spot this weekend.

Georges River Thistle have only managed one win against the top five teams this season, a statistic they will need to change if they are to make a push for a finals spot with four of their last five games being against the top five teams.

Georges River Thistle will look to be more positive going forward after they scored nine goals last weekend with their attacking players determined to continue to score more goals in the competition.

Panania Diggers will be eager to stay at the top of the table this weekend while Georges River Thistle are determined to keep their finals hopes alive with a crucial three points; expect this match-up to have everything with both teams prepared to fight to the end.

Revesby Workers vs Padstow Hornets, 24^th June 3pm @ Stuart Street Reserve

Previous Meeting: Padstow Hornets 3-2 Revesby Workers – Rd 7, 2023

Revesby Workers continue to struggle after their 7-0 loss to Padstow United last weekend, while Padstow Hornets come off their third straight win including their most recent being a 2-1 victory over league leaders Panania Diggers.

Padstow Hornets scored in the 89^th minute to clinch victory when these two sides met back in Round 7 this season.

8^th placed Revesby Workers are struggling to find form late into the season having lost their past three games and conceding twenty unanswered goals over the last three rounds.

Revesby Workers face enough very tough challenge this week playing an inform Padstow Hornets who make their grand return to the Hornets Nest (Stuart Street Reserve) for the first time since June 2021.

Revesby Workers will continue to show resilience and pride in how they defend and play each week as they look for a victory this weekend to give them some positive momentum moving forward.

5^th placed Padstow Hornets come off a massive 2-1 victory over league leaders Panania Diggers courtesy of a late winner by their very own Mike Cklamovski.

Padstow Hornets are coming off some good momentum with three straight victories whilst they have even more to play for this weekend with this being their first Bankstown Men’s Premier League fixture on Stuart Street Reserve since the 1^st of June 2021.

With their boys fired up and ready to put on a strong performance in front of their home crowd for the first time in a long time, expect the Hornets to come out looking to put Revesby Workers to the sword.

With one side out of form and another side in the best form of their season, the score in this match could be anything as Revesby Workers and Padstow Hornets go head-to-head at Stuart Street.

Bankstown Sports Strikers vs Bass Hill Rangers, 24^th June 4pm @ Crest Sporting Complex

Previous Meeting: Bass Hill Rangers 0-3 Bankstown Sports Strikers – Rd 1, 2023

Bankstown Sports Strikers come off a disappointing 1-0 loss to Central Sydney Wolves, while Bass Hill Rangers were dismantled in a 9-0 loss to Georges River Thistle in Round 13.

When these two sides met in Round 1 this season, a 22^nd minute red card for Bass Hill Rangers saw them struggle as Bankstown Sports Strikers scored three unanswered goals in the second half to win the match 3-0.

4^th placed Bankstown Sports Strikers have hit their worst form of the season having won one of their past three matches.

Bankstown Sports Strikers have struggled to put sides away when they are dominating matches, however, as they face 9^th place Bass Hill Rangers, they will hope they can begin to dominate this game early and build some momentum back towards the business end of the competition.

If Bankstown Sports Strikers can get the three points this weekend, they could move as high as first on the competition ladder; expect that to give the Bankstown Sports Strikers side some added motivation heading into this match.

9^th placed Bass Hill Rangers come off a 9-0 loss to Georges River Thistle in Round 13 having conceded six goals in the last 30 minutes of the match.

Bass Hill Rangers need to look to be more resilient in defence this weekend as they aim to hold out Bankstown Sports Strikers attack for as long as possible to build more belief that they can get a result in this match.

Bass Hill Rangers need to find a goal this weekend which they have been unable to do in their past three matches, with finals football not possible for the Bass Hill side this season, expect them to try new things going forward in attack.

Expect this match to be an exciting encounter with plenty of attacking force as both sides have a point to prove.

Round 13 of the Bankstown Umbro Premier League saw two of the top four teams drop points as the battle for the top five spots begins to get more interesting.

The match of the Round saw late drama as Padstow Hornets knocked over the league leaders to continue their winning run.

Earlier, Central Sydney Wolves did the league double over Bankstown Sports Strikers at Padstow Park on Friday night, while Padstow United dominated Revesby Workers once again this season.

Elsewhere, Georges River Thistle were too good for Bass Hill Rangers.

Yagoona Lions had the bye this round.

Match of the Round: Panania Diggers 1-2 Padstow Hornets

Reserve Grade Score: Panania Diggers 3-2 Padstow Hornets

Padstow Hornets extended their winning streak to three wins in a row after a late goal sealed a 2-1 victory for the visitors.

Padstow Hornets started well and put pressure on Panania Diggers defence early in the match.

The Hornets Neil Philippou continued his recent goal scoring form when he was able to find the back of the net in the 15^th minute of the match to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Heads did not seem to drop for the hosts as the three points were vital for their side if they were to keep their spot at the top of the table.

Panania Diggers found their equaliser in the 24^th minute of the match through Nicholas Vertsonis as he brough the game back level at 1-1.

Both teams struggled to create clear cut chances in the first half as two of the best defensive sides in the competition went head-to-head.

The teams went into the sheds at halftime locked up at 1-1.

The second half saw both teams pushing to find a goal to break the deadlock, however both teams defended enthusiastically to avoid conceding.

With not long to go in the match the Hornets Mike Cklamovski found space and found the back of the net in the 84^th minute to give Padstow Hornets a 2-1 lead.

Panania Diggers were unable to find the leveller for the second time in the match as the Hornets won the match 2-1 and made it three straight wins.

Panania Diggers remained in 1^st position despite their loss to Padstow Hornets, while Padstow Hornets remained in 5^th position as they slowly chase down the teams above them.

Central Sydney Wolves 1-0 Bankstown Sports Strikers

Central Sydney Wolves were able to complete the league double over Bankstown Sports Strikers after a screamer from Central Sydney Wolves helped them to a 1-0 win over the Strikers.

When these two sides clashed back in Round 9, the Strikers were unable to break down a strong Central Sydney Wolves defence as the Wolves scored late to win the game 1-0.

The first half of the match looked to be very tightly contested as both teams looked to win the midfield battle which would be key in this match.

Both teams looked to use their strength in wide areas to break their opposition defence down.

We looked to be going into halftime locked up at 0-0, however, it took something special in this match to break the deadlock.

In the 44^th minute of the match, the Wolves Mark Kamara hit the ball from close to halfway which sailed into the Strikers goal to give the Wolves the 1-0 lead going into halftime.

Bankstown Sports Strikers would come out in the second half looking to push for an equaliser to avoid losing to the Wolves for a second time this season.

Central Sydney Wolves did not back down in defence as they looked destined to hold onto their one goal lead through their energy and resilience in defence.

The fulltime whistle blew as Central Sydney Wolves defeated Bankstown Sports Strikers 1-0.

Central Sydney Wolves climbed up to 3^rd position, while Bankstown Sports Strikers dropped down to 4^th position with Central Sydney Wolves jumping above them.

Revesby Workers 0-7 Padstow United

Reserve Grade Score: Revesby Workers 0-2 Padstow United

Padstow United ended a five-game losing streak after their massive win over Revesby Workers who continue to struggle.

Padstow’s John Martinez was dominant with six goals scored in their first encounter this season and he started this game strong also.

In the 6^th minute of the match, John Martinez found the back of the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

John Martinez continued to create problems in the Revesby Workers half, and he netted his second goal in the 33^rd minute of the match as the visitors went into half time with a 2-0 lead.

Padstow United started where they left off in the first half as Theodore Koveos scored his first goal of the season in the 46^th minute to give United a 3-0 lead.

John Martinez followed up with a quick-fire double in the 52^nd and 56^th minute as he extended the score to 5-0.

Padstow’s Daniel Gorgioski scored his first goal of the season in the 58^th minute of the match to give Padstow United a 6-0 lead.

The last goal of the match would come in the 70^th minute as John Martinez scored his 5^th goal to extend the scored to 7-0.

We wouldn’t see another goal for the final 20 minutes of the match as the game ended with Padstow United defeating Revesby Workers 7-0.

Revesby Workers hold their position in 8^th place, while Padstow United remain in 7^th position heading into a bye in Round 14.

Bass Hill Rangers 0-9 Georges River Thistle

Reserve Grade Score: Bass Hill Rangers 5-1 Georges River Thistle

Georges River Thistle made a statement in their match against Bass Hill Rangers as they won the match 9-0 as Bass Hill Rangers go three matches in a row without scoring a goal.

In a much needed three points for Georges River Thistle, they opened the scoring early through a goal by Mathew Tahere in the 11^th minute.

Georges River Thistle would then have a quick-fire double in the 31^st and 33^rd minute as Adam Tahere scored his first goal of the match before Mathew Tahere netted his second as Thistle went into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

In the 61^st minute of the match Adam Tahere netted his brace before Mathew Tahere complete his hatrick in the 70^th minute to give Georges River Thistle a 5-0 lead.

Thistle’s Mohamad Elzein would then score two goals in the 75^th and 77^th minute to bring the score to 7-0.

Thistle’s Sumathas Prasitsanpreecha scored his first goal of the match in the 83^rd minute before Mohamed Elzein completed his hatrick in the 85^th minute to cap off a 9-0 victory for Georges River Thistle.

Georges River Thistle remain in 6^th place after their massive win over Bass Hill Rangers, while Bass Hill Rangers stay in last place still searching for their first win of the season.