Round 8 of Western Border Soccer did not provide any upsets which leaves Inter on top from Apollo and Centrals with Blue Lake moving into fourth spot with a good win against Portland.
Round 9 will be an interesting round with league leaders Inter at home to third placed Centrals, Sharks take on Blue Lake at home. Apollo host Naracoorte and Millicent travel to Portland.
In the match of the round at Cassadio Park the pressure will be on Centrals, a loss will see them fall five points behind Inter and three points behind Apollo. With a lower percentage than both of these teams it could signal the end of their Premiership aspirations. This would be devastating after being bundled out of the cup two weeks ago. Centrals have been decimated by injury in the last few weeks but should welcome back Shane Heemskerk, Bryan Lindsay, Peter Robbins and Daniel Mitchell. An injury cloud still hangs over their goal scoring forward Bruce Morale who will need to train strongly Friday to be considered. Inter Coach Tony D’Agostino knows that this will be a hard game and welcomes back tough defender Robbie Manfrin and Ricky McRobert. He will need to watch Nathan Tidy up front and both Tobei Kennett and Ryan Tobin in the midfield. Jesse Wenham will have to marshall the troops strongly at the back if they are going to hold the Inter forwards. Christian Cella, Marcus Morony and Joel Redfern are all in fine goal scoring form and I don’t think that Centrals will be able to hold them for an entire game and unless Bruce Morale plays Nathan Tidy will find it hard playing a lone hand up front. Although Inter have won seven of the last ten against Centrals, all of Centrals wins have been at Cassadio Park. Phil Muller will have his boys fired up for this game and although a hard one to call I lean towards Inter simply because they look more dangerous up front, but one thing is for sure, it will be a very physical encounter with both teams willing to put their bodies on the line to get an advantage. Inter to win 4-2.
As the battle to maintain fourth spot hots up the Sharks take on Blue Lake. Blue Lake took fourth spot last week from the Sharks and will be desperate to not just keep it but look towards third spot if Centrals slip up. The Sharks continue to struggle to get a team on the Park and unbelievably only had 10 players last week against Centrals. With the likes of Dino Gentile, Pramot Goldsworthy, Terry Stevenson and Craig Wright all missing it is hard to see them match it with the in form Blues. Blue Lake has only lost one game of the last seven and will be keen to stretch that record. Although missing come key players in the last few weeks they have still managed to get good results. The Sharks still have some very good players getting around with Lance Da Rocha, Matty Weistra Wayne Lennon and Heath Widdison all striving to keep them competitive but with Mitch Thomson, Callum Ferguson, Bryce Strachan and Justin McRostie in midfield I can’t see the Sharks holding them. John and Damo Stemberger are the keys to the Sharks scoring goals but Blue Lake welcome Kyle Reiner back to strengthen up the Blues defence and this defence has only conceded 3 goals in 5 games. Blue Lake to win 4-1.
Apollo host Naracoorte and I think that Apollo coach Derek Ferguson will be hoping to get through this game unscathed injury wise. Apollo will be too strong all over the park and may be able to improve on the goal percentage. Naracoorte have certainly been up and down this year and I think the trip to Apollo will be too much for them. Even with a full side they won’t be able to stop the potent forward line led by Adam Hodge. With Paul Prentice and Ash Stenner continually feeding the young forwards Apollo should run out comfortable winners
7-0.
The last match of the round sees Millicent make the long trip to Portland needing a win to stay in touch with the Sharks and Blue Lake. Millicent have had injury problems of late and if they can send a full squad they should come away with three points but they would be unwise to take Portland lightly. Portland has some very good players and they are due to string a good game together. Bryan Fitzgerald is unavailable but they have the luxury of being able to play their under 17 players in A grade fresh as Millicent do not have under 17s. Portland coach Craig Taylor will have this game pencilled in as winnable and with the home ground advantage it should be an even contest in the muddy conditions. I am tipping a 2 all draw.
Round 9 will be an interesting round with league leaders Inter at home to third placed Centrals, Sharks take on Blue Lake at home. Apollo host Naracoorte and Millicent travel to Portland.
In the match of the round at Cassadio Park the pressure will be on Centrals, a loss will see them fall five points behind Inter and three points behind Apollo. With a lower percentage than both of these teams it could signal the end of their Premiership aspirations. This would be devastating after being bundled out of the cup two weeks ago. Centrals have been decimated by injury in the last few weeks but should welcome back Shane Heemskerk, Bryan Lindsay, Peter Robbins and Daniel Mitchell. An injury cloud still hangs over their goal scoring forward Bruce Morale who will need to train strongly Friday to be considered. Inter Coach Tony D’Agostino knows that this will be a hard game and welcomes back tough defender Robbie Manfrin and Ricky McRobert. He will need to watch Nathan Tidy up front and both Tobei Kennett and Ryan Tobin in the midfield. Jesse Wenham will have to marshall the troops strongly at the back if they are going to hold the Inter forwards. Christian Cella, Marcus Morony and Joel Redfern are all in fine goal scoring form and I don’t think that Centrals will be able to hold them for an entire game and unless Bruce Morale plays Nathan Tidy will find it hard playing a lone hand up front. Although Inter have won seven of the last ten against Centrals, all of Centrals wins have been at Cassadio Park. Phil Muller will have his boys fired up for this game and although a hard one to call I lean towards Inter simply because they look more dangerous up front, but one thing is for sure, it will be a very physical encounter with both teams willing to put their bodies on the line to get an advantage. Inter to win 4-2.
As the battle to maintain fourth spot hots up the Sharks take on Blue Lake. Blue Lake took fourth spot last week from the Sharks and will be desperate to not just keep it but look towards third spot if Centrals slip up. The Sharks continue to struggle to get a team on the Park and unbelievably only had 10 players last week against Centrals. With the likes of Dino Gentile, Pramot Goldsworthy, Terry Stevenson and Craig Wright all missing it is hard to see them match it with the in form Blues. Blue Lake has only lost one game of the last seven and will be keen to stretch that record. Although missing come key players in the last few weeks they have still managed to get good results. The Sharks still have some very good players getting around with Lance Da Rocha, Matty Weistra Wayne Lennon and Heath Widdison all striving to keep them competitive but with Mitch Thomson, Callum Ferguson, Bryce Strachan and Justin McRostie in midfield I can’t see the Sharks holding them. John and Damo Stemberger are the keys to the Sharks scoring goals but Blue Lake welcome Kyle Reiner back to strengthen up the Blues defence and this defence has only conceded 3 goals in 5 games. Blue Lake to win 4-1.
Apollo host Naracoorte and I think that Apollo coach Derek Ferguson will be hoping to get through this game unscathed injury wise. Apollo will be too strong all over the park and may be able to improve on the goal percentage. Naracoorte have certainly been up and down this year and I think the trip to Apollo will be too much for them. Even with a full side they won’t be able to stop the potent forward line led by Adam Hodge. With Paul Prentice and Ash Stenner continually feeding the young forwards Apollo should run out comfortable winners
7-0.
The last match of the round sees Millicent make the long trip to Portland needing a win to stay in touch with the Sharks and Blue Lake. Millicent have had injury problems of late and if they can send a full squad they should come away with three points but they would be unwise to take Portland lightly. Portland has some very good players and they are due to string a good game together. Bryan Fitzgerald is unavailable but they have the luxury of being able to play their under 17 players in A grade fresh as Millicent do not have under 17s. Portland coach Craig Taylor will have this game pencilled in as winnable and with the home ground advantage it should be an even contest in the muddy conditions. I am tipping a 2 all draw.
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