Match of the Round
Singleton Strikers v Kahibah FC
Howe Park, Saturday 2.30pm
Singleton welcome Kahibah to Howe Park on Saturday looking to overturn a four-match winless run and stay within range of the top of the table.
The Strikers have slipped to second place, four points behind leaders Toronto Awaba. It has been a poor month results wise for Singleton having not won since their 5-0 thrashing of West Wallsend in round seven.
Since then Singleton have lost a 4-3 thriller to South Cardiff, been comfortably beaten 3-0 by the Stags and then upset 2-1 by Cessnock City before Thornton held them to a 1-1 draw last weekend.
It has been a disappointing run for Singleton who need to get back to winning ways if they are to put pressure on Toronto Awaba, who enjoy a four-point lead at the top as well as a match in hand.
Singleton extended its winless run to five games as they went down 2-1 to Belmont Swansea United in the Australia Cup fifth preliminary round on Tuesday night.
It will be a tough assignment for Singleton on Saturday because, as well as having made the long midweek trip south to face Belswans in the cup, they will face a Kahibah side in the opposite vein of form. Kahibah have won their last three matches to sit level on 16 points with Singleton, with Kahibah only behind on goals scored.
Kahibah did it the hard way in a seesawing contest against West Wallsend last weekend, with Heath Kepreotes’ late winner earning Kahibah the three points in a 4-3 victory.
That win followed 2-0 and 1-0 victories over Belmont Swansea United and Thornton respectively, with Kahibah now looking up the table as they too attempt to haul in the runaway Stags.
Elsewhere in round 12, Cessnock City FC and Belmont Swansea United will battle to stay in touch with the top five when they meet at Turner Park on Saturday.
On Sunday, Toronto Awaba FC will look to consolidate their place at the top of the table when they host South Cardiff FC at Lyall Peacock Field, while Wallsend FC welcome West Wallsend SFC to The Gardens for the Wallsend Derby.
Meanwhile, Belswans have drawn reigning NPL Men’s NNSW premiers Maitland FC in the sixth preliminary round of the Australia Cup.
Belswans are the last remaining HIT106.9 Northern League One club in this year’s tournament following their victory over the Strikers at Blacksmiths Oval on Tuesday night.
