Match of the Round
South Cardiff FC v Belmont Swansea FC
Ulinga Oval, Saturday 7:30pm
Belmont Swansea FC coach Mick Stafford said his side will continue to put their best foot forward for promotion when they travel to Ulinga Oval to face South Cardiff FC this Saturday.
The Gunners are winless in their past six games and have only picked up two of a possible 18 points during that run, which has seen them drop from second place to five points outside the top four in sixth.
The 2023 grand finalists are determined to feature in the promotion playoffs this year but they need to recapture their winning form fast if they are any chance of overtaking the in-form trio of Kahibah, Toronto Awaba and West Wallsend.
One team they cannot catch are this Saturday’s opponents Belmont Swansea.
Stafford’s men are 16 points clear at the top of the table and are cruising towards a first-place finish and automatic promotion.
BelSwans have won 14 of the 17 games they have played so far this season and have drawn two of the other three.
Two of those 14 wins were against South Cardiff as they demolished the Gunners 6-0 on both occasions, in round four at Ulinga Oval in March and in a rescheduled round 13 match at Blacksmiths Oval in June.
The top-ranked team are enjoying an eye-opening run that has seen them win five of their past six matches and kept a clean sheet for all six matches.
Stafford said that his side was determined to continue that run of clean sheets as they continue to strive toward their main goal of winning the competition.
“There’s a strong mentality there and we set little challenges as we go each week,” Stafford said.
“Our depth has been tested recently and it’s proving to be successful. Guys are stepping in and bringing energy to the group.
“The effort and energy have been great. Everyone has been buying into what we’re doing and six clean sheets is massive in any league. We’re having a good time but working hard on and off the pitch to produce the goods on game day.
“Every week is a challenge but everyone is keen to continue winning and put our best foot forward for promotion.”
Despite having already thumped South Cardiff twice this year a combined 12 goals to nothing, Stafford is expecting a tough test on Saturday night.
“Southy are always a threat and we usually have competitive games against them. Perry does a good job with the young team he’s got and it will be a challenge come Saturday,” Stafford said.
South Cardiff’s coach Perry Mellon has challenged his men to finally show what they are made of against the high-flying BelSwans.
“They’re a good team, obviously. They’ve beaten us 6-0 twice,” Mellon said.
“Keeping 11 men on the pitch would be good for a start. We didn’t have that last time against them.
“I want us to show a bit of resolve and some fight, and I want to see a lot of effort and energy.”
“It will be good to get back on the pitch. We’ve had a bye and a washout over the past two weeks. We’re playing for next year at the moment, trying to build some momentum, and if we can break this streak that would be awesome.
“We pretty much have to win every game to get in the top four. It will be a test but it’s possible.”
Kahibah FC v Toronto Awaba FC
Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility, Friday 8pm
Toronto Awaba FC coach Jarrad Hiles is expecting spicey match-up when they take on Kahibah FC on Friday night.
This fixture is expected to be one of the games of the season and will kick off round 22 under lights on Friday night at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility in a battle for second place.
Kahibah are second on the table with 28 points and Toronto Awaba are just two points behind them on 26 with a game in hand.
The two sides still have a slight chance of catching league leaders Belmont Swansea, but are both determined to finish as high as possible in their quest for promotion.
There is not much splitting them going into this highly-anticipated clash. Both sides are on three-game winning streaks and they have beaten the other once this year.
The Stags won their first clash 4-1 at LMRFF in round four back in March, and then Kahibah turned the tables last month when they won a rescheduled round 13 match 2-0 at Lyall Peacock Field.
Toronto Awaba’s coach is confident that his men can get the job done but is well aware that they will have to be at their best against one of the classiest teams in the competition.
“We’ve been quite good recently. A bit clunky at times but playing some good footy,” Hiles said.
“Most of the boys are fit and back on deck, which is handy. We’re keen to get more games under our belt.
“Our games against Kahibah always have a bit of spice in them and there is always a bit of extra feeling in them. They’re a good team and they got us at home last time we played them, and we’d like to get back in the winners’ circle against them.
“In that last game against them, though, we had a player sent off in the first half and we were still the better team in my opinion.
“We’ll stick to what we do and not much will change. Hopefully, we can keep 11 players on the paddock.”
Singleton Strikers FC v Thornton Redbacks FC
Howe Park, Saturday 2:30pm
Singleton Strikers are back at home this Saturday when they host Thornton Redbacks at Howe Park in a match that is crucial to both sides’ top-four hopes.
These two teams are outside the promotion playoff zone as Thornton sits fifth and Singleton is stuck in seventh.
The Redbacks are five points outside the top four and Singleton are two points behind them, making this Saturday’s clash a must-win game for them both as the regular season begins to wind down.
For Singleton, a win in this game would see them climb the table to at least sixth position.
The Strikers were in impressive form before they ran into BelSwans last Saturday and went down 3-0.
They were unbeaten in five games before that one and had kept three clean sheets in that run, and they will be attempting to play their way back into that form on Saturday.
Thornton is desperate to end a six-game winless run that includes a five-game losing streak. T
They spent a lot of the season in the top four but are now five points outside it and must win this Saturday if they are a chance of rising back up into the promotion playoff zone.
Wallsend FC v Cessnock City Hornets FC
The Gardens, Sunday 2:30pm
Round 22 action will conclude at The Gardens on Sunday afternoon when Wallsend FC host Cessnock City Hornets in a bottom-of-the-table battle.
For Wallsend, it will be the first time they have played at their home ground in 15 weeks. The last time they lined up at The Gardens was back in round six in March, and since then they have had a run of away games and relocated or rescheduled home fixtures due to the abundance of rain over the past four months.
The Red Devils are last on the table on four points following one win and one draw from 15 matches this year.
They sit 12 points behind the eighth-placed Hornets. The chances of Wallsend catching and overtaking Cessnock are extremely slim and they must win on Sunday if they are to hold onto any hope of that happening.
Despite sitting second last on the table, Cessnock is closer to fourth than they are to last.
They scored their fifth win of the season last weekend when they took down Thornton 3-2 away from home and they are now eyeing off another victory on Sunday.
West Wallsend SFC have the bye.