Raiders v Para Hills Knights
PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia Round 17

When: Monday, June 8th. Kick-off 3pm
Where: Croatian Sports Centre, State Sports Park, off Main North Road, GEPPS CROSS 

Form:

Raiders: W W L

Round 14: White City 0-4 Raiders, Frank Mitchell Park
Round 15: South Adelaide 1-4 Raiders, O’Sullivan Beach Sports Complex
Round 16: West Adelaide 1-0 Raiders, Adelaide Shores Football Centre 

Para Hills Knights: L D L

Round 14: Para Hills 0-1 Adelaide Comets, The Paddocks
Round 15: Campbelltown City 3-3 Para Hills, Steve Woodcock Sports Centre
Round 16: Para Hills 1-2 West Torrens Birkalla, The Paddocks 

Preview:

Both Raiders and Para Hills are hoping to put losses behind them when they clash in Round 17 of the PlayStation 4 National Premier League South Australia at the Croatian Sports Centre on Monday.

Raiders had won back-to-back matches convincingly, but fell to a 1-0 defeat by leaders West Adelaide on Saturday.

Coach Carl Maynard says the difference was an inability to convert opportunities.

“It was a frustrating game for us. We were poor in the first half and righted a few wrongs in the second. But we missed three easy chances and if you do that you don’t deserve anything,” he stressed.

“In the two games prior we got off to a good start. Against West it was a test of resolve and we showed that we are prepared to take it to the end. If there’s a positive to take from the match, it’s that.

“We need to put our chances away. That was the difference between the wins and this game – in the two wins we buried them, here we missed chances.

The defeat was the first match in the past seven in which Raiders did not find the back of the net. It means Raiders sit just two points clear of the relegation playoff spot.

Maynard is looking for an improved performance against Para Hills.

“Our aim now is to stay away from the relegation fight. We need to be winning games. Who knows, if we do that we may get closer to the finals.

“Para Hills are fighting for their lives, so it will be tough. If we play the way we know we can, we are capable of getting a positive result.”

Para Hills suffered a 12th defeat of the campaign on Saturday, going down 2-1 against West Torrens Birkalla, despite Matthew Marchioro scoring. 

Yet Frank Marafioti can see positives for the Knights.

“We started slowly, but held our own in the last 30 minutes of the half. The second half was a lot better, there was a lot of fire, hunger and intent,” he said.

“We were unfortunate to not get anything from the game. I thought we deserved to win.

“There are positives. We put in a lot of hard work in the second half. However, we need to turn up for 90 minutes, not just 45.”

New boss Duane Gray has an uphill climb in the second half of the season to lead the team from relegation. The Knights have recorded a solitary win this campaign – against Raiders – and are 12 points from safety.

Marafioti is confident they can claim a season double over Raiders.

“Duane and Simon [Catanzaro] are similar. They are very honest and Duane has been straight with what he expects. That is, more hunger, desire and work-rate.

“We are doing everything we can, but we need work on the two-percenters like winning the ball and closing down an opponent quicker. That will help us.

“All remaining games are big for us. Raiders can be difficult away from home, but we hope to beat them again. If we stay concentrated I am confident we can get a result.”

Article by Luca Cetta - @l_cetta