WESTERN NSW Mariners FC will need their biggest performance of the NSW Premier Leagues 3 season if they’re to walk away from a meeting against competition leaders Rydalmere Lions FC with any points.
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Mariners have to put the pieces back together after their defence couldn’t keep out Gladesville Ryde Magic FC in a 4-0 loss last round.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Western men as they’re now aiming to take down the form team of the competition.
Lions will go into their home game buoyed by a crucial 2-1 win over Fraser Park FC in a top-of-the-table meeting.
Mariners captain Adam Scimone said Rydalmere is a side oozing with talent.
“They’re a little different in that Fraser Park are a little bit quicker and have the extra intensity. Rydalmere have some classy players though and when they get their chances they’re very clinical,” he said.
“Gladesville have been our bogey team but we’re Rydalmere’s bogey side, and we tend to give them a few headaches.
“We’ve had success there in the past. We just have to have confidence going into this game.”
Western have picked up a solitary point from their previous four games – a 2-all draw with Hawkesbury City FC.
With the last month of the competition approaching the Mariners are craving every point they can get to avoid being dragged towards the bottom of the club championship ladder.
Scimone said his side need to make the trip to Rydalmere Park in the right mindset.
“It will be a tough test for us but we’ve been doing alright when we travel,” he said.
“The intensity has got to be high when we’re up there so we’ll make sure we’ve had some good training sessions in the lead up.”
Mariners can take a lot away from their result from earlier this season against Rydalmere.
At Proctor Park the hosts put up a strong fight after playing a man short for more than an hour, letting in just two goals in that time to lose 3-0.
Lions’ Amaury Gauthier scored a brace in that win and boasts a 26-goal haul this season.